15 Steps to Overcoming Discouragement

15 Steps to Overcoming Discouragement

Whitney Hopler

A stale marriage. A chronic health condition. A prolonged period of unemployment. Discouragement sets in when you start to feel a sense of hopelessness about your future - when it seems like the troubling circumstances you're going through won't ever improve. But if you look beyond your circumstances to God, you'll discover the real hope and better future that He promises you.

Here's how you can overcome discouragement:

Pray. God already knows how discouraged you feel, but He wants you to talk to Him about your feelings and listen for how His Spirit guides you. Honestly vent your frustration to God and keep in mind that He cares about what you're going through. Ask God to open your eyes spiritually so you'll be able to see your circumstances from His perspective. Pray for deliverance from circumstances that aren't God's will, and perseverance to empower you to endure circumstances that are His will until you learn all you're supposed to learn from them.

Remember Who God is. Shift your focus from your discouraging circumstances to God Himself. Remember that He is love, and also that He is all-powerful. Trust that God will help you because that's consistent with His character.

Prepare yourself for the discouraging situations you're bound to encounter. Every day, Satan will try to discourage you in some way, but you can guard against such attacks by keeping up with some basic spiritual disciplines daily. Pray, read and reflect on the Bible, write in a journal, and check in with a prayer partner to give each other encouragement and accountability.

Stick to your assignment. Think and pray about the work you're currently doing for God. Ask Him to clarify whether or not He has truly led you to your current assignment. Reflect on the successes and failures you've experienced so far and see if you can recognize a pattern that can help you discern if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. If it seems as if you're doing what God wants you to do but you just need to overcome some challenges while doing it, don't give up. Instead, fight discouragement by writing down a fresh vision for how to continue your work in the future.

Get guidance from a Christian counselor. If your discouragement has become so deep that you're struggling to overcome it, share your concerns with a Christian counselor who can give you biblical advice about how to move forward.

Refill your spiritual energy tank. Identify what's causing your spiritual energy levels to run low, write down the problem, form partnerships with a few people you trust who can join you in prayer about it, develop a clear strategy for solving the problem (such as scheduling a set time and place for daily devotions, or joining a weekly discipleship group), take action, and make yourself accountable to the people who are supporting you in prayer.

Take care of your physical health. Giving your body the care it needs will help you feel less discouraged. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

Spend time with someone who isn't discouraged. Time in that person's positive presence will naturally make you feel better yourself.

Give to people in need. Reaching out to help other people will prove encouraging for you because it will give you the joy of knowing that God has used you in significant ways.

Simplify your life. Base your schedule on your priorities. Don't waste time and energy on activities that don't reflect what's most important to you. Freeing yourself from unnecessary tasks will encourage you.

Share your faith with others. Whenever God gives you the opportunity to share your faith with non-Christians who seeking Him, do so. You'll remind yourself of how God has worked in your life and experience the joy of helping others discover Him.

Use the talents God has given you. Letting your talents lie dormant will only increase your sense of discouragement. Ask God to lead you to specific situations where you can put them to full use - for God's glory, and to help make the world a better place.

Resist Satan's efforts to discourage you more. Remember the Bible's promise that if you resist Satan, he will flee from you. Every day, pray for the spiritual strength you need to fight the evil attacks that you'll encounter in this fallen world. When Satan tempts you to doubt God, choose to trust Him. When Satan tries to deceive you and you feel confused, pray to discern the truth. When Satan promotes divisions between you and other Christians, make every effort to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace. Keep in mind that God's power working in you is greater than any of Satan's schemes and, in Christ, you have the spiritual authority to defeat Satan's work and emerge victorious.

Choose faith over fear. Recognize that God is alwayswith you - even in the middle of the most discouraging circumstances. Whenever you feel afraid, choose to trust God despite your fear. God may not change your circumstances when you'd like Him to, but He will always give you the encouragement you need to deal with them as long as necessary.

Never give up! Keep holding on to God's promise that He has an important plan for your life. Keep praying for the encouragement you need to fulfill all of His purposes for you.

“This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive; Ill never be the same. In Jesus name, God bless you.”

Cooking for my dearest..

haha..I finally managed to cook 3 dishes for my dearest Mindy.

