Can we really trust God?

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
Romans 8:28 (NIV) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Friend to Friend
A daughter was telling her mother how everything was going wrong. "I am failing Algebra. My boyfriend just broke up with me, and my best friend is moving away," she wailed. Her mom listened patiently and then asked, "I made a cake for dinner. Would you like a snack?" The girl grinned and said, "Sure, Mom. I love your cake." The mom smiled and asked, "How about some cooking oil?" The daughter looked surprised at the offer and responded with a loud "Yuk!" The mom tried again, "How about a couple of raw eggs?" With a look of confusion, the daughter said, "Gross, Mom!" With a smile, the mother offered, "Would you like some flour or maybe a cup of baking soda?" The daughter responded, "Mom, all of those things are gross!" The mother cut a piece of cake and placed it on a plate with a fork. As she handed the delicious snack to her daughter, she explained, "Honey, all of those things seem bad when you think about eating them alone, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a delicious cake."

God often works the same way. We sometimes wonder why He allows us to go through such difficult times, but when God puts everything in the right order, they work out for our good. We just have to trust Him to do so. I will never forget the day I learned how God really can turn tragedy into triumph. I was sitting at my desk, working on an assignment from the counselor I had been seeing. For months, I had been wrestling with my past - slowly, methodically working through painful issues and buried memories that seemed to be feeding the clinical depression I was battling. As page after page filled with harsh realities, a memory slammed into my heart and mind.

The pain was overwhelming as a vile scene from my childhood slowly took shape. I could hardly breathe as I frantically tried to escape the certainty I had been molested. The perpetrator had been our family doctor and a trusted friend. He had even provided free medical treatment when we couldn't pay for it. I trusted him, counted on him. As a nurse, my mother worked beside this man every day and often babysat his children to earn extra money.

Anger unlike any I had ever known fueled violent thoughts of revenge and retaliation. I was angry with this man – and angry with God. How could He have let this happen? Where was the light in this dark place?

For months, I worked through painful memories and raging emotions until I saw the first glimmer of light. It was wrapped in chosen forgiveness. I began to see that had I never been wounded so badly, I would never have been able to forgive so freely – and in doing so, discover a depth of healing and freedom only the greatest pain can produce. Today, I can honestly thank God for all He has accomplished in me through the sin of that man.

There are no accidents with God, nor is He surprised by anything or anyone in the life of His child. God uses even the most horrendous circumstances for our good. Every circumstance comes to us for a purpose, bound by God's love and plan and faithfully delivered with His permission. While we cannot go back and change our past, we can change the way we respond to our past and determine how much power it has in our lives today.

Only God can take the broken pieces of your life and make something beautiful out of each one. He is waiting for you to let go of your pain and trust Him. And you really can. No one loves you like He does. You may not always understand or even like His process, but you can always trust His heart of love for you.
Let's Pray
Father, I choose to believe You are faithful and will do what You promise to do in Your Word. I believe that when I lay the pain and hurt of my past at Your feet, You can and will transform it all into something beautiful. I choose to believe You will turn the broken places of my life into living illustrations of Your sufficiency and healing power.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Where Do You Go When You Hit Rock Bottom?

Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth
"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God," (1 Samuel 30:6 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Sometimes life doesn't work out the way we thought it would. This was certainly the case for a teenage boy named David who was anointed the next King of Israel.

While King Saul was still on his throne, God chose David to be his successor. This didn't sit too well with the King and he made every attempt to kill David before the crown could be placed on his handsome head. The young David, who earlier had bravely charged the Philistine giant, Goliath, now ran for his life. The one place Saul didn't think David would hide was among the Philistines whom he had previously shamed. So that is exactly where David hid…the briar patch, so to speak.

By this time, David had a six hundred man army gathered round him. Each man brought his wife and children to live in the camp. The rag tag team of outcasts became David's kingdom for a time.

One day while David and his men were off fighting a battle, another group of people, the Amalakites, invaded their camp and took all their wives and children captive. When David and his men returned home, they found empty beds, smoldering fires, and the haunting absence of familiar voices.

The men wept until they had no more tears or energy for recourse. Rather than devise a rescue plan, they turned their anger on their leader and threatened to stone him. Hurting people often hurt people and they were looking for someone to blame.

Can you imagine how David must have felt? His previous employer was trying to kill him (he had worked in Saul's palace), his best friends had turned against him, and his wife and children had been taken captive or possibly killed. Where was he to turn? How could he encourage his men when he had nothing left to give?

There was only one place to turn…to God.

