Thursday 31 October 2013
Get Back Up
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TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again… Proverbs 24:16, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: Life is full of things that try to push us down. We all face disappointments and setbacks. Maybe you received some bad news about your health or perhaps a relationship didn’t work out. That was a setback. It’s easy to get discouraged or lose your enthusiasm or even be tempted to just settle where you are. But if we’re going to see God’s best, we have to have a “bounce-back” mentality. That means when you get knocked down, you don’t stay down. You get back up again. You have to know that every time adversity comes against you, it’s a setup for a comeback! Remember, as a believer in Jesus, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives on the inside of you. There is no challenge too difficult, no obstacle too high, no sickness, no disappointment, no person, nothing that can keep you from your God-given destiny. If you stay in faith, then God will turn what was meant to be a stumbling block into a stepping stone, and you’ll move forward in strength, full of faith and victory! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, thank You for setting me up for success in everything I do. I choose to trust and rely on You knowing that Your plans are for my good. I know my best days are ahead of me and look ahead to the blessings You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
PS...
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"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
God has a purpose for every season of your life — the lonely seasons, the sad seasons, the seasons of success, the seasons of waiting, and the seasons of grief.
Romans 8:28 says, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV). This is not a promise for everybody. All things do not work together for good for everybody in the world. They only work together for good for those who love God and trust him with their plans.
This is one of the basic truths in the Bible. If you're a believer, nothing comes into your life that hasn't been filtered by your heavenly Father. Your life is not a random series of freak accidents and occurrences and circumstances. God never does anything by accident. He has an appointed time for everything in your life. Even the bad times? Yes.
Don't misunderstand me. God does not have to plan all the problems in your life. He doesn't need to. You come up with them yourself! Bad times happen because of the bad decisions you make. And, they also happen because of bad decisions other people make, where you're an innocent victim. God doesn't have to plan bad things; he is not the author of evil.
But God can draw good out of each event in your life. That means every single event, no matter how dark or shameful or how guilty or bitter you feel about it, God can bring good out of it. He can work for your good.
The Bible doesn't say all things are good. Not all things in the world are good. There's a lot of bad. But it does say that all things work together for good for those who give God all the pieces and say, "Will you work good out of this?” God will do it. He has an appointed time for everything.
Talk It Over
- In what situation do you need to ask God to work for your good?
- What is it that keeps you from asking God for his help?
Wednesday 30 October 2013
From Concept to Reality
It’s nice to treasure all my memories with all these monuments
from excavation, structural works and architectural completion. It’s a
great fulfilment that I became part of the buildings’ growth that strengthened
with
happiness, friendships, love and joy. =)
Arch. Meg
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The West Parc Building
La Vie Flats
Avant
KL Mosaic
Trevi Tower 1
Dubai Metro
University Tower 2
Metro Gaisano Alabang
Attitude in Adversity
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Attitude in Adversity
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.Habakkuk 3:17-18, NIV.
TODAY'S WORD:
We all face challenges, difficulties and times when things don’t go our way. God doesn’t send these storms, but He will allow us to go through certain things in order to shape our character and prove our faith. Really, it’s in our times of difficulty that we grow and develop.God wants to use the tough times in our lives to do a work in us. He wants to strengthen and develop us. Our attitude in times of adversity is the evidence of our maturity. Are we going to treat people right even when we’re being mistreated? Are we going to stay full of joy even when the bottom falls out? Are we going to be faithful even in the dry seasons of our lives when we don’t see anything good happening? It may take more effort. You may have to work harder to keep a good attitude, but remember, attitude and faith in God is the key to your promotion. As you keep that positive attitude of faith and expectancy, even in times of adversity, God will deliver you and move you forward into the destiny He has prepared for you!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, I want to grow spiritually and be more like You. I choose to trust You in times of adversity knowing that You are working things out for my good. Renew a right attitude in me by Your Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
PS...
“To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21 TEV)
You can show God’s glory by joining the family of God. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:21, “To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen” (TEV).
The Bible says that one day there will be a new heaven and new earth. The only thing that’s going to last for eternity is God’s family.
A thousand years from today, if there’s still earth here, there won’t be a Microsoft. There won’t be a Hollywood a thousand years from today. There won’t be a United States of America, because no earthly kingdom lasts forever. There won’t be all of the things we think are so great.
But there will still be the family of God. God’s people last. It’s the only thing that’s going to last!
You need to find a local congregation that will love you and help you grow in biblical truth and knowledge. You need to find your spiritual family. You need to find the place where you can give and share your talents and benefit from the abilities of others.
You need to join a local church. Why? Because it’s going to outlast everything else you do.
I make no apology in saying to you that maybe joining a spiritual family will be the most significant thing you do with your life. Because what the Church is doing in making a difference in the world is going to outlast your career. It’s going to outlast your hobbies. It’s going to outlast every other thing you do. It’s the only thing that’s going to last forever because it’s about changed lives.
