THE POWER of PLANNING, 2.

"The most important part of an attack is the planning." - Jarod Kintz

"Have you ever been in this situation?" Asked Gino Blefari, "You rush out the door because you’re late for a morning meeting. Didn’t bother to take your time and verify, if you had all the materials you needed for the meeting. Halfway into the meeting, it hits you. You had forgotten something vital. So you drive all the way back home to get it. You’re now even later than you were to begin with. If you’d taken just a few minutes to look around and check before running out the door, you could’ve saved yourself some time and trouble."

He then illustrated a very insightful narrative that drives the point home with riveting precision. He said, "A group of American car executives visited a Japanese automobile assembly line. They watched the cars go through the assembly line, which all seemed routine, but were confused by the process at the end of the line when the doors were put on the hinges of the cars. The Japanese process seemed to be missing a critical part. In the United States, a worker was hired to tap the edges of the car

THE POWER of PLANNING 1

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffet

Planning, Alan Lakein said, "Is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now." Virtually everyone is aware that, if you fail to plan, then you have planned to fail. In fact, it has been a long standing adage. Yet, interestingly, if there is one thing that almost everybody falls short of doing, it's PLANNING. Especially in Africa. The harvest of a good and fulfilling life must be preceded by some conscious calculated efforts, reflected in a plan.

A funny, but instructive story was told of three fishes which lived in a pond. One was named "Plan ahead", another was "Think fast" and the third was called "Wait and see". One day they heard a fisherman say he would be going to cast his net in their pond the next day. Plan ahead, said,"I am swimming down the river tonight". "Think fast" said, "I am sure I will come up with a plan". "Wait and See" lazily said," I just can't think about it now".

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH; GO TO CHURCH!

"You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips" - Oliver Goldsmith

Once upon a time, there lived a very rich snob who planned a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He met with the bishop to discuss his plans. He said, "My greatest ambition is to reach the top of Mount Sinai. Standing there, I will proclaim aloud the 'Ten Commandments of God' to the whole world with all my strength." The Bishop advised him, "In my opinion, it would be more rewarding if you can practice the commandments at home, with your family, at work, in your neighbourhood and even in the market place; instead of shouting from the mountain top."

We're told in the scriptures, (2 Corinthians 5:20) that, "we're God's representatives on earth." A representative, lives in a different environment from his boss or master (in most cases). His duty is to stand in for his boss . The representative is expected to know his master's business, and thus be able to correctly represent him.

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN 6; THE HEAT

"Our trials, our sorrows, and our griefs develop us." - Orison Swett Marden

 

Going through some breaking, the furnace and the process of refining are not easy experiences. Like all other useful products today, the process is inevitable. It is a requirement. After gold has gone through the Breaking, the Crucible and the Dross has been expelled, it's exposed again to ; THE HEAT.

The refiner raises the temperature to higher degrees. After the painstaking efforts of skimming off the impurities. He turns up the heat, and places the crucible back into the blistering furnace. Again and again - about seven times more, we are told - as more impurities rise to the surface. An expert refiner knows that only certain impurities are released at certain temperatures. Different impurities require varying degrees of heat to expel them from gold.

ONE GOD

"That to which your heart clings is your god." – Martin Luther

The Bible proclaims plainly and clearly that there is one, and only one God. When the Bible says that God is one, the word "one" does not refer to a "Family of gods," but to ONE, ONLY, IRREPLACEABLE God.

In some of the villages on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu in the South Pacific, Prince Philip of Great Britain is worshiped as a god. It seemed as though, this began during the 1960s, when Vanuatu was an Anglo-French colony known as the, New Hebrides.

For centuries, villagers had believed in an ancient story about the son of a mountain spirit, venturing across the seas to look for a powerful woman to marry. They believed that, this spirit had pale skin. Somehow the legend gradually became associated with Prince Philip, who had indeed married a rich and powerful lady. Villagers would have seen his portrait - and that of the Queen - in government outposts and police stations run by British colonial officials. Their beliefs were bolstered in 1974, when the Queen and Prince Philip made an official visit to the New Hebrides. Here was their ancestral spirit,

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN 5; THE PROCESS

"The most important lesson that I have learned is to trust God in every circumstance. Lots of times we go through different trials and following God's plan seems like it doesn't make any sense at all..." - Allyson Felix

We will pause this morning, from our series to quickly examine, The PROCESS. Every finished product today went through a process. The cars we drive, the houses we live in, and even the food we eat. If this is true of THINGS, how much more, of us humans?

