Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 19 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 19 Apr 2008

Today, I end my series on The importance of building the right self image with this final point. Let faith, hope, and trust in the Lord be our foundational pillars of our self image. Constantly we may be faced with lies from the enemy trying to pull us down. The weight of the world on our shoulders. Current circumstances do not reveal God’s purpose. Yet we do not shrink back, we do not lose hope, and only our faith and trust in the Lord grows stronger and stronger. I pray that this word of encouragement would establish our self image. The faith to trust God, in every difficult situation. The faith to believe that God will answer our prayers. The faith to seek God with all our hearts, that He will make all His promises for our future a reality. Finally I hope we will always remember this statement. Our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. Matthew 17:20 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 18 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 18 Apr 2008

The importance of building the right self image. The fundamental purpose of this series is to remind us all, that our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. If there is any better gage of when you are tired, or when you need to eat, or when you are over eating, it is our internal bio-system. Isn’t it amazing, without thinking or trying, our internal body will tell us all these things. Today’s word of encouragement is this. Just as our internal bodies can send messages to our brain that we are eating too much, we are sick, we are tired. Then let us develop our internal sin detector. If there is anything as vital to our self image, it is the awareness of our sins and developing boundaries so that we do not continue walking in sin. Let us pray that God would give us all affective internal sin detectors. Let us pray for humility, so that we can break our stubborn attitude. Finally, if we are made in Christ, then let us start acting like a person made in Christ. Numbers 14:24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 17 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 17 Apr 2008

The importance of building the right self image. The fundamental purpose of this series is to remind us all, that our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. Satisfaction, is it from God or man? Today’s word of encouragement is a reminder, Don’t let people’s opinions of you, stop you from fulfilling your destiny. If our self image is made in Christ and not in man, why do we entertain people’s opinions about ourselves? Everyone has their own reasons for allowing others opinions to affect them. Most often if we don’t have a healthy relationship with our Father in heaven, we will strive to gain acceptance, approval, and recognition from people. Without God defining our self image, we will always fall short, and feel unsatisfied. No matter what we may have accomplished, how wealthy we have become, we will always feel empty inside. Let us pray today that God would restore our self image. May this verse bring refreshing to our souls. Deuteronomy 11:15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 16 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 16 Apr 2008

The importance of building the right self image. The fundamental purpose of this series is to remind us all, that our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. Today’s word of encouragement is about finding your assets and minimizing your liabilities. It is a fact, that before we were born, God gave us all assets. These assets are our fixed assets that make up who you are. But that is not all! God has given us more than those fixed assets. Our hidden and unseen intangible assets. Our intangible assets are only seen and used when we begin to walk with God, and build a strong relationship with God. Not many people ever notice their intangible assets because they are focused on the wrong self image, one that is made by man and not made in Christ. OUR LIABILITIES are our SIN issues. The moment we allow sin to enter our lives it causes our assets to depreciate at a faster pace. Soon our fixed assets start to fall apart, and the longer it takes us to remove our liabilities, the depreciation rate starts to speed up. It is amazing how a balance sheet could be used to relate to our lives. Today, I am interested in doing three things to help build the right self image made in Christ. Firstly, making sure that my fixed assets are stable, strong, and the foundations are sturdy. The only way this can happen is if I am building a strong relationship with God. Secondly, I want to find and grow my intangible assets, so that eventually they will grow to become my fixed assets. This can only happen if my fixed assets are sturdy, and I am chasing after God’s purpose AND NOT MY OWN. Thirdly, I want to continue to minimize my liabilities, so that eventually none of my assets will get depreciated. This can only happen when the only things I fear most is GOD, and because He is the only one I fear, I would not even entertain a single ounce of sin in my life. Proverbs 28:14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 14 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 14 Apr 2008

The importance of building the right self image. The fundamental purpose of this series is to remind us all, that our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. Today’s word of encouragement is about learning how to handle jealousy and insecurity. In Luke 8:51 the Word of God states, “When he (Jesus) arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.” In Mark 5:37 the Word states again, “He did not let anyone follow him expect Peter, James, and John. Numerous occasions even when Jesus was praying before he was to be crucified, He only asked for Peter, John, and James to follow Him (Mark 14:33). The key words that stuck out to me from these key passages, “He did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James.” “He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John. I wonder how the other nine disciples felt. Out of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus only these three were closest to Jesus. Learning how to handle jealousy and insecurity are crucial if we want to build the right self image in Christ. There must be a reason why Jesus only chose these three out of the twelve. They stood out, their love for Jesus was steadfast. Even when Peter denied Jesus three times, he was fully repentant, and he truly loved God despite his flaws. Finally these three had a real relationship with God. Their fire never died. There are two ends of the spectrum. Sometimes we are going to be in a position like Peter, James, and John. We are the chosen ones, we get into strategic positions, and we get to see things others do not get to see. Sometimes we are on the other end, we aren’t the chosen ones, we get limited time, and we don’t get to see everything. Today’s word of encouragement is really an eye opener. In either position we may be in of the spectrum, the reminder is to remain secure in our identity in Christ. Sometimes God puts us in lower positions, less prominent roles, to test our character, to test our pride, and to see if we are really after God or are we in it for selfish reasons to better our self image made by man. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 14 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 14 Apr 2008

Today I begin on a new series on the importance of building the right self image. The fundamental purpose of this series is to remind us all, that our self image is not made by man but made in Christ. Discouragement. One of the greatest attacks of the enemy on our self image is in the area of discouragement. It is vital that we instill the right self image internally on a daily basis. How do we do this? By reading the Bible daily, and having a strong prayer lifestyle. If we have children, it is vital that we impart to them the right self image, by encouraging them, and instilling in them that they were made in the image of God. Imagine our children with the right self image. They would understand what pride is, humility, and know that their identity is in God and no one else. The enemy is going to be very afraid of them as they grow up. Man may try to define who we are and people may discourage us by saying bad things about us. If we entertain these things in our hearts, we ARE letting the enemy rob who we are made to be, and eventually we will forget that we were made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 13 Apr 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 13 Apr 2008

Today I end my series on parent and children relationships with this encouragement. Give your best, and God will do the rest! It has truly been an exciting journey for me personally writing about building strong parent and children relationships. Today’s encouragement to us all is just try, give your best, and take that first step. Give your best, and God will do the rest. Life is short. To live in anger, hurt, pain, and unforgiveness is not worth it. Life is fulfilling. Give your best time is the prime of life for your children, before you are old and grey and missed out so much of their life journey. Life is empty without God. Without a strong relationship with God as the foundation of your home, the house will fall apart. Let God be the center, the rock, and solid foundation of your family—starting with you parents. Today is your day! Make a difference. Psalm 3:3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. © Apr 2008 Shaun Lee. www.everynation.org.sg archive: www.shauntzen.blogspot.com