Just Keep Building...

There is so much to do in this life and there always seems to a limitation of time to do it. This is why it's so important to not be distracted by people who demand you meet their expectations. Now it's biblical to make amends and right the wrongs - and this takes time, but this is not the distractions I'm talking about. Nehemiah 6:2-5
There were those who demanded that Nehemiah stop what he was doing and attend to their demands. But it was clear that these people did not have God's mission at heart.
Nehemiah's response was: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you."

Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of he'll not not prevail against it."
Stand strong, keep the faith, build God's house and serve our city!

Posted via email from | joelabell |

Above Average

What does it mean to be above average?

Average is often used negatively but in many ways it is simply a definition of location. If average is just where most people are, then it is easy to identify where you are for a bench mark. Likewise, above average is also a location of being above where most people are positioned. When I was at school, I was below average height. This means most people were taller than me. By the end of my senior years I had climbed to be in the average height of where most were. But my first year out of school, I grew so fast that I was now above average height. 2 Cor 8:7 says...
But just as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving. To be above average is to excel but is it possible to be above average in everything?

Think about the world we live in and how destructive things are. Much of our society lacks grace toward one another and criticism is at an all time high. All we need to do is think about the smaller community of people we do life with and ask one question: What are most people like?

If most people in my neighbourhood don't wave and say hi, then for me to wave and say hi is more than most - above average. If most people in my work place are constantly talking negatively about other peers, then its relatively easy for me to be above average. There are hundreds of daily situations that afford all of us the opportunity to be more than most people choose to live. And this is for no other reason than to allow Jesus free reign through us to influence others for His glory. How we relate and respond to people around us is critical to God's story in their lives. To excel in everything is simply the choice to live a life above average. Remember: it is your responsibility to work on your Response Ability. Sent from my BlackBerry® from Optus

Posted via email from | joelabell |