We were all born with a plethora of EMBEDDED talents, abilities and gifts that can only be harnessed after we might have gone through tedious, rigorous and painful processes. There's a saying that, "The child who washes clean his hands, will eat with elders". That is a process.

To become, that MAN, God wants you to be, you must go through the REFINING process; The BREAKING, The CRUCIBLE and the FURNACE, The DROSS must be separated from you. These processes are unpleasant, painful and uncomfortable. During this period you might lose jobs, houses, friends, finances and for some, it might seem that your prayers don't go beyond your ceiling anymore. It'd seem as though, God shut His ears to your cries and

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN 4; THE DROSS

"We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulations. That's why we have the gift of faith." - Joyce Meyer

Refining is a process that rids impure gold of impurities, leaving behind only pure gold. The process has gold become liquid so all "Dross" can be drawn out. Dross is a mass of solid impurities floating on molten gold or dispersed in it, after it's out of the furnace; still in the crucible.

 
The dictionary defines "Dross" as impurities. It's scum, waste or foreign matter. Something that is base, trivial, or inferior. In an attempt to refine gold, having broken, and taken the impure gold through the heat of the furnace, the refiner moves to the next step; THE DROSS.

The refiner places the crucible in the heated furnace to remove dross. As the ore melts in the crucible under the watchful eye of the refiner, a layer of impurity called “dross” eventually forms on the surface. If you observe a refiner at work, you'll notice that he sits with his eyes steadily fixed on the furnace. If the time necessary for the refining process exceeds, the gold is injured. The process is complete when he (the refiner) sees his image reflected in the gold.

In the same way, our refiner, God, puts us into the crucible and into the furnace to purify us. His eyes affixed on us, never blinking, watching till every dross is separated. He doesn't take us out of the heat until He sees His face reflected in us; till we become like Him. He doesn't see his reflection if He stops the heat too soon, so he waits patiently for the right time.

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN 3; THE CRUCIBLE

"Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." - Charles Spurgeon

Most crucibles are made of graphite. This affords them the ability to withstand enormous heat; melting any material inside. After the gold has been taken through the painful process of breaking, by the refiner, the next stage is; The Crucible

The refiner puts the broken, crushed, unrefined ore into a “crucible”; a fireproof MELTING pot able to withstand great heat. The crucible goes into the furnace - a device used for extraction of metals from ore in refineries, and chemical plants. It's a heat source - which has enough heat necessary for expulsion of other metallic impurities undermining the quality of the gold.

Just as the furnace is used to purify gold in the crucible, God, our refiner, uses heat to purify us. You'll note that, the refiner doesn't just throw the gold into the furnace. He

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN 2; THE BREAKING

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Yesterday, I began to talk about, "Your Worth Determines Your Pain". We are using gold as the object of discussion in likeness to man's worth. Like gold, we're precious and invaluable, but we MUST have to go through the PROCESS to arrive at the PALACE. Hence, our trials, so we can attain our true worth.

When gold ore is mined, it is very undesirable, and hence outwardly appears worthless, and unattractive. That it LOOKS unattractive in it's unrefined state doesn't change the fact that it's still gold. It'll remain worthless until it has been refined. The first step in the refining process, I want us to consider is; The Breaking.

The refiner begins by breaking up the "rough" ore. It is hardened rock, encased with unwanted minerals that reduce the value of gold. The breaking process is necessary to begin the refining process. The Breaking, is to expose the highly valuable gold hidden in the rocky ore. Even though that rock has valuable, and rare attributes, no one will value it, because in that state, its worth is within - it's hidden.

YOUR WORTH DETERMINES YOUR PAIN

"To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist." - Gail Sheehy

In the next couple of days we shall be examining, a topic I believe God will both use to liberate and encourage someone. I urge you to stay with me throughout this period and beyond.

A couple walks into a jewelers shop, in search of wedding rings. After several minutes of discussion, the jeweler displays a couple of his merchandise on the table. The couple's choice was a pair of beautiful gold rings, weighing a lot; unknown to them, costing quite a fortune too. Taking the rings, the jeweler placed them on a sort of scale - the type used by jewelers to measure weight of gold. Punching his calculator, the jeweler looked up smiled, and mentioned the price. What he said sort of knocked the couple off balance. "Sorry sir, this price is too much. We'll try another store", the lady said and they walked out.

YOUR KNEES, AND YOUR NEEDS!

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther

I believe, and it's true that God, our Creator, stored within us - our minds - and personalities, great potentials and abilities that, only prayer can help us tap into and develop. Here's a story, that clearly demonstrates how God answers prayer; the power of prayer.

