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Ada Adeghe, June 2010
Part of a winning team
In case you haven’t noticed, the World Cup is here and ‘Victory’ is the buzz word. I was thinking about this on Sunday as we sang ‘Hallelujah, you (meaning Christ) have won the victory.’ Even non-football fans like me have been drawn into the excitement of the World Cup. The sheer ecstasy when the favoured team scores a victorious goal is catching! But, I don’t mean to be a spoil sport but football is football. It is a game. We have a greater victory we can be excited about, every moment, every day, every year. That victory is the one we have in Christ Jesus. He won the ‘game’ of eternity for us. I Corinthians, 15 vs 54 says: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ By all means, enjoy the World Cup and all the shouts of victory, but always be thankful for being part of a greater and longer-lasting winning team.
‘But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians, 15 vs 57
Ada Adeghe, May 2010
Run for the Crown...
Watching the news this morning, I found it fascinating to see David Cameron returning from his early morning jog. For a man who is campaigning to be prime minister, I thought keeping fit would be the least of his worries. Then it suddenly dawned on me. Keeping fit and healthy must rank highly in his list of priorities. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the most dedicated person when it comes to keeping fit, and if you could see me now, you would laugh at the very idea (those who know me are probably this very moment falling over with laughter).
But there are two things worth highlighting here. First, David Cameron, it seems, has made the decision that remaining fit and healthy is important if he is to become Prime Minister. Secondly, once he made that decision, he remained committed. No excuse was going to stand in the way; not unexpected election results, and not reporters crowding his front door. NO EXCUSES. So, Mr Cameron went for his early morning jog!
In 1 Corinthians 8:24, Paul says ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize.’ And further down in verse 27, he says: ‘I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’
Paul is making strong links in these verses between physical exercise and the attitude of commitment we who claim to be followers of Christ should take to living for Him. We are striving for a ‘crown that will last forever’.
So, my challenge to you today is:
1. Have you made a firm decision to live for Christ?
2. Are you fully committed?
If your answers are No, then get off your backside and start exercising your spiritual heritage. If Yes, well done I say, and keep on exercising...
Ada Adeghe, April 2010
Looking Back and Moving Forward: The key to overcoming discouragement
I was battling with discouragement this morning. It seemed like I had hit a mental ‘road block’ with an assignment I am trying to complete. I called my sister to whine about my lack of motivation when she reminded me of a verse in 2 Corinthians 2:14 - ‘Praise be to God who ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus.’ The word, always, suddenly struck me. God causes us to triumph, not sometimes, but always. Immediately, I felt encouraged. I am half way through my studies. I have submitted assignments previously, I have struggled with mental ‘road blocks’ in the past, but I am half way into completing my studies. He was with me yesterday when I submitted work, He is with me even now as I struggle, edging me on and He will be there when I reach the finish line with this course. So, be encouraged today; when you sense discouragement coming on, look back on your past successes. The same God who enabled you yesterday, is in your today. Keep plodding until you reach the finish line....
Ada Adeghe, March 2010
Have you been transformed?
I am currently studying on a research course where we examine best ways of carrying out effective research on a range of topics. This is done by examining a particular issue through a particular ‘lens’. The idea is that everything you see is ‘coloured’ through a particular glass window.
Isn’t that how it is in life? We make meaning of our current experiences, situations, even people’s behaviours through our particular ‘lenses’. This is all well and good if we have clean and healthy lenses. What if our lenses are dirty due to unforgiveness, resentment, abuse, disappointments or other negative experiences? We then begin to bring those negative ideas or feelings to bear on our present circumstances. This is why Paul exhorts us in Romans 12: 2, to ‘be transformed by the renewing of our minds’ if we become new people in Christ. The old must go and the new must come. We have to develop new and healthy mind-sets if we are to live the victorious lives that Christ has called us to live and our mind-sets have to be continually programmed by the word of God. There is no better way of living, so start living today….
One of the ways through which we can research any issue is through what in research terminology we call an ‘analytical framework’.
Ada Adeghe, February 2010
Check your attitude, it determines your altitude…..
Last summer my husband and I stayed in a busy hotel. We noted that every morning as we left for breakfast, the cleaner working on our hotel floor was singing and humming along as she cleaned the rooms. This happened every day for the 3 days. She clearly was enjoying her job and cleaning as we know is not the most glamorous of professions is it? But this lady was clearly proud of what she did and was enjoying her job. Her attitude was reflected in the pristine state of the rooms she cleaned as well. It got me reflecting on my attitude to my own job. I am a lecturer and I certainly can not go humming and singing as I teach my students, they’ll think I’ve gone crazy but I can certainly teach with joy in my heart. And gratitude for the job that my heavenly father has so kindly blessed me with. But how many of us have made an art of complaining about our jobs, our daily chores, our lives? We complain so often we now think nothing of it. How different then are we from the world? I don’t know if that cleaner is a Christian but she certainly had the attitude Paul asked us to have in Colossians 2: 23-24: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.’
It is clear then that our attitude to work determines the level of our reward from our heavenly father. So, next time you are tempted to complain about your work, check your attitude because your father, not your boss or mum (just in case my kids are reading this) or pastor is watching….
Daniel Lee 19th October 2009
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The words of Jesus himself. It sounds crazy, but we actually get more out of giving than we do out of receiving.
Can you imagine if everyone came to church with a giving mentality? People wanting to give their praise to God instead of just expecting to receive from God. People looking to give their time to listen to and help others instead of wanting to receive prayer and encouragement from others. People wanting to bring a positive contribution to the service rather than wanting to take something away with them at the end.
