10 Truths A Successful Man Lived By

6. Thinking and Doing Are Two Different Things
             Success never comes to the people who just think about it but to those who act on it. Dreams and faith are useless without action. Successful people are men and women of actions, who are willing to get out of the comfort zone and be disturbed. When they see things, they immediately take a course of plan and immediately exploit to receive the desired result. They won't stop working until they are satisfied with the result.
             You don't need to feel 100% ready to do a task, or else you will be just waiting for the rest of your life.

7. Failure Usually Comes First Before Success
            Committing a mistake is not a problem, but the painful thing is, when it occurs you never learn from it. Too afraid to fail won't lead you to the possible way of success. A person who avoid failures, fail to find the possible solution to the problem. The difference between the master and the beginner is that master failed many times than the beginner had ever tried. Sometimes things need to go very wrong before they can be right.
            Success is a product of learned lesson from past failures.

8. Being Busy Does Not Mean Productivity

           Your productivity does not depend on having a hectic schedule.  Busyness sometimes slowdown our capacity to perform well. We cannot actually do everything we want to do, but we may choose to do what we value. Proper scheduling, planning and saying "no" would help us prioritize and do what is important. When we try to please everybody we will eventually find ourselves in the end exhausted and lonely. 

           Use of time is  an investment, better utilize it to which is important to you and serve your purpose.

9. You Live The Life You Create

          Everyone receives a gift of life, but how it becomes depends on you. Many people will give their own opinion about life and tries to persuade you, however, the decision is yours to make. They will walk with you but can never be in your shoes. So make sure that the path you walk aligns with your conviction and values. Do not be afraid to change course when it is worth and will lead you to your purpose.

           It makes no sense to be at the top when you miss to do your passion and the purpose of your soul. Set your goal, be productive and patient. Keep the good attitude while working and waiting for the result of what you believe in. Your success shall be your witness in the end.

           Be brave to step up to the edge of the unknown, you are actually design to exploit greater things. And greater things are the result of your faith and your intentional moves.

10. Life Is Short

          The average human life is relatively short. Death comes to everyone, it will happen eventually. Somehow we were surprise when it comes, we thought there is still one more stair and find ourselves off balance for a moment, before our mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is.

           Live your life today! Don't ignore death but don't be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest tragedy in life, but a life without a purpose. The greatest loss is what dies inside of you while you're still alive! Nothing to lose if you step out to live and take the challenges of this life.

- to be continued -

How to Receive Favor?

^{Genesis 4:3} When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, ⁵ but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Every human being is given the potential and privilege to offer (give). What makes the offering accepted or rejected is the thin line - attitude, the conditon of the heart. What matter is not "what you give" but "why you give", not "what you do" but "why you do". Because it reflects the kind of relationship we have with the Lord.

 God has no favorites...but He looked favorably to those who give their best.

1. When it was time... Ever since we are conceived in our mother's womb we received the gift of time. Our productivity depend on it. How we use it will determine our fruitfulness.

2. Cain presented some of his crops... Cain gave his some and not his best that's why his offering did not received favor from God. He offered the "spare" from his produce. Anything less than the best or left overs are unacceptable to God.

3. Abel brought a gift - the best of the first born... Abel offered to God the best of his first. God looks at the attitude of the giver. We can give anything yet without quality. Giving is always related to relationship. Abel knew God, he acknowledged Him as the Excellent Being who deserved nothing but the best. God Himself offered the Best of the First...no other than His one and only Son.

4. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift...what we give represents who we are and expresses what inside of us. God did not measure the gift but it is our capacity to give that is being measured. Jesus commended the widow who put coins in the collection bag, for she gave everything even what she needed to live on (Mk. 12:44). God did not offer His spare...He offered His ONLY ONE.

5. Why are you so angry...You will be accepted if you do what is right....His own pride resulted to jealousy, anger and murder. He lost his respect to God, others and even to himself. Pride is self-desctructive. It fails to see its own failure and start blaming others, or maybe seeing it but deny to admit. BUT IF OUR CONDUCT AND ATTITUDE ARE RIGHT, WE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE. WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE GOD'S FAVOR WITHOUT ASKING FOR IT.


 Time and opportunity are both placed on everyone...how we accept and utilize them makes the difference. Are the works of your hands acceptable? Do they reflect how much you love God? Apostle Paul give emphasis on the attitude of gratitude in 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." In this way everything we offer unto God become acceptable. And His joy shall be our strength (and happiness).

SEED OF THE NATION

Amos 9:13 (BBE)
See, the days will come, says the Lord, when the ploughman will overtake him who is cutting the grain, and the crusher of the grapes him who is planting seed; and sweet wine will be dropping from the mountains, and the hills will be turned into streams of wine.

(ISV)
"Look! The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the one who sows will overtake the harvester and the treader of grapes will overtake the planter. Fresh wine will drip down from the mountains, cascading down from the hills.

