Miracle Grow

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Comment by Tonya Hill on September 8, 2009 at 4:57pm

I would like to join this group!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Amber J Sego on September 3, 2009 at 8:39am

I love the Lord and long for a deeper and closer walk with him. It is so nice to find a place were you can get encouragement and true friendships in the Lord

Comment by MERYOPARA on August 24, 2009 at 7:22am

HOW TO PROFIT FROM PATIENCE

Patience is the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty or convenience without complaining. Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control and the readiness to tolerate delay.
It is a virtue that must be imbibed by those who desire to succeed. It takes persistent efforts in the direction of an objective to bring about a desired result.

Nneoma, once asked, “Did you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an objective and in no measure obtained it?” when we see how much can be accomplished in any given area or direction by an individual of average ability who resolutely persists in a course of action in order to achieve his dream, we then appreciate the value of persistence as a key factor in the success equation.

The ability to stick to our set objective, even in the face of the toughest odds, is the prime quality in achievement.
Arriving at your place of destiny is not by sudden fight but careful steps, which are sometimes halted by one obstacle or the other.

Patience is the ability to hold on to what you believe in, in spite of pressure to give up. Some people give up at the slightest sign of trouble and that is the reason for their failure.

Never be in haste to climb the ladder of success. You may fall down in your haste, and such falls can be fatal!

“He that can have Patience, can have what he will” – Nneoma Myrrh 1

Patience is a virtue seldom found in women never in men. This may or may not be true; but it fair to say that there is nobody on earth who couldn’t benefit from more patience. Patience is our cheerful acceptance of life. Patience allows us to turn failure into success. Patience avoids needless worry and anxiety and in place brings peace of mind.
I’d like to define patience as ‘enduring suffering’. When I say ‘suffering’, I mean a very broad definition of ‘suffering’ - anything that is happening to you that you would prefer not to happen. This can range from the extremes of physical pain and potential death down to the trivialities of getting stuck in the queue at the supermarket checkout. The suffering may be due to circumstances such as illness or poverty, or suffering caused by the sinfulness of others.
Patience is enduring suffering. Patience is not accepting suffering. Accepting suffering is defeat, resignation, and capitulation. Patience isn’t being indifferent to suffering either. It isn’t about making yourself not care about suffering or pretending that it’s not happening. Patience is all about acknowledging and enduring suffering.
How can we endure suffering? One way is with what I call ‘chook-patience’. What sort of patience does a chook have? To answer that question I want you to think about how chickens perceive time, and in particular, how far into the future is a chicken able to think?
We humans can think about what might happen tomorrow, next week, next year, or even 100 years from now. How far into the future can chooks think? Having observed three chickens in our backyard for nearly a year, my estimate is about 2 seconds. Our chooks live in a cage, but every day we let them out for a while to roam around the garden. The chooks much prefer to be roaming free than cooped up in a cage. However, we never have any trouble getting the chooks back into the cage - all we have to do is throw a piece of stale bread through the open door. The chooks have enough foresight to know that in 2 seconds time, if they chase that bread they’ll be eating it. But no matter how many times it’s happened in the past they have no concept that in 3 seconds time I’ll be shutting the cage door and they’ll be cooped up for another 24 hours. Chooks can only see about 2 seconds into the future and I suspect their recollection of the past is only about 2 seconds as well – they live in a very compacted time frame.
One way of coping with suffering is with chook-patience – don’t think about the past, don’t think about the future – live in the compacted time-frame of the ‘now’ and chase bits of stale bread to distract us from ongoing suffering. Chook-patience works to a certain extent, but it is a superficial kind of patience – it’s a mental trick we play on ourselves to make time pass faster.
The bible speaks of a much deeper kind of patience than chook-patience - a patience that requires courage - a patience that is active, tough, and aggressive.
THE MOTIVATION FOR PATIENCE
I want to look at what the bible has to say about patience by looking at the motivation for patience. Patience is hard, and if we are going to move beyond chook-patience we need some strong motivation to help us along.
PATIENCE IS WISE
Proverb 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
Proverb 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Patience is a sign of great understanding and wisdom. Being slow to anger is much more beneficial than being easily angered. Impatience is destructive and foolish. It rarely if ever achieves anything.
PATIENCE IS POWERFUL

Proverb 16:32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Proverb 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Patience is more powerful than a warrior. It is more powerful than an army. Patience is so powerful that it can change the mind of a ruler. Patience is productive. Impatience is destructive. Patiently persuading people over time is far more effective than losing your temper and alienating people. Patience is powerful.
HOPE

Patience is often linked with hope. If there is no hope that your situation will change, there is no incentive to endure suffering and no power for patience. The bible speaks of two kinds of hope when it comes to patience.

