GOD’S PLACE, FIRST PLACE

Mr, this blog says SHE-HELPZ. You are trespassing if you are here (Lol).

Note: Write ups posted here are majorly inspired by ‘thoughts’ from THE spirit and usually based on the scriptures.  Above all always go back to your bible for more understanding and clarification. We just want to inspire, impact- in short help- with our words of revival.  Thank you.

Dear Children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts- IJhn5:21

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind-Mat22:37

God’s place in our lives as his children should be tops and first- above any other and every other. Even in our requests and deeds- whether married or unmarried.

As single women, in our requests, we shouldn’t focus so much on our lack of a partner that all our hearts bidding and prayer should be solely inspired by it.

As married women, we should learn how to balance our relationship with God and that with our spouse. We should study the bible well regarding this. That is, how we should treat and revere our husbands. We should also read books that would enlighten us further on this. Nevertheless, a relationship with God supersedes every other relationship in our lives and we should make all efforts to maintain it. Our relationship with God will help sustain every other relationship in our lives.

Relationships are usually based on communication. It requires both parties communicating with each other frequently. We should be conscious of God’s presence in our lives, study his word, worship, and listen.  In short, a devoted time with God each and every day- whether married or unmarried is very necessary. Though, our ‘time with God’ should be all the time since we carry him in our hearts – the above scripture says ‘love him with all your heart’.

The scripture from the book of John above says ‘we should keep away from anything that might take God’s place in our hearts’.  Once they’ve taken our hearts, they are in charge in our lives. The bible says in Pr 3: 23 that ‘guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it comes the issues of life’.  That is, a lot of decision making comes from there. Just imagine when God’s place has been snatched by someone or something else.

When God is not top priority in our hearts, there’s always something wrong. If he’s gone down two steps, there’s something wrong. If he’s gone down one step, there’s still something wrong.

His place is tops-above all.

Anyone or anything struggling for his place in your heart should probably not be there at all. We’ve been admonished to keep away from them. Even when people or things are beginning to appear they would, we should take caution.

Sometimes our needs and request seem to begin to take top priority in our hearts so much that we worry and beg God like he’s some selfish father who has refused to give us what or ‘who’ we need or desire.

Well, yes, that’s what we do when that’s most of our prayer point day in day out, when that’s always the topic of discussion with our friends, when that’s all we seek when we jump from church to church, prophet to prophet and even when that’s our early morning thoughts and late night worries.

God knows you are alone on that bed.  He sees it.  He knows its way about time; after all he was there on your last birthday.  He’s heard your cries, pleas, and request.  He heard them the first time.

Why don’t you cool down and listen to him.

Love him- with all of you and make him first place in your heart.  Stop requesting for once.  Worship- out of love and have a dialogue instead. He’s the almighty God. He knows. He’ll direct you. He’ll show you. He’ll lead you.

Probably, the reason for the delay could be something you need to learn before getting hitched. He’ll probably open your eyes to see the one he had sent but you couldn’t see because of your worry and anxiety that blinded you.

My sister, it’s in your hands. You should stop letting the devil use this to take advantage of you.

Above all, God is a good father. He’s always willing to “give good gifts to his children”.

Sister mi, “He’ll lead you to green pastures”

Here’s a confession you should make:

God is the first love in my life and he shares this place with no one and nothing else.

I can exist without a........ (Fill in the gap)-but can’t exist without God

I am a true worshipper

For me it’s God (the giver) first then others (the gift) second!

I can have............. (Fill in the gap)

He gives me the best.

And I pray you the best.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF

Welcome to the She-helpz blog.

She-helpz is about ‘sister girl helping sister girl’.  That’s the simplest way I can put it. I hope we do share and gain practical knowledge that will be of help to us as women- as young women please.

Though I started this blog a while ago, I have been hesitant about posting the numerous things that has been placed on my heart by his spirit especially in the place of study. Whatever the reason or excuse (I’ll be lying if I said the devil is one of them) I have thrown them into the air and I will be posting her consistently every reality and wisdom that’s needed to be heard.  I have in my heart a lot to share and I also believe some of us also have lots of experience and wisdom to share as well.