1. Sweet & Sour Chicken

2. Fried Chicken with potato

3. Mixed Veggie

Result: YUMMY :) ..yes ar?

dialog:

Matt: So honey..how's d food?

Mindy: hahahahaha...ehek..ehek..hahaha..(keeps on smiling and laughing coz she's gonna marry an awesome guy!!) yeslah I perasan..

Matt: Ahem..honey?

Mindy: Nice lor... :P VEry..VERY NICE!!! Cook again ar..

Matt : :)

Well that's all folks..

a letter from the devil

DARK LETTER Letter from the Devil This can really make you think. It actually made me really mad while I was reading it, but it made me realize some things.

A LETTER TO YOU FROM SATAN

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your meals, or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful, I like that about you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of living, Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady for years, and I still don’t love you yet . As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. He kicked me out of heaven, and I’m going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.

You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me, and I’m going to make your life a living hell. That way, we’ll be together twice. This will really hurt God. Thanks to you, I’m really showing Him who’s boss in your life with all of the good times we’ve had. We have been. watching dirty movies, cursing people out, stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling dirty jokes, gossiping, being judgmental, back stabbing people, disrespecting adults, and those in leadership positions, no respect for the Church, bad attitudes. SURELY you don’t want to give all this up. Come on, Fool, let’s burn together forever. I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me to you.

I’d like to say “THANKS” for letting me use you for most of your foolish life. You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you give in. HA HA HA, you make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life. You look 20 years older, and now, I need new blood. So go ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke, get drunk or drink while under-aged, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate, and live being as selfish as possible. Do all of this in the presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that. Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now.

I’ll be back in a couple of seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere, confess your sins, and live for God with what little bit of life that you have left. It’s not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still sinning, it’s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate you. IT’S JUST THAT YOU’D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR CHRIST.

Cooking.........

I shall attempt to cook 3 dishes for my loved one this week...

Menu? well...butter milk chicken, dried chilli fish slices and veggie.. it's a good start.. :)

Let's see if it turns out well.. either a good tasty meal or a PURGING REVIVAL!!!

hahaha...hope u enjoy it dear.. :)

Coping with Difficult People

Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?"
2 Samuel 21:3

Every leader faces difficult people and draining circumstances. The Gibeonites were difficult for David.

The following difficult personality types commonly accost leaders today:

Personality Type	Coping Strategy
The Sherman Tank: rides over people	Consider the issue; stand up if important
The Space Cadet: lives in another world	Find and develop their unique gifts
The Volcano: explosive, unpredictable	Remove from crowd, listen, be direct
The Thumb Sucker: self-pity, pouts to real trouble	Don't reward; expose them
The Wet Blanket: always down	Be honest, don't cater; don't let them lead
The Garbage Collector: attracts the worst	Challenge their statements; force honesty
The User: demands lots of time, energy	Set boundaries; require accountability

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

Personal Qualifications for Leadership

Personal Qualifications for Leadership

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh's wise counselors give foolish counsel . . . Let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes. Isaiah 19:11-13

What qualifies a person to be a leader?

Most natural leaders don't aspire to be great leaders; they aspire to be great persons. Personal qualifications lead to leadership qualifications. When leaders lead their own lives well, others naturally want to follow.

Consider Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India. It's doubtful she ever said, "I am going to set out to be a great leader!" Yet that is what she became by determining to be the person God created her to be. If we want our leadership to last, we must pay attention to four crucial elements:

1. Character - enables us to do what is right even when it seems difficult.
2. Perspective - enables us to understand what must happen to reach a goal.
3. Courage - enables us to initiate and take risks to step out toward a worthy goal.
4. Favor - enables us to attract and empower others to join us in the cause.

The Maxwell Leadership Bible

GOD RESCUES

Genesis 19:24-26

“Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.“

In one incredible act of kindness and grace, God rescued Lot and His family from the evil city of

Gomorrah before He destroyed it. There was just one directive given… run, don’t stop, and don’t look back! (See vs.17)

We serve a gracious God who chooses to pluck us out of our disastrously unrighteous situations and put us on a path to freedom and recovery, even when we deserve to suffer the full consequences of our sin.

However, He still issues the same directive that he did so many generations ago to Lot’s family.

