How to frame a sales pitch. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/194AvUor4B/

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DC5KFj1hF/

Via Ross Packer:

I love when the Bible does things that you do not notice at first unless you stop and really look at it for a minute.

The book of Psalms begins with this:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” Psalm 1:1 ESV

And then after one hundred and fifty chapters of crying out to God, celebrating, grieving, repenting, praising, questioning, rejoicing, panicking, trusting, and occasionally sounding like someone having a complete emotional breakdown at 2 AM while staring at the ceiling fan, the entire book ends with this:

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 ESV

That is not an accident.

Psalms starts with a warning about what shapes you. Who you listen to. Who influences you. Who you surround yourself with. Because humans become a whole lot like whatever they continually stand near. Spend enough time around pessimistic people and suddenly you are irritated by everything from traffic to the sound of someone chewing chips. Spend enough time around drama and somehow you know the entire life story of a person named Brittany who you have never even met. Spend enough time around people who constantly mock truth, goodness, kindness, or faith and eventually cynicism starts sounding wise instead of empty.

And I think it is interesting that Psalm 1 describes a slow progression from simply being around sin to eventually becoming comfortable enough to settle down in it. That is usually how compromise works. Very few people wake up one morning and think, “You know what sounds fun today? Completely destroying my life and peace.” Usually it starts with slowly becoming comfortable with things that once bothered you. A little bitterness here. A little pride there. A little resentment. A little arrogance. A little “well everybody else does it.” Sin rarely shows up looking dangerous. Most of the time it just shows up looking normal.

And yet after all one hundred and fifty Psalms, after all the highs and lows and victories and failures and prayers and songs and tears, the final destination of the book is not despair.

It is worship.

The book starts with one person choosing carefully where they plant themselves, and it ends with literally everything alive praising God.

That honestly hits hard because life can feel very far from Psalm 150 sometimes. There are seasons where you feel more like Psalm 13. “How long, O Lord?” There are moments where you feel more like David hiding in caves wondering if everyone is trying to kill you, which honestly some days feels relatable even if for most of us it is emotionally and not literally. There are days where your prayers sound less like elegant poetry and more like, “Lord, if one more thing goes wrong I may actually scream.”

But Psalms shows all of it.

God did not leave out the fear. Or the grief. Or the anger. Or the confusion. He included all of it, which means those emotions themselves are not failures. The people in Psalms kept bringing them to God instead of running from Him.

And somehow the entire journey ends with praise.

Not because life was always easy. Not because every question got answered. Not because pain never happened. But because God was still worthy in the middle of all of it.

I think that is one of the most beautiful things about Psalms. It starts with guarding your heart from voices that pull you away from God and it ends with breath itself becoming worship.

The entire book moves from being shaped by the world to being shaped by Him. From settling into cynicism to being fully alive in worship. From wandering through all the noise and confusion of life to finally recognizing the One who was worthy of praise the entire time.

Which is probably why the final verse feels so powerful.

Because after everything else is said and done, after all the theology and poetry and fear and joy and questions and songs, the conclusion of Psalms is basically this:

You are breathing right now.

So praise the Lord.

Welcome to our newest member! Pastor Mukuye Livingstone from Uganda

"Good Men Are Not Hard To Find - They Are Hard To Seduce"

There is a common misconception floating around that good men are scarce and elusive creatures that have vanished into thin air. But here's the truth - good men aren't hard to find. They simply aren’t easily captivated by the surface-level charms that many focus on displaying.

A man of substance does not base his choice on passing attractions. He seeks depth, character, someone who aligns with his values and vision. If you’ve been struggling to get the attention of a genuinely good man, it might be time to change your strategy.

What doesn't work:

Tight-fitting clothes and revealing clothes: Yes, these may catch the eye of many, but a good man seeks more than what is on the surface. He seeks a deeper connection than the appearances.

Social media drama: posting exaggerated rants or super select selfies may draw likes, but it won't inspire genuine respect or interest.

Materialism over meaning: flaunting love for luxury or designer labels doesn't impress someone grounded in values.

What works:

1. Character over cleavage: A good man pays attention to how you treat others, your humility and your kindness. A compassionate heart leaves a lasting impression

2. Brains Over Beauty: Intelligence is not about degrees or vocabulary; it's about curiosity, wisdom, and the ability to hold meaningful conversations. Stimulate his mind and you'll gain his admiration.

3. Values over vanity: A man of substance admires a woman with clear values and purpose. Show him your love for growth, your commitment to your faith, or your dedication to something greater than yourself.

4. Consistency over chaos: stability without drama is a magnet for good men. They're looking for someone who can handle life's challenges with grace, not someone who constantly invites unnecessary turbulence.

5. Confidence over Conformity: Be Unapologetically You. A good man respects a woman who knows her worth and isn't afraid to be alone when necessary.

The secret to getting a good man:

A good man doesn't need you to change who you are; he needs you to be who you are - authentically, unapologetically, and with integrity.

He’s not looking for perfection, but someone who complements his own journey, someone with shared values and goals. He realizes the silent strength behind your actions, the way you talk to others and how you carry yourself through the ups and downs of life.

So, if you're striving for a meaningful connection, focus less on fleeting external traits and more on cultivating the qualities that define your inner self. Let your actions, intellect and values speak louder than your clothes or social media.

Be more strategic than pretty. Because when a good man finally notices you, he'll cherish every aspect of who you are — inside and out.

Faith and Goals

"LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today." GENESIS 24:12 NIV

G enesis 24 tells a wonderful story of how faith and goals oper- ate together. Abraham told his servant Eliezer to go into the land of his family to find the right wife for his son, Isaac. The serv- ant knew exactly what he needed to do, but he also knew that he could not make the right choice in his own wisdom. So before he went any farther, Eliezer prayed for God to establish an action plan and grant him success. He then trusted the Lord for his mission. It wasn't very long before he arrived back home with Rebekah by his side.

The real satisfaction of Eliezer's adventure, and of yours as well, exists in seeing the Lord at work in the details of life-the different parts come together in a manner that cannot be explained by any- thing but His divine guidance. Do you desire to experience God's direction in this way? He wants to show you what to do. So don't allow another day to pass without seeking His plan for tomorrow and trusting Him to guide your feet along the path. It is never too late to enjoy the awesome leadership of the God who loves you and who has a perfect plan for you.

Jesus, I want to know Your plan and walk in it successfully. Please guide me, my Savior. Amen.