ABUNDANT LIFE FAITH CENTRE
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’Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new endings.
THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE
Once you have established your desire or dream, the next thing is to dedicate yourself to its realization. That’s where discipline comes into play; and that is where we also get the word disciple. So, when we talk about desires and dreams, we are talking about having an expectation of what is good not evil. That’s because “The desire of the righteous is only good” (Proverbs 11:23).
Now, not too many people understand what discipline is nor the power of it. As a matter of fact, for most people, discipline spells more of punishment than it does knowledge. A keen student of the Bible will, however, know that discipline is one of the highest forms of understanding. It is out of deep understanding that a person is able to separate himself from all else and stick to a particular course of action or thought pattern.
Discipline and vision go hand-in-hand. A mind that is not disciplined will endlessly wonder from one thought to another like someone window shopping. The same goes for a body that is not disciplined; it will crave and scream for one thing after another. That’s because without discipline, both the mind and the body simply run wild; and the result is unpleasant – self destruction. “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint” (Proverbs 29:18).
One of the things I learnt from Myles Munroe is that the discipline of a vision protects you from what is good so you can achieve what is best. That has helped me attain a level of mastery in some areas of my life. As you go about life and work, it is important that you always put masterful understanding of your assignment above what the assignment pays you.
Remember that wise people are not attracted by the size of your pay check but by what you understand. When people know that you understand what you are doing, they are willing to pay the price for your service. They are also willing to trust you with responsibility over important issues and areas.
So, always make it your first priority to gain understanding of your assignment, and to masterfully and skillfully execute your duties. The journey to that point requires discipline on all fronts – mental, physical, emotional and financial discipline – but it is worth it. Excellence is uncommon; and those that find it must choose insight over income: “…a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit” (Proverbs 1:27)
(Proverbs 16:16, MSG)
“Get wisdom it’s worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.”
ALFC EVENTS
Youth Retreat
18th May 2024
Teens and Young Adults, it is time to take a break, change location and connect with likeminded peers for a stronger network of relationships and results. Make plans for the ALFC 2024 Youth Retreat. It is your fun-filled and creative way to grow and glow in Christ. For more information and to register, visit: www.abundantlifefaithcentre.org/youthofpromi se
Mission Week
1st – 6th April 2024
Share in the honour of extending the love of God and the frontiers of the Kingdom of God in your community. Let the love and the light of God shine through you, as you stir up hope in the lives of men and women this month. Prayerfully make plans to reach out to a soul or a home this Mission Week with a message of hope and victory.
Youth Fellowship
20th April | 11:00am- 1:00pm
Are you looking to grow in the Word and build a good support system of like-minded people? Then, the ALFC Youth Fellowship is for you. It is a place for awakening the potentials of teenagers, and young adults.
Do you have a dream bigger than you? Are you faced with a situation that seems impossible in your eyes? Let’s join our faith in prayer agreement for the wisdom to attain your victory. Simply write or email us: prayer@abundantlifefaithcentre.org
Divine rest is a crucial and essential aspect in our lives. It requires trusting in God, His love, power, and willingness to help, as He provides it to refresh, sustain, and give us peace and safety. Trust is developed over time as we abide in Christ Jesus, who already promised to give us rest when He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
It is evident from reading the Bible that God desires for us to experience this rest more than we can comprehend. Not that He wants to prove that He is sovereign, but because He loves us and has solutions for all that causes us to be in a state of restlessness.
The rest we most earnestly need is rest for our souls, since the results of incorrect beliefs bear the greatest weight. Hope is what we desperately seek when our souls are heavy, but false hope will eventually become its own unbearable soul burden. Jesus calls us to come to Him, offering burden-lifting grace and mercy. Only Jesus can provide that rest for our souls.
Jesus holds a rest for every kind of restlessness, a Sabbath calm for every care, and a seventh day for every soul. He has already won for you righteousness. He calls you His own. He shares with you His victory. His shoulders can carry all your worries, and you still have His favour.
Hope BALINDA
TESTIMONIES
Ndejje, Wakiso | Martin thanks the Lord for giving him victory over land disputes. He bought a plot of land but for some odd reason his neighbour decided to pick a dispute claiming he had encroached on his land. The neighbor dragged him to different local government authorities and even to the police to settle the matter; but upon presenting his documents they would let him go. This dissatisfied his neighbour who successfully resorted to witchcraft. Martin stood on the promise of God’s Word in Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”; and judged God faithful to deliver him. Towards the end of 2023, his neighbour sold off his land and relocated. Indeed, God delivered Martin and restored peace to their community with new neighbours. To God be the glory.
Kitende, Wakiso | Becker was inspired by a testimony of a lady who made a bold decision to leave formal work and embark on the things she loved to do. He took the same route and left employment to start his own school. At the start, things were difficult but he carried on. He witnessed the favour of God as the first parents to register their children brought more than one child. The school started off well and has progressively been running for 3 years now. Running his own school freed up his time and he was able to connect with people, build meaningful relationships with his family and at church. The school expanded, he and his wife had intentions of reconstructing the school in a bigger and more spacious place. As they prayed to God for direction, the Lord connected them to a destiny helper in their neighbourhood. The man approached them and choose to sell to them his land at a fraction of the market price. They were also blessed with over 9 acres of land. This land had trees which provided all the wood needed as building material for the intended construction. God surely amazed them and gave them a new song to sing.
The Teacup Story
There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful cup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."
As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the cup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'let me alone,' but he only smiled, 'Not yet.'
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the cup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'
"Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat!" the teacup said. "I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, 'Not yet.'
"Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. ‘There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'
"Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening, nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'
"Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'
“I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.
I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'"
Moral of the Teacup Story: “God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will. May the teacup story become our story as we willingly yield to our Potter's hand”.
~ Source: www.creativebiblestudy.com
Abundant Life Faith Centre is a non-denominational church with a mission to proclaim hope for a better tomorrow. If this resonates with you, consider joining our church family. Our services take place every Wednesday (6:30 to 8:00pm) & Sunday (10:00am to 1:00pm).