15 Minutes

Why settle for fifteen minutes of favour when you can have it forever?
Man-pleasing is a Anatural@ trait for fallen, sinful human beings. We all want to be liked. While obtaining the favour of men may bring immediate gratification, those rewards are short-lived and temporary. Jesus warned us about getting caught up in seeking the praise and favour of men while neglecting God. He said if your motive was to impress man, then their praise would be the only reward you would receive.

God's favour is much more importantCand much more lasting. Jesus said, AW hen you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly .@ Of course, it is impossible to earn God's favour. He gives it as an act of grace. Our approach to good works reveals the condition of our heart. As long as we seek to please men we can never please God. Once we set our heart on pleasing God, however, pleasing men becomes unimportant.

Favour comes in two flavours. First is the fleeting flavour of man's favour, which is sweet and delicious at first but goes bland very quickly. Then there is God's favour, which is sweeter still and never loses its flavour. In fact, the longer it goes the sweeter it grows. The choice, of course, is yours. Which will it be? Fifteen minutesCor forever?

As George Matheson said, "Christ has illuminated the world, not by what He did, but by what He was; His life is the Light of Men. We speak of a man's life-work; the work of Jesus was His life itself.... It is good to be told that the pure in heart shall see God, but the vision of heaven in a pure man's face outweighs it all. They tell us that the Easter morning has revealed His glory; rather would I say that His glory has revealed the Easter morning. It is not resurrection that has made Christ; it is Christ that has made resurrection. To those who have seen His beauty, even Olivet can add no certainty; the light of immortality is as bright on His Cross as on His Crown. 'I am the resurrection' are His own words about Himself-not 'I teach,' not 'I cause,' not 'I predict,' but 'I am.' "

There is no such thing as partial commitment. When the pilot of a giant airliner is speeding down the runway, there is a certain point where he cannot decide to remain on the ground. When he crosses that line, he is committed to the air, or the plane crashes disastrously. That pilot cannot change his mind when the plane is two-thirds of the way down the runway.

Unfortunately, our churches are filled with members who "have never left the ground." They have been sitting there for years and years gunning their engines.

We hear much about revival these days, but the heart of revival is the Lordship of Christ. A mere emotional upheaval, a spurt of religious excitement, is not revival. When Christians become convicted of rebellion against the rule of Christ in their lives, confess their sins, renounce self, take the cross and let Jesus have the first and last word in everything, that is revival, by whatever name you call it.

Faith comes

Rom 10:17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Without paying attention to the Word of God, putting it inside us, faith will not come.

Jos 24:17 For it is the Lord our God who has taken us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house, and who did all those great signs before our eyes, and kept us safe on all our journeys, and among all the peoples through whom we went: 18 And the Lord sent out from before us all the peoples, the Amorites living in the land: so we will be the servants of the Lord, for he is our God. 19 And Joshua said to the people, You are not able to be the servants of the Lord, for he is a holy God, a God who will not let his honour be given to another: he will have no mercy on your wrongdoing or your sins. 20 If you are turned away from the Lord and become the servants of strange gods, then turning against you he will do you evil, cutting you off, after he has done you good. 21 And the people said to Joshua, No! But we will be the servants of the Lord. 22 And Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have made the decision to be the servants of the Lord. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Then, he said, put away the strange gods among you, turning your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. 24 And the people said to Joshua, We will be the servants of the Lord our God, and we will give ear to his voice.

Ø “Then, he said, put away the strange gods among you, turning your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. 24 And the people said to Joshua, We will be the servants of the Lord our God, and we will give ear to his voice.”

What do we still have in our lives, that would come between us and God, that wpuld prevent us from walking in the fullness of His blessing, His presence in our daily walk?

Is there something that we need to lay aside, something to put away and out of our lives, to experience His power? Unwillingness to giveness, pride, arrogance, the little `white lie`, the doubt. It is so easy to allow something, to creep in, to get a foothold, thereby preventing us to walk in His fullness.

1Ki 8:56 Praise be to the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, as he gave them his word to do; every word of all his oath, which he gave by the hand of Moses his servant, has come true. 57 Now may the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; let him never go away from us or give us up; 58 Turning our hearts to himself, guiding us to go in all his ways, to keep his orders and his laws and his decisions, which he gave to our fathers.

