Title: *PEACE - WITHIN AND WITHOUT* - Part 1

                       Title:*PEACE* Orb of Light 5/Mm - Visual Prayer Art by Rev.Bola

Peace is calmness and tranquillity;
a time when there are no wars going on or the state of having no war or conflict.
An example of peace, is a feeling you have on a quiet Sunday morning,
as you sit on a deck in the woods and watch the birds.

Synonyms - Quiet, hush , peace , peacefulness , placidity , quiet , quietness,
calm, heartsease , placidity, compatibility , concord , quietude , repose ,
restfulness , serenity , still , stillness.

Antonyms - conflict , contention , discord , dissidence , strife , trouble ; tumult , turmoil ,
unrest , upheaval ; fighting , warfare ; action , battle , combat. strain , stress , tenseness ,
tension ; consternation , desperateness , desperation , discomfort , discomposure ,
dismay, distraction , distress , disturbance , edginess , jitters ,
Peace is one of those things everyone says they want, but can't seem to find.
Related Words: content , contentment , ease ; comfort , consolation , relief , solace , quiet , quietude , repose.

Peace within and among states is a goal of many people and organizations.
In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, inner contentment;
serenity: peace of mind interjection.

Peace is a time without any fights or wars.
In a larger sense, peace or peacefulness can mean a state of harmony,
quiet or calm that is not disturbed by anything at all, like a still pond with no ripples.
Pragmatic pacifism holds that the costs of war and inter-personal violence are so substantial,
l that better ways of resolving disputes must be found.

Principled pacifism holds that violence of any form
is an inappropriate response to conflict, and is morally wrong.
Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention
There are only two powers in this world, the sword and the spirit,
 in the long run the sword is always beaten by the spirit.

Peace and love are ever in us, being and working;
but we be not always in peace and in love.
Jews and Christians believe that true peace comes
from a personal relationship with God.
 
The Book of Isaiah says: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite
of being stressed or anxious.

Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations:
Room-mates living in peace with each other.
Real peace is the presence of something beautiful.
Both peace and the thirst for it have been in the heart of
every human being in every century and every civilization.
 
Martin Luther King Jr wrote in a letter he sent from the Birmingham jail that,
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice "
In other words, real peace is more than just problems being gone:
there must be fairness to have peace.

Let us examine our attitude toward peace itself.
Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions,
slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.
However non-dramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.
 
We must see that peace represents a sweeter music,
a cosmic melody that is far superior to the discords of war.
If we have the will and determination to mount such a peace offensive,
we will unlock hitherto tightly sealed doors of hope and transform,
our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfilment.

True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.
Somehow we must transform the dynamics of the world power struggle
from the negative nuclear arms race, which no one can win to
a positive contest to harness man's creative genius for the purpose,
of making peace and prosperity a reality for all of the nations of the world.
So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper;
let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace,
a willingness to work for peace, in the hearts and minds of all our people.

We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war,
but on the positive affirmation of peace.
We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path.
It is not enough to say "We must not wage war "
It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
If we all can persevere, if we can in every land and office look beyond
our own shores and ambitions, then surely the age will dawn in which
the strong are just the weak secure and the peace preserved.

Save the Earth we can-and save it we must-and then shall we earn the eternal thanks of mankind and,
as peacemakers, the eternal blessing of God. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace.
Defeatism about the feasibility of plans for disarmament and ordered peace has been,
the most calamitous of all the errors made by democratic governments in modern times.
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Posted by Rev.Bola A. - 17.Nov.13

Title: *Using Affirmations*

                      Title: *PEACE* Orb of Light - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola

Every thought you think every word you say is an affirmation. All of our self-talk or inner dialogue is a stream of affirmations. We are continually affirming subconsciously with our words and thoughts and this flow of affirmations is creating our life experience in every moment. Our beliefs are just learned thought patterns that we have developed since childhood, many of these work well for us, but others may now be working against us, they are dysfunctional and may be sabotaging us from achieving what we believe we want. 

Every affirmation we think or say is a reflection of our inner truth or beliefs. It is important to realize that many of these "inner truths" may not actually be true for us now or may be based on invalid or inappropriate impressions we constructed as children, which if examined as an adult can be exposed as inappropriate.

Because affirmations actually reprogram your thought patterns, they change the way you think and feel about things, and because you have replaced dysfunctional beliefs with your own new positive beliefs, positive change comes easily and naturally. This will start to reflect in your external life, you will start to experience seismic changes for the better in many aspects of your life.

No matter what aspect of life you're dealing with or who you are, affirmations will not only make you feel better about yourself and your life. But if used correctly, they can manifest real change in your life. Changing the way you think, reprogramming your mind and removing the old negative beliefs that have been sabotaging you again and again throughout your life. They can enable you to achieve the life you've always wanted for yourself!.