In his book, Partners in Prayer, John Maxwell attempts to buttress the efficacy, importance and place of prayer in our lives;

In the summer of 1876, grasshoppers nearly destroyed the crops in Minnesota. So in the spring of 1877, farmers were worried. They believed that the dreadful plague would once again visit them and again destroy the rich wheat crop, bringing ruin to thousands of people. The situation was so serious that Governor John S. Pillsbury proclaimed April 26 as a day of prayer and fasting He urged every man, woman and child to ask God to prevent the terrible scourge.

FAILING FORWARD

"Whatever you do in life, never disappoint yourself" - Alex Enakhifo

Everyone desires to "pass" as it were every test. In school when every student is given an assignment or homework, it's the expectation of everyone; parents and even the student himself that he passes it. So, frantically or meticulously every student goes into either a frenzy or concentration mood to try to unravel the mysteries behind such assignments. All in a bid to, "PASS" the test.

It's very elating to go through your assignments and see "red check marks" signifying "good" in examination sheets, and very depressing having an "X", however the number of "Xs" determines how happy a student will be or not. It shows how intelligently, how averagely or how poorly a child performs. Well, that's in the formal educational system. What about the "educational system of life"? I bet you things, happen differently, and passing or failing is recorded differently.

Years ago, I had a discussion with my uncle, in the end I said, "I won't disappoint you sir", to which paused, and replied. "No, son, not me. Don't disappoint yourself" he continued. "You see, everyone is so quick to expect every other person to be this or that, and rarely don't bother about what the individual in question really wants to be. That's why most parents would force their children to study courses, or get married to someone against the child's wish resulting in frustrated adults and destinies today. Son, you have your own dream, you can disappoint me, but never disappoint yourself." He added, "I will live my life, and you'll live yours, don't please anyone and displease yourself"

THE GIFT OF MONEY 27; WEALTH OR COVETOUSNESS?

"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost." - Billy Graham 

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. He was regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King". At his death he had three jets, two Cadillacs, a Rolls Royce, a Lincoln Continental, two station wagons, a jeep, a custom touring bus and three motorcycles. His Cadillac limo top was covered with pearl-white Naugahyde, and the body was sprayed with 40 coats of special paint containing crushed diamonds. Nearly all the metal trim was plated in 18 - carat gold. It was equipped with two gold-flake telephones, a gold vanity case containing a gold electric razor and gold hair clippers, an electric shoe buffer, a gold-plated TV, a record player, amplifier, air conditioner and electrical system for operating any kind of household appliance, and a refrigerator capable of making ice in 2 minutes. When Elvis Presley came to the end of his life, he died a lonely and unhappy man. Why?

It's ironic how life is; the things we think will satisfy us does not, and what God says will satisfy us we ignore. That's why Presley died lonely. He ignored the important things. It is very possible to be wealthy and still be very godly. Some of God’s outstanding people were wealthy. Very wealthy; Abraham, Joseph (he was second to Pharaoh in Egypt), Job was wealthy before his trials and even more wealthy after them. He was the wealthiest man in the east. Covetousness destroys any possibility of God’s gifts working in our lives. Covetousness and God’s blessing cannot both abide together

THE GIFT OF MONEY 26; INVEST WISELY

“Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble” - Warren Buffet 

One of the most powerful secrets rich people understand is the ability to invest, and the truth is that this keen ability sterns from the virtue of delayed gratification - they are willing to wait a while and grow their capital before expenditure takes place. However, one of the most frequent questions I am asked as a live coach is “what to invest in?” this question I have discovered doesn’t have a "one size fits all" answer. In fact, just because an industry seems to be experiencing a boom doesn’t mean it is the place for everyone to invest in; the truth is that investments must be tailored to individuals.

Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today - a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father - the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing, is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.

THE GIFT OF MONEY 25; WE ARE CHANNELS

The dictionary defines a channel as; "the bed where a natural stream of water runs" it also defines it as a, Conduit. A passage. Have you ever wondered what would have happened, if our roads and streets didn't have water channels, or if our cities didn't have links-roads-through which you could move from one point to another?

The reason we're able to fix a meeting, hope to keep an appointment with someone at a place you hadn't visited before, is largely related to the fact that you're sure without any doubt, that there's a link from wherever you are, that will get you there.