GOD'S WORD IS GOD'S WORK
-This verse is a promise of abundance, overflowing and great harvest
-the very reason that our lives remain unfruitful because of sin, a sinful life is a barren life
 -Barrenness cost unfruitfulness, it is a cursed life.
-you, we, the church was barren, unfruitful because still living in a disobedient, sinful life and  we do not understand the power of Christ's death and the cross.
-as we pass through the cross...as we understand the power of His death...cursed life has been cancelled and we transfer to the blessed life.
-our life is like a seed, before it bears fruit...it must die first.

*John 12:24:  "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

 **Increase in seeds, increase in harvest

a. SOWER  OVERTAKES THE HARVESTER
-The Seed of God -   JESUS CHRIST
-It is not the teaching nor the works of Christ to be multiplied  (though that would be a by-product.) (We are to do greater works. John. 14:12). 
-What to be multiplied was Himself, Jesus the Seed planted in mankind. 
-God sent His Son (the SEED) to the earth, not to remain alone but to die that (the Seed) He planted in man bring forth life in us, His very image. 
-Jesus was to multiply Himself in man and each new generation of enchristed ones to further multiply the Christ in others.
-sower of the seeds will overtake the harvester because many seeds are dying to self
- you die, we die....dead from lustful desire, emotion, reasoning
-your old life is dead...and you have a new life today ready to reproduce.

b. OVERTAKE  - Multiplying
-we are the fruit that bears the Seed of God
-now more seeds are dying that would bring great harvest
-reproducing Christlike character in every man

c. LIFE OF ABUNDANCE
 - blessed life - John 10:10
 -OVERFLOWING

-when Jesus died...He was able to reproduce Himself to Peter and His disciples...and the disciples died to themselves...reproduce the church...and the church must die to herself....
-WE ARE SEED OF THIS NATION who live to die...die to live and to bear much fruit, fruit that will last
-ang BUHAY NATIN NGAYON AY HINDI NA UNFRUITFUL KUNDI FRUITFUL NA AT OVERFLOWING PA...AT BLESSING PA SA IBA....AT MULTIPLYING PA DAHIL PATAY NA ANG DATING IKAW. NOW THE CHURCH WILL BE OVERTAKING....YOUR LIFE OF SEED WILL REPRODUCE A GREAT HARVEST!!
 -PAG LABAS NYO NG ENCOUNTER NA ITO...YOU ARE THE SEED OF THE SOWER...

MISSION: I'M POSSIBLE

      What a precious gift to have someone whom you can trust and trust you as well. This kind of person is rare, courageous and daring, who looks at the possibilities of transformation and believe in the potential of others. It is not easy to be involved to someone with conflicts, hang ups and tantrums. However, there are some people who dare and were able to produce great leaders.

1. Jonathan to David

1 Samuel 20:2 “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!” 3 But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” 4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

-Jonathan was supposed to be the next king after his father Saul. David was a big threat for that position, his father wanted to kill his friend but Jonathan selflessly protected the life of the anointed chosen king of God. A person like Jonathan is a king's maker, no hidden selfish plan. He recognize and acknowledge whom God choose. He values relationship than position. He has no insecurities in the greatness of others.

2. Ananias and Barnabas to Saul

"Acts 9:17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him ..."

-Ananias and Barnabas are the only persons who dared to come close and gave chance to a person who put many believers to death...a criminal. Because of their obedience to God and trust...a great christian leader was born.
-having somebody like Ananias and Barnabas, every wasted life becomes a useful life.
-they have the eyes of seeing a new life in a person despite of his past.

3. Mordecai to Esther

Est 4:13  "Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews."

-Mordecai was able to raised up a virtuous, beautiful and God-fearing orphan girl in the life of Esther. He took care of  his cousin,, provided her needs, imparted his life by sharing his values. He patiently raise up a seemed to be hopeless girl and turned her to be the first woman of the palace.
-Esther from being nobody to a somebody to her own people. Her courage and compassion comes from the values being imparted by her mentor.
-a great mentor like Mordecai is valuable, he spoke directly, he never compromise what is important, he is passionate to his values and to his people and he is unfraid to speak the truth and right, silent about his own accomplishments, and his drive is the welfare of others.

4. Jesus to Peter and other disciples

^{Acts 2:40} Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

-The unwanted, unnoticed, and outcast of the society became the world changers. The least in the eyes of this world was able to perform miracles, spoke to the authority with boldness and three thousand people were saved with his preaching.
-Jesus trusted His disciples regardless of their backgrounds, temperaments and personalities. He was faithful in dealing with their weaknesses, he rebuked and corrected them yet love them and a friend to them.
-Jesus saw the unlimited potentials of His disciples. He declared blessings upon them. He has faith in them. He never gave up to the impulsiveness and denial of Peter, doubt of Thomas, hot temperedness of James and John, unwillingness of Phillip, superiority of Nathaneal. He was not bothered by the past of Matthew, not intimidated by Judas' disloyalty and plan of betrayal.
-Jesus always look on the POSSIBILITIES and POTENTIALITIES of His disciples...so the church begun.