"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6). Friend, sometimes to God is the only place we have to go. Isn't it a shame that we wait until God is our last resort rather than our first line of defense? Yes, God has called us to live in community with other believers, but sometimes I believe He wants us all to Himself.

Moses was alone with God when he talked to God in the burning bush. Hagar was alone with God when he spoke to her and gave her water in the desert. Elijah was alone with God when God revealed Himself in the still small voice. Hannah was alone with God when she poured out her heart in prayer for a child. Jesus often went away by himself to commune with His Father. Where do we go when we hit rock bottom? When we're feeling empty? When we've lost hope?

Go to God. Strengthen yourself in the Lord your God. It worked for David and He will work for you. David later wrote, "It is God who arms me withstrengthand keeps my way secure," (Psalm 18:32 NIV).
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father, Please give me the strength I need to meet each challenge I will face today. Thank You that You promise never to leave me or forsake me. No matter how alone I may feel, or how many turn against me, I know that You are always there. You are always for me.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Sarah's Bible Verse

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

International Accounting IFRS

What is IFRS?

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are a set of accounting standards developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that is becoming the global standard for the preparation of public company financial statements.

How widespread is the adoption of IFRS around the world?
Approximately 120 nations and reporting jurisdictions permit or require IFRS for domestic listed companies, although approximately 90 countries have fully conformed with IFRS as promulgated by the IASB and include a statement acknowledging such conformity in audit reports.¹ Other countries, including Canada and Korea, are expected to transition to IFRS by 2011. Mexico will require IFRS for all listed companies starting in 2012. Japan has introduced a roadmap for adoption that it will decide on in 2012 (with a proposed adoption date of 2015 or 2016) and is permitting certain qualifying domestic companies to apply IFRS from fiscal years ending on or after March 31, 2010. Still other countries have plans to converge their national standards with IFRS.

What are the advantages of converting to IFRS?
By adopting IFRS, a business can present its financial statements on the same basis as its foreign competitors, making comparisons easier. Furthermore, companies with subsidiaries in countries that require or permit IFRS may be able to use one accounting language company-wide. Companies also may need to convert to IFRS if they are a subsidiary of a foreign company that must use IFRS, or if they have a foreign investor that must use IFRS. Companies may also benefit by using IFRS if they wish to raise capital abroad.  

What could be the disadvantages of converting to IFRS? Despite a belief by some of the inevitability of the global acceptance of IFRS, others believe that U.S. GAAP is the gold standard, and that a certain level of quality will be lost with full acceptance of IFRS. Further, certain U.S. issuers without significant customers or operations outside the United States may resist IFRS because they may not have a market incentive to prepare IFRS financial statements. They may believe that the significant costs associated with adopting IFRS outweigh the benefits. 

What other areas of the profession will IFRS affect? As IFRS grows in acceptance, most CPAs, financial statement preparers and auditors will have to become knowledgeable about the new rules. Others, such as actuaries and valuation experts who are engaged by management to assist in measuring certain assets and liabilities, are not currently taught IFRS and will have to undertake comprehensive training. Professional associations and industry groups have begun to integrate IFRS into their training materials, publications, testing, and certification programs, and many colleges and universities are including IFRS in their curricula. Some textbooks are already covering IFRS, primarily in a comparative presentation to their instructions on U.S. GAAP. New textbooks covering IFRS are currently being written and should be in circulation in the reasonably near future.

More Information

Sarah's Fun Facts

Sarah, Naomi, and Mama Bisset

Nickname:

Big Mama

What do you like to do for fun:

 

Reading, playing skibob, drawing, watching kids and cooking

 

What is your Favorite Food:

Brezel

What is your Favorite Color:

Blue

What is your Favorite Bible verse:

The Lord is my Shepherd

What special skill would you like to learn:

Drawing Cartoons, Programming IT

What is your favorite animal:

Elephant

What is your favorite subject in school:

Moderation

What is your least favorite subject in school:

Math

What do you like to do best:

Organizing and Planning

Like if you could be any color what would you be:

 Light blue

If you could be any animal what would you be:

Elephant

If you could go back in time what would you be:

 A healer in a village in Africa or a mother Theresa

Where would you go if you could choose a historical site:

 Arthur pulling out the sward

 If you could be a character in the bible what would it be:

 The blind dude

What Cartoon figure would you be:

 The hippo from Madagascar

 One of Sarah's Favorite Songs

Sarah's Daily Routin

Every Day is different so the structure for Sarah is getting up at 6am, and having her coffee on the veranda with Bible and God. Once her alone time with God is established,  she then makes a plan for the day. Until 8am she has the home office to herself, in-case  she needs to do something personal like check emails, and divide work for the head office staff. Usually, Chandia joins her, and tells Sarah the plan from she has to do for the day, like what is going on with gardens, pigs, and kids. At 8:20, Sarah's father comes around and they have a 5 min meeting (if he is in town, but more and more he is in the north of Uganda). She usually  ready for phone calls, problem solving, studying, and what every arises. If it is a  holiday, then she homeschools the older children.  She closes the head office  at 5, and  heads home, but this also again depends  on if she is cooking or reading or helping with homework with the children.  She usually has the kids go to bed by 10 pm, and  this is the time she has her last cup of coffee, and heads to bed around midnight. On Sunday it is a day of Church and rest!. Please pray for this busy woman of faith!!!

Sarah's Dreams

Fisher, Naomi, and Sarah

Sarah's Dream is to have her own plot of land, so she can build a house for children and to have money for the future.  “I just want the kids to grow, and have a future. That is what the kids are learning, and what we are doing, so that they can do this for others.”

Sarah Kern

Sarah Kern

 

Sarah Kern was born in Kampala, Uganda to her father Hans-Martin Fischer and her mother Angela Fischer. She has two sisters and three brothers that live all over the world. She attended school in Zambia, Uganda, Germany, and  got her nursing degree in Germany.  She and Naomi left Germany for Uganda in 2000 to help her father built resorts, and to run the business from the home office in Jinja, Uganda. In that time she started Sarah’s Heart for Second Chances home. Between running the home, with the help of Chandia, Anna, and the older children, and running her family business she still has time to invite guests to her home for a place to rest, and grow closer to God.  Through the next week we are going to take a journey into her life and to pray for the special lady she is!!!

Miracles

December 22, 2013

Miracles

1 Kings 17:8-24

Read Then the LORD said to Elijah, "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you." So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, "Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?" As she was going to get it, he called to her, "Bring me a bite of bread, too." But she said, "I swear by the LORD your God that I don't have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die." But Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you've said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!" So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16)

Reflect When Elijah first went to Sidon to the foreign widow's home, she expressed desperation and doubt. When she met Elijah, she thought she was preparing her last meal. But a simple act of faith produced a miracle. She trusted Elijah, did as he asked, and gave her food to him. Then she discovered the Lord's sustaining provision for her and her son. Later, the death of her son brought her to a crisis of faith as she faced her sins. Again, her trust in Elijah was rewarded as her son regained life. Her story, which began with desperation, ends with an affirmation of God's power and presence.

Respond Faith is the step between promise and assurance. Miracles seem so out of reach for our feeble faith. But every miracle, large or small, begins with an act of obedience based on faith. We may not see the solution until we take the first step of faith because God offers help where we least expect it. God provides "a pathway no one knew was there!" (Psalm 77:19). When we put our faith in God for small things like a meal, we will be more ready next time to put our faith in him for big things—like life.

Baggage

Ezekiel 36:24-28

I am about to get very real and very deep! This is something that God has been putting on my heart lately, and it is time to bring it to the surface, and let the people see us for who we are…

 

Few months back, almost a year ago, someone dear to me, told me that once sin has entered into a relationship it would follow that relationship for the rest of their lives and they can NEVER overcome it… I am here to say that this is a lie from the pit of HELL!!! Sad part is everyone that believes in Christ as their personal savior believes this! It took God shaping me, and removing this person from my life to understand that they are believing a lie! And I hope this person reads this message, and they understand where this is coming from!!!

                                           

I was taught that when I accepted Christ that my sins were washed away… past… present… and future!!! That I could live a life without guilt of my sins, and that I could live free from the choices I have made in the past. Don’t get me wrong, God does use guilt to show us our sins, BUT and yes BUT, if we confess with our mouths about this sin and ask forgiveness then the guilt is, not should be, is washed away. The only person who uses this guilt is SATAN! And he is very good at it! We don’t realize it, but we carry emotional baggage with us every day! And it can be so tiring! When you ask forgiveness, God asks you to hand over the baggage that is attached to the sin… but for most of us we tell God “Nope I am going to hang on to this for a while” and like a gentlemen God does not force the issue. God will slowly lets you struggle with it, until you cry out in pain asking God to just take it! Great part about it is He takes it, and not once does He bring it back up! 

Let's look at scripture about this. In Ezekiel 36:24-28, God scatter the nation of Israel among different kingdoms due to the sin of not obeying God’s commandments. During this time, Israel was exile from promise land, but during these verses God is calling all of Israel back to Him. He was gathering them from all the countries He had place them. He sprinkling them with water and putting a new heart of flesh in them, so that they will keep His commands, and He is to be their God. Look at it closely; God is calling everyone back to Him, even the ones that sinned!! And not once did He say... "Remember all that bad stuff you did? Well, I want you to carry it around" No, He gave them grace, and pulled them close to Him! He forgave them and washed them clean.