Positive affirmations are designed to challenge those negative beliefs and start to stem the flow of negative thoughts and words that seek to validate them. Affirmations are more than just repeating words. It is a whole process of becoming aware of your thoughts and words in everyday life, choosing to think and project happy positive thoughts. The more you can consciously inject the spirit of you affirmations into your daily thoughts and words, the quicker they will work for you.

Many of us have negative thoughts like these, sometimes on a regular basis. When we have these thoughts, our confidence, mood and outlook become negative too.The problem with these negative thoughts is that they can be self-fulfilling. Inside our heads, we talk ourselves into believing that we're not good enough. And, because of this, these thoughts drag down our personal lives, our relationships, and our careers.

Affirmations are positive, specific statements that help you to overcome self-sabotaging, negative thoughts. They help you visualize, and believe in, what you're affirming to yourself, helping you to make positive changes to your life and career.

So try looking at positive affirmations this way – many of us do repetitive exercises to improve our body's physical health and condition. Affirmations are like exercises for our mind and outlook; these positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think, and act, in a new way.

Remember – affirmations are positive statements that help you challenge and overcome negative thinking and self-sabotaging behaviors . They're usually short, positive statements that target a specific area, behavior, or belief that you're struggling with.

Write down several areas or behaviors you'd like to work on. Then, for each of these, come up with a positive, present-tense statement you can repeat to yourself several times a day. Affirmations should be formed in the present tense, as if they're already happening. This helps you believe that the statement is true right now. For instance, "I am well-prepared and well-rehearsed, and I can give a great presentation" would be a great affirmation to use if you often feel nervous speaking in front of a group.

Next, come up with positive, credible, present tense statements that are the opposite of these thoughts. Repeat your affirmations several times a day, especially when you find yourself slipping into a negative thinking pattern, or engaging in a negative behavior.

Key Points 
Affirmations are positive statements that can help you overcome self-sabotaging, negative thoughts. To use affirmations, first analyze the thoughts or behaviors you'd like to change in your own life and career. Next, come up with positive, credible, present tense statements that are the opposite of these thoughts. Repeat your affirmations several times a day, especially when you find yourself slipping into a negative thinking pattern, or engaging in a negative behavior. Remember that affirmations are most effective when used alongside other strategies, such as visualization and goal setting.
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Posted by Rev.Bola

Title: 'Godly Ambition''

Title: 'GODLY AMBITION'/Mx - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola A

Dearest,

Are you ambitious?

Would you like to be ambitious? Is ambition a good thing? 

Is there a burning desire in you to achieve a particular result? 

Are you on a particular mission in life for something or someone?

What does the Word of God teach about ambition?"
 

 Ambition is defined as “an acute thrust for success or power; a desire to attain honor, riches or popularity.” To be ambitious, in the temporal sense, is basically to be driven to have more than your neighbor. It's slogan is “he with the most playthings gets ahead”; 

ambition in the worldly sense endeavors to be number one. 

However, in the Bible, the Term 'ambition' takes on a completely new attribute: 

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to attend to your personal affairs and to work with your hands …” (1 Thessalonians 4:11; cf. Philippians 1:17; Ephesians 5:8-10).

Where the world teaches us to  outdo, to have a larger house, a smarter car, a bigger paycheck than our fellows, the Bible instructs us in the reverse: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). The apostle Paul tells us, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). 

The Greek word for “ambition,” philotim, means literally “to esteem as an honor.” Being ambitious, in and of itself, is not wrong, it’s what we respect or honor that can be an issue. The Bible instructs that we ought be ambitious, yet the purpose is to be recognized by Jesus Christ, not by the temporal existence. Christ taught us that to be first in the Kingdom is to become a servant (Matthew 20:26-28; Matthew 23:11-12).

Paul once presented an insightful question: “Am I currently attempting to acquire the commendation of men, or of God? Or am I attempting to satisfy men?” His answer: “If I were still attempting to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Afterwards, Paul repeated: “On the contrary, we speak as men sanctioned by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not attempting to delight men but God, who examines our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Paul is asserting a reality promulgated by Jesus Himself: “How can you believe if you accept congratulations from one another, yet establish no attempt to incur the congratulations that derives from the sole Supreme Being?” (John 5:44). We have to determine, what our aspiration is: to delight God or to delight man?

