12 Foundation Stones

These are both in the ‘Activated  Magazine’ issue 2
I’d really suggest you download it, it’s a real nice PDF
Click to Download

 

Navigating Life

The One Sure Guide to Successful Living

If you were going on a long voyage, you would bring along a navigational chart, wouldn't you? Well, you are on a long voyage—life—and the One who knows the way has instructed some of His men to draw a detailed chart to help you make it safely to your final destination. To say you don't have time to read God's chart, the Bible, is like a sailor heading out to sea and saying, "Well, I'm in such a hurry to get where I'm going that I don't have time to look at the nautical chart!" But if you'll take the Bible and simply read it, believe it, and follow it, you will be on the right course and wind up at the right place.

The most amazing book
The Bible is the most marvelous book in the whole world. It not only tells us where we're going, but also how we got here, why we're here, how to survive and be happy while here, and how to have love, happiness, joy, and peace forever.
Yet so many people today ignore the Bible completely. Even many of those who have been through years of higher education and have read hundreds and hundreds of books of all kinds have never read the most fascinating book of all, the Bible.
In the Bible you can find almost anything: drama, romance, poetry, prophecy, history, mystery, and much more. But most important, the Bible contains the very Spirit and life of God Himself (John 4:24; 6:63). It's the means by which God activates us with His life, light, and power.

It works!
A skeptic and a Christian were discussing whether the Bible was truly a divinely inspired book. The skeptic was convinced that since no one had ever seen God and there was no scientific proof of His existence, how could anyone believe the Bible was truly inspired by Him?
"Is the compiler of the multiplication table known?" the Christian asked.
"No."
"Then of course you do not believe in it."
"Oh, yes, I believe in it because it works," replied the skeptic.
"So does the Bible."
The fact that the Bible has the power to effect positive change in each of our lives, no matter what our situation or need, is the greatest proof that the Bible is the supernatural Word of God Himself. As you read the Bible you will find that it is an absolutely inexhaustible source of wisdom and knowledge, out of which you will constantly find treasures new and old (Matthew 13:52).
And the most wonderful thing about the Bible is that through its words we can get to know its author, for the Bible is God's great love letter to us. Its life-giving words make it the greatest book in the world, with the only author in the world who can guarantee life and love and happiness and Heaven forever through simply reading it and believing in its main character, the One who loved us so much that He gave His own life to save us—Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
If you sincerely pray, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your Word" (Psalm 119:18), you won't be disappointed.

Soul food
Jesus said, "The Words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). They give us spiritual life and nourishment and strength and health, which is why a good, wholesome, balanced diet of God's Word is essential . Just like you have to eat in order to have physical strength, you have to feed on the Word to have spiritual strength.
The Bible tells us that like newborn babies desire to be fed, we should desire the pure milk of the Word, so we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). Like a baby needs milk to be healthy and grow or even survive, you must be fed spiritually in order to stay healthy and grow spiritually. And just like a baby has an instinctive and irrepressible desire to be fed, so we should hunger for the pure milk of God's Word.
The prophet Jeremiah said, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16). Job said, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
There's nothing more important to your spiritual life than the Word!

Word time
In Luke, chapter 10, we read the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit, Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word," but Martha was too busy trying to be a good hostess. She tried so hard to get everything done just right for Jesus that she didn't have time to listen to Him. So Jesus gently scolded her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42). What is the "good part" that Mary chose?—The Word. She sat at Jesus' feet and listened to His words.
"But," you say, "I've got so much work and so many other things to do. How am I ever going to find time to read the Word every day?" Well, if you put the Word first, the Lord will always help you find the time to take care of those other things. When you see the difference it makes in your life, you'll wonder how you ever got by without it!

 

 

How to Get the Most from Life

From Jesus with Love

It's sad how so many people are content to just let life pass them by. Sure, they may be busy keeping up or trying to get ahead, and they may fill every spare moment with activities that they hope will be relaxing and enjoyable, but where is all that busy activity taking them? When do they really live?

The secret to getting the most out of life is in living close to Me and living in My Word. By that I don't mean that you should hide away and give yourself solely to quiet reflection and study; I mean that you should try to include Me in your daily activities and apply My Word to whatever you're doing. If you can learn to do that, your life will take on new meaning and depth. You will not only be much happier and feel more fulfilled, but you will brighten the lives of those around you as you reflect My love and the light of My Word in all you do.

It starts by making a habit of taking a few quiet minutes at the start of every day for prayer and reading My Word. Then take what I have taught you in the "classroom" and apply it throughout the day. If you don't know how, just shoot up a quick prayer and I will show you. On the job, running errands, or relaxing with family and friends, I can make you a greater blessing to others and bless you in the process. Life will become richer and more meaningful as I help you make more time for the most interesting and rewarding thing I have going-people. You'll even get much more out of such everyday things as reading the newspaper or watching a movie or TV if you ask Me for My mind on each matter. I think you'll be surprised to find how much I know and how much I have to offer!