A lot of us take the verse 1 Corinthian 13:5 for granted! Love keeps no record of wrong!! Read it again NO RECORD OF WRONG!!! If God doesn't hold our forgiven sins as a record of wrong then why do we do it? When we do this we are putting ourselves above God, and telling our Creator that He is not doing His job correctly. "God you let me go to easily on this sin... so I am going to punish myself longer" Take a step and look at that statement again!!! Look at it closely, and let those words touch your most inter part of your heart! And then ask the question are you doing this?

It is time to let go of the baggage! It is time to keep what is in the past in the past! So if I saw that special someone today I say "ask forgiveness of the sin they commented by confessing it with your mouth... Then hand the baggage over to God and let's start fresh! Yes, Satan will try to push us back into it, but our God is more powerful, and He can help us push past it." Think about it! What are you carrying that God has already forgiven you for? It is time to let go! And to be free of it!!!!

Suitcases

From Obstacle to Instrument

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

The persecuted church teaches us that everyone is either an agent of God’s will, or an instrument of God’s will. Everyone in this world has only two choices: they can choose to do God’s will by co-operating with God, or they can choose to defy God and do his will unknowingly.

“Remember, our God is so great even the persecutors serve him,” said a Chinese pastor wryly. He was referring to arch-persecutor of the Chinese church, Mao Tse Tung, who launched the fiercest anti-Christian campaign of the 20th century in the 1960’s. Called the “Cultural Revolution,” he swept away all churches, burned all Bibles, and imprisoned all the pastors.

Yet all he succeeded in doing was pushing the church deep underground, where it became embedded in the family structure and Chinese culture in a way 300 years of evangelism had failed to accomplish. From this fire emerged the world’s largest revival – where the church grew from 1 million in 1950 to over 80 million today.

“We say,” smiled the pastor, “that thanks to Mao – who thought he was annihilating the church – we have the greatest revival. He thought he was killing the church, but all the while he was doing pre-evangelism. God had the last laugh. Glory be to God – He always gets his will done.”

This truth is also showing up in India. Since 1997 violence against Christians has increased greatly as a result of the election of Hindu extremists. Yet the effect of the extremism has been to drive thousands of low caste Hindus into the church. The more Hindu extremists persecute Christians, the more moderate Hindus are drawn into the church.

It is a glorious truth the persecuted awaken us to. Everyone ends up furthering the will of God! Even those who put obstacles in the way of the church serve God, because God just turns the obstacle into an instrument. This means that we must not despair when we think conditions for the flourishing of our Christian lives or our churches are less than perfect. Take your worst enemy or the one feature of your life, society or church that causes you most despair, then put your mind into gear and think – how would God work his will through this obstacle?

Are you childless? Maybe God is using that to give you a greater ministry, impossible with the responsibility of family? Are you powerless? Maybe God wants to show his glory and make you marvel? We may not get an answer, but it is a thrill to try, because we know everyone is either a willing agent or an unwitting instrument of the will of God.

He’s too great, and he loves the world too much, for it to be any other way! God takes the obstacle, and makes it the instrument!

RESPONSE: Today I will be an agent to accomplish God’s will realizing He can make me an instrument.

PRAYER: Lord, make me an instrument of Your will and work as I choose to cooperate with You.

Sharing Faith Under Pressure

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Twenty-nine-year-old Maryam Rostampour and thirty-two-year old Marzieh Amirizadeh spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison in 2009 in Iran. They had to overcome the fear of life imprisonment and the possibility of execution because they loved and followed Jesus Christ. They had to remain strong through weeks in solitary confinement, and endless hours of interrogation by Iranian officials and religious leaders. They had to endure months of harsh living conditions and debilitating sickness. In their first interview (with Sam Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries), they shared what life was like in prison and how they survived.

Maryam commented, “When we were arrested most of the guards treated us badly, especially when they knew we had been involved in evangelism. They would curse us and would not let us drink water from the public tap or use the wash basin. But this changed and eventually they asked us to pray for them.”

Marzieh said, “Some [prisoners] called us ‘Dirty, unclean, apostates,’ but their opinion changed and they asked for forgiveness. We had become an example to them and they would take our side.”

Maryam added, “At Evin Prison the well-educated political and business prisoners called us ‘Mortad Kasif’ (Unclean apostates). In less than a month everything changed. As they got to know us, they were curious about our faith, they respected us and called upon us to sort out arguments they had between themselves.”

