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Four Given by Malo Bel, Chance to Win a Kindle Fire

Four Given by Malo Bel – The Mystery of Godliness

Four Given by Malo Bel
Four Given by Malo Bel

My story started on a beach, a strange place for a journey to begin, but nothing compared to where it would lead me!

Near the end of a relaxing vacation I was walking by myself towards the beach showers. As I walked I was thinking about my life. Something is wrong! My life is all about what I want, what I do, what I feel. Where’s God? I suddenly felt empty, like it was all “me” and no “Jesus”. I was so shallow. So self obsessed. And so I asked him, “Lord, how do I let go of me and take in more of you? Please Lord, help me! I want to let go! I want to be filled with you.”

However, rather than an answer I got a question back – “How do you let go?”

What do you mean ‘How do you let go?’” And so for a while I pondered his question, “How do you let go?”

“Of course! It’s obvious,” I replied, “If you have to let go something you have to open your hand.”

What does it mean to open your hand?” he asked.

“I suppose an open hand is a hand that gives,” I replied. “Must my journey to you begin with giving?”

“Of course!” It suddenly hit me. “Is not giving the defining act of love? ‘God so loved the world that he GAVE his only son…’ And then like a flash God’s holy name leapt into my mind, and I looked and saw and was stunned. There at the very start of His name is the smallest of all Hebrew letters, the letter Yod (י). The very name of God, which defines Him, begins with an open hand, with the ultimate demonstration of love, with giving.

Is it a message to us, a journey we should take? I could feel the overwhelming sense of God’s presence wash over me, as I stood there lost in my communion with him. There was a discovery, a journey that God was calling me on.

However as quick as the excitement arose so too did my doubt. Was this really a path God was revealing to me or was it just the vain imaginations of my mind? “Maybe I am just imagining hearing him, imagining his answers. It’s all in my mind. Maybe….” At that exact moment my thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

“Excuse me,” she said. I turned around to find one of the girls who had been showering talking to me. “What are you thinking about?” I was blown away. Why would a complete stranger ask me what I am thinking about? How did she even know I was thinking anything and not just staring at the sea? Startled, I stammered, “Umm, I was thinking about…about a path. A path to God.” And before I knew it I was sharing everything with her, a complete stranger. I was giving voice, my voice to the silent conversation in my heart.

She listened intently, and then smiling said, “Wow. That’s deep, very deep.” And with that she turned and walked off leaving me with my doubt washed away. For no sooner had doubt crept in that God had spoken, than God made me give voice to what I had heard, with my very own mouth. No sooner had doubt crept in than a complete stranger would say about someone despairing in his shallowness, “That’s deep, very deep.”

And so began my journey, and my calling to write this story, and the beginning of many more miracles.

As someone who loves a good mystery, especially a real one, you can imagine how mind blowing it was for me to discover a mystery so important, so divine, so life changing, hidden within the very name of God! This is not some cleverly constructed fiction, something we read, enjoy and put aside. This is a map, a journey, a vital path for every single human being, encoded in the holy letters of God’s name. A journey that begins with a small open hand but that ends in a place called Eternity.

I invite you to join me on my journey to discover the very mystery of Godliness and life eternal in the most startling of ways. A journey that will leave you changed…forever.

Four Given is being showcased by the John 3:16 Marketing Network as part of their September Book Launch Event. Be sure to visit http://bit.ly/Christian_Books for a chance to win a Kindle Fire, a $25 gift card and a $10 Starbucks card, as well as purchase Four Given.

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Malo will be giving away 50% of all proceeds from sales during the book launch to a charity that works in Africa to uplift families and communities, especially the disabled and children.

To discover a mystery about Malo Bel, point any QR Code reader on a mobile phone at the QR Code alongside.

To learn more about Malo, please visit:

Website – www.malobel.com

Blog – www.malobel.com/blog – Would love you to subscribe

YouTube – www.youtube.com/4giventv – See Malo’s book trailers and the micro message ministry

Twitter – www.twitter.com/malo_bel

Google+ – http://bit.ly/malobel

 

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6 Ways Reading Can Improve Your Life

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)

Reading
Reading the Bible

I love reading the Bible. If there is one book I can read over and over and constantly learn from it, it is the Bible. It’s the compass of my life. I can always look to the Word to help me make sound decisions. It’s always a comfort to me. The Bible is total true about our humanness – it doesn’t hide anything. It expresses the human heart and as well as God’s heart. Reading the Bible as well as other good books has helped me grow in my Christian walk.

I would certainly encourage you to develop the habit of reading every day. It would help you progress through life as well as bring other benefits. Reading good books can:

1.     Ignite your imagination.

A novel or a book that includes storytelling helps you to create a vivid picture in your mind. This makes the process of reading more real to you. The material becomes more enjoyable and easier to remember when you put your imagination into action.

