Wow, Kids! They are amazing. They have so much to learn but they also have so much to teach us. Recently I've been trying to get a really simple lesson though to them, admittedly with limited success. It's what I call the "Dog's ears lesson".

All too often one of my children will either get involved in a conflict between the other two, or tell on a sibling in the hope of getting them in trouble. Yet most times, before they know it, not only are they embroiled in the conflict too, they also end up getting in as much, if not more trouble than the others.

And so I have tried to advise them. "It does not involve you, don't get involved" or "if you pick on your brother you must know you're going to get it back". Yet mostly the advice is quickly forgotten.

However recently I was reminded of the brilliant advice from Proverbs;

"Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own" (Proverbs 26:17).

What an awesome visual image of the exact problem. Getting involved in other's conflicts, or inviting conflict, is like grabbing a dog by the ears. I love how the proverb does not tell you what happens when you grab a dog by the ears. There's no need because the visual imagery is so rich you can imagine it, and feel it. You can hear the growl, and imagine the moment of panic as the dog twists in your hand, and before you know it, it's sharp teeth have punctured your skin..

It's crazy! You'd never grab a dog by the ears, especially not a stray dog you know nothing about. Who wants to be bitten? And so too, why would my kids seek to grab arguments they have no need to grab? They will only end up worse off for it.

Yet, what about us? How quickly do we grab hold of conflicts that are not ours? That does not mean we should ignore people's problems, but realise we don't have the emotional strength to take on all the worlds issues. Thankfully that is not our role, Jesus has done that for us. Our role is to help those he puts into our lives. Sure, we will end up with bite marks, no matter how good our intentions, yet think carefully before you decide to enter a disagreement, or escalate an argument. Many times we would do well to swallow our pride - and yes it is often pride that stops us letting go when the growling starts - and leave well alone.

Well, that's the advice I give my kids, who judging from the teeth marks all over them (sometimes literal) is mostly ignored. And so I am expecting that I too, like you will also largely ignore this sage advice and then look forlornly at our bite marks and wonder why!

Are you in a constant financial struggle and juggle where there never seems to be enough? Do you wonder if God is able to or even willing to provide for you? Are you constantly paying bills and covering debt payments without seeing much progress? Are you faithful in tithing and giving but yet you cannot see on outpoured blessing?

Then this book is here for you. Financial Empowerment discusses the problems we face in different areas of our finances and shows how to manage money in a God-pleasing manner. In a simple easy-to-read manner, it provides biblical and practical solutions to personal financial management.

Financial Empowerment is a fresh look at how you see your finances and how to deal with them effectively.

Get ready to be empowered as you honor God in managing your financial resources. As you give eternal value to your money, God will continually bless you.

As our faithful blog readers, we wanted to let you know first about the official book launch of Four Given. Four Given will be launched online through many blogs and websites from Sept 1 to Sept 14 via the John316 Christian Network. 

To celebrate the launch, not only has the Kindle version of Four Given been reduced to just 99c for this period, but you can also win a Kindle Fire and other prizes (see below).

We NEED YOUR HELP. The objective is to try and get Four Given to move to the top of it's categories in Amazon. The way to do this is as many sales as possible during as short a period as possible. So please could you help by doing any of the following:

• Buy a copy (or more) for just 99c - even if you have a copy, you can pass it on via Amazon as a gift.
• Share the news of the launch by posting these Tweets on Twitter, Facebook or anywhere else you can.