When asked if any prisoners came to faith, she said, “Yes. There were those who accepted Christ. When we were in Vozara [the first prison the women were taken to] we prayed the sinner’s prayer with many of the prostitutes. They prayed themselves and we prayed for them. But there were others who were too frightened to confess their faith. There were many who were impacted.”

Even in prison, under tremendous pressure, it is possible to share one’s faith.

RESPONSE: Today I will resolve to use my freedom to share my faith with others in spiritual darkness.

PRAYER: Lord may other Christian prisoners around the world have the courage and opportunity to share their love for You today.

When Things Seem Impossible

Are you asking the right question?

Read | John 6:5-14

Years ago, our church was preparing to purchase some costly property, and our desire was to accomplish the transaction without going into debt. One week before the deadline, we had accumulated less than half the money; raising the rest seemed impossible. I mentioned our need to the congregation, and after the first service, a young couple came up and gave me the husband’s wedding band to use toward the payment. They insisted I take the ring in spite of the fact that they were barely getting by and had a baby on the way.

During the second service, I pulled out the ring and told about this couple’s sacrifice. Then the most amazing thing happened. People started streaming down the aisle and giving all kinds of things—boats, houses, jewelry, cars. At the end of that service, we had exactly the amount we needed.

Nothing is impossible for our Father. He used an inexpensive ring to raise over two million dollars in one day, just as He once borrowed a sack lunch to feed five thousand people.

We often make the same mistake the disciples did in today’s passage—we ask the wrong question: “What am I going to do?” Instead, we should ask the right one: “Lord, what are Yougoing to do?” God has a plan to guide us safely through every seemingly impossible situation if we will simply trust Him instead of our own resources.

Look to your heavenly Father for whatever you need. He has promised to provide for His children, and He knows the best way and timing to do so.

Running on Empty

''You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" Psalm 68:35 (NIV)

We were in between moves, living out of suitcases. My husband was working in one state while I was staying in another to sell our home. I had a bad cold, and coughing had interrupted my sleep for nights. I was so tired that the rings under my eyes had rings under them.

When my husband suggested we take time away from the packing, selling, and traveling, just to rest, I mentally listed the reasons we couldn't. How could we manage our many to-do's if we took time off?

In all of these excuses, I was ignoring that I had become very, very tired.

I was tired spiritually as we encountered hurdle after hurdle in the plan we knew God spoke into our hearts.

I was tired physically from a week-long cold.

I was tired relationally as I missed my husband.

Our circumstances weren't awful. I had battled much more challenging ones in the past. So I reasoned that I needed to put on my big-girl pants and just keep moving forward. Admirable, maybe, if you're a machine, but I am a plain ol' human who had run out of steam.

God knew it. My husband knew it. It was time for me to admit it. I needed time to rest and re-connect with God through prayer.

In Psalm 68:35 the Psalmist writes of a living God whose might and power sustained the people with power and strength. I was in need of that kind of help.

The writer of this verse responds to the Lord with great joy and praise. "You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" (NIV) When we take our eyes off of worthless and powerless gods or even our own selves we rediscover the power and might of God. I needed to take my eyes off of the self-sufficiency of Suzie to rediscover what God had waiting for me.

Kneeling, I surrendered my schedule, time, and need to just keep going. I confessed that I was exhausted and needed my Heavenly Father's strength to complete the tasks in front of me.

That weekend I refueled as I nestled on a couch and prayed for a calm mind that was focused on the Lord, rather than all I had to do. I sat in God's beautiful creation and asked for Him to help me drop my stress over selling our home. I sensed His peace as I rested and took time to get better from my cold.

When the weekend ended, I was me again. It wasn't that I walked away with all my challenges erased, but I left filled up with God's strength.

Maybe you're like me. You are spiritually and physically tired, but you don't feel like you can take time to take a break. You think running full steam ahead is the strong way to handle things.

If we continue to run on empty and never stop to let the Lord fill us up, we will eventually discover the limits of our own strength.

Is it time for a prayer retreat of your own? Your special time with God might be in a park or a quiet place like the corner of a library. It's not the place that matters, but that you find one and take time to meet with the Lord.

We schedule everything else. Why not take time to rest in our Heavenly Father? Let's take a break and allow Him to fill us up as we seek His strength for the days ahead.

Dear Lord, I am spiritually and physically tired, and I have heard the whisper to stop and be refilled. Thank You for the sanctuary I find in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I am going away for the weekend to reconnect with God and to rest, so when Monday comes around I can go full force again!!!