THE HOPE OF FULFILLMENT
The expectation that God will come through on his promises.

HEB 6:12-15. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

THE HOPE OF RESCUE

The expectation that God will rescue us from our sufferings, that there will be a day of judgment when evil is punished and justice is done.
Psalm 37:7-9. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
We can be very impatient and lose hope quickly because God’s promises and God’s rescue seem slow in coming. But we need to understand God’s time-frame. We expect problems to be sorted out quickly – today, tomorrow, next week. Next year seems an eternity away. But God’s plans operate not just over days or week, but over years, centuries and even millennia.
BENEFITS OF PATIENCE

Patience is necessary for Success. It is said that “all good things come to those who wait” If we wish to achieve anything of significance, we cannot expect to achieve it overnight. For example many of our great scientists have remarked how their scientific discoveries came only through patient perseverance. Einstein said Genius was 99% perspiration and only 1% inspiration. To achieve anything great in life we have to develop patience.
"If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent." – Nneoma Myrrh 2
Patience teaches us to value the effort and not just the success. It is a mistake to think that happiness can only be attained through certain achievements. To get the most from life, we should value the preparation and effort, as much as the success or failure that may result. Patience means we learn to develop equanimity and to not be influenced by the ups and downs of life.
Patience brings peace of mind. When we desire certain outcomes, then we will have no peace of mind. Even if one desire is filled, the nature of desire is that more will appear in its place. There is no end to human desire. Patience means that we can work with out expecting a certain outcome. Patience means we will work with an attitude of detachment. It is this detachment that brings peace of mind.

“Patience is not inertia. … Patience has the steady movement of growth and is always accompanied by peace. This peace can never be mistaken for inertia which is always accompanied by restlessness.” – Nneoma Myrrh 3

Patience enables us to develop faith; this is a faith in ourselves. If we judge ourselves only by our results and success then we do not have faith in our inner self. Our real self seeks to quietly do the right thing and not worry about the result.
Patience can transform suffering into joy. Throughout life we suffer injustice and suffering, the Best healer is time and patience. Through being patient and accepting of our situation, it is quite possible for our suffering to be transformed.

“If failure has the strength to turn your life into bitterness itself, then patience has the strength to turn your life into the sweetest joy...” - Nneoma Myrrh 4
Being patient is not just something that God orders us to do. Being patient often brings about benefits and positive outcomes.