Is this the next "The Shack"? Described as:"anointed","amazing","work of art". Get Four Given, just 99c till 9/14 - bit.ly/Christian_Books
 
LOST? ALONE? EMPTY? Read Four Given, described as:"anointed","work of art" for just 99c till 9/14 - bit.ly/Christian_Books
 
Do you hunger for a closer, deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus? Get Four Given, 99c till 9/14-bit.ly/Christian_Books
 
Described as:"Amazing","anointed” Four Given reveals a mystery hidden in the very name of God. Just 99c till 9/14 - bit.ly/Christian_Books
 
“Great is the mystery of Godliness”–Discover a life-changing mystery inside God’s name. Get Four Given, 99c till 9/14-bit.ly/Christian_Books
 
Forget the #daVinci Code, this is God’s code, hidden inside His Name. Discover a life-changing secret -Four Given, 99c till 9/14 - bit.ly/Christian_Books

Or share this post to our launch video:
You have to watch this - And then you really MUST read the book. Just 99c till 9/14 - http://bit.ly/itsamess

As you know, the journey to God starts with an open hand, and we will be giving 50% of all sales away to a charity that works in Africa with disadvantaged people, especially children, orphans and disabled.

Drop the kids at school, go to the shops, do the accounts, sort out the plumbing issue, phone mom about the dinner plans...and all that before 10am! - That's modern day life. Hectic. Rushed. No time. And we wonder why Twitter, with its short posts, has become so popular - people interleave social media in small chunks between the rest of life. It's sad in a way that we no longer have time to read long, well written blog posts, or books - but there just is no time. 

Yet besides the rush of it all, places like Twitter have taught us something valuable - say what you want to say and move on! Cut out the padding and get the message across. And so we have learnt how to get to the point - afterall you just have 140 characters. And maybe herein is an important lesson. We live in a society that is growing bigger on every front - weight, cars, homes, phones, TVs...and even the Gospel. The Gospel needs more music, more effects, more shows - and I enjoy all of this - but are we missing out on what Paul said? He spoke of the WWW Gospel - The Gospel Without Wise Words. 

Paul said his "message and preaching were not with wise words" (1Cor 2:4-5) - the Gospel is a power that is not in our words, or our music, or our show, but as he continues, "...but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power."

We intend to do exactly that! To cut down. To say what needs to be said. To share the powerful, life changing Good News in simple 10 second movies. The power lies not in our wise and many words, but in the Spirit's power. In just 10 seconds a message can be shared, in just 10 seconds change can begin. 

We would like to introduce you to our new ministry - what we are calling Micro Message Ministry. Using between 10 and 15 second videos we will be sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus. We are excited to say that our first two movies are done and ready for you to watch. You can see them here. That's less than 30 seconds of your day to watch two powerful messages!

We hope to put out many more as we believe that this is a powerful, simple way to touch lives, using modern technology, but God's simple, life changing messages. Please share them with others - what a great gift to pass on, a 10 second spiritual lift!

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true at last, there is life and joy. (Proverbs 13:12)

What does it mean to be adopted? As I look at my two beautiful, internationally adopted daughters, the definition becomes living and full of personal meaning, not just a two-dimensional word on a written page. Maybe what I want is not so much a definition as an understanding of the depths of its meaning on a spiritual level—the act itself of love, sacrifice, cost, and inheritance.

Today my children are ten and seventeen years old and as American as any other child born in this country. We live in middle class suburbia, I drive a “mommy van,” our refrigerator is full of too much junk food, my kids wear J.C. Penney clothes, and sleep on comfortable flannel sheets and memory foam pillows. Manisha has Christian teenage friends who come over and watch action-packed movies on our high definition, forty-eight inch television screen, and Joy competes at level seven on a girls’ gymnastics team. We are living the American dream. On the surface, we seem “ordinary,” but in reality, we are quite to the contrary.

My two children were orphans from third world countries. They came from destitute backgrounds without hope, clinging to a miserable existence. I asked my 17 year old daughter, “What does it mean to you to be adopted?”

“It means I didn’t grow in my mommy’s stomach but in her heart,” she responded.

Sometimes when we decide to write a book, it’s because there isn’t a book on the bookshelf that addresses what we want to read. I wanted to understand what it meant to be adopted by my heavenly Father. I searched the Scriptures for all the passages on adoption and thought about what it meant for me personally. The more I thought about it and looked for material, the more I realized how little extra-Biblical literature existed.

