Make It Your Aim To Fear God

compiled by Jeremy

DREAMS DO COME TRUE By Joy Kimani

"Ladies and Gentlemen I have known the next act for quite sometime", said Jerome as he looked straight to our table, right into my eyes.
"I have seen him grow from diapers to now and I can not describe how remarkable this young man has grown up to be with such a unique talent that has left some of us clearly dumbfounded and now it is with all my pleasure that I introduce tonight's last act Oscar"
My girlfriend Njeri who is sited next to me squeezes my hand and tells me how proud she is of me and reassures me that I would just be incredible.
I pick up my worn out guitar and make my way to the platform. I hardly notice how quite it has been kind of pin-drop-silence. All eyes are fixed on me and suddenly I feel a sudden urge to just take on heels and never look back again but this calm voice within me reassures me over and over again as my cells and nerves scream out this is a huge mistake.
My life has not always been like this performing in front of a real life audience. A few months ago my only audience was my Cat Jerry and my girlfriend back then I never worried about looking stupid in front millions and millions of audience well not millions right now but you can't blame this strong introvert for being visually creative.
I pluck a cord and close my eyes as I take a huge breath in. I could feel the spotlight on my face and suddenly the world in front disappears and I start singing.
My mind takes a trip down memory lane, back to my room as I perform in front of my mirror. This is where for once I get to be myself no fear and no critics.
My story is, not only am I known as a computer whiz kid but a serious klutz especially under pressure. Well now you know High school was not a walk in the park for me and now that am in campus doing what I was trained to do Computer Science life has not exactly been my portion. I did not have many friends well if you call more than one many then yes I did have many friends, my cat Jerry and old mister Mosheh who lives down the street. These two have been the best sidekick any superhero would like to have am sure they are pretty envious right now.
Life in campus has been quite an experience so far. I have appeared in the Deans List a couple of times(not that am bragging in any way) and found my talent.music. Well before I get to how I discovered this talent let me explain how I meet my super-hot girlfriend.
It all started one day as I was busy hurrying down the hallway to make it to my last class of the day. This was when my eyes landed on the most beautiful creation I have ever seen. She had the smile of an angel with eyes that twinkle which has a perfect completion with her round face. Her hair was really something; she looked like she had just walked out of a Vogue magazine. My breath was clearly taken away since I reached class practically with no breath at all and to make matters worse I tripped into class making me the laughing stork of class plus the professor was not impressed.
The next couple of weeks I was Magnum P.I, Sherlock Holmes and the famous Adrian Monk all rolled into one. I tried my best to find out who she was and of course her status. The only responses I got was that she was a new student and I had no chance under the sun to ever hold an audience with her because she was popular and incredibly beautiful and I waswell I was simply me.
It took a couple of months of prepping me on how I could approach this one girl that I had immensely fallen for. The funny thing was just from a distance I had gotten to know her better but not as a stalker it's just I kept my eyes ears and nose open. First of all I knew her favorite roses were yellow roses because they reminded her of summer. Her favorite perfume was designer Marc Jacobs. She had an incredible love for shoes and had her own collection of shoes. Njeri has five smiles when she makes a plan, when trying to be polite, when with her friends, when she listening to her favorite music and lastly most probably when she looks at me.
So sure it seemed the odds were stacked up against me but the truth is I had nothing to loose. And so I decided to use my forty billion cells, you know the ones that I get credit for and see what I could come up with.
It happened that the campus had organized a talent search for fresh new talent and the best act would win quite a heavy gift pack especially a contract with world renowned record labels. I signed up and stayed up most of the nights rehearsing doing what I seldom ever do practice for the concert and since I did not want anyone to know I did it far away from the rest of the human population.
To cut this supposedly dramatic story short, the day finally arrived and the whole campus was located at one point ready to finally uncover the next big thing or bright star. Rumors on the streets was that the Campus's king of the geeks(me) was going to make a fool of myself as a kind of last act but you know I didn't mind. All that I cared was that Njeri would be there and if looking stupid would get her attention well we can never know till we try, right?
All the acts were done starting from the Acapella group to the solos of extraordinary voices that I have never heard before. It was simply amazing and I knew there was no chance of winning but I reminded myself winning was not the point but letting my message be crossed was what really mattered.
After what seemed like eternity my name was finally called out and I made my way to the front not daring to look at anyone for fear of tripping considering my state of being a klutz especially when extremely nervous. I had previously located where Njeri was sited and exactly mapped out how I could receive her reaction ok I know that sounded really geek like but you cant blame a brother especially this one.
"Hi my name is Oscar and the song I would like to sing is dedicated to someone special. Someone who I couldn't approach because I was too shy and I just wanted to ask her whether she would like to be my girl (yeah talk about guts, poor guy you must be thinking). The name of the song is Looks like we made it by Shania Twain. This song is dedicated to Njeri", I say all this looking straight at her angelic eyes because I knew this was her favorite song.
I take a deep breath and sing what I rarely did, sing about my emotions where am finally free to be who I really am and not just Oscar the geek but Oscar the real Oscar. This is the one place in my life where the rest of the world disappears and I get to choose the feelings in my own world. I sang with passion like I have never done before that left me surprised. I close my eyes as I sing and recall what I had been through to now and I discover not only am I doing this to win the one girl that I fell for but am doing this for me. The me that was hidden inside, the me that I had lost contact with and the me that I was proud of. No matter what happened that day I promised myself this would not be the end of this exemplary feeling that struck the cords of my soul.
As I open my eyes when I come to the closing of the song I notice everyone standing up clapping their hands and cheering. Njeri is not only standing up but walking towards the stage with tears in her eyes. She hugs me and says" yes.yes Oscar I will be your girlfriend I was just waiting for you to ask me that was before graduation".
I could not believe it not only did I get my girlfriend but everyone was calling out my name. I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn't those bizarre types of dreams but it wasn't.
As we stepped down from the stage the announcements are made of the winners who swept the producers and amazingly I was on top of the List. I got a record deal with the finest record labels in the Country.
Immediately my mind comes back to the present as I finish my song. A song about hope and dreams, that they always come true if you believe but brave enough to be afraid. The audience is on their feet apparently they loved what I just did.
So get it from me when it comes to this life always choose the path that leads to fulfilling your dream and never be afraid to chase them because you will never know till you try.

