9904 Woodstream Court, Lanham MD 20706

Phone: +1 (240) 350-6426

http://www.joyfullivingministries.org
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DAILY NUGGETS FOR JOYFUL LIVING

Wednesday, January 28, 2015
"...A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered
and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went...And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he
answered and said, I go, sir: and went not...." Matthew 21:28-31 KJV
WHEN YOU MAKE A PROMISE, FULFILL IT
A man once made an unfulfilled promise to a friend. He saw the hopes that were built up in his friend
because of the promise. Like the world will put it (and not that the world is always correct), his friend took the
promise to the extreme. When that promise was not fulfilled when the time of fulfillment came, his friend was torn
in pieces emotionally. Norman Vincent Peale said, "Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be
carried out at once." Once you make a promise, you bind yourself to an oath. It becomes a debt unpaid. Until you
fulfill it, you are not innocent. You are a debtor. I will never forget a quote from an anonymous writer, "People with
good intentions make promises, but people with good Character keep them. This quote carries within it the seed of
transformation. And truly speaking, the world is overly populated with people of good intentions. I will rather
defend my character than to have only good intentions. And I wonder if that is your decision too. To make a promise
doesn't take your breadth, but to keep a promise may require a great price. To keep a promise may cost you a
fortune. It may even cost you your life. If you don't have what it takes to keep a promise, then, don't make one.
I once came across a statement that was made by Abraham Lincoln, that popular American President,
Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.
What a profound statement that must not be ignored by all, both saints and sinners alike. People are more
interested today in maintaining reputation than in building character. They fail to know that reputation without
character is a mirage. Without character, reputation is not known. Reputation without character is a cripple. In
fact, without character, reputation has no legs. In some parts of our world, people get killed for destroying the
family reputation. Yet, these same people have no character that can reflect the reputation they intend to maintain.
Beloved, do you have a story to tell on character? If not, why not? Well, you can start your character story right
now. Begin to embark upon keeping to your promises. Matthew 21 has a lot to teach on the rewards of keeping your
promise. Interesting enough, the second son who said "I go sir" but went not was condemned. Jesus alluded it to the
believers who made promises to God without keeping them. How sad that Jesus had to say, "Verily I say unto you,
that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Beloved, when you make a promise,
endeavor to keep it, irrespective of the person that you promised; be it your child, or your spouse, or a friend, or
anyone; not to talk of making the promise to God. As simple as a promise can be, it has eternal consequence. Better
not make a promise than to make it and not fulfill it. Failure to fulfill a promise destroys character speedily and
without notice. Joyful Living experience is established for you when you make a promise and fulfill it. Amen?

Pastors Chris & Julie Akpama

Dont forget your COVENANT with God every day. Call the pastor from 6:30 pm till 9:30 pm @ (240) 350-6426 for encouragement and for
covenant prayers. Call expecting! Call believing!! Your miracle is possible with prayers!!! Amen? Acts 12:5-9

2015, A YEAR OF DIVINE EXCHANGE Isaiah 61:2-3