There are only two things that are going to last forever: God’s Word and God’s people.
Talk It Over
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Tuesday 29 October 2013
Switch Over to the Victory Channel
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Switch Over to the Victory Channel
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.Philippians 4:8, NKJV.
TODAY'S WORD:
It’s interesting that our mind will naturally gravitate toward the negative. A study showed how positive and negative memories are handled by different parts of the brain. A negative memory takes up more space. There’s more to process. Because of this, we will remember the negative more than the positive. For example, a person will remember losing $50 more than they will remember gaining $50.Knowing this, we have to be proactive with our thoughts. When the negative memories come back to the movie screen of our mind, many people pull up a chair, get some popcorn and watch them all over again. No, the point is that’s not the only channel. There’s another movie playing on a channel that’s filled with your accomplishments and victories. Instead of staying on that negative channel, you’ve got to switch over to your victory channel. You’re not going to move forward into the new things God has in store if you’re always replaying the negative things that have happened to you. Instead, learn to change the channel. Meditate on victory and move forward in the victory and blessing God has in store for you!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, today I choose to set my focus on what You’ve done in my life. I choose to change the channel in my mind from defeat to victory. I set my thoughts on Your love and thank You for Your blessing in every area of my life in Jesus’ name! Amen. |
PS...
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)
The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10-11, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). When you use your abilities to help each other, God is glorified.
God wired you to make a contribution. God did not give you your talents and abilities for your benefit. They are for the benefit of other people, and their talents are for the benefit of you.
I am so grateful for people who are talented in areas that I’m not good at. For instance, I’m grateful for accountants. Because I stink at accounting! I’m grateful for people who know how to do taxes.
I’m grateful for people who have mechanical ability. I couldn’t fix a carburetor if I had to. I wouldn’t even know where it is!
Everybody has different talents.
God has given me some talents. One of my talents is taking the Word of God and making it clear for other people to understand. When I use that ability, you get blessed. My talent is for you. It’s to help you.
But here’s the point: You’ve got talent, too. When are you going to start blessing others? When are you going to start helping others?
If you don’t use your talent that God gave you, other people get cheated. The way you bring glory to God is by using your talent. “Use your gifts well to serve one another.” God is glorified when you use your abilities to serve others.
Talk It Over
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Monday 28 October 2013
Why Be an Architect?
Posted on Oct 18, 2013 by Mohamed Walied
Like most jobs, people often look to architecture as a career without really knowing what is involved or why. Sometimes it is because they believe that architects make excellent money, or because it looks ‘fun’. Still others enjoy the freedom of lifestyle that can come with being an architect, or enjoy the fact that being an architect can encompass things like landscape, teaching, and building design.
Some even pursue it in order to be famous and influential; after all, a career in architecture can be built upon how well known you are. Much like a freelancer or a consultant, the better known you are, the more work you will get and the better pay you will receive as well. There is also a sense of immortality in being an architect as the buildings you create will outlive you, your children and your grandchildren
Why be an architect?
There is also a feeling of actively contributing something to your society and your culture because the things you are building will reflect the wants and needs of the people using it and this means answering to a criteria of cultural biases that people are not even aware of, but can be later studied. In this sense, an architect may not only be making himself immortal, after a fashion, but contributing to the immortality of his culture as well.
Architects also enjoy a certain level of freedom from the standards that society often imparts on other professions. Because architects are considered artists and a little apart from society, they can indulge in idiosyncrasies such as clothing design or personality quirks that would not be allowed in a setting like a bank or an office. Many people appreciate this freedom and go into this profession in order to be creative with more than just home design, but with themselves too. Having this freedom also allows architects to get through the slow periods of their profession which can be discouraging, or wade through the criticisms of others with head held high.
Heady stuff, all of it, and thus it requires a reality check. Most architects are far from rich and most do not gain the fame that they long for. Many architects work in huge office buildings, one face among dozens or hundreds, and others work out of tiny offices and barely scrape by. The buildings they help to create will not have their name on it and many simply work on things like skyscrapers and houses, not monuments. Still others do not build at all, but teach instead because of the financial security or because they get more joy out of passing down their knowledge to others.
The real answer to why you want to be an architect should come from within, but there are certain markers of personality and likes that will allow you to be a better architect than someone without. A love of drawing is a decided perk as any architect will have to take pencil to paper and start sketching and drawing his or her ideas onto paper.
Even in the computer age, with software able to do much of what the architect once did, many still find it helpful to put ideas to paper in the form of lines and shading and texture. If nothing else, an idea may strike you when all you have are scraps of paper and a pencil, and you’ll have to draw it or risk losing it all!
Architects also have a set of personality traits that allow them to be more successful: they are self confident, friendly, able to lead well, artistic, ambitious, dedicated, passionate, charismatic, and courageous. Architects have to be willing to experiment with a vision and also willing to bend to what the client wants or needs and reach a mutual understanding. Architects also have to be able to successfully lead their group to get a project done, and be self motivated enough to come up with the ideas in the first place.
Most of all, you have to want to do it. No job should be taken on strictly for money or fame because those things are transitory and there is no guarantee that you will be rich or famous in any career, let alone architecture. However, if you honestly want to do it, then you will find a success of your own in doing a job that allows you freedom, creativity, and honest enjoyment.
Song of Solomon 3:4
We come into a person's life not or not just to make them
love us, but to make them
feel that they are so much worth loving for. =)
Meg
The Time of Favor
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The Time of Favor
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life…Joshua 4:14, NIV.
TODAY'S WORD:
I love the promise that God gave to Joshua. He said, “Joshua, today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites.” He was saying, “Today, I’m going to start releasing more of My favor, My blessings, My increase.” But notice, there was a specific time in his life that God began to release favor in a new way.Friend, I believe God wants to do the same thing for you. He wants to release His blessing and favor in such a way that it makes you great—a great parent, a great spouse, a great leader, a great employee, a great friend, a great business person. He is saying to us what He said to Joshua, “This day I’m going to begin to make your name great. This day I’m going to begin to release My favor in a new way. I’m going to open doors that no man can shut.” It is a set time of God’s favor. Get ready! Make room in your thinking. Stay open to Him and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because the time of God’s favor is here!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, I bless You today. Thank You for pouring out Your favor and blessing upon me. I open my heart and mind to receive every good thing You have in store for me today in Jesus’ name. Amen.PS... |
“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” (Romans 15:7 NLT)
Did you know that every time you show love, it gives glory to God? Because God is love, and glory is revealing what God is really like.
God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.” You’re never going to be God. You’re never even going to be a teeny-tiny God. But God says he wants you to become godly. He wants you to develop his character. Like father like son, like father like daughter. He wants you to learn to love people the way he loves people. God is love.
Every time you do that, it shows God’s glory.
Of course, one of the ways you love others is just by accepting them. Just because you don’t like what people do doesn’t mean you can’t accept them.
Do you understand the difference between acceptance and approval? You can accept someone without approving of everything they do. There is a big difference! We are to accept everybody; we are not to approve everything everybody does. So no matter what people do, or who they do it with, or how they do it, or how long they do it — it doesn’t matter. You are to love them. You are to accept them. It does not mean that you approve of what they do. God loves you, but it doesn’t mean he approves of everything you do.
Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do.
Romans 15:7 says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT).
Talk It Over
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Sunday 27 October 2013
A Brand New Thing
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TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Isaiah 43:19, NLT. TODAY'S WORD: Can you see the “brand new thing” God is doing in your life? Sometimes it’s easy to see the hand of God moving, and sometimes the storms of life can cloud our vision. But no matter where you are in life today, meditate on this truth that God is working even when you can’t see Him. Like a seed buried deep in the ground, it may seem dark and lonely and there may be dirt all around, but that is place where life springs forth. Trust that God is doing a new thing! You can trust Him because He is faithful! His plan for you today is blessing. His plan is to give you a future and a hope. His plan is to do a new thing in your life. Let go of the thoughts of the past and open your heart to what God is doing today. Ask Him to show you what He’s doing. Ask Him to reveal it to your heart. Seek Him and you will find Him and see the brand new thing He’s doing in you! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Heavenly Father, thank You for doing a work in me, even when I don’t see it. Thank You for the brand new thing You have. I open my heart and put my faith and trust in You in Jesus’ name! Amen. |
PS...
“For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT)
To live a fulfilled life, you have to live by God’s power.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power” (NLT).
Did you know God does not bless self-reliant people? He blesses people who are dependent upon him and surrendered to him.
God wants to use you, but you must live by his power. Ephesians 3:20 says,“Through his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”
God is able to do more than you can ever imagine. So how do you get God’s power in your life? There are three ways.
- You get God’s power by praying. If you don’t have any power in your life, that tells me one thing: You’re not praying. Prayer and power go together.
- You get God’s power by taking risks to obey God. When you take a risk to do what God tells you to do, even when it’s hard or unpopular, even when it may cost you, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when nobody else is doing it, God will pour out his power in your life.
- You get God’s power by not giving up.
Don’t give up! In order for God to grow your faith, he’s got to test it. When you’re going through difficulties and delays and dead ends and despair and discouragement, God is teaching you to trust him. If you hang on, God will bless you.
Talk It Over
- How can you tell when you have God’s power in your life?
- How is God testing your faith right now? How do you want him to bless you through it?
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