Making a List … Checking it Twice

When God tells you to obey him... you do it even if it means waiting for Him to move!!!

 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

Friend to Friend
Every year, I make a Christmas list comprised of every person for whom I am buying a gift. Beside each name, I put a dollar amount, a limit of how much money I will spend for that gift, vowing not to spend one penny more than the set limit. (Somehow, the amount I actually spend rarely coincides with the amount I intended to spend. Can you relate?) With every purchase, I then draw a beautiful red line through that name. Done!

I carry that list everywhere I go because sometimes I find a gift during a random shopping trip but mainly because I can't afford to let it out of my sight. There are evil people lurking in my home who will go to any lengths to find that list. You see, I am the Queen of Surprise when it comes to Christmas, so I must guard my list with my life in order to keep my "Queen-ship" status secure. Consequently, the list is hidden in various and unusual places such as a random file on my computer, in my closet, in an old purse, in a sock drawer, in a flower pot – you get the picture. I know where that Christmas list is at all times because it is my gift-giving plan for the holidays.

I wish I were just as concerned about "God's list" for my life; carrying His life plan for me in my heart and mind as I live each day, constantly making choices and decisions in light of that list, guarding it like the treasure map of eternity that it truly is.

Just knowing the plan God has for me does not guarantee success.
I must actually do the plan. That is where the choice to obey comes in.

An obedient heart is a "fixed" heart and is the gift God wants from us this holiday season.

Psalm 108:1
"O God, my heart is fixed!"

Psalm 40:8
"I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart."

A "fixed" heart is a determined heart, a steadfast heart that is rightly focused on God and His will, His plan. When we choose to follow God's plan, the desires of our heart will line up in obedience to that plan. We will find our greatest joy in pleasing God, in doing His will because that is what we were created to do.

Maybe today is a good time to stop, go back over the list, and review those life lessons we have learned, checking to see where we really are in our walk with God.

Maybe today is the perfect time to revisit the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving Him the gift of obedience.
Let's Pray
Father, I love You. Forgive me for the times when I choose to follow my own will instead of Yours. Teach me how to fix my heart on You and give me the strength to do what You created me to do. I know Your plan is the highest and best plan for me and that I was created in response to that plan. Thank You for the purpose that doing Your will brings to my life. Today, I choose to seek You and obey Your Word.
In Jesus's name,
Amen.

When We Interfere with God's Plan

This devotion touch me big time and made me think that "Waiting" was not so bad!!!

 

 

Sharon Jaynes 

Today's Truth
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

Friend to Friend
There are some parts of the story of Abraham and Sarah that just leave me biting my nails. I mean, Sarah, what were you thinking? Telling your husband to sleep with your maid? Really?

God had an incredible plan for Abraham and Sarah. While His plan was still accomplished despite Sarah's scheming, her interference caused much heartache and strife. Many times we have a tendency to run ahead of God when we feel He is not acting quickly enough. We connive, cajole, coax, and conspire. We hamper, hinder, hassle and hurry.

Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has a plan for each and every one of us. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He does not need our interference to accomplish that plan. He does require our obedience and cooperation.

I asked my Facebook friends to tell about a time when they interfered with God's plan. Here's what a few had to say:

-I prayed that God would change my husband. I got tired of waiting, so I decided to take matters in my own hands and do it myself. I made a terrible mess of our marriage and the situation only got worse.

-I prayed for a husband, but got tired of waiting on God to bring him. I ended up dating a non-Christian, getting pregnant with twins, and ultimately left all alone to raise them by myself.

-When I was 24, I got pregnant and had an abortion. I didn't trust God with the situation and took matters in my own hands. Years of nightmares, anxiety, guilt, and fear followed. I finally allowed God to walk me through to full repentance and redemption. I knew Christ at the time of the abortion, but didn't believe He could help me get through the pregnancy. While I've dealt with the abortion physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and even share my testimony about God's forgiveness, I will never have the joy of raising that child.

-I lived with a man for 10 years. He partied all the time and didn't want to get married. I prayed that God would change him. Finally I prayed that God would change me and moved out. I cried out to God, "Why am I not enough for my boyfriend?" He answered, "Why am I not enough for you?" Wow! I can honestly say that life with God in control is amazing. His ways have been by far the most exciting and fulfilling time of my life. Listen to his nudges, friends, and most of all, wait for his green light.

-I pushed my husband to take a job that moved us thousands of miles away from family and friends. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I know I interfered with God's plan by not waiting on Him to guide us. We are still suffering the consequences.