Have I become a road construction worker? Or have I become a plumber? No! Listen to this;

Donald, is a most unusual human being I've had the honour of meeting in my life. His ideas about life I usually find interesting and fascinating. He gets surprised himself at his ways too sometimes. Donald, is one of those people whom, if you approached with a financial need - and he has the means of meeting your need - would go ahead and help out. No matter the number of times you ask him. He used to say, "I like it when someone asks me for a certain amount of money, and I'm able to give the person the exact amount they asked for." He went further, "I realize that for anyone to approach anyone else for help, it means they really need it, and I like to meet needs, because I believe I'm a custodian of God's riches on earth. I don't have all I need myself but I try not to hold back the little God has seen me qualified enough to spread. And who knows, I might be at the 'needing' end someday, you never can tell"

THE GIFT OF MONEY 24; IT'S INNATE

"If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success." - John D. Rockefeller 

Once upon a bird asked a bee, after observing how continuously the bee worked to make honey. The bird said, "You prepare the honey, but a man comes to steal it. Don't you feel sad?"

Then the Bee replied: "Not at all. Matter of fact, I never feel bad, because a man can only steal my honey not the art of making honey."

Have you ever been at a point in life where you go through a major financial shaking or disappointment? For instance, have you ever as a worker - employed - lost your job, when you didn't have any other alternative. Or have you experienced - as a young graduate or individual who hasn't gotten a job after graduation or after completing a major educational feat - that season of financial need, when you no longer have the support of family or guardian, and you just have to get ahead.

THE GIFT OF MONEY 23; ARE YOU A ROBBER?

Billy Graham stated once that, “One of the greatest sins in America - and in the world today (addition mine) - today is the fact that we are robbing God of that which rightfully belongs to Him. When we don’t tithe, we shirk a just debt. Actually we are not giving when we give God one-tenth, for it belongs to Him already - Lev. 27:30. This is a debt we owe. Not until we have given a tenth do we actually begin making an offering to the Lord!"

I didn't know, or should I say it never crossed my mind what I'm about to share now. I was talking with a very respectable, servant of God whom respect a lot, and he told me the following.

He was called up to and pray for tithes at a church he'd visited sometime. He obliged, but as he opened his mouth to pray, he heard God, tell him not to. Shocked, he asked why and God informed him that some of the people who'd come out, were actually stealing from him. They were not bringing "ALL" the tithe - ten percent (10%). Most had come to give less than the commanded 10%, and God told him anything less than correct percentage would attract a curse. God told him that tithing was a law that didn't need a prayer to be blessed. Whoever gave the correct percentage got the blessing tied to that obedience."

PUZZLED?

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"When I arrived home, I kicked off my shoes, sat on the sofa and took a deep breath. What a day! What a week! What a year! Come to think of it, what a lifetime! Depression had again crept up, coming down upon me so heavily; it was as if the dark cloud of failure above me was devouring the little serenity I had left. The heaviness in my heart opened the door to deeper feelings of hopelessness and despair, if that was even possible. I felt like one of the children of Israelite, trapped in the wilderness, never to see the promised land. Right now, I am ready to give up...to call it quits! Life is just too hard to deal with. The world is so ugly I just can’t bear to live another miserable day in my miserable existence! What is the point of living anyway...what is my purpose in this life and besides, does anyone care? Does God?"

Does the illustration above describe you? Listen to this. Sometimes, life knocks us up and beats us down so hard, we almost lose our faith. It get's so bad sometimes, you feel life's just all a dream; a bad one you want to quickly wake up from. Truth is sometimes you feel like God has turned His back on you; or you wonder if He really does exist and you begin to ask questions. Questions that arise based on the enormity and magnitude of you issues.

PUSH IT OUT

“The sound of a new life, is arguably one of the sweetest melody nature has.” - Anonymous

Have you ever noticed that many things operate on a universal script and timing that was obviously pre-programmed into their operation, for example no one tells the oceans their boundaries, they seem to have an inbuilt operating system to recognize their limits, no one tells the rain to fall upon the earth, no one tells the sun to set nor the moon to rise, no one orders the stars to give light, it is apparent to me that these principles must have a divine command. One of the most intriguing one to me is that it takes only 9 months for a woman to give birth to another living human, no amount of wishful thinking will fast-forward or slow down the process, but my concern here isn’t just the birth of a natural baby, but please notice that we have arrived on the first day of the ninth month and it is time for that vision of yours to be born.

A little boy once asked his mother where he came from, and also where she had come from as a baby. His mother gave him a tall tale about a beautiful white-feathered bird. The boy asked his grandmother the same question and received a variation on the bird story. Feeling very proud that he had discovered the secret of life, outside to his playmate he said, "You know, there hasn't been a normal birth in our family for three generations."