The Power of Choice - Pastor Ekpenyong

All of us experience hardships and difficult situations at some point. It is an unavoidable part of life. (2Tim.2:3).

How we react to these setbacks is what dictates exactly how much and how long we suffer. 

Our chosen response - yes you have a choice, also affects whether we overcome a bad situation or yield to it. (John 16:33amp).

Since we have options, it actually is possible to turn a bad situation around and turn it into a good one. (Hosea 2:15).

It has been said that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. The truth is that all of us have choices. 

We can dwell and focus on a bad situation, or we can transform it into something positive and uplifting. 

In other words, we may not be able to avoid pain, but we can eliminate the suffering associated with it. This profound wisdom can free us from unnecessary self-inflicted torment.

No matter how bad a situation is, we can always turn it into a good one. We can choose what we want to focus on and that is powerful and enabling. 

The world is full of inspiring examples of people who turned negative situations into good ones. 

They never gave up and viewed their bad predicaments as temporary setbacks. They realized the power of choice. 

Utilizing the power of choice in a challenge is what births creativity.

We call you loved and BLESSED!

Demands of Relationships - Pastor Ekpenyong

Why is relationship a responsibility? It is because, every relationship places on you a demand to respond to your innate abilities.

Whether you will respond appropriately is another thing. However, most times people struggle because of a need for self preservation.

This happens to us all and exerts on us in ways we may not be willing to yield.

However, taking ownership and responsibility for your actions, words and behaviour is an important part of healthy relationships. 

Doing so is an empowering reminder that you have control over the role you play in your relationship.

In acknowledging and owning up to mistakes, being honest and transparent, and actively working to address and resolve issues that arise, you're creating trust and dependability.

You're loved and BLESSED!

Focus - Pastor Ekpenyong

I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. (Phil.3:13tpt).

Who has never had a setback? 

Where are those who refuse to be beset by setbacks?

Most people are so bugged down by setbacks that they have refused to bounce back.

It is not uncommon to be disappointed by the occurrences of setbacks however, make a resolve not to sulk or be kept down by these unpleasant occurrences.

Setbacks are distractions and indulging them won’t allow you to get the traction you need to move forward.

The way you look at what you’ve been through matters far more than what you’ve actually endured. Selah!

Your perspective on any given situation is far more important and impactful than what you went through - this is the marked difference between those who move forward and those who remain stuck.

The resilient person understands that reinforcing doubts and negative or limiting thoughts is a vicious cycle that’s prohibitive to growth. 

In other words, reframing a given situation to look for lessons and learning opportunities sets you up for success as opposed to establishing you in the pain and regrets of the past.

Reframing requires us to examine our assumptions, beliefs, and values; to emotionally adjust our attitudes and harness our feelings; and to cultivate new daily habits and routines. It isn't an easy process. It is a life-changing process - this my friend is the key to thriving inspite of what life throws at you.

Intentionally cultivate gratitude as this helps you gain right perspective and deep respect for the process in your journey to conforming into the image of Christ - where you live more fully, laugh more deeply, and love more authentically.

You're loved and BLESSED!

Opportunities To Be Faithful - Pastor Ekpenyong

Opportunities to be be faithful come across sometimes in a way that we don't like. 

It kind of has an unpleasant, unimportant, even belittling feeling to us. 

We see it as a low position, perhaps something that you do if you can't do anything else, but Jesus said it is actually the greatest thing of all.

"He that is the greatest is the servant of all".

Does it mean you have to do menial things to fit into the profile of a servant? The answer is a big NO.

I believe that no matter what we're doing, that if we do it with the attitude of being a servant that that's what God's talking about.

The labour required to cultivate this grace can feel unequal to the rewards it offers. Many of us are tempted to forsake the pursuit of it in search of nobler successes or achievements.

A faithful person is reliable, dependable, trustworthy. They give their word to what matters, and then they live as if that word has weight.

A faithful man is as valuable and yet as inconspicuous as a beating heart.