God has given us a free will and allows us to storm ahead, but He also allows the consequences of our interference to affect our lives. Because of Sarah's interference, Hagar's son, Ishmael, was born. Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim people and Islamic faith, came from Ishmael's family tree. God predicted tension between the offspring of Ishmael and Isaac and we see that conflict raging even today with strife between the Muslims and Jews.

So here's my challenge to you today…let's not interfere with God's plan. Let's wait for Him to act and not take the reins if we feel He's not acting quickly enough. Deal? Deal.

Let's Pray
Oh Lord, forgive me for my impatience. Forgive me for running ahead of You. Forgive me for interfering in Your plans and messing things up. Today, I commit to wait on You. I will not run ahead of You. I will not come up with a plan that suits my wants, my desires, or my fancies. I'll wait on Your perfect plan to be enacted in Your perfect time.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
In one of Sarah's not-so-finest hours, she blamed the mess THAT SHE CREATED on her husband. Check out Genesis 16:1-5.

Have you ever made a mess of things, and then blamed someone else?

Ouch. My toes are hurting.

More from the Girlfriends
I think one reason we jump in and try to "help" God do His job is because we don't really trust Him. Hard to admit that, isn't it? Would you like to join Gwen, Mary and me on a faith adventure to learn to trust Him more? Then check out our book, Trusting God.  You'll love it. More importantly, you'll love God more!

Already There-Casting Crowns

The Commitment of Love

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Read Young Woman Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. . . . Young Woman I was a virgin, like a wall; now my breasts are like towers. When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees. Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon, which he leases out to tenant farmers. Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver for harvesting its fruit. But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines. Young Man O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too! Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. ((Song of Songs 8:6-14))

Reflect In this final description of their love, the girl includes some of its significant characteristics (see also 1 Corinthians 13). Love is as strong as death; it cannot be killed by time or disaster; and it cannot be bought for any price because it is freely given. Love is priceless, and even the richest king cannot buy it. The love between Solomon and his bride did not diminish in intensity after their wedding night. The lovers relied on each other and kept no secrets from each other. Devotion and commitment were the keys to their relationship, just as they are in our relationships to our spouses and to God. The faithfulness of our marital love should reflect God's perfect faithfulness to us.

Respond Love must be accepted as a gift from God and then shared within the guidelines God provides. Accept the love of your spouse as God's gift, and strive to make your love a reflection of the perfect love that comes from God himself. If you're single, accept God's love. Ask him to show you ways to show his love to others.

The Women of Christmas

Sharon Jaynes

Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1, NIV).


Friend to Friend
When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so's, they usually listened men's names. It was very uncommon to see a woman's name, even though there were a few.
But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand-new way. Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one we see four women in addition to Mary in the list! For that time in history, that was quite radical!
Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick? I'd probably include Mrs. Noah. She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah's wild ideas.
Or perhaps I'd pick Mrs. Moses. Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the desert for all those years. And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.
Or perhaps I'd pick Sarah. After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.
But no. Those are not the women God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He chose Rahab, who had been a prostitute before she was embraced into the Israelites' fold.
He chose Tamar, who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law.

He chose Bathsheba, who had an adulterous affair with King David.
And He chose Ruth, who was a woman from a cursed nation.
Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women God chose to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Through these women we see that there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory.
His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable. That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me. That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that You choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise. I am one of those "weak things" and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory. Praise You, Lord.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

So you are not to far from God for him to use you! So what is He calling you to do?

Kato's Bible Verse

 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”- John 3:4

Carpentry

Carpentry: A Rewarding Job Most Youth Despise

Long ago people used to practice carpentry for their leisure time -to kill boredom while others looked at it as wastage of time.

By Ritah Nabulya 22/01/2013 07:10:00

              

A carpenter in Kampala

But today men, most especially youths, do attend Carpentry classes and after gaining experience they join the industry.

This is believed to have reduced on the levels of unemployment in Uganda.

I have visited Carpenters in a workshop located in Nateete opposite the former Central College Building.

These were four men busy working upon customers’ orders, one was busy making a cupboard, the other was working on a bed for kids and the rest were vanishing the finished beds.

These men are always busy day in day out and there is no time for rest due to the orders that come in all the time.

They deal in making wooden doors, office chairs, beds, sofa sets, cupboards and tables.

Bob Kalema the owner of this workshop says he started with only two boys who were still Carpentry students from Kyambogo University but later he managed to recruit the third as the workshop expanded due to increase in orders for furniture.

This workshop is always busy to an extent that at times he is forced to hire some two boys that help him sanding, priming and painting to beat a deadline set by customers.