THE EXAMPLE OF GOD

Many times our impatience is not with our circumstances, but with people around us. Often the impatience is triggered by their sinfulness or weaknesses. They might be lazy, rude, unpunctual, inconsiderate, brash, demanding. They behave in a way that makes us think "Grow up", "Relax", "Watch out", "Come on", "Use your brain", "Get a life" or any one of a number of things that makes it clear that we want them to change.
How can we be motivated to be patient with people’s weaknesses and sinfulness? Especially when the hope of rescue seems remote or impossible, where it seems that the other person will never change.
The first thing to remember is the benefits of patience – it is wise and powerful. Or it may be helpful to think about it in reverse – impatience is foolish and weak. But a much more powerful motivating factor in enduring the suffering of other people’s weakness and sinfulness is to remember God’s patience with sinners.
2PE 3:9,15 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance … Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation,
1TI 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
God endured the rebellion of his people for years, even centuries. He was patient with them. He never gave up on his promises to rescue them. God’s patience is so great that it extends even to us. God endures the suffering we cause him when we ignore him and live our lives as though he doesn’t exist. God endures the suffering of seeing us hurt ourselves and others when we live life our own way. But God is patient, waiting for people to come to repentance and to salvation.
How patient is God? 1 Tim 1:16 speaks of God’s ‘unlimited’ patience. The word ‘unlimited’ is both a great translation and poor translation at the same time.
It’s great in that it emphasises in 144pt super Arial Bold with triple underlining and fluorescent drop-shadow, the hugeness of God’s patience. God’s patience extended even to Paul, a persecutor of God’s church. God’s patience is unlimited – it extends even to the worst of sinners. God’s patience extends even to us.
But ‘unlimited patience’ is also slightly misleading. God’s patience is not infinite – it does have limits. God will not be patient forever. There comes a time when God’s patience runs out and rebellious people are handed over for judgment.
NEH 9:30. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples.
A better translation of 1 Tim 1:16 might be ‘the full extent of God’s patience’. God’s patience extends even to the worst of sinners, but it does not extend forever. There will be a judgment day. So if you haven’t sorted things out with God yet, then don’t put it off and presume that God will be patient forever. He won’t. You don’t know when the Day of Judgment will come, when it will be ‘too late’ to turn back to God.
So how can we be patient and endure the sufferings of other people’s weakness and sin? By remembering that God has done much, much, much more in enduring our weakness and sin. It’s hard to be short-tempered, judgmental and critical of others when we remember how much God has forgiven us, and how much that forgiveness cost – the death of his son Jesus.
But it’s not only the extent of God’s patience that can motivate us in dealing with others; it’s also the way in which God shows patience. God’s patience is not a passive thing. When the people of Israel sinned, he didn’t metaphorically send them to their room and say "When you’re ready to behave you can come out again." He didn’t remove himself from them while he waited for them to ‘grow up’ and ‘get a life’. God remained involved. He pursued them, he provided for them, he protected them, he persuaded them. (The OT is the story of a God who remains involved – who doesn’t walk away.)
In the same way, as we endure the sufferings of other people’s weakness and sin, we can pursue, provide, protect and persuade. Patience is not a passive ‘do nothing and wait for something to change’ thing – it is an active ‘be involved and bring about change’ thing.
The apostle says we succeed in the grace of temperance that we may add patience. Patience under trials will keep us from saying and doing those things which will injure our own souls and injure those with whom we associate. Let your trials be what they will, nothing can seriously injure you if you exercise patience, if you are calm and unexcited when in trying positions.
Solomon places the control of one's self above the exploits of the bravest and most successful heroes. There is a moral grandeur in being patient under trials and provocations. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov. 16:32). It requires discipline and firmness of purpose not to give expression to passion but at all times to take care that no words shall escape the lips that will dishonor the Christian character. Self-control will be a valuable acquisition to the graces of the Spirit, and parents should teach their children, by precept and example, this precious lesson of patience and self-control.
Patience implies that we have difficulties to encounter, annoyances to meet. The Word of God says, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Prov. 15:1). "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools" (Eccl. 7:9). The injunction of the inspired apostle is to "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:9). Anger provokes anger.
TEMPERANCE HELPS PATIENCE:
We can see the wisdom of Peter in placing temperance to be added to knowledge before patience. This is one strong reason for overcoming the appetite for all stimulants, for as the nerves become excited under the influence of these irritating substances, how many and grievous are the evils that are done! But the healthful use of the un-stimulate articles of food will not excite the nerves by irritating the stomach and debilitating brain nerve power. There is necessity for the Christian adding patience to temperance.
There will need to be a firm principle and fixedness of purpose not to offend in word or action our own conscience or the feelings of others. Nneoma Myrrh 5
There must be a rising above the customs of the world in order to bear reproach, disappointment, losses, and crosses, without one murmur, but with uncomplaining dignity.
It is easier to act the part of a martyr than to be patient under provocation and to control a bad temper. Sound religious principles must be brought into the life to repress anger rather than inflame it by giving vent to it. We feel very angry, but if we control that anger and are not betrayed into expressions of hasty feeling, we will not lose the respect of our brethren or respect for ourselves. The Pattern, Christ Jesus, is our example. Patience is a heavenly attribute, and Christians must cultivate it.
We must not ever keep before us the feeling that we are slighted. The very fact that we suspect evil will go a long way toward creating that evil which we allowed ourselves to suspect. Our feelings will sometimes be deeply hurt, our temper sadly tried, but the sooner we shall forget the cause of this disturbance the better will it be for us and all connected with us.
A lying tongue will stir us to make some sharp thrusts, but it is only for a moment that lies will have force. If we treat these falsehoods as they deserve--with neglect--others will soon see there is no foundation for them. We are to leave our reputation with God. Slander may be lived down but can never be talked down.
EXERCISING PATIENCE
Think of examples in the Bible where God promises something to his people. How long it is before the promise is fulfilled?
‘Exercise’ is a good word to put in front of ‘patience’. Exercising patience is a lot like physical exercise.

• It Requires Persistence
• It’s Not Necessarily Pleasant At The Time
• It’s Hard At First, But Gets Easier The More You Do It
• It Has Long Term Benefits (And Often Short-Term Benefits As Well)
At the beginning of this talk I defined patience as ‘enduring suffering’. I’d like to refine that definition by saying that patience is:
‘Enduring suffering with the expectation of positive outcomes or rescue through the involvement of God and yourself’
The original definition was passive and time-constrained – it is now active and future-focused.
• Understand that patience has benefits – it is wise and powerful.
• Patience requires hope – the hope of fulfillment or rescue in the future.
• Patience requires Knowledge - the knowledge understand the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.
• We need to think in God’s time-scale not our time-scale, and in doing that move away from ‘chook-patience’ to ‘God-patience’.
• We need to remember that patience is active, not passive. It requires involvement, persistence, strength and courage.
• Above all, we need to remember and be thankful for God’s patience with us, and let that motivate us in being patient with others.
Exercise for afterwards. Talk with a friend and identify an area in your life where you are impatient. Think about which of these motivations will help you to be patient.

