Agape Sisters Fellowship

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught
me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer
rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one
is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no
for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion, Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,
will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you
did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

The Seed

A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued, "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today -- one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and, excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Every day, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked! him to be honest about what happened.

Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives.

They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed. A few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO.
"Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO, the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a
seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it and bring it back to me today.
"But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead -- it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.
"When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"

God has great rewards for those who remain faithful - What will your life accomplish?

"You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5 NLT

Miracle Baby

"John and Betty Stam met at Moody Bible Institute while both were studying to become missionaries to China. After going there separately under the China Inland Mission (CIM), they were unexpectedly reunited and a year later were married. In September 1934, their daughter, Helen, was born. Their lives were suddenly changed on December 6, 1934, when communist soldiers arrested the Stams.

The Stams were forced to make a difficult march to the town of Miao-shou. They were horrified to hear the soldiers discuss plans to murder their baby to make the trip easier. An old farmer stepped forward to object. Little Helen was spared when the man agreed to take her place—and was shot on the spot.

Arriving in Miao-shou, Helen was taken from them. Marched to a place of execution, a local Christian doctor begged for their lives. He was condemned to die and John begged for mercy for the doctor. John, Betty, and the doctor were all beheaded.

Helen was found by a Chinese evangelist named Lo who, at great risk, was able to bring her to her grandparents in Tsinan. The news of the "Miracle Baby" and her parents' martyrdom spread around the world. Hundreds pledged their lives to missionary service. A fellow missionary wrote "A life which had the longest span of years might not have been able to do one-hundredth of the work for Christ which they have done in a day."

adapted from the The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale) pp 682-83 "

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

A man was walking at the other side; suddenly the man turned and said hey, the rapture has just taken place 30 seconds ago, and looking at the time it was 1.00.30s AM. The man proceeded by saying go in the left direction you will find other Christians there, do not go in the right direction. They are taking the mark already. Go now I give you one minute. I asked him what about you? He turned and said I am the antichrist who has lived in your midst for so long waiting for this day. I was confused but my spirit said run, my son run. We ran and on covering some distance. I turned back; lo and behold the man we left has turned to the antichrist.

We kept running and saw many other people running as well. We got to a very large auditorium too large to be described and behold multitudes of Christians. Brethren it was a terrifying experience. People of high standing with God, Prominent men and women of God, loved ones and friends.

In a predominant church of one tribe, I saw the pastors announcing that the rapture has just taken place and that people should start receiving the mark right there in the church that this will substitute the said beast mark and enable them to buy and sell. Brethren, what made me weep was that the innocent and ignorant members started receiving this mark not knowing it was actually the mark of the beast.

The Lord then said all these pastors are agents of the beast who has been ordained to mislead the people and who already has the beast mark before his manifestation, and I saw marks on the right arm of all these pastors. A brother who was fortunate to see who to call him to start running down to the place where all other Christians are was shot in the leg as he was about climbing the top of the Christian's hide out.

Then the Lord took me again to another church where the pastors were just speaking of the good things of the scripture and didn't talk about the second coming of Christ and warn the people of the wages of sin. The irony of it was that all these pastors and their members were left behind.

Then I saw another church where people did really emphasize the coming but all the people didn't go as a result of the hidden sins which weren't known to man and they had not counted as sin. I wept bitterly because this was a church where holiness was professed and held in high esteem.

I saw another church where people concentrated mainly on attacking demons and where the true word was also preached but the people also didn't go due to malice and lack of spiritual concentration.

I saw yet another church where the people were actively involved in preaching the word and talking about the second coming, however these people did not go. The whole lot was full of hypocrites who disguise themselves in shepherd's clothes.

I was then taken back to the place where the multitude were and then I saw that the people of the beast came and Christians started scrambling for safety. Brethren it was a terrifying experience. Women forgot their children, husbands their wives. We ran and got to another place of hiding but the surprising thing which should make all shiver was that the population was now so small that it was easy for everyone to identify each other as family and friends started pairing up. The Lord then said others have received the mark. Brethren the people I saw made me weep uncontrollably. Prominent men of God all over the world, Christians and loved ones.

I now asked the LORD why all these one and God showed me different people and men of God saying: this man was perfect with me until 2 hours ago.

That other had a small portion of his heart released to the devil. That other brother was too occupied with the things of the world in terms of land and property acquisition that they took over his life.

That other one, I gave him a mandate to pay a certain portion of money to the church and he procrastinated it till now: sin of disobedience.

That other so much loves his cheque book than his life. You can even see that he has his cheque book with him I wonder what he can buy with the money now: hope you know they are no more his.

I wept because so many little things which we humans don't count were counted by God.

The Lord then said all these things which have been happening on earth have all been pointing to the end but despite all this, my people do not take heed. I am giving the last warning. Consecrate your hearts to me, my people.

The trumpet would have been blown one hour ago, but I pleaded with my father. However, I can plead no further. The trumpet is already in the mouths of the Angels ready to be blown.

Tell my people to read Matthew 16:3. And warn all the ministers who has gone in the ways of BAAL

THIS IS TRUE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE RAPTURE IS AT HAND. HELL AND HEAVEN ARE REAL..REPENT YE MY BRETHREN.

*Beloved in Christ, let us help to spread this important information to the world in order to save souls in this perishing world, so that like Noah and his household, we and our entire families will be preserved from destruction and make it to HEAVEN in Jesus name.

1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up !! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul.: Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up !!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!... To the Lord
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest

“The 3 “S” principle Sacrificial Service will open doors to the Supernatural

Don't be disappointed! A man woke up early in order to go to church early one Sunday morning. He got dressed, and was on his way to the church. On his way to church, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, and was, again, on his way to the church. On his way to church, he fell again and at the same spot!

He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes, and was on his way to the church. On his way to the church, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied "I saw you fall twice on your way to church, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way?

The first man thanked him profusely and the two where on their way to church. Once at the church, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and join him in praising and praying to God. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same.

The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray. The man replied, "I am Satan? The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, "I saw you on your way to the church and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the church, God forgave all of your sins.

I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to the church. Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the church safely."

So do not let Satan benefit from his actions. Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.

God is always calling us back to him
Have you refused to listen to God?

"Now if you will fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord's commands, and if you and your king follow the Lord your God, then all will be well. But if you rebel against the Lord's commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors. 1 Samuel 12:14-15 NLT

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" This place was known as Meribah, because it was where the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and where he demonstrated his holiness among them. Numbers 20:12-13 NLT

6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He Proverbs 3:5-6