Kalema buys timber from different selling points such as UNIDA in Ndeeba, Nateete near the Centenary Bank and in Nalukolongo.

Then he transports them using a bicycle to the workshop before paying Shs2, 000 for that.

He says the price for timber ranges from Shs13, 000 to Shs50, 000. He has to wait for two to three weeks to dry before using it.

In making a cupboard Kalema incurs Shs130, 000 for materials and Shs80, 000 for labour. Finally he sells it at Shs450, 000, making a profit of Shs240, 000.

This implies that if Kalema manages to sell 10 cupboards in a month, he would be assured of Shs2.4m profit, which translates into Shs24m in a year.

For a bed (5-6) Kalema injects in Shs120, 000 for materials and Shs70, 000 for labour after which he sells it at Shs300, 000 thus registering a Shs110, 000 profit on every bed.   

Yet, most youth prefer taking on blue-collar jobs in corporate organizations where they earn less than Shs500, 000 per month.

 

Personal development

Kalema’s sweat has not been in vain.

Some of his achievements include a huge improvement in his family’s standards of living, paying school fees to his five children in ‘good schools’ and modest investments in real estate.

He adds that he managed to buy a plot of land in Namasuba along Entebbe Road from his furniture workshop.

Some of the challenges he faces at work include enduring insults from impatient customers.

“They usually quarrel when their orders delay yet timber has to fast get dry before I start work,” says Kalema.

“Some customers make orders and they fail to pay in most cases that become hard for these carpenters,” he adds.

Kalema’s story is evidence that if government drew a strategy of investments in vocational training and offered small scale loans to students after graduation, it would not only trim the level of unemployment in the country but also boost tax revenues.

 

BENEFITS

Such investments uplift the standards of living of youths, raise household income, break dependence cycle, lower crime rates especially in urban areas and eventually lead to economic growth.

During the 20th graduation ceremony for the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Vocational Training Institute in Kampala in December last year, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi announced that Government had earmarked Shs433bn for capitation grants and bursaries to support students attending formal business, technical and vocational training courses under the “Skilling Uganda” programme this financial year.

The Principal, Rosemary Nakunda Bigirwa announced that the institute had started evening and weekend programmes to cater for the working class of students. She said the courses would empower them to create their own jobs.

“We started the skilling programme in 1960 and we are now proud to be part of the government in implementing it,” she said.

At least 768 students who graduated with certificates and diplomas in various vocational courses at the institution would not want to stay on the streets.

Mbabazi said the need for vocational education was at a high demand.

YWCA is implementing a government-funded pilot non-formal skilling programme in Kampala and Kiruhura district.

According to Dee Boston, a researcher on carpentry, another important advantage of the career is an ever changing work situation.

Most carpenters are constantly on the go, moving from one outside project to another.

 So for those who dislike desk work or an inside office setting, carpentry provides an attractive alternative. A carpenter need not worry about boredom from day to day.

Each project generally presents many unique challenges while keeping the work interesting. Along the same lines, a carpenter also has the chance of getting to know and deal with quite a number of different people along the way.

The wide range of work carpenters can enjoy spans from major projects including building bridges, commercial buildings and residential structures to specializing in building cabinets, chairs and other similar smaller jobs.

 

Self Employment

Moreover, there is the attractive option of self employment-being your own boss. And it doesn't usually require a lot for one to start a carpentry business.

A skilled tradesman can start as a freelance carpenter for hire with smart marketing and after making the right connections.

With the demand that carpentry often attracts, one does not have to wait long to get projects. By initially starting with small projects, those may eventually will lead to bigger and more enriching ones.

Capacity building

According to Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the Vice Chancellor of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU), the campus designed a programme targeting local skilled people to acquire a Certificate in Engineering Technology and Practice.

The campus would begin with mechanics, technicians, artisans, carpenters and all folks involved in mechanical engineering in places like Katwe and vehicle mechanics working in workshops across the country.

“There are people who are technicians but have no qualifications yet their skills are needed in the Ugandan industry,” said Baryamureeba.

He also said some courses will be taught in local languages like Luganda, Luo and Runyakitala specifically to the holders of a Certificate in Engineering Technology and Practice.

“Most countries train people in their local languages and so we want to give Ugandans the opportunity to study in the languages they are familiar with.”

Baryamureeba said as part of the training strategy, they will partner with existing workshop owners to strengthen their workshops, offer them training as trainers of trainees and work with them to impart skills on the prospective students.

Baryamureeba said as part of the training strategy, they would partner with existing workshop owners to strengthen their workshops, offer them training as trainers of trainees and work with them to impart skills on the prospective students.

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