My prayer is that each time we visit this blog it’s a transforming experience for us by the power of God’s spirit.

Though she-helpz is a female enablement and empowerment ministry geared especially towards young females, this blog has been created to address practical issues that the older female faces in her everyday life as an individual.  Let’s move on to today’s topic:

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF- Matt 22: 39b

In the words of Jesus, this is an equally important commandment to the first which is “You must love the LORD you God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength’.  Some of us need to understand that loving our self is as much important as loving our neighbour and vice versa.  Some people have the notion that if they love themselves they are being selfish but according to the scripture above, you are to love your neighbour as yourself- like yourself.  This actually means you can’t love your neighbour if you don’t love yourself. You can’t give what you don’t have, ain’t it?  Sometimes, some relationship problems occur mostly because of the lack of not knowing how to love which could be as a result of one not loving herself. “I love myself o”, you might exclaim but you’ll discover in a bit that you probably do not love yourself as much.

1. Sometimes, the way people treat you is a reflection of how you treat yourself.  A popular African saying goes “It is the way you carry your calabash that people will help you carry it”. This is an indication.

2. You need to learn from God how to love yourself so you’ll be able to love others as you ought to and as much as you ought to. Knowing the extent of God’s love for you will help you value yourself more and see you in a better light. His word to you, his gifts, his mercy, his grace and favour towards you are all his way of letting you know that you are top priority to him. His word says that he cares so much about you that the “hairs on your head are numbered”.  Matthew 6: 25-34 indicates that “you are more valuable to him than other creations. That he knows your needs- major and minor- and that which is burning in your heart he knows.  He says you just don’t make it a god.  He says that seeking his kingdom should be your major concern and everything will surely be added to you. Your needs will be consistently met as you seek after that which matters most.

So, if you don’t understand and accept God’s love for you, you can’t love another human as you ought to. Some of us say we fear God and claim to love him but are yet to fully embrace and accept his offer of love. Some are still battling with un-forgiveness having difficulty to forgive themselves talk less others when Christ has finished the job on the cross.

TO-DO

1. Do love yourself. In your earthly relationships put yourself first and others second. If you exist well then you’ll be able to relate and make impact. 

2.  Do take care of yourself. Treat you right-spirit, body and soul. A first and major step is to connect you with your maker. A creation will always be in need to connect with its source, its creator for proper existence.  God is your source. You carry his breath of life. You need a relationship with him to live an abundant life.

3. Do not accommodate actions and relationships that cut you down especially when they are inconsistent with God’s standards of you.

In summary;

First, Love the LORD your God with all you are and about.

Love yourself.

Spread the love- love your neighbour as yourself.  

Spread the love. Share this blog link with a sister.

 

Sis, before you let that “I’m alone, I have nobody” regular thought hit you again, you should consider the following things I’m about to say.

Reminiscing about your loneliness every morning and night in your bed will only make you more miserable.

Sitting around with your girlfriends recounting past failed relationships, analysing present prospective prospects and fixing a date in faith could be a not so exciting exercise.

You’ve probably tried self deceit-the part you lie to yourself a whole lot.

Also manipulation-thepart you tried to deceive some guy into marrying you and it boomranged and

Desperation–the part you started acting irrational; really crazy anxious.

The result has been the same...

All these might have resulted in your being more desperate, helpless and thoughtless or even giving up on trying. The people who even feel more trapped are the Christian sisters. They can’t seem to understand why God would not just snap his fingers
and make it happen like yesterday. Some even have faith in denial.Please have faith, be expectant but don’t deny the reality at hand.


Sister, faith works hand in hand with love.


Our love for God should be true and genuine. It shouldn’t be just because we want something and when we get it, we elope.


Love for your neighbour is equally a very important commandment. The forgiveness and love of God for those whoever has hurt or denied or disappointed you in past.


So, how long will you sit here and wait? An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Make up your mind and stay on a decision. You might have tried to take more action but this led to more stupid mistakes. So what’s the way forward?


