“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” 2 Peter 3:11.

In the 1800s, an American tourist stopped by the home of Polish rabbi Chofetz Chaim.
The tourist was surprised to find a simple dwelling place filled only with books, a table, and a bench.

The tourist asked the rabbi, “Where is all your furniture?”
To which the rabbi replied, “Where is yours?”
The puzzled American said, “Mine? But I’m only a visitor here. I’m only passing through.”
To which the wise Chaim replied, “And I am simply a visitor here on this earth. I’m only passing through.”
Scripture talks about heaven in three different ways:
The celestial and magnificent universe. Psalm 19:1.
The great expanse of space surrounding the earth or its atmosphere.Genesis 1:8.
And the sought-after home of God. Hebrews 4:14. (more…)

God’ s glory is more important than our own well-being.

The serious problem is not the pain that others have inflicted upon us.
But the pain we have inflicted (and continue to inflict) upon God.

Let me spell out as clearly as I can exactly what I mean.

Many Christians are far more interested in focusing on how they can get God to comfort them when they have been hurt than considering how much they have hurt Him. (more…)

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14.

Do you know the story of Joshua?
And how the wall of Jericho fell down after the Israelites marched around it once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day?

Why not just walk around Jericho one time?
I think it was because God was testing their faith. (more…)

Have you ever tried to throw away an old bad habit…or a self-defeating addiction?

Someone said that the best way to break a bad habit is to drop it. If we don’t break that bad habit or addiction, it will have a way of breaking us!

So how do we break that bad habit and/or a self-defeating addiction? (more…)

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Within the United States, January 15th is the day set aside to recall the birth of Martin Luther King Jr., a man whose determined efforts to cease racial inequality made an indelible mark in the 1957-1968 civil rights movement.

Looking back, this was a period of time where ignorance regarding the races tended to run rampant, and people were judged, not by their characters, but by the color of their skin. It was a time when even some of our laws were unjust, and unnecessary hatred, fear and violence was perverting society’s self-acclaimed stand as a Bible-believing nation. (more…)

8. Getting versus Giving

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, it says “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” It is not about what we gain when we serve. But it is about what we can give when we serve. A lot of people nowadays in networking look at networking on what they can gain out of it when they are at the gathering. Why not look at it on what you can give out of the networking. If we are constantly looking for praise and encouragement from people, benefits from other people, we will be disappointed and end up being a man-pleaser. But if we have an attitude of a servant, desiring to give and help, we will find fulfilment and satisfaction in God for God will be the one to reward us. I have met leaders in ministry works who give up when they feel unappreciated by other fellow men. While we need encouragement, our attitude should still be of giving rather than taking. Networking in business should be like this. I want to give those in business a challenge as they go for their next networking gathering. Instead of thinking what they can gain out of it, think about what you can give to others in the networking group. Instead of using people to win things, use things to win people. How can you turn everything around by being a person with excellent thinking? These are examples of excellent thinking – “I want to win you over so I honour you. I want to win you over so I bless you. I am a blessing to you even before you are a blessing to me. There is nothing I want to take from you. I just want to bless you.”

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3. Self-centered versus Spirit-centered

You are not self-centered but Spirit-centered. Zechariah 4:6 says “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Sometime, when we ask people to come forth to serve in the ministry and to serve God, they say they are not adequate or good enough. But we got to understand that God is not looking for perfect vessel but willing vessel. Your lifestyle is going to grow more and more into perfection. But God is looking for a willing heart that He can pour out His anointing and Spirit upon you. So it is not to find the source within yourself but to lean upon God who will empower you and give you a vision. I said earlier that when God gives you the vision, He will give you the provision.

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HOW DO WE APPLY IT?

All these above are the foundation of excellent thinking. But what can we do practically to change the way we think? How we do it to ensure that our right thinking will lead to right behaviour and methods?

When we think correctly, our methods will be correct. It is crucial for you to know that excellence is not the same as extremism. Just because God expects you to be excellent, He doesn’t expect you to be an extremist. Setting high standard for yourself is good but demanding perfectionism is being extremist. Perfectionism is different from excellence. Perfectionism does not allow for mistake. Each time, it is not good enough and you blame yourself for not getting it right. Being an extremist can lead to depression, being suicidal and low self-esteem. This is not excellence. (more…)

Excellence Is To Outdo Yourself Each Time

Some people mistakenly expect that after they become a Christian, God will show them special favours. They think that the teachers will be less strict with their papers so they pray that God please help their teachers to be blind, even if the answer is wrong, the teacher will mark it correct. Some teachings may say that if you are a Christian, all things will be successful and you will have no problems in life. It will be bliss. Do you think this is favour? Let me tell you. It doesn’t work that way in life. In fact, it is the other way round. Now that you are a Christian, you have all the resources in your hands that you didn’t have before. You now have the word of God and the Holy Spirit to guide you. You have the power of prayer. You have the wisdom from heaven above to draw upon for James said that those who lack wisdom can ask of God freely and it will be given to you freely without reproach. (more…)

Excellence Is To Transcend Your Job Description

An average person says “this is not my job. I am not paid to do this. I don’t care.” But an excellent person says “I am here to provide the best possible service to my client or to my employer. Even if I am not paid to do this, I will do it for the sake of the customer. I will do it for my company. I’ll go an extra mile for them.” (more…)