tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91570587360332675232024-03-13T16:16:16.539+01:00Welcome To Your One Stop Spiritual BlogEverything about this blog smells God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-2440773129038977492016-12-01T10:28:00.003+01:002016-12-01T10:29:05.515+01:00The Fruit of Discipline <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God's will and purpose]. </i><b>(Heb. 12:11, AMP)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Heb.12:4-11.</div>
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The Scripture speak of three major categories of "trouble" for the believer:</div>
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<li>Discipline, judgment or rebuke from the Lord.</li>
<li>Tests, trials, and suffering.</li>
<li>Temptations or attacks from the devil.</li>
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So when trouble comes, what type is it? Some kinds of trouble can be avoided and some cannot. Each requires a different response from Scripture! So how can the type of trouble be discerned? Is this God directly moving to correct me? Or is this persecution for His Name sake? Or is Satan behind the trouble? You need to be able to discern.</div>
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However, our focus today centers around the first: "Discipline, Judgment OR Rebuke from the LORD." </div>
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Sons are the ones that are disciplined and as sons we are all partakers of this discipline. The discipline of the Lord is the only way to righteousness: God disciplines us out of the unrighteous way into the righteous way. <b>If we escape this discipline, we are bastards.</b></div>
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God uses discipline as a last resort. If all God needed to justify mankind to Himself was a bigger cattle-prod, then Christ died for nothing! No, God's plan for the earth is love first, discipline last. </div>
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To get us to listen and repent, He will use deep convictions, the rebuke of friends, coincident sermons, the quickening of Scriptures, and every other means before disciplining us. But if we resist God's Spirit of light and mercy, we are promised the rod of correction. When God disciplines, the punishment fits the crime. Time and again, we realize that we cannot get away with unrepentant sin. </div>
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God is sculpting us into holy vessels, and the process can be very painful; nevertheless, the rewards are promising and eternal.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point:</b> The fruit of discipline is the peaceful fruit of righteousness.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Submit to God's discipline.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Dear God, I repent of willfully resisting Your discipline. I choose to align and willingly submit to Your discipline so its fruit can be produced in my life in Jesus name.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-28974798232276502222016-11-30T10:53:00.001+01:002016-11-30T10:54:03.583+01:00It's Working For Your Good<h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
Memory Verse: <i style="font-weight: normal;">"We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan." </i>(Rm.8:28, VOICE)<a name='more'></a></h1>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Rm.8:28-30.</div>
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Just on Monday, I boarded a BRT bus on my way back from the market and about twenty minutes or less into the journey, our tyre gave up on us; shortly after a loud sound and the bus came to a halt. Prior to this time, I was wishing that the road was free (I hate traffic with passion). Also, I needed to stop by the saloon before getting home and it was already getting late.</div>
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But friends, I thank God for traffic on this day. Just imagine what the story would be if the road was free (like I desired) and the bus was travelling fast. The slow movement due to traffic was what God used to intercept the fatal accident that would have happened.<br />
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Talk about all things (the good, the not-so-good, the bad and the ugly) working together for your good!</div>
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<b>Romans 8:28</b> is one of the most comforting texts in all of Scripture. It assures the believer that all "tragedies" are ultimately blessings. It does not declare that all things that happen are good in themselves but that in the end, the things that happen to us, God is working in and through them for our good.</div>
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You may not be where you envisaged you'll be at this time of your life due to certain situations and circumstances that you feel are responsible for keeping you where you currently are, but can you trust God that He's working in and through those circumstances to get you to where He has prepared for you?</div>
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Thank Him for the stops, the traffic, the delays. They're all working for your good and the good news is, you'll surely arrive your destination.</div>
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Stop checking your time and quit reading your calendar. You serve a God that's not bound by time. Time begins and ends with Him. He is the definition of time. Get excited and fired up in your spirit. Release your faith.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>As long as God is with you, your life's story will end in praise.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Listen to "Intentional" by <b>Travis Greene</b>.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father in the name of Jesus, I release my faith in the direction You're calling and leading me through. Even when I don't understand, I choose to trust You with and in every situation and circumstance I find myself in. Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-68155262127925163162016-11-27T07:25:00.001+01:002016-11-27T07:25:47.143+01:00Fruits || Leaves?<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Corsiva; font-size: 17.82px; text-align: justify;">
<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"....The fig tree, <b>disappointingly, </b>had no figs, only leaves."</i><b>(Matt.21:19, VOICE, Emphasis mine)</b><br />
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Matt.21:18-19.</div>