Forward or progress does not necessarily mean you practically are moving. You can be on a spot at the moment in your life while you make crucial corrections so as to make the journey ahead easier and quicker. You can even have a response from
your environment while you are there making these vital changes to your life. But never halt your correctional exercise just because your heart desires are beginning to suffice.




Be at peace with God.
Stop saying those prayers in hurts and disappointments. Stop going to church out of duty and yet you feel bad that he hasn’t intervened regarding your matter. Get real. Get on your knees and let it out.


Be at peace with ‘Men’
Sister, let go. Forger’it. If no be your own, no be your own. Even with God, when a servant of his throws down the towel and calls it quits. He lets them go and get another with double anointing.If you lost... then it’s an opportunity to get better and more. Ask God. He gives, you just grab. Don’t settle for less. You deserve the best. Do not steal.


Be at peace with yourself
Quit the self blaming. Fine you should find your faults, note them, correct them and move on but don’t keep reminding yourself of how if you had done this or that you would have been married. Stop criticizing yourself. It will affect the way other people perceive you. If you get into another relationship like this you
will criticize yourself out of it. Forgive yourself and move on.


People,Jesus works. Jesus rocks. He’s the rock of ages which if you build your life on you can’t be destroyed or blown away by life’s treacherous winds.

If indeed, you want to make him your Lord and saviour. Please pray this prayer:

“Dear heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus.

Your word says “he that comes to me I will by no chance cast out”.
So I know you won’t cast me out.You said in your word that “anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:31).
I ask that you save and deliver me now. I confess my sins to you right now.
I accept and confess Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior.
Henceforth it is not my life I live anymore but yours”.
Amen.



Thank you for reading. Next week!




Esther;
mailshehelpz@yahoo.com

For a start, you don’t need more. What you need is good management of whatever it is that you’ve got in your hand; that is what you have now. Whatever it is: be it an ability or skill, or a resource -like finance, connection, relationship- .

When you manage well, you’ll reproduce good.

Remember the parable of talents (in Matthew 25: 14-30) where the master credited the men who had done business with their talents and rebuked the one who had buried his.That is, those who recognize and put to work what they have will eventually get a breakthrough and increase.While those who are too careful, withdrawn, or sceptical about doing ‘businesses’ with their treasures will lose what they seem to be protecting.

“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away” (Matthew 25: 29)

“Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow-perhaps they all will.”(Eccl 11:6)

“He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”(John15: 2)

The folding of hands is not allowed but the use of whatever it is that has been placed in your hands and your custody is mandatory-to your master creator and for your own well being.

Also, do not forget to notice the master commended more, the man who was more productive.

The master acknowledges productivity.

We are productive beings.In the beginning the creator admonished us to:

“Multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it” (Gen 1: 28a)

To be productive is natural to us.Our being as humans repels stagnancy, unfruitfulness and lack of direction.And this is why we need to connect with the creative and creator:

‘To discover purpose, to connect with that productive ability and;

To know: ‘what to produce’, ‘how to produce’ and ‘for whom to produce’.

Sounds like economics huh? It’s called ‘Heaven economics’. Lol

Ever heard the saying ‘Stagnant water stinks’. I say ‘a flowing river is refreshing’.

Please do not be deceived by tarrying till everything is alright for you to ‘do’ what you’ve got to do. Will it ever be?It’s like waiting for the chicken to grow teeth.Even ‘wisest and richest’ king Solomon wrote:

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

Practical Tips

Ø Recognise what it is with you

Ø Start

Ø Just start anyway

Ø Appreciate your work

God stopped to appreciate all he had created at every time.He saw that it was good and he said “it was good”.

Ø Criticise to enhance productivity and not to cause death. If you don’t believe or see the good in your work or output, nobody will.

I leave you with one of my favourite quotes:

“When they say ’start small’, it means start really small. Think big though.

Start with what you have. Do with what you have. Use and concentrate on the time and resources you need and not that you want.

Don’t bother about everything but concentrate on what matters.

At least fire...then you’ll aim after.”

(Winkz). Go get ‘em babes. And if you are not a ‘babe’ but have just read this, there is no cause for alarm. It’s a message that can be applied by both sexes. Lol! Next week!

Esther: mailshehelpz@yahoo.com