The Bible distinctly instructs that, those who look for accolade and repute from men, cannot believe in Christ (Matthew 6:24; Romans 8:7; James 4:4). Those whose dream, is to be popular with the world, cannot be genuine, dedicated servants of Jesus Christ. If our aspiration is to merely chase the affairs of earthly concern (1 John 2:16; Romans 13:14), in reality, we are being self-serving, and abnegating Jesus and His sacrifice (Matthew 10: 33; Matthew 16:24). But if it is our aspiration to seek and respect Christ, we are guaranteed of His profound assurance: “But seek primarily his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will supplied to you” (Matthew 6:33; cf. 1 John 2:25).

It is not wrong to be ambitious, but our motives and our plans must be determined and directed by God.

You may wish to say this prayer with me now:-

My Prayer 

for Godly Ambition

Dear God,

May Thy Will alone, 

And not mine nor

Any other will,

Be done on earth, 

And in me,

                                       As it is in the heavens.
                                                   Amen.

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Deep Inner Peace ...Rev.Bola A

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Title: 'Truthfulness'

Title: 'TRUTH'/Acryl   -  Visual Prayer Art by Rev.Bola A. (Feb.13)

Truth can be described as:-

1. the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual. 

2. something that is true as opposed to false.

 It has been said ... ' Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.'

And, truthfulness refers to the quality of being sincere, open and genuine; not deceitful or hypocritical.

 In this rather confused world we live in, sometimes it can seem difficult to discern  truth, as we get bombarded with many differing, often opposing and contradictory ideas or beliefs.

John 16:13 states:-

'When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.'

Thus we are able as Christian believers, to rest assured in the truth of the Holy Spirit, at all times.

 John 8:32 states:-
''And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We see that because Satan the father of lies threatens to deceive us; it is only through God's grace, that we can really know what is true.

Friend, if you are having problems with truth or discernment, then please join me in the following prayer:-

Dear God,
Help me to know truth from falsehood.
Help me to keep your commandment not to lie, and to always be truthful.
Grant me discernment, with the courage and ability to live in accordance with your truth in all matters.
Clear my vision, so I may see the truth from the false.
Clear my voice and speech, to speak only what is truthful.
Protect me please from the devil's dishonesty and lies, so that all I do may be in complete alignment and service to your Will, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Know that this prayer is being answered and get ready to receive a miracle.

Peace and Light
Pastor Bola
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Title: 'When Another Makes You Suffer'

Visual Prayer Art -  From Crystal Light Collection by Rev.Bola A

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted,  forgiving one another, even as God for  Christ's sake hath forgiven you. When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment, he needs help.  ~ Thich Naht Hanh --  Do You have someone in your life who is making life miserable for you? Do you have someone who is making things more difficult than they need to be? How do you react to hurtful words and actions by others? What are some practical and Godly things you can to:  1.Protect yourself     2. Set healthy boundaries     3.Diffuse the situation?

One of the things I have found to work in these kind of situations is prayer and meditation. I always acknowledge and never suppress my natural inclination to retaliate. I acknowledge that I am human, that I have emotions like anger, indignation, grief, sadness, fear...etc... When someone violates my boundaries, I acknowledge that as a human-being it's natural for me to feel these things. What is important to me and to God, is that I don't act out of these feelings in retaliation. So how do I process them? I use my journal. CIR membership provides a great journalling tool. I write about my feelings. I may write a letter to the person, a poem, or even a vent. But I don't post it. Usually when I acknowledge my feelings in this way I calm down. Once in that calm state, I am able to pray, and focus on what is right. I pray both for myself and for the other person. I ask God to deliver our relationship from the negative grip of Satan. Notice, I said I am not just praying for myself. I am praying for OUR relationship in the spiritual and also in the physical realm. I am asking for Jesus to intercede and remove Satan's influence from my relationship with the other person. I then pray for myself, and ask God to help me grow stronger and more loving in Him. I ask for an anointing from The Holy Spirit, to intercede on my behalf in this and all my relationships. Next I pray for that person, and ask God to heal them from all unrighteousness, and be restored to their true nature in Christ. I then close with thanks giving for all those relationships in my life that are working well. (I often find that many are, which I might be taking for granted.) Usually by this time, something has shifted in the Spiritual realm for the better. I often notice also that in the material realm, the next time I am in touch with that person, things are better. But even if that person has not changed, I have. Thank God. Peace Rev.Bola Member of Christians in Recovery Check out Christians in Recovery for more resources. **************************************

Title: 'Discerning My Direction From God'

Title: 'SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT'/Mx - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola A.

HOW I MAKE ALL MY IMPORTANT LIFE DECISIONS.

'Four Questions on Discerning My Direction from God'

Introduction:
Being led of the Spirit and knowing the will of God requires discernment and a submissive heart.
It is important that I get my heart in the place where I am willing to do whatever the Lord may ask me to do.
Or to refrain from doing whatever the Lord, does not need, want or require me to do.