WARNING:
One of the problems in talking about patience is that it covers such a broad spectrum of human experience – from coping with slow elevators to coping with terminal illness, from reacting to your cat which wees on the carpet to reacting to the Creator God of the Universe when your prayers go unanswered. Some things in this talk will apply to some areas in this broad spectrum, but not to others. Please use with care.


Nnedimma Myrrh
meryopara@yahoo.com






















DELAY, A DANGEROUS GAME

It’s the most common and most expensive game anyone would think of playing. It’s a friend to confusion, the enemy to success. Its slogan is ‘I will’ and its motto is better done later than now. It can lead to frustration, confusion and other unpleasant situations.
Its origin is in laziness and its destination is failure. It is procrastination. Make a wise choice today by making procrastination angry. Make it sad by doing things now and doing it well. Don’t say ‘I will’, just do it.

Your future is determined by what you do now, therefore lay the foundation of your future today and reap its reward tomorrow. To the one who thinks negative, change your thoughts now; don’t be willing to change it because it might take a long time changing it. Know that the best time for you to accomplish a task was yesterday, today it’s getting late and tomorrow it’s practically impossible. There isn’t any time left. The earlier the better. Therefore if you have an assignment for yesterday and you haven’t done it, do it today and never have a though of leaving it till tomorrow. Tomorrow might never come. Avoid procrastination.
Nnedimma Myrrh
meryopara@yahoo.com



Qualities of a good friend

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirit needs a lift. A friend is someone we treasure, for our friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy and grace, and make the world we live in a better and happier place.
Now who is your friend?
Does he or she have these qualities?
Be careful of those who you called your friend
Shine your eye we are at the end time.
Who do you call your friend? Those that ……….

Nnedimma Myrrh
meryopara@yahoo.com.

Comment by Hannah Christine Gutu on July 28, 2009 at 12:51pm

I truelly would like to thank God for the moderators of this group. I have learnt a lot from the 232 method of getting to know God deeper. I am so exited about it and am going to share it with the bible study group i attend. Reading 3 chapters of the bible has given me great insight in the word of God. It helps me to understand the context of the stories in the bible. Different from random picking of the chapters. Thank you Greg, may you be richly blessed in all you do and may God make you great.

Comment by Charles Leroy Hayes on July 28, 2009 at 1:13am

I need and want to grow more in the Lord. I Love him

Comment by MPHO DORAH MOILOA on July 15, 2009 at 7:12am

You know Donna from last night i started reading the word of God, i just told my self that every event from 19:30 to 20:00 i just wanna dedicate that to God by reading his from and mefesting upon it. And thanks alot for welcoming me to AAG. And want to thank also claver for for welcoming me. Thanks to all AAG team for giving me a warm welcome.

Comment by Claver Gakwavu on July 14, 2009 at 8:54am

Thanks for joining this dynamic, life teaching environment, I am sure GOD will use you too, and in return all of us will benefit from you. YOU ARE MOST WELCOME
God bless you I am certain that this is the right choice you have made, come and share the word, testimonies, be encouraged and encourage others.

God bless you Donna

Comment by kerry Hawkins on July 9, 2009 at 1:47pm

wonderful encouraging words Claver, God Bless

Comment by Claver Gakwavu on July 9, 2009 at 8:05am

Thanks every one, its really enjoyable to share the word of the true God, yes when you pray for forgiveness and repent of your sins are washed away but that's not the end of the story, as we need food the spirit needs to be fed and that is through intimate relationship with God, again you have to discipline your self to go with God. I think what makes us unsecure or guilty is that we don’t built our confidence in the word of the lord. GOD forgives but we must always remember our responsibilities, God bless you all. Claver

Comment by Peggy Boshoff on July 9, 2009 at 2:37am

Hello everyone. I want to ask, when you pray for forgiveness and repent of your sins, the Bible says you will be forgiven, why is it that sometimes you still feel so very guilty, is that because you haven't forgiven yourself? I am talking about things I did before I came to know Jesus as my personal Saviour. Please help me as I feel this is holding me back. I know I have a long way to go with certain issues that I need to concentrate on in my life but I need to know whether God has forgiven me or not. Thank you and God bless you. Peggy.

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