2.     Help you develop ideas.

Whether you are reading a fiction or non-fiction book ideas can quickly surface to your mind. Ideas related to personal improvement, career or business development, building your family life, growing in your Christian walk or other area of your life. Reading can help you develop ideas that effect positive change in your life or other people lives.

3.     Increase your knowledge base.

The beauty of a book is that it is a quick study on a specific subject area. You can learn from the experiences of others and from the hours of research the author invested into his/her work of writing. What may have taken you hours, days or months of effort to research is compiled for you. With a book in hand you it will take you less time to gain the knowledge and understanding on any topic of importance to you.

4.     Develop your communication skills.

One thing is sure, the more you read, the better a command of the language you gain. Reading makes you a better communicator. If you’re not confident in writing or speaking, regular reading will sharpen these skills.

5.     Be a form of relaxation or therapy.

That may seem weird to some because we often associate reading with studying. But personally, reading is a pleasure for me and most of (if not all) my free time is reading time. I don’t read the comics or the novels that would be considered light material but once I read within my scope of interests I enjoy it. That’s why I often end my days with a cup of tea and a good book or the Bible before going to sleep.

6.     Bring success and God’s approval.

When you read and make careful and discipline study of God’s word, you are approved by God (2 Timothy 2:15). God is pleased when we make a strong effort to learn of Him and draw close to Him. Not only that, one of the essentials to a successful and prosperous life is to read the Word of God day and night, to meditate on it and to do what God says in His Word (Joshua 1:7-8). Every successful person reads. Reading is an important element of personal growth and success.

It is often said that when you stop reading, you stop learning and growing. Since you and I don’t want to live a stagnated life, we must develop or keep up the habit of reading.

Here are some of the ways you can keep the reading habit alive:

  1. Set aside time every day to read – early in the morning, at lunch, or before bedtime.
  2. Maximize your time while you are on the go – read on the train or bus, on the airplane, or wherever you know you’ll have at least half hour of reading time. Plan ahead for these opportunities to read.
  3. Consider other alternatives to reading – listen to an audio book, view an infographic or watch the video of a book (I liked The Ultimate Gift).
  4. Take advantage of technology. Apart from the printed books you can now read books on e-readers, mobile phone, tablets. Take your pick.
  5. Have a copy of a book wherever you go. Again it’s easy to carry books around thanks to technology but I often have a hard copy book with me if technology fails me or I just prefer to have the feel of a book in my hands.
  6. Challenge yourself. Set a goal to read at least one book a month or two books a month if you like. Even if you fall behind in keeping up, a few hours of dedicated reading time can bring you back in line.

My challenge to you this week:

Choose a book that you’ve wanted to read for a long time and assign a time to read it every day. Share what you’re reading along the way with family or friends.

I am sure there are other ways reading can improve your life that I haven’t mentioned. Please share how the habit of reading has benefited you. I’d love to hear from you.

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5 Life Areas to Review with Your Finances

As the old saying goes, “Time flies”. Six months of the year 2012 is almost gone! My last post focused on the importance of living on purpose and what are some of the things you can do to live intentionally to achieve your goals. One way we can keep on track is by doing quarterly reviews. Occasionally we have to access where you are compared to where you want to be and determine or revise your plan of action to get there.

Image credit: raimundas / 123RF Stock Photo

Every quarter I like to take a look at my finances to see how I am progressing. I realize that as a child of God I am accountable to Him for all the resources He has placed in my care, including money. God requires us to be good managers of everything He has blessed us with.

Usually we tend to look at our finances in a bubble without taking into account the other areas of our lives. Sometimes we approach reviewing our finances and life goals with apprehension because we feel we haven’t measured up with our expectations. However, an honest assessment of our progress will not only reveal areas for improvement but will clarify our accomplishments and victories. We need to approach this time with openness and gratitude.

Over the next week, as your take time to review your life goals consider the financial side to each of them. Sometimes we tend to make plans without making the link to our finances and may later realize that we don’t have the financial backing needed to help us accomplish our goals.

So, consider these questions when you review your life goals:

Spiritual Growth

  • Are you faithful in tithing and giving?
  • Is there a retreat or conference you want to attend this year?

More important for Christians is to plan giving. You may be the one God wants to use to help another – include a little extra into your budget for giving. Be open to the leading of the Spirit of God in this area. Also consider how you can grow spiritually and account for this in your plan.

Career & Business

  • Are you satisfied with your current career or the growth of your business?
  • Do you need to study more in your field or start a new career?
  • Are you making enough income or do you need to increase revenue?

Career and business development requires a cash outflow.  However, how much will depend on the type of career or business that you are pursuing. It is important to weight all your benefits and options before moving ahead. The key is making sure this aspect is accounted for in your finances.

Physical / Health

  • Do you exercise regularly three or more times a week?
  • When was your last physical done?
  • Do you give yourself enough personal time and care?