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Reading through <b>Matt.21:18-19</b>, the Bible says, <i>"The next morning, Jesus went back to the city. It was early and He was wanting breakfast, so He stopped at a lone fig tree by the road. The fig tree, disappointingly, had no figs, only leaves. <b>Jesus: </b>May you never bear fruit again!" </i><b>(VOICE)</b></div>
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Perhaps, you're thinking to yourself that Jesus' statement is a pretty harsh one. After all, it wasn't the tree's fault that it didn't have any figs.</div>
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So why did Jesus curse it?</div>
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The answer can be found in these words: "seeing that in the fig tree, the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves." By implication, when Jesus saw leaves on the tree, He had a right to expect fruit from it. And when he saw none, He cursed it for seeing a phony while giving off the impression that it was the real thing and had fruits.</div>
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There's an important lesson here for each of us. Let's be careful so as not to display an impressive array of leaves without actually having (or bearing) fruit. It takes more than tongue-speaking, bumper stickers, a 'What Would Jesus Do' (WWJD) wrist band, a Jesus pin in your lapel and a big Bible under your arm to influence and win others to Christ.</div>
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The Bible says, <i>"When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" </i><b>(Gal.5:22-23, TLB)</b>.</div>
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Thsee are the kind of fruit people can see, touch, taste, relate with and enjoy. And it's this kind God wants to see manifested in you.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b><i>"</i><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">You are like that illuminating light</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">. Let your light shine everywhere you go, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">that you may illumine creation,</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;"> so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">because of it</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px;">." <b>(Matt.5:16, VOICE)</b></span></div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Bear godly fruits.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Dear God, possess my being; help me to produce fruits that You approve of in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-38504621609945059142016-11-24T08:25:00.002+01:002016-11-24T08:27:14.162+01:00Handling Disappointments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him." </i><b>(Gen.40:23, KJV)</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Scripture Reading: </b><span style="text-align: justify;">Ex.15 22-27.</span><br />
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Joseph had a lot to deal with at a young age and disappointment was one of such things. </div>
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He was sold by his jealous brothers, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison. As if that wasn't enough, he correctly interpreted the dream of the chief butler of Pharaoh, who promised he would not forget Joseph. However, as soon as he was set free, he quickly forgot all about Joseph and went on with his life.</div>
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The way and manner the chief butler forgot Joseph was so intense that the [<b>King James</b>]<b> </b>Bible had to say, 'forgat!'</div>
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Just like Joseph, we have people in our lives who let us down- maybe even this morning or last night. They may promise to be faithful but break the marital covenant. They may promise a promotion but give it to someone else. They may promise us the job but end up giving it to another. They may promise to marry you and then end the engagement. They may promise to pay back money loaned them and then avoid us at all costs and the list never ends. </div>
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What are we to do when people let us down?</div>
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Our first recourse isn't to track them down and make them do the right thing. </div>
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We get before God and seek His wisdom on how to deal with the situation. We cannot afford to carry bitterness or resentment in our hearts, as it will block our ability to hear and follow the Holy Spirit. By casting all of our cares on God, we release the unfairness of our situation and find renewed peace in the Lord.</div>
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After we've had time with the Lord, we are ready to choose forgiveness. This doesn't mean that they don't have to deal with the consequences of their decisions. It's a [conscious] release that we share with the Lord, as we have chosen forgiveness over the hurt we feel. Our forgiveness mirrors how we've been forgiven by God. </div>
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The Holy Spirit will fill our hearts with peace and an expectation of His making everything right; just like He did for Joseph.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>By casting all of our cares on God, we release the unfairness of our situation and find renewed peace in the Lord.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Forgive. Release the hurt to the Lord. Trust Him to make everything right.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point:</b> Dear Lord, I'm tired of being disappointed by people. Help me to constantly turn my eyes to You instead of others. Show me how to release this hurtful situation to your loving care in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-27178969147643505322016-11-23T08:38:00.001+01:002016-11-23T08:38:54.544+01:00Beyond Competition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil." </i><b>(Jms.3:16, TLB)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Jms.3:13-18.</div>
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If there is one thing I'm exceptionally thankful to God about my person is the fact that I'm not a competitive being. Competition is not my thing: it has never been and will never be by the continous help of God.</div>
