Reverend J

Sometimes, it's an immediate reconciliatory step that makes a difference # rise up from a shock, frustration or depression # It's still action that counts # progress over pain # movement while in wounds # motion over dormancy #

Sunday reflection # Rejoice not in their tears #

" Because you have plundered many nations, the people who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood, you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone".- Habbakuk 2:8. Someone said " If you cannot help them, do not hurt them". You cannot keep destroying people's reputations, relationships, jobs and the list goes on and escape results of the same kind in the long run.

" What you have not demonstrated, you have not yet fully taught; be part of the values you promote". Zechariah 8:21 records as follows" And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also". As you strive to see certain things change or move speedily in a certain direction *you also* should be a reflection of those wishes and the part of that journey.

One of the prayer petitions for 2024 should be against the enemies that appear and camp during the time of our harvest. You wonder how at a time you find resources; something comes up that require immediate maintenance or fixes, someone closer gets ill, all sorts of unplanned coffers. “During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim”. - 2 Samuel 23:13. Let there be not the band of philistines that come as necessary and recovery expenditures yet unplanned during the time of harvest.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

“Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow, we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit” (James 4:13). Such were the imaginations of business people who wanted to make money. But in their planning, they did not engage or honored the Lord, and actually were boastful. Then they were advised as follows “Instead you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). The point is; imaginations, dreams or foresights are very important, but they should be aligned to God’s inspiration.

But on the other side of the coin, let us analyze the imaginations of those business people which were “Today or Tomorrow, we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit.”

A. Sense of urgency

They wanted to take the action that day or the following day. Sometimes we lose it, when we always postpone implementation of our plans, the thinking of these people was “let us do this either today or tomorrow”.

B. Moving out of the comfort zone/ thinking outside the box

They were thinking beyond where they stayed, they planned even to go and stay somewhere provided they make money.

C. Patience

They realized results are a function of process and time. They were okay to spend a year somewhere, provided they get the results, sometimes we lose it when we want to make it in a day.

D. Ex*****on
At last, they were clear and ready to take action, to actually trade and make profit. Imagination is nothing until it is implemented, no matter how small steps may be, but a step has to be taken.

Case by Case Method

The dynamics keep changing, we need to embrace changes over time. The strategy you used to be where you are now may be irrelevant or limited to take you to another level.

Learn, relearn and unlearn. When disciples failed to cast out a demon and asked the reason for that failure. They were told " This kind goes out by prayer and fasting" - Mat 17:21. The scope changed.

That kind of business may need partnerships other than sole proprietorship because buyers need huge volumes that cannot be provided by a single supplier. You need to learn principles of partnerships to succeed at that point.

It's case by case, you can't afford to memorize.

Dust Shake-Off Principle

It is very important to accept that refusal or being sidelined is real. In the Jewish Culture when one was leaving a place with no intention to return back by the reason of refusal, they were shaking off the dust from their feet. This instruction was given to the disciples “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” – Matthew 10:14-16.

You have been late to shake off the dust from your feet in many spaces, refusal is real. You know for sure you were to be part of certain gatherings but you keep not getting invitations, they do not return your calls, they respond to your texts after days while they are online whole day, you will not communicate unless you start the conversations, you noticed the same, complained or engaged the other party yet it continues, surely it is time to consider “Shaking off the dust from your feet”. # Zitulukeni #

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs his motives.- Proverbs 16:2. Many big plans fail due to bad motives.. If simply, the motivation to start something is mere competition and envy. Such plans do not stand the test of time.