Unfortunately, it is in our human nature to want to re-visit those behaviors, relationships, or situations that we were graciously rescued from. We sometimes feel that we are recovered and strong enough to handle the fire and not get burnt. Inevitably though, we fall straight back into the temptations that got us into trouble and often walk away from the free gift of freedom that God so miraculously provided for us.

We must learn the lesson of embracing the grace of God and fully obeying His instruction not to look back. We must trust that He is wise and all-knowing and loves us deeply. He will only remove from our lives those things that are destructive and threaten our salvation. He loves us. It may be painful for a season, but I urge you to let go of your sin and run in the opposite direction until it is just a distant memory!

Prayer

“Jesus, I thank you for your incredible gift of grace and forgiveness that sets me free from the

bondage of sin even though I deserve the full consequences of my disobedience. I thank you that you never leave me to die in my sin, but always offer a way of escape. Help me not to look back and to leave it all behind me. Amen.”

Poem by Courtney Kuchta –

If I could have just one wish,

I would wish to wake up everyday

to the sound of your breath on my neck,

the warmth of your lips on my cheek,

the touch of your fingers on my skin,

and the feel of your heart beating with mine...

Knowing that I could never find that feeling

with anyone other than you.

Gunung Lang : The Wedding 2010

Garden Wedding

What are these principles that makes the eagle so special. What lessons can we derive from them.

1. The Eagle Flies At High Altitude And It does Alone. This is an amazing principle of the eagle which very few people can cope with. The eagle is not found among sparrows or other smaller birds. The eagles flies in altitude only one kind of bird can fly-the eagle. Never with other birds and never in flocks. What is the lesson here? If you ever want to do something great in life, learn to be alone and when you are with people, share your time with people of same ambition and desires

2. The Eagle Has Strong And Unbelievable Vision: This vision is so sharp to the extent that it can capture objects 5 kilometers from the air. No matter the obstacle, the eagle focus on its prey and does not back out until the prey is captured. Many obstacle will appear to distract you in life. Stay focused and never allow dissenting views and voices to deter you from your vital goals in life.

3. The Eagle Eats Fresh Prey. Vultures can feed on dead animals but not the eagle. The eagle is so choosy and special that it feeds on fresh prey only. What is the import of this principle to you? Stale information will never do you good. Update yourself regularly with fresh information from reliable sources. Research your subject areas and use it for maximum benefit.

4. The Eagle Gets Excited In The Midst Of Storm. Other animals can run from adversity but not the eagle. The eagle loves gathering cloud. In fact, it thrive best in the midst of storm and winds. How often do you allow opposition to discourage you? Learn from the eagle. Use life's storm to be better, wiser, greater, wealthier and healthier. Challenges should be your stepping stone to your success and not to your destruction. Jesus Christ went to sleep in the midst of the storm instead of fretting like the disciples. Learn to rest and soar during the time of storm in your life. That is the secret of the eagle.

5. The Eagle Tests Before Trusting. There is a saying that says 'trust but verify'. I believe it was coined from the principle of the eagle. This principle is peculiar to the female eagle which subject the male eagle to vigorous testing before allowing the male to mate with her. This principle could be applied in our relationship with others especially when we want to enter one kind of agreement or partnership with others. Test the commitment of people before you trust them with your time and resources.

6. The Eagles Prepares For Training: The male and female eagles takes the baby eagle to a mountain top at high altitude to prepare it for the challenge of flying at great heights. When the baby eagle is released, the free fall at first is frightening but the mother eagle soon come to the rescue and the process is repeated again until the baby eagle can fly alone at high altitude in the manner of the parents. Challenges of life are inevitable. It is a training period for higher responsibilities. The better you are at managing your battles in life, the wiser and more responsible you become. Preparation is vital for future success.

7. When The Eagle Feels Weak, And About To Die, He Retires To A Place Far Away In The Dark. The eagle does this to shed old wind and grow new ones. Stress and fatigue is part of life. There is need to learn how to retire to a quite place for periodic retreat and strategic thinking with planning. The freshness gained from such practice improves productivity and quality of life. It also prolongs life. Take time to refresh. It is and indispensable tool for success and longevity.

The eagle has the longest life-span of its’ species*

*It can live up to 70 years *

*But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision*

*In its’ 40’s *

*Its’ long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food *

*Its’ long and sharp beak becomes bent*

*Its’ old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its’ chest and make it difficult to fly *

*Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days. *

*The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its’ nest*

*There the eagle knocks its’ beak against a rock until it plucks it out *

*After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its’ talons *

*When its’ new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its’ old-aged feathers*

*And after five months, the eagle takes its’ famous flight of rebirth and lives for … *

*30 more years*

WHY IS CHANGE NEEDED?

Many times – in order to survive….we have to start a change process.

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions.

Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Where Will The Big Day Be?

Hohohoh..as u all know, I have that special someone in my life.
And what better way to have a wedding ceremony than a Garden Wedding.
So we searched..and searched for the right place...Taman D.R? Polo Ground?
Clearwater Sanctuary?........nope..

It's gonna be in Gunung Lang..Here are some pics..
Gonna be an awesome day!!

Entrance of Gunung Lang..the boats will take you to the ceremony..

On the way to the ceremony by boat..hehehe

Arriving at the reception..any ushers wanna volunteer?

Ahh...Garden Wedding..

LOVE

FACES WITHOUT RACES: NEW MALAYSIA!

We live in a diverse culture that is rich with different types of people and great food!!hahaha!!
Throughout the years I have seen many people leave Malaysia and migrate to other countries
coz' they feel it's not fair! Well wake up!! Since when there's fairness. We have to take responsibility and do something. Be proud where God has planted you! Unless of course you are called to go. That's a different story!!!

Recently I went for a conference and I saw a banner that struck me. Talking about a new Malaysia. Where GOD will come and make a difference through His people.

Here's what it says:

FACES WITHOUT RACES: NEW MALAYSIA!

No Religious or Racial Politics

Equal and Fair Distribution of Wealth and Resources

Righteousness will be the order of Governance in our Nation
A Malaysia for all Malaysians

A Government that ensures PEACE, PROGRESS, PROTECTION & PROSPERITY

Freedom of Religion including upholding the freedom of rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution

Deep Reformation in the Church through intense personal Consecration of all believers

An open door for city Revival & Transformation

The Church will become a prophetic voice of Hope actively involved in Nation Building, including Business, Education, Social,Media and political domains.

The Church must lead the Nest Generation of Malaysians

Scripture IMPACTS & CHANGES our lives!

Scripture IMPACTS & CHANGES our lives!
God's Word was not given to satisfy our intellectual curiosity,
but to transform our minds, hearts and wills, and to conform us to Christlikeness.

Unless this happens, we are like people who gaze in a mirror, see our unkempt appearance, but then walk away without doing anything about it!(James 1:22-24)

Why go through all the work of discovering God's Will and miss out on the blessing by not obeying it!

"Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!"

- James 1 :22

God-Incidence

Coincidence or God-Incidence?

We can never change the past, the good thing is that God wants us to move on. Incidences happened to the people in the bible and how God used those things to turn man around. What we think to be coincidental are actually God-incidences.
Those incidences still happen today. Do you have a God-incidence story?

Superman & Wonder Woman

SEASONS

Recognize your season
and you'll know things happen for a reason.
-Keith A. Craft

TEAR DOWN THE WALLS

VERSE 1:
Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

PRE CHORUS:
And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire deep inside my heart

VERSE 2:
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

PRE CHORUS 2:
‘Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
‘Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

CHORUS:
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You

CHORUS 2:
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

BRIDGE:
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Boom Shakalaka

NEW WORD that I use when I get excited..

Boom Shakalaka. Hmmmmmm..What does it mean?

1. boom shakalaka

the sound that is heard when someone makes an awesome slam dunk.
when tim duncan made that dunk, the announcers yelled in unison, "BOOM SHAKALAKA!!!!"

2. Boom Shakalaka

Synonymous with the one word form (boomshakalaka). This is like a slap in the face when you beat somebody one on one, or when something amazing happens.

7 secrets of Success

1. Roof - Aim high

2. Fan - Be cool

3. Clock - Every minute is precious.

4. Mirror - Reflect before you act

5. Window - See the world

6. Calender - Be up-to-date

7. Door - Push hard to archive your goal

Try your best to do these 7 secrets of Success
then you are motivated 365 days

CAMBODIA : MISSION TRIP 2009

Here are some pics of our mission trip to Cambodia..

Let the pics speak for itself.. 8 days in Cambodia..

LCCT