Faithfulness will grow in the same place where the Spirit so often cultivates His fruit: in responsibilities and tasks that feel small, unimportant, ordinary. In other words, in little things. 

Our faithfulness here, even in little, is no little matter. In the unremarkable moments of life, God is shaping fickle sons into the image of His Faithful Christ.

You're loved and BLESSED!

Performance Vs Existence - Pastor Ekpenyong

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10NIV "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

Too often we don’t take encouragement as seriously as we should. 

However, we love it when someone tells us that what we said or did made a difference in their lives.

Do you know that one way to live and operate at your highest potential is by receiving a steady dose of encouragement?

Imagine what that would mean in your community if encouraging eachother becomes a regular feature.

That’s why the enemy constantly works to isolate us, deceive us, and discourage us. He wants to take our courage and subtract from what God is doing in our lives. 

I’ve seen people get so down and discouraged that they can’t even think straight, let alone stand against the enemy.

You know those times when the enemy has gotten in and is living rent free in your mind. He tells you that you’re not good enough, you can’t do it, you’ll never get well, and you may as well quit trying. However, when you have people around you who stand with you and encourage you and lift you, you will rise up and defeat the enemy together.

Because of this, encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another, just as you have already been doing. (1Thess.5:11TPT).

The word, the note, the look that says, "I am with you. I care about you. You will survive. You can do it!" We cannot measure how many significant historical advances have been made because another “someone” was behind the achiever encouraging them.

Ask God to give you someone today to encourage in a meaningful way. Your positive words can bring light into dark situations and refresh spirits to withstand the storms of life.

You're loved and BLESSED!

Developing A Great Attitude - Pastor Ekpenyong

My daughter asked me a question one night I accompanied her to their room after she had come to ours in the course of the night that she couldn't sleep "why is it that I feel safe when you are here?" 

My response got me thinking because that is the defining character of a great attitude - you are loved.

Studies show that your attitude can have a greater impact on your success, than your IQ. You can be extremely talented, have incredible potential, but if you don't have the right attitude it will keep you from rising higher.

It's important to look good, to develop your skills, to get an education, but it's even more important to develop a good attitude. Nobody wants to be around a sour, critical and condescending person.

Attitude is simply how you see things; yourself, others and the world. Having the right perspective is predicated on right positioning.

When you realize that you are loved and therefore not needing to do anything to earn it, you are able to function from rest.

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances. We can either let bad situations control us or we can allow ourselves to learn and grow from them.

1. Believe you are LOVED

 "I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts."John 15:9tpt

2. Surround yourself with people of great attitude.

Luke 5:18-20

3. Train yourself to see good around you.

"In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable".Philippians 4:8GNB

You're loved and BLESSED!

Grow In Persuasion - Pastor Ekpenyong

Heb 2:14-15AMP

14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death — that is, the devil —  

15 And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives. 

The reality of the finished works of Christ is yet to dawn in the hearts of believers as it ought.

Many are still yearning for freedom from satan and his works whereas, he has been brought to naught and made of no effect by the substitutionary work of our LORD Jesus Christ.

For as long as the believer, believes the lie of the devil who is the father of lies and deception, that’s how long he’ll remain under servitude and bondage.

It is important to note that every lie of the devil believed is because of ignorance of the finished works.

One might wonder how that ignorance of the finished works can keep someone in bondage. When they're all aware that He died for our sin and was raised for our justification. 

What anyone on the path of discovery will tell you is that, the more you receive revelation knowledge, the more you'll find that ignorance is not just the lack of awareness but the lack of persuasion which is a product of conviction in the truth. 

Take time in the study and meditation of the word, read sound books and listen to the teaching and preaching of the word. For this is how we grow in our convictions and hence make this our reality. 

Glory! 

Check: 

1 Timothy 4:13-16

Daniel 9:2

Acts 20:32

#WavesofGlory 

#WholeCitiesTaken