I prayed about writing my own book and started writing, but as I wrote, I realized I had to tell my own story. I imagined a beautiful book of how we became a family because I wanted to encourage others to pursue their own dreams of adoption. I wanted it to be a story of hope and fulfillment, but God’s adoption of us and the adoption of my children aren’t just beautiful adoption stories in the sense that most of us would think of as beautiful.

Mine is the story of the struggle to create a “forever family” as I endured lies, betrayal, sickness, delay, deceit, deception, greed, corruption, suffering, fear, abandonment, and sacrifice. Eventually, through perseverance and dependence on God, I received fulfillment. It soon became clear to me that the adoption of my children wasn’t that different from God’s adoption of us.

Jesus gave His life for us by paying the ultimate sacrifice at great cost to Himself—suffering on a cruel Roman cross after being abandoned by His closest friends and even God Himself. He suffered every human emotion that I had suffered, but even more so, and without sin.

Perhaps I did accomplish what I wanted, but just not in the way I had originally envisioned. I get teary-eyed when I think about it because I know what heartache and suffering I went through, which pales in comparison to what God has done for us. He has given me a great gift, because I am able to see how much God loves me through the adoption of my children.

In heaven, the Lamb will stand before the throne, in the midst of thousands upon thousands of angels, illuminating us with His holy presence. Only when Jesus breaks the seven seals and opens the scroll, which is the deed to the earth and all its inhabitants, will our entitlement be revealed.

The adoption of my two children was a hard-fought battle—trusting God, forgiving others, and fighting forces of evil that wanted to destroy me. Ephesians 6:10 states:

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

My earthly journey of adoption not only gave me the “Children of Dreams” I longed for, but it has shown me the inheritance awaiting us when we arrive in heaven through God’s adoption of us. My story begins many years ago…. 

Come on - I'm sure you have 60 seconds spare and would love to watch a movie. If so then click the video below and see my latest trailer for "Four Given". It is fast paced and intense - after all that is what life often is. And don't forget to share your comments and views!

By His Grace
Malo Bel

60 Seconds - It could change your life

It's time to grab your popcorn, turn up the sound and settle back...Well, at least for the next couple of minutes. Here is the first official trailer for "Four Given". 

As Steven Speilberg was not available to direct this production and as the producer insisted it cost less than the making of "The Hobbit" the creative team was forced to use stunt doubles for all the main roles.

Watch it NOW - and don't forget to leave us your feedback, so that the sequel can be even bigger and better!

The tension was palpable as Laura stepped up to the wheel. Three others stood behind clinging to their already earned prizes of $30,000. Yet here was Laura risking it all for the almost impossible prize of $10 million. No one ever won this and she would lose everything. 

"Inconceivable," I thought to myself, "it's an inconceivable amount of money. Imagine what I could do with that. My financial issues solved for ever and my dream of doing outreach work in Africa a reality. But it's not me. I just can't do it." 

"So you know how it works Laura," the  game show host says in his lilting TV voice. "You have one chance to hit the gold spot with the dart." Laura looks down nervously at the small dart she is holding. The other three contestants stand looking on thinking about what they have decided - "Keep the certain cash and don't go for the impossible." 

The giant wheel begins to spin as the music starts. Faster and faster it spins as the tempo of the music rises too. 
"Are you ready Laura?" The game show host shouts beaming his whitened-teeth smile at her. "Are you ready to receive the impossible. Are you ready to get your dream?"

Laura smiles nervously and says, "Yes, I think so."
"On my count," the game show host continues, "throw the dream dart and claim your dream....three, two..." the music has reached it's crescendo and the wheel is a blur of lights as it spins..."one, THROW!"

Laura seems to close her eyes as she throws. It's almost as if time slows down as the studio audience holds its collective breath. The small dart flies towards the impossible target and all of a sudden a dazzle of sparks and lights erupt from all around the wheel. The impossible has happened. Laura has won!