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Some people have further classified competition into two: healthy and unhealthy. Personally, I feel it's just English, competition is competition. Simple. I can't imagine God the Father be in competition (whether healthy or unhealthy) with God the Son or God the Spirit. They are one and they operate from that standpoint of oneness.</div>
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For those who view life as a platform for competition, their goal for living is entirely self. They are always scheming for opportunities for personal conquests, recognition and accumulation of resources.</div>
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And sadly, their Christian lives are no different.</div>
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But God is calling us to lead lives that are beyond [and free from] competition.</div>
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God's word is very clear that a life of competition can be misleading. It will engender bitterness and strife because it's focused on self-- self-promotion and self-aggrandisement. </div>
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In <b>Prov.17:1</b>, the Bible tells us of a house full of "feasting." Feasting here simply connote [religious] activities centered on bringing glory to self.</div>
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We need to get to the point where we disassociate ourselves from [religious] activities that does not necessarily bring us <b>closer</b> to God.</div>
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I know that God does encourage us to have zeal for the Gospel. But we also need to be careful and apply wisdom so as not to turn our zeal into some sort of competition-- just doing thing to get ahead others.</div>
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It really doesn't matter if you're applauded or rewarded by man. Being popular doesn't add up either. What's paramount is that we have God's approval.</div>
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This should be the focus of the believer.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>There is a price to pay for a life that focuses on competition but the path of peace is better.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Seek God's approval and be a good steward of the resources that has been committed into your care.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father in the name of Jesus, I give You permission to set me free from a competitive spirit in my relationship with You and man. Help me to please You with this one life that You have given to me, Amen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-41763653875799592142016-11-22T09:03:00.000+01:002016-11-22T09:03:20.375+01:00A Note To Self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"...but David <b>encouraged himself</b> in the Lord his God." </i><b>(1 Sam.30:6, KJV, Emphasis mine)</b><br />
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>1 Sam.30:1-31.</div>
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David had just won a string of spectacular victories. But on his return home, he found out that his home has been invaded and destroyed by the Amalekites and his family taken captive! He was heart sick. He (Israel's number one man at the time) and his men fell to the ground and wept, until they could weep no more.</div>
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Whoelse does this resonate with? One minute we're up and winning, the next minute, we're on the ground weeping. But hey, look what David did: <b>he didn't stay down</b>! He dried his tears, sat up to inquire from the Lord! David understood that God's voice infuses [inner] strength. In the end, David's self-encouragement, coupled with God's guidance led him and his men to their next victory.</div>
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There's a lesson here. You must learn how to speak to yourself the right way using the right words.</div>
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Moments when I'm down [and sometimes, literally crying too], I write notes from God's word and I read them to myself. I encourage myself and before long, I'm up again conquering cities and taking territories for my King.</div>
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Sweets, no matter what you're going through, encourage yourself in the Lord. I'm confident that your joy will return and soon too. Look in the mirror and declare, "This too shall pass. What doesn't destroy me makes me stronger. I will allow this situation drive me closer to You, Lord."</div>
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Remember Joseph? Recalling the worst time in his life, he said, <i>"God turned into good what you meant for evil" </i><b>(Gen.50:20, TLB)</b>. God is still very much in the business of turning evil for good. Other perople don't control your destiny, God does. He can and will turn your scars into stars and your pain into gain. Encourage yourself! Your weaknesses can become discovery points for strengths you never knew you had.</div>
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Therefore, my friend, regroup, refocus and resolve to press on. The word for you today is: <b>Learn to encourage yourself.</b></div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>The biggest battles bring the biggest victories.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Write a note to yourself encouraging yourself in the Lord. </div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, in moments where I'm discouraged, help me to draw strength from Your voice within the pages of Your word to encourage myself in Jesus name, Amen!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-77571088024693957072016-11-16T09:59:00.003+01:002016-11-16T10:01:51.825+01:00Don't Be A Hypocrite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fZqsx2z254/WCwUhvlMOkI/AAAAAAAABa0/KL_hLUgVNVou8rBGWhZTWpe-Whrt96jTwCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252825%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fZqsx2z254/WCwUhvlMOkI/AAAAAAAABa0/KL_hLUgVNVou8rBGWhZTWpe-Whrt96jTwCLcB/s320/images%2B%252825%2529-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Memory Verse: </b><i style="text-align: justify;">"...no more pretense..." </i><b style="text-align: justify;">(Eph.4:25, MSG)</b><br />
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Matt.23:1-39.</div>
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I've had people tell me a couple of times that they would rather be known in life as an honest sinner, than a lying hypocrite. Sadly, I stand with them.</div>