Doubt and unbelief, will be eradicated from our lives, once we purposefully decide to follow the instruction of the Word.

This does not happen by itself, it is the result of a conscious decision.

Joh 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. 8 In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples. 9 As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

Dear Friend

Kaleo Ministries
Deonhall@kaleoministries.co.za
http://www.kaleoministries.co.za
072 487 0268
13 July 2010-07-13

Dear Friend


As you may very well know, I have been involved in the treatment and therapeutic care of many individuals, troubled with addictive behavior. More so those troubled with addiction to drugs and alcohol.

You may also know that I am involved as therapist and counselor, with a rehabilitation facility in Walkerville, Gauteng, where we provide in-patient treatment to recovering addicts. You may know the facility as ADDICTS AGAINST DRUGS: PRODIGAL MINISTRIES 036-365-NPO: WALKING WITH WINNERS LIFE RECOVERY CENTRE

What you may not know is the motto at this facility: “Nobody Gets Turned Away!”

It is reasonable to accept, that providing long term (3 months and more) care, for such individuals, can become a costly experience, and it is reasonable to accept that, at the facility, we charge a nominal fee of R4000 ZAR, per month per individual. This will cover all costs ranging from housing, ablutions, to medical and therapy costs.

However, because we adhere to our motto, we will not turn the individual away who cannot afford the fee. We have a policy to accept such an individual fully into the program and to provide all the care “free” or until reimbursement can be procured.

Well then, you may understand that this becomes a burden that is shared in the income generated by those individuals who can afford to pay and they understand the predicament.

Currently, we provide care to 11 individuals of whom only 6 contribute a portion of the fee levied.

Right now, we are experiencing some financial difficulty in continuation of the program, to it’s fullest capacity, due to a lack of funds.

Therefore my humble appeal to you.

We are in dire need of contributions: financially and materially (food-stuff, toiletries, and linen).

Attached to my letter of request, is a letter from the Facility Director, Pastor Dave Barber, which explains it all in detail, along with testimonies form current in-patient, individuals.

Should you feel inclined to become involved, you may contact me for further details (banking details etc) or you may contact Past Dave Barber directly. His details are available on the additional letter.

Mat 25:31 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He shall sit on the throne of His glory. 32 And all nations shall be gathered before Him. And He shall separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 And indeed He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats off the left. 34 Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; 36 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. 37 Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? 40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.

This is a registered NPO and certificates will be issued to companies or individuals, who contribute, for tax benefit purposes.

I hope I did not offend or embarrass you through this letter.

Regards and blessings

Your Friend

Deon Hall

Dealing With Fear

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

The “neuro” term for emotions is described as “a pleasant or unpleasant mental state organized in the limbic system of the mammalian brain. Specifically, feelings of agreement, anger, certainty, control, disagreement, disgust, disliking, embarrassment, fear, happiness, hate, interest, liking, love, sadness, shame, surprise and uncertainty” – all expressed non-verbally.

Fear is described as a usually unpleasant, visceral feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or dread.

Fear is created by giving your power away through ideas and beliefs about: lack, judgment, punishment, loss, abandonment, loneliness, wrongness, badness, mistakes, death, sickness, suffering, struggle, helplessness, powerlessness, danger, authority, failure etc.

Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The knowledge that we are all magnificent powerful beings is not easy to believe when you constantly feel like a victim. It is not easy to accept that what you believe in and focus on is what you draw to yourself – you create more of it. If you focus on success, you will most certainly become successful. If you focus on positive, uplifting experiences, it will all be yours. Be warned, if you focus on what you don’t want… it will also be yours. You will have to examine your own mind to uncover the limiting beliefs you have created, which triggers fear. Fear acts like a magnet. When we are in fear we concentrate on that - and draw more of the same to us.

Phi 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. 9 Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you.