Keeping fit means either cost of recurring gym fees or exercise equipment if you workout at home. On the other hand, the cost may be minimal because you have a few exercise videos to help you out.

I have a friend who often says that the grocery bill cheaper than a hospital bill. How true! The price you pay for being healthy is a lot less than the price of being sick. Keep healthy has financial benefits.

Family & Relationships

  • How would you rate your relationship with your family?
  • Do you spend time developing your connection to them?
  • What are some of the best ways to connect with my family?

Spending time with your family does not have to be costly. A family night with games and snacks is great for bonding. A regular time prayer will not cost anything but afford you many spiritual blessings. Society tries to convince us that we need expensive electronics and extensive vacations to have family time. I aim for simple yet effective ways to keep my family strong. Ask the Lord what’s best for your family.

Personal Development

  • Do you read as your personal growth plan?
  • Are you taking courses to increase your knowledge outside your career aspirations?

I am a reader of mainly non-fiction material usually on finances, success, and leadership and of course, Christian living. I factor books into my budget. E-books have proved to be more cost-effective but I occasionally I like to have to feel of a printed book in my hand. Apart from that, I also consider seminars or courses which will cost more than books.

I have not exhausted all the core life areas but hope you find this a helpful start. If you can see some level of success or growth – applaud yourself and keep moving forward. If you find that there are some areas where you are not progressing as you would like – don’t beat yourself up. Find out what’s lacking and why, ask God for direction and then make a plan and start with small steps to success.

For your benefit, I challenge you take some time to review your goals including your finances and align them. You may be surprised by what you have accomplished so far.

Share with us what you have accomplished to date since the start of 2012.

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You’re Special!

Being a Christian is a great blessing. During a recent prayer meeting the Lord drew my attention to 1 Peter 2:9-10 and I began to pray this scripture. As I took a deeper look into this word, I realized how much God has blessed us, even honored us, because we have accepted Christ. Consider how much God has elevated you:

You have been chosen

Isn’t this comforting to know that you have been chosen? You have been picked out. God has chosen you not because you deserve it but because He loves you. Jesus has also chosen you for a purpose – to make you successful (John 15:16).

You are royalty

You are a king. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. When the enemy looks at you – he knows that you are royal son or daughter of God. If you fully understand your right as a child of God, you will know and live like a king. You will speak with authority. You will not accept excuses or give excuses. You will see life from the position of victory and success. You will expect nothing but the best!

You are a priest

Wow! You are a minister to God – to worship, to prayer, to offer spiritual sacrifices to Him. God expects you to worship Him. He expects you to spend time with Him so you can get to know Him better and understanding His plan for you. This takes time and effort; it’s a sacrifice especially when you don’t always feel like praying or worshiping.

You are holy

Being holy is to hate and shun evil and do what is right according to God’s righteous standards. As priests we are expected to be holy. That’s God’s requirement for his priesthood (1 Peter 1:13-14). He wants us to be like Him in every way.

You are God’s own precious possession

You are special, especially to God. God’s loves you more than anyone else on the earth loves you. Jesus gave His life up for you out of love before you even thought of Him. He is willing to do anything for His precious ones – protect, heal, deliver, bless. Anything for your good, He has done and He will do.

You proclaim His praises

You are the light in this dark world. Colossians 1:13-14 reminds us that we have been delivered from the dominion of darkness and have been brought into the Kingdom of God’s Son. We have been freed up to praise Him and to display His light and love to others.

You have an identity

You have received His mercy and you belong to the Most High God. You uniqueness is found in Him who shows you His love and mercy. Now you can walk in your royal priestly anointing everyday.

We ought to be forever thankful to God for whom we have become through Christ.

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LIVE OUT LOUD, You’re A Success In God

First of all, Welcome!

What am I writing about? The internet is filled with many sources of information on various topics including Christianity and success. Although, I love reading and writing – I don’t want to give you information overload. Yes, I am sure that I will be informative in my delivery but my purpose here is to be an encourager. My purpose is to give you a word and remind you of the successes you live each day simply because you are a Christian.

Live Out Loud … Success in God’s Word is about daily living in Christ that speaks to those around you – family, friends, co-workers, and the stranger. Often times we may not see those successes but if you ask a friend you’d be surprised at how great your life looks to them as they quietly watch you live out loud day to day in God. It’s about living a life that pleases God and expresses His love. It’s about being successful where you are.

Successful how (you may ask)? Well, you’ll tell me. Your success and how it looks to you is totally different from how it looks to me. Your success – the dream or the vision God has given to you – it totally different to the one I have. But success, none-the-less, is what we expect and live out daily when we rely and apply God’s word.

So this blog will encourage you to live out loud for God and be your best. As you read and participate, it’s my hope that it will be interactive and life changing.

As you read on, be encouraged. Know that success comes from living out loud by the word of God. So let’s LIVE OUT LOUD FOR GOD!

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