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Hypocrisy is a deadly disease and it has eaten deep into the body of Christ.</div>
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First off, I'd like to say that it is not your shortcomings that make you a hypocrite; it is hiding them and pretending you don't you don't have any!</div>
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Note two things about hypocrisy:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">It's as natural as breathing. It appeals to our ego. We get hooked on it because it looks so impressive, and results in our getting lots of positive strokes. Who wouldn't enjoy that?</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Dealing with hypocrisy is hard [in the energy of the flesh]. It's easier to train a new believer than to retrain an old one steeped in religion. To win the battle with hypocrisy, you must first admit you've got a problem with it. Only then can the Holy Spirit begin a work of deliverance and set you on the path to freedom. However, it's a long and brutal fight: our desire to appear good and sound right in front of others dies slowly-- if at all. The point is, we have to keep dying to hypocrisy every day.</li>
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The image above clearly defines what hypocrisy is: having beliefs but lacking actions commensurate to these beliefs.</div>
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I'll close today's devotional with these couple of verses from <b>Eph.4</b> as written by Apostle Paul: </div>
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<i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. </span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;"><i>What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself" </i><b>(vv. 17-25, MSG)</b>. Let these words serve as our spiritual breakfast, lunch and dinner, today and indeed for the rest of our lives.</span></div>
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Sweets, there's absolutely no <i>eternal</i> gain in being a hypocrite. If we understand this truth deeply, we will have no business with hypocrisy in the first place. Let's add action to whatever we profess to believe in and stand for.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Practice what you preach or change your speech.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Let your words be in total agreement (conformity) with your actions at all times.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Dear Lord, convict me of any sin of hypocrisy. Help me to live my talk even as You steady my feet in the path of truth in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-47247024385728095532016-11-15T02:02:00.004+01:002016-11-15T02:03:11.593+01:00When You Don't Feel Qualified<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hvVvw7ZCSRE/WCpKdx6Y85I/AAAAAAAABac/PJDf_q6LvIAjqw014CX9bVtHgIhxCV5ggCLcB/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hvVvw7ZCSRE/WCpKdx6Y85I/AAAAAAAABac/PJDf_q6LvIAjqw014CX9bVtHgIhxCV5ggCLcB/s320/unnamed.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled."" </i><b>(Ex.4:10, NLT)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Ex.3:1-22; 4:1-17.</div>
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When God called Moses to go into Pharoah's palace and declare freedom for God's people, he responded by saying, "Please send someone else."</div>
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I've sounded like this a couple of times too.</div>
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I got an offer in the area of digital marketing very recently and it scared to me death! When I told my cousin that I was feeling less than qualified, she said, "Don't worry. You'll learn on the job!" That wasn't enough to get me to accept the offer because anything marketing related, I feel very inadequate coupled with the fact that I got no leading to take it on. Though, sometimes, I just wonder why the Lord didn't give me marketing skills. You say I can learn, right? I'll think about it.</div>
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Do you feel less than qualified sometimes-- particularly in the area where you feel God is calling you to? If so, here's what God told Moses: <i>"Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say"</i> (see <b>Ex.14:12</b>). </div>
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When God calls you, He equips you for the task. But He doesn't necessarily do it in advance. Sometimes, your training takes place in the process of doing what God said.<br />
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This can be scary though and probably, like Moses, you've been saying to God, "I'm afraid to speak in front of people-- what do you mean You want me to lead this team?" Or, "Why would You want me to apply for this job when I'm not particularly qualified?" The truth is, you cannot rely on your own perspective. The only qualifications needed to do any job God calls you to are His strength and His ability. The rest is<i> on-the-job</i> training. You simply have to trust God and follow Him as He leads you. </div>
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This doesn't mean you won't feel fear. It just means you are willing to exercise your faith to stretch and grow beyond what you can imagine, and start doing what needs to be done based on what you currently know. That can be humbling as you'll find yourself continually dependent on God. It's also very likely that you'll have to ask lots of questions from those who are ahead of you in this field-- and sometimes, you'll have to ask these questions more than once.</div>
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Don't be afraid to make mistakes, to seek assistance, or do things differently from what you already know.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>If God calls you, you're the right person for the job.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Trust God's strength and ability.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point:</b> Father, even though I feel less than qualified, nevertheless, at Your call, I will obey. I choose to rely on Your strength and ability to walk and function in Your calling for my life in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-47034539291563549702016-11-14T11:03:00.001+01:002016-11-14T11:05:20.846+01:00Place Your Order<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RS7O5JKG9vk/WCmA1ef1_oI/AAAAAAAABaI/3zCVzRqKW3YWrWbIjukNXd1mZ4rtsBaFwCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RS7O5JKG9vk/WCmA1ef1_oI/AAAAAAAABaI/3zCