Psalm 35: Hope for the Persecuted, the Poor and the Needy

My mother used to make us say Psalm 35 and Psalm 91 almost every night. I know them both by heart now. LOL

Psalm 35 is a pretty powerful Psalm. If someone has wronged you, I mean like really wronged you, would you pray and say, "Let them be cofounded and put to shame that seek after my soul... Let them be as chaff before the wind and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery and let the angel of the Lord persecute them"? It's no wonder maybe we don't experience victory like we ought to. We don't know what's in the Word and so we don't know how to pray. 

There are times when we meet some exceptionally wicked people in our pathway. Remember Haman in the Bible? See how he hated Mordecai and the Jews and wanted them dead? Can you perhaps think of someone who has tried hard to get rid of you, lie on you or whatever the case might be? When I think of what happened to Haman in the end, I can see how some of what is written in the Psalm were fulfilled in his life. Destruction did come upon him unawares; and the net that he had hid caught him; and into the destruction he fell! Go and read the book of Esther in the Bible if you don't know the story. See how wickedness is repaid. 

The verse in Psalm 35 I found myself reflecting on the most though is this, "Lord who is like unto thee, which deliveredst the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?" v. 10. When you have no strength or power of your own, the Lord becomes your strength and fights for you! It is a fact that the poor and needy are usually the ones to be used and abused and oppressed. But God sees it. He sees it and He will deliver. 

Psalm 35 is a nice Psalm to visit if you're in a place where you're being afflicted. Pray it if you're bold enough to do so! 

All Things Together For My Good

Hi! I've not written a post in quite a while now. How have you been?

I've been a bit preoccupied with my new coffee business - networking and the like. I have a business page now. I've also created a group where persons can interact with me and others, learn more about the products and learn how to start their own coffee business. It has been an interesting experience and I've been learning a lot of things. 

The new school year has already begun. The new school year in Japan begins in April. With the start of each school year, I have to face new sets of challenges. New beginnings are like that right? Each year I am placed in new schools. I have new relationships to form as I meet new teachers and students. There are changes everywhere. 

As I thought about the many changes, I gave thanks for the fact that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. When everything and everyone around me changes, He remains constant and true. Though people around me come and go, He is always there!

Honestly, sometimes I wish that I didn't have to move around so much. It would be untrue to say that it's easy. But God has given me the strength to do it. I've been doing it for the past six years! God has been good to me! 

There have been many challenges, many annoyances and bad experiences. There are times I've cried and felt bitter and angry. But God. But God! 

I am being filled with new hope everyday - hope for a bright future. No experience is ever wasted you know. Everything is working together for my good. 

Yes. Not everything is good but God is good. He will bring it all together for my good. Yay! 

Please visit my business page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rhikeyttahibaato

Also, if you're thinking about starting your own coffee business, you're welcome to join my group and learn more - https://www.facebook.com/groups/myglobcoffeebus/

Be blessed!

** Images taken from the internet.

Wait Out Your Wilderness

Do you find yourself in a wilderness every now and then?

I mean do you find yourself in an undesirable situation every now and then? What is your usual reaction to such situations? Do you complain? Do you get angry and frustrated? Do you quit?

Did you realize that at some point in time we all must encounter a wilderness? And did you know that how long you stay there is largely dependent on your attitude? Someone has used the phrase, "praise and get raised; complain and remain". You can praise your way out of a negative situation and get raised up out of it. Or you can complain away and remain where you are, and remain there longer than is necessary. 

God took the Israelites out of Egypt to take them to a place of unbelievably great things. A journey that was supposed to take a few days took them many, many years. If you read the account for yourself, you'll see how they complained, rebelled and spoke negatively. In fact, the very negative words they spoke came to pass! Do you realize how much power the words you speak have? 

No one likes to experience discomfort. But sometimes these are the experiences that God uses to teach us, to try us and to do us good in the ultimate end. We must be willing to wait out these wildernesses, and try to do it with a positive attitude. 

Don't Settle

When you're out in the public's eye, you're going to have to expect criticism. When you're destined for something big, it's going to mean going against the norm. 'Normal' just will not cut it if you're going to do extraordinary things. And 'normal' people won't get it. 

Only those who are themselves destined for the extraordinary will get it. They'll understand your outside-the-box thinking, reasoning and action. They'll be the ones to encourage you. 

But you know what, if God has called you out from among them (the normal and ordinary), you will live an unfulfilled life if you do not respond to that call. You'll get up wondering everyday, 'what if'. 

So listen to me: stop wondering and start doing. Go out and do what's been on your heart to do. Go out and make that difference. Go out and become that great thing that God has called you to be! 

Don't settle when you know God is calling you higher. Don't settle because you're afraid of losing friends. 

Ease Your Network Marketing Fears

Are you turned off by network marketing?

Many people are; and even I am too. The way it's often presented can be a turn off to anyone. 

But let me ask you this - Have you ever considered having your own business? Have you ever desired having another stream of income? If you have, a network marketing company can get your foot in through the door. 

With a purchase of a business kit, the business becomes yours. That's an important mindset to have. It's no longer about 'them' but it's now all about you. You now have a business. You will have to work it so it can work for you. The income you earn will depend largely on the effort you put in. 

Get to know the products; get to know the needs of your customers; do some research if you are new to sales; and observe what successful persons in the business have done and are doing. 

The next thing I want to ask you is - What's wrong with sharing an opportunity with someone who could also benefit? If you found a great product, wouldn't you tell your friends? If someone was looking for a job and you knew a company that was hiring, wouldn't you tell him/her about it? 

Well you're doing the same thing as a network marketer. You're sharing information with others who could also benefit. You're sharing an opportunity that is working for you. 

Network marketing in itself is not a bad thing. You are essentially marketing a product that you believe in; you are sharing a viable opportunity with those you meet. 

Ain't nothing wrong with that! ;)


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Meditate Your Way to Success

The devil never had an original idea. 

Meditation is not a bad thing. God told Joshua to meditate on His words day and night; and so would he make his way prosperous and so would he enjoy good success. 

As someone who is learning to develop positive thoughts about herself, I am meditating on the fact that God's thoughts towards me are precious! I am thinking about admirable people in the Bible like Abigail. She was wise and of a beautiful countenance. 

As someone who has entered the world of business/entrepreneurship, I am meditating on men like Solomon and Uzziah who were wealthy. I am thinking about people like Joseph. He was prudent in business. I am meditating on the fact that God gave me the power to create wealth!

Since I've been given that power, I need to know how to tap into it. I'm therefore looking at the lives of successful people in our world today. I'm reading business magazines. I'm thinking that if they could do it, I can do it too!

Meditation is a good thing. Let's fix our minds on how we can contribute to the world we live in. Let's fix our minds on God's awesome love for us. Let's fix our minds on good things. If we're going to be thinking anyway, let it be positive. 

Isn't it better to think some outrageously amazing thoughts about our lives being blessed and our lives being a blessing, than to think about dire circumstances and situations that drain our joy? 

I set this day before you life and death; choose life. 

Don't Be A Crippled Christian: Set Your Hand To Something

You see different types of leaders in the Bible. There are those who just went ahead and did things (used their intellect); and those who received specific instructions on what to do directly from God. 

I was reading about Joseph for example, and how he handled the situation when the people ran out of food (Genesis 47: 14 - 26). And then on the other hand are men like Moses and Joshua who God gave specific instructions on what to do. For example, in Joshua 6 when Gold told Joshua that he was to take Jericho and how he was to do it. 

As far as I understand, I can either go ahead and decide that I am going to take a specific course of action; or I can receive specific instructions from God. I can also accept both. But essentially, I am 'free' to go ahead and do what I think is best in a given situation. 

I think this discovery answers my question about why is it that Christians seem to always be worried about being out of the will of God; whereas unbelievers go out and are unsuccessful.  

Christians become crippled by waiting to hear an audible voice from God, or a word from a prophet. Unbelievers don't believe in God so they don't feel a need to 'wait around' to hear anything. 

I was personally encouraged when I read about Uzziah and how the Bible says that as long as he sought God, He made him prosper (2 Chronicles 26: 5). That's all there is to it. You don't need to sit and wait around for a voice from heaven. Do what's in your heart to do. God promised that He would command the blessing upon all that you set your hand to (Deuteronomy 28: 8). 

So set your hand to something and see what happens!