Before you can empower the reality that you are powerful and that you can create whatever you want, you have to stop empowering the belief that you can’t…

There are numerous things you can do to overcome the emotions that overpower you when you are in fear:

1. Breathe. Begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Close your eyes and go into a meditative state. (prayer is also meditation)
2. Imagine any emotional cords from other people, which are attached to you, as being released and see it floating away.
3. Relax your body. Take a hot bath with relaxing music and burn some perfumed candles.
4. Take back the power you have given to those fears and others by expecting the worst. Think of a single, positive sentence that would describe the opposite of your fear, for example: “I am calm and in control of the situation”. Feel the calmness and “experience” the control in your mind. Let go of the notion that you are not in control. You created the belief that you are not in control – change it with one single affirming sentence that you can repeat calmly and peacefully whilst breathing deeply and slowly with your eyes closed. Create a detailed fantasy of a positive outcome.
5. Let go of any particular solution you may have in mind, especially if it is a solution you don’t want. Don’t expect a solution straight away. Trust that the best thing will happen – it always does. Even when it seems as though the world is coming to an end.
6. Phone someone you trust and ask them to be with you or just speak on the phone. Talking about a situation always helps.
7. Give yourself a pleasurable experience. Have a massage or go for a brisk walk if you can.
8. Get into the present moment. Let go of the “if only…”; “what if…” or “I should have…” notions. Become aware of everything around you. The birds, the music, the traffic. Look at the colors of the flowers and the sky. Experience the now.
9. The other option you have is to allow yourself to feel the fear, without resistance. Let the feelings flow through you and don’t try to change them. A natural shift will occur when you allow the fear to be there.
You can let go of the fear and distorted perceptions and beliefs by writing positive affirmations, which will change your life forever. An affirmation cannot contain any negative words like “can’t, should not, don’t, won’t, stop” etc. It should be written in present terms as though what you want already exists. For example:

Ø I am in control of my life.
Ø I am emotionally strong and I make good choices.
Ø I have a strong, healthy body.
Ø I have good relationships with people.
Ø I am successful and powerful

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear.

Remember, what you concentrate on is what you create. Write you affirmations by hand. Say your affirmations out loud, at least ten times per day. Concentrate on every word and listen to what you say. Smell your success. Be your success. Experience it through the art of visualization. Use as many of your senses as possible. Smell it, see it, taste it, feel it, hear it.

Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he who keeps the law, he is blessed.

You don’t have to believe your affirmations when you start. I can assure you that within one or two weeks of saying your affirmations out loud, 10 times per day, using as many senses as possible at the same time, you will make it happen and the fear will go. It always does.
Create new experiences that you really want instead of living in fear of the ones you have now.

Remember that your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Changing your inner world will change your outer world. In other words, changing your thoughts and beliefs will change your experiences.

Face It

1Sa 17:35 I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. 36 Lion or bear, it made no difference--I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. 37 GOD, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." Saul said, "Go. And GOD help you!"

Facing the problem, is never easy, but it’s also, never impossible.

David, did not consider the size or the weapons of the enemy, all he knew was this; there’s a job to be done and someone needs to take care of it. If nobody else will do it, I will.

David also knew, whatever he had to face, he would never have to face it alone. He knew exactly where his help, his inner strength and his courage would come from. He knew that his hand, wielding the slingshot, would be guided. All he had to do was `face` the problem and let loose. God would take care of the rest.

We, as Christians should never be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that, because we are Christians, we have `arrived`, in a trouble free world. On the contrary, Jesus actually warns us :

Joh 16:33 I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the
world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

We will have tribulation. The Greek word for this `tribulation` is : thlip'-sis and means : pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

But, Jesus also encourages us to `be of good cheer`: thar-seh'-o ; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort).

With our faith and our trust in Him, we can survive. We do not have to overcome in our own strength. He has done it all. We walk not in our own victory, we boast in His victory.

Sometimes, the troubles we face as the result of our own actions, a stupid mistake or a wrong decision made at the time.

Yet again, God’s mercy endure forever. The Word tells me that where sin abounds, Grace abounds even more.

We do not face giants on our own, we do not face them in our own strength and power, we do not face them alone, we do not face them because we are so smart and strong, we face them because we have been made righteous through Him, our savior, he is after all, The great I AM

Let your light shine

An interesting little bit of info, I read about some time back: Benjamin Franklin wanted to interest the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his house. He kept the glass polished and carefully trimmed and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. The lamp helped the people see the pavement ahead; made them feel more secure at night. Others began placing lights in front of their houses. Soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lights.