I look on stunned from where I stand with the other two contestants. I can almost touch the wheel - that fortune - it was so close yet so impossibly far. That's my life. Seeing the impossible but never experiencing it. Seeing the dream but never reaching it. I suppose that's the way it's meant to be. I must accept what I have and not reach for the impossible. At least I have my $30,000. 

I am sure we can all relate to this story in some way. We see others getting things that we don't have. Or we see a life that we would love, but it's just out of reach or just to scary to go for. And so we accept our lot and make the best of what we have been given. 

In Bible times, when the people were dependent on farming for their survival, where you lived was important. So for example while the views might be nice on a mountain, living there was not always a good idea. Mountains are stony and nearly impossible to farm. However valleys are flat and fertile and often have rivers or other water available. So the dream place to live was a wonderful fertile valley. Crops would be fruitful, farming would be easy and life would be great. 

However it so happened that in the days of the Judges that these awesome fertile valleys had a problem...an iron problem.

So there the people sat, living in God's strength up in the hills, looking longingly down at the valley - but unable to go there because of thee impossible to beat iron chariots. 

HOLD ON! This does not make sense. It says "The Lord was with the men of Judah" and then it says they are unable to drive out the people "because they had chariots fitted with iron." Iron chariots are stronger than God Almighty! What?

How can this be? How can it be that God is with these people but He can't drive out a few iron chariots?

BUT read carefully. Yes "the Lord was with the men" but "THEY were unable" to drive out the people. It was not God whose power was insufficient. 

God, who at a word parts seas has no issue with iron chariots. However the people did. 

The problem was not with God, as it was not with Jesus when he sought to show God's power - it was with the people and their lack of faith!

So we sit here reading this, marveling at how a people who have God with them, who have experienced his power don't believe He can do more. We are astounded by their unbelief, their limiting of God. Yet this story is not about them - its about you and I. 

Forget the Israelites - this is us. This is our shocking story!
From the beautiful fertile valley of life Jesus says to us living on the harsh mountainside conditions. 

He is saying - "Come down and live in the fertile valley of life."
And what is our response? 
"It's not possible Lord. I know you are with me. I know you have worked amazing miracles in my life on this harsh mountain side, but Lord, the valley...the abundant life...the fertile life, that's not possible."

And so Jesus stands in the beautiful valley calling...

Yet we cannot enter the valley because (we believe) God is unable to give this life to us. And so we are left looking down into the valley of promise with some questions to answer. 

Do I still live in the difficult, trying conditions of a life of sin, temptation, and struggle? 
Do I still look at the fertile valley of life and Jesus' offer and believe that is not for now, not possible? 
Is it iron chariots that stop us from experiencing the abundant life? Too many trails, too many stresses, too many sins. 
If so am I limiting the power of God?

Stop standing there looking on as others claim the impossible prize. Jesus offers us the life of promise. A life worth more than $10 million. Step forward and claim it. Unlike the Laura story, there is no risk here, there is nothing to lose, and everything to gain. All we need is to believe.

God is able. God is willing. There is nothing besides faith that stands between us and experiencing his life of abundance. There is nothing besides faith that stands between us and the valley of life. Let us not limit God. 

Thanks everyone who has helped me so far with both backing, and even more importantly, reading and reviewing my book Four Given. 

If you have not had a chance to read my book, I really would appreciate your comments. You can read it for free on Harper Collins Authonomy site. By doing this you will help move me up the rankings.

If you have read my book I really would appreciate you posting a review both on Harper Collins and Amazon.

Thanks again for all the amazing feedback. I feel truly blessed.

Love in Jesus - Malo

Sometimes words are not needed. God tells us all he needs to tell us in his stunning works of art. Today I came across these two trees, entwined, inseperable, indistinguishable - growing together. And what a lesson this is for us.