My name is Joy Kimani from a country called Kenya in Africa.Currently am pursuing a degree in Mass Communication at Daystar University.My passion is writing.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS




compiled by Jeremy

Challenged to Serve By Stephen Stillman

Challenged to Serve By Stephen Stillman

God uses each and every Christian in His work. Many times before we respond to God's calling to join Him in His work we must be challenged. In Romans 15:1-13 the apostle Paul challenges believers to serve each other and to work together in unity. We are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing actions for the sake of building others up for good.

A person that serves is described as:

1. A person that is devoted to helping those who are weaker.

Romans 15:1, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." This is a large challenge. Paul addresses this challenge to 'us', who he considers strong. He is addressing those who have a solid grounding in the Scriptures; those who have emerged victorious from crises in their own lives because of their strong faith; and those who are strong because of their maturity in Christian living.

Paul says it is our duty to help those who are weak. The strong "ought" to bear the infirmities of the weak. It is the duty of the stronger Christian to consider and lower themselves to the weakest. We must consider them by realizing they are weaker and not trample over them. We must encourage them by bearing their infirmities. Those strong in the faith should bear the doubts of the weak, because a weaker Christian in the faith will decrease his faith with each doubt he has. When the weaker brother can be shown his doubts are invalid, his faith is restored.

Paul also says those stronger in the faith ought to "bear" the infirmities of the weak. To bear means 'to carry'; not just put up with or tolerate. We cannot begin to 'bear' someone's burdens until we have sympathy for them and are concerned. Strong Christians have a duty to bear the burdens of the weak, and the weak Christians should be able to expect help from stronger Christians when they have doubts and experience failures. Weaker Christians should not try to bear their own infirmities if they feel their infirmities are pushing them down and destroying their faith. They should ask for help from someone stronger and expect them to provide the needed help.