I must not be like the lady that I read about who….
went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and go in the direction the stick pointed when it landed.
One day, however, she was seen tossing the stick up several times. "Why do you toss the stick more than once?" someone asked. "Because," replied the woman, "it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right." She then dutifully kept throwing the stick into the air until it pointed the way she wanted to go!

MY BIBLE TEXT:
Proverbs 3: says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;'
v6.' In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct[a] your paths.'

God's Word in The Bible assures me that there is a way I can position my heart to know I will be directed by the Lord. This verse says so in addition to many others. Let me share four questions I ask during times when I am attempting to discern direction from God.

1. Does What I am Sensing Square with Scripture?

-Since the Scripture reveals us to me the will of God, I should never follow a path contrary to the truth of Scripture.
-I am to be led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14) and the Holy Spirit will never lead me contrary to Scripture. Why? Because the Scripture was given to men through the Holy Spirit.

2. Does What I am Sensing Bear Witness with Peace?

-Paul wrote we are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. If what I think I hear being said causes me to lose my peace, then something is amiss.
-The ministry of reconciliation that believers carries is awesome. I must not violate that ministry by doing things that I do not have an inner peace about doing,
-Something may be right to do, but it may not be the right time to do it.
-Something may be right for someone else to do, but yet, I am not to do it,
-Something may right in my own human eyes and the eyes of my friends, but if there is no peace, then the Holy Spirit is saying "No!"

3. Does What I am Sensing Connect or Conflict with Other Confirmed Direction?

-If I am having to knock down a door that God has not opened, then I realize I am going the wrong way. Sometimes we want something we will try to bend everything toward it.

ILLUS-When God bolts the door, don't try to get in through the window. The will of God never will lead me where the grace of God cannot keep me.
-In the mouth of two or three witnesses a thing is established. What does the counsel of Godly Christian people around me say?
-What prophetic words have I been encouraged with through the Scripture or through the Spirit speaking through someone else, or even my dreams. God still speaks through dreams but I must be discerning and use His Word as a standard to judge them.

ILLUS-Do not hastily ascribe things to God. Do not easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions or revelations to be from God. They may be from Him. They may be from nature. They may be from the Devil.
J.K. Johnston, John Wesley Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 102.
-Do not go against the last thing you KNOW God spoke to you about by changing directions on a word you are not fully assurred of.

4. Does What I am Sensing Contain the Fruit of the Spirit?

-I do not do what Jesus who was full of the Spirit would not do.
-This is a behavior oriented test. The Lord leads me to do things that will result in the fruit of the Spirit being demonstrated in my life.
-For example, He will not lead me into situations where I lose my patience with my partner. He will not lead me to respond to someone in a harmful way.

CONCLUSION: Am I willing to do His will above all others?

I only wrestle with God for one of two reasons:
1. I don't know God's will and I am trying to find it. /OR
2. I know God's will and I am trying to decide whether or not to do it.

I must always ask my Spirit, which of these might I be wrestling with at any given time?

Incidentally, sharing this article brings me a lot of PEACE.
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PEACE And LOVE
Rev.Bola A.

*With Special Thanks To  Eddie Lawrence for his Divinely Inspired Teachings.
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'God Wants You To Know'

Title: 'YOU ARE LOVED'/Mx - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola A

God wants you to know that....

1. You are loved and very precious to God.
2. You have the right to be treated many times better than the current world system is treating you.
3. You have the right to be completely free of any and all forms of negativity.
4. You have the right to be happy and joyful all the time.
5. You have the right to live a life of peace, tranquility, beauty and harmony.
6. You have the right to all your basic needs for survival being met without struggle.
7. You have the right to enjoy and share all your natural gifts and talents with other human-beings..
8. You have the right to live in abundance, without lack or competition for resources.
9. You have the right to a healthy and fit physical body that does not age.
10. You have the right to direct knowing without being programmed.
11. You have the right to feel safe and secure around other humans.
12. You have the right to only buy, own and use what you actually need.
13. You have the right to be stress, pressure, addiction and compulsion free.
14. You have the right to make your own choices in life, and be accountable for them.
15. You have the right to go anywhere you want, providing you go in love.
16. You have the right to balance in all areas of life.
17. You have the right to know what the rules governing life are, and how to apply them.
18. You have the right to clarity at all times.
19. You have the right to a guilt free, shame free life.
20. You have the right to loving connections with others.
21. You have the right to spend your time with people who care for you and away from people who don't, no matter who they are.
22. You have the right to a pain free passage into and out of the material world.
23. You have the right to unconditional love and acceptance.
24. You have the right to a life of beauty, comfort, luxury and aesthetic appreciation.
25. You have the right to choose not to have any of these things for yourself.