     They are leader raisers, king and queen's makers, producers of world changers. They are able to create useful creation from a wasteful scrap.  A world changer is born by a king's maker. It is not being the first but being the last. Not by being served but serving others. Putting others' interests before his own. His agenda is based on the agenda of the King of kings.

     If you are a disciple say to yourself "I'm Possible to change"...Be thankful to the friend-leader you have who never gave up on you, look at you beyond the person who you are right now, he protects, trusts and loves you. He corrects even it hurts in order to bring out the seed of greatness inside of you.

     Are you leading someone to Christ? Or discipling an unwanted kid across the street?  Worth sacrificing...they will become great if you never give up on them.

     Every one is POSSIBLE TO CHANGE if there is SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO BELIEVE.
  

Leadership: Jesus' Way

Matthew 26:39-42

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

     What is the first thing come into your mind when you think about "leadership"? Some says that leader has the direction where people follow. He holds the steering wheel. He knows where to go and how to get there with power and authority.

      I admire many characters from the Bible who displayed courage in fighting the battles and face their challenges fearlessly. One day I prayed to the Lord this prayer, "Lord I admire a lot of great leaders in the Bible but I want to learn your leadership...how you face the challenges, I want to learn how you do it." Different from what I expect the revelation of his ways.

      1. To go up is to go down v. 39
           - Jesus turned the culture of this world down side up. The thought of this world about leadership is having a high position with controlling power. However, Jesus leads by laying down His life and emptying His self.
           a. from heaven to earth
           b. from being the King to a Servant
           c. from sitting to the throne to kneeling to the ground
           - Jesus led by example, He imparted His lifestyle. He prayed, ministers, submits, obeys, serves, teaches, forgives, disciples, loves, and empowers.
           - the glory of leadership comes from serving other's concern.
      2. To lead is to submit v. 39
           -Jesus became the most powerful and effective leader of all time because of His unreserved submission and obedience to the Father. Being in human form, Jesus felt the heaviness of the prize of redemption, for three times He prayed earnestly to remove the suffering He was about to experience and yet His heart is in submission to the will of the Father. 
           - Because of that, Jesus' influence to the past, present and even future generation leaders brings transformation and gives inspiration to do the same.
      3. To admit weakness is to receive strength v. 41                  
           - Jesus Himself experienced weakness in the body, He admitted it and sought for help from His own disciples. He shared with the weakness of humanity according to the Bible, and He knew what to do...admit, get real, be transparent. He wept, was hungry, was thirsty, and felt the pain when the Father turned from Him. 
           - our weakness is never condemned by God, instead He helps us according to the Bible. It is pretension (hypocrisy) that irritates Jesus.
           - it takes courage to admit weakness and acknowledge need for help.
      4. To conquer is to control oneself v. 42    
           - Jesus as the Son of God has the power and authority to command the angels, the creation or the nature to move in His behalf but He never did. Jesus was able to conquer sin and death by overcoming His self first. He is the leader who control not anyone but  direct His own will and tame His own desire. 

     Jesus is the perfect example of a true leader. A leader who is able to direct and govern His self, led without pretensions who lived the truth. A leader who leave an impact to his generation and society knows to humble, submit, admit and control self.
 

Get Out For Success

 Exodus 33
 12Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.' 
13"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."  
14And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."…

     Moses who was brought up from a high profile, reputable,and well known family, and also exposed to a fast pace living turn to became so comfortable with the cries of the sheep. For forty years of tending the flock he thought, that would be his life,  full enough, satisfied with his affairs since everything seems doing well. He escaped and forgot his past, he built his own family and had a well compensating job. Until one day, he was disturbed by a Call coming from a burning bush, that took him out of his comfortable life. He needs to face his past, his present and his future.

    1. Moses confronted the greatest fear of his life...his own failure in the past.
         - when we confront our failures in the past we encounter healing of self, forgiveness, opportunities and possibilities. Without doing it, we may live a life with regrets, boundaries, limitations and unused gifts.
    2. Moses lived his purpose...his people to lead them. 
         - Myles Munroe said, the greatest tragedy that could happen to a person is not death but life... without a purpose. Some people wrongfully equate success with money, fame and power. True success is living out your purpose. Having all the three things I have mentioned but losing the purpose of it is useless. Helping and serving people is the real essence of success. 
          - living with purpose means living outside your comfort zone, being disturbed and changing your own plans to God's plan.
    3. Moses saw his destination...his inheritance and resting place.
          - encountering the burning bush means challenge. It brings you to the place which you are afraid of and things you are afraid to do, but by doing so you can only find your fulfillment, rest and wealth.

    Moses did not sought his success, it was God who called him to give him his purpose. Though it was not easy, he received empowerment from God. When he conformed to God's direction, he received the fullness of his life- that is the true success.