When we come with a giving mentality, it helps take the focus off us and on to others and after all, that’s what being like Jesus is all about; thinking about others more highly than ourselves. Then we wouldn’t care if the music was too loud or if someone was sat in ‘our seat’ or we didn’t sing the songs we like, or if the pastor didn’t say hello to us, or that we were on the rota again. We wouldn’t care, because it’s not about what we can get, it’s about what we can give. It’s all about others.
Think about it. If everyone’s trying to give, there is a load to be received. But even if there wasn’t, the words of Jesus still ring true…. We actually get more from giving than receiving.
Look for opportunities to give today. In every way.
Part of a winning team
In case you haven’t noticed, the World Cup is here and ‘Victory’ is the buzz word. I was thinking about this on Sunday as we sang ‘Hallelujah, you (meaning Christ) have won the victory.’ Even non-
‘But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians, 15 vs 57
Ada Adeghe, May 2010
Run for the Crown...
Watching the news this morning, I found it fascinating to see David Cameron returning from his early morning jog. For a man who is campaigning to be prime minister, I thought keeping fit would be the least of his worries. Then it suddenly dawned on me. Keeping fit and healthy must rank highly in his list of priorities. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the most dedicated person when it comes to keeping fit, and if you could see me now, you would laugh at the very idea (those who know me are probably this very moment falling over with laughter).
But there are two things worth highlighting here. First, David Cameron, it seems, has made the decision that remaining fit and healthy is important if he is to become Prime Minister. Secondly, once he made that decision, he remained committed. No excuse was going to stand in the way; not unexpected election results, and not reporters crowding his front door. NO EXCUSES. So, Mr Cameron went for his early morning jog!
In 1 Corinthians 8:24, Paul says ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to win the prize.’ And further down in verse 27, he says: ‘I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.’
Paul is making strong links in these verses between physical exercise and the attitude of commitment we who claim to be followers of Christ should take to living for Him. We are striving for a ‘crown that will last forever’.
So, my challenge to you today is:
1. Have you made a firm decision to live for Christ?
2. Are you fully committed?
If your answers are No, then get off your backside and start exercising your spiritual heritage. If Yes, well done I say, and keep on exercising...
Ada Adeghe, April 2010
Looking Back and Moving Forward: The key to overcoming discouragement
I was battling with discouragement this morning. It seemed like I had hit a mental ‘road block’ with an assignment I am trying to complete. I called my sister to whine about my lack of motivation when she reminded me of a verse in 2 Corinthians 2:14 -
Ada Adeghe, March 2010
Have you been transformed?
I am currently studying on a research course where we examine best ways of carrying out effective research on a range of topics. This is done by examining a particular issue through a particular ‘lens’. The idea is that everything you see is ‘coloured’ through a particular glass window.
Isn’t that how it is in life? We make meaning of our current experiences, situations, even people’s behaviours through our particular ‘lenses’. This is all well and good if we have clean and healthy lenses. What if our lenses are dirty due to unforgiveness, resentment, abuse, disappointments or other negative experiences? We then begin to bring those negative ideas or feelings to bear on our present circumstances. This is why Paul exhorts us in Romans 12: 2, to ‘be transformed by the renewing of our minds’ if we become new people in Christ. The old must go and the new must come. We have to develop new and healthy mind-
One of the ways through which we can research any issue is through what in research terminology we call an ‘analytical framework’.
Ada Adeghe, February 2010
Check your attitude, it determines your altitude…..
Last summer my husband and I stayed in a busy hotel. We noted that every morning as we left for breakfast, the cleaner working on our hotel floor was singing and humming along as she cleaned the rooms. This happened every day for the 3 days. She clearly was enjoying her job and cleaning as we know is not the most glamorous of professions is it? But this lady was clearly proud of what she did and was enjoying her job. Her attitude was reflected in the pristine state of the rooms she cleaned as well. It got me reflecting on my attitude to my own job. I am a lecturer and I certainly can not go humming and singing as I teach my students, they’ll think I’ve gone crazy but I can certainly teach with joy in my heart. And gratitude for the job that my heavenly father has so kindly blessed me with. But how many of us have made an art of complaining about our jobs, our daily chores, our lives? We complain so often we now think nothing of it. How different then are we from the world? I don’t know if that cleaner is a Christian but she certainly had the attitude Paul asked us to have in Colossians 2: 23-
Daniel Lee 19th October 2009
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The words of Jesus himself. It sounds crazy, but we actually get more out of giving than we do out of receiving.
Can you imagine if everyone came to church with a giving mentality? People wanting to give their praise to God instead of just expecting to receive from God. People looking to give their time to listen to and help others instead of wanting to receive prayer and encouragement from others. People wanting to bring a positive contribution to the service rather than wanting to take something away with them at the end.
When we come with a giving mentality, it helps take the focus off us and on to others and after all, that’s what being like Jesus is all about; thinking about others more highly than ourselves. Then we wouldn’t care if the music was too loud or if someone was sat in ‘our seat’ or we didn’t sing the songs we like, or if the pastor didn’t say hello to us, or that we were on the rota again. We wouldn’t care, because it’s not about what we can get, it’s about what we can give. It’s all about others.
Think about it. If everyone’s trying to give, there is a load to be received. But even if there wasn’t, the words of Jesus still ring true…. We actually get more from giving than receiving.
Look for opportunities to give today. In every way.