2. A person that must not please themselves.

Romans 15:1, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." As a servant it is not our business to gratify all the little appetites and desires of our own heart. This is the. "A Christian servant should not be self-centered, but should be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. The first lesson we must learn to be a servant of Christ is to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24, "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."

3. A person that pleases his neighbor for his own good.

Romans 15:2, "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification." Pleasing our neighbor is not just an end in itself, (not just that they will be happy), but for his edification. When a servant pleases his neighbor in this way it builds them up in Christian graces. We are not to please our neighbor in everything, but for his good; especially the good of his soul. This is the example Jesus Christ left for us. Even He did not please Himself, but "He came to do the will of the Father that sent Him." Jesus had no place to lay His head. He lived upon alms. He would not be made a king. He washed His disciples feet. He emptied Himself and made no reputation for Himself. All Christ die was for out sake, for our good, to bring righteousness for us and to set an example. Christ was our perfect example of One challenged to serve others.

How do we learn to be one that serves?

1. Through the example of Christ.

We must bear the infirmities of the weak, for Christ bore the reproaches of those that reproached God. He bore the guilt of sin and the curse for it. We are only called to bear a little of the trouble of sin. He bore the sins of the world. We are only called to bear the infirmities of the weak.

2. Through the Scriptures.

Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." The Scriptures are left for a standing rule to us. They are written that they might remain for our use and benefit; for our learning. There are many things to be learned in the Scriptures, but to learn how to be a servant is one of the most important. The example of Christ, in what He said and did, is recorded for our emulation.

3. Through the example of others.

As we have stronger Christians minister to us in our need, and help us to bear our infirmities, we can learn from their example how to minister to others who are weaker.

What are the results of being a servant to others?

1. Romans 15:4, "That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

The result of being a servant is that we achieve endurance through patience and develop the ability to remain steadfast in the face of adversities. Patience works experience and experience works hope. The more patience we exercise under troubles, the more hopeful we may look through our troubles.

As we study the Scriptures for the examples given to us, they serve to give us encouragement that we might have hope. As Christians learn from the past they are motivated to endure and be comforted in the present, looking ahead in hope to the future. The steadfast endurance and encouragement a Christian receives from the Scriptures come ultimately from God, the author of the Scriptures. The study of Scripture gives patience under human persecution and Satan's opposition. The study of Scripture also gives patience as we bear one another's burdens, and in waiting for divine promises to be fulfilled.

The study of Scripture gives us comfort. It is the comfort that springs from the Word of God and bids us to rise above our fears. It is the comfort that urges us to dwell little on fleeting things and commands us to find our joy in God.

2. That we have a Spirit of Unity.

Romans 15:5,6, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This Spirit of Unity includes being of one-mind; to be able to think the same, and one heart; to be able to love the same, and one mouth; to be able to speak the same. The foundation of Christian love and peace is laid in like-mindedness. This like-mindedness must be according to the pattern and example of Jesus Christ. Like-mindedness that is patterned after Jesus Christ means we will have a right mind, a sound mind, a pure mind, a spiritual mind, and a renewed mind. The mind controls our conversation with God; the mouth controls our conversation with others. A spirit of unity is an essential element in a relationship of service.

It is desirable that Christians should agree in everything that they might glorify God. One mouth in confessing the truths of God. One mouth in praising the name of God. One mouth in common conversation, not jarring, biting, or devouring one another.

3. That we might receive one another.

Romans 15:7,"that we might receive one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God." Paul had encouraged the strong to receive the weak because sometimes the prejudices of the weak Christian make him shy away from the strong, as much as the pride of the strong Christian makes him shay away from the weak. Neither should be. There should be mutual embracing among Christians. Those that have received Christ by faith must receive all Christians by brotherly love.

Jesus Christ has received us into the nearest and dearest relations to Himself. He has received us into His fold, into His family, into the adoption of sons, into a marriage-covenant with Him. The end of our reception by Christ is that we might glorify God in this world, and will be glorified with Him in that to come.

Stephen Stillman, owner of www.amazingchristianproducts.com a website that offers great Christian articles and a variety of religious products.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com CHRISTIAN WRITERS


compiled by Jeremy