Mat 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Jesus said that we are to be “the light of the world and that our `works` should glorify God”.

The idea made me think about the world of spies and secret agents.

Some of us think we are God’s little secret agents. Nobody knows that we are Christians. We hide our faith and beliefs, just in case we might offend someone or even embarrass ourselves, by openly living out and openly displaying what and whom we believe in.

We are more concerned about being politically correct than about doing as the Word says.

Mat 10:32 Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is in Heaven.

Strong police and security forces do not protect society and communities. They are protected by strong values. Strong values and moral integrity displayed in our cities can face the constant threat of enemy attack.

Today, the protection afforded by strong values in our cities, has been destroyed by enemy attack. The complete breakdown and disintegration of values and moral integrity have left us open and bleeding. - And the enemy wants to proclaim victory.

It is time, right now, that the walls are rebuilt. As in the days of Nehemiah, God wants to resurrect and appoint and anoint those with strong values, established in His Word, who can and will rebuild the wall, and reclaim and restore the safety and security of our societies.
No longer can we afford to be secret agents. We need to openly stand up and raise the banner.

Be the one today to light up your neighborhood with the light of life. Let it shine. Let your light shine TODAY!

Curve Balls

Psa 86:2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord; for I cry to You daily. 4 Give joy to the soul of Your servant; for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 5 For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and rich in mercy to all those who call on You. 6 Give ear, O Jehovah, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my prayers. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call on You; for You will answer me.

Mathew Henry`s commentary puts it as follows:

Our poverty and wretchedness, when felt, powerfully plead in our behalf at the throne of grace. The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping. “I am one whom thou favourest, hast set apart for thyself, and made partaker of sanctifying grace”. It is a great encouragement to prayer, to feel that we have received the converting grace of God, have learned to trust in him, and to be his servants. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God. God's goodness appears in two things, in giving and forgiving. Whatever others do, let us call upon God, and commit our case to him; we shall not seek in vain.

Our God alone possesses almighty power and infinite love. Christ is the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be more desirous to be taught the way and the truth of God, in order to walk therein, than to be delivered out of earthly distress. Those who set not the Lord before them, seek after believers' souls; but the compassion, mercy, and truth of God, will be their refuge and consolation. And those whose parents were the servants of the Lord, may urge this as a plea why he should hear and help them. In considering David's experience, and that of the believer, we must not lose sight of Him, who though he was rich, for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.

John Gill`s exposition makes this comment:

David had his troubles, both inward and outward, before and after he came to the throne, in private and public life; and every good man has his troubles; and there are some particular times or days of trouble; which trouble arises from different causes; sometimes from themselves, their corruptions, the weakness of their grace, and the poor performance of their duties; sometimes from others; from the persecutions of the men of the world; from the wicked lives of profane sinners, and especially professors of religion, and from the spread of false doctrine; sometimes from Satan and his temptations; and sometimes from the more immediate hand of God in afflictions, and from the hidings of his face: these troubles do not last always; they are but for a day, for a particular time; and such a season is a fit one for prayer, and the Lord invites and encourages his people to call upon him in prayer when this is the case, Psa_50:15. Christ had his times of trouble, in which he called upon his divine Father, Joh_11:33.

Bad things happen to good people, you plan your day, your week, and your year and then life happens. You get thrown the curve ball. The thing you least actually the thing you never expected to happen, happens. Whatever it may be.

It is exactly then, when life seems at it’s lowest, when it seems as if everything you touch, turns to mud, it is then when we are encouraged to run to God. To run to the safe place, where we will receive love, encouragement, and affirmation that everything will be okay. That the thing we are going through, the test and the trial will only last for a season and a time, but it will pass.

It is close to the Father that we realize, that we can make it, that we are not, never have been and never will have to face any trial on our own.

Psa 91:1 Happy is he whose resting-place is in the secret of the Lord, and under the shade of the wings of the Most High; 2 Who says of the Lord, He is my safe place and my tower of strength: he is my God, in whom is my hope. 3 He will take you out of the bird-net, and keep you safe from wasting disease. 4 You will be covered by his feathers; under his wings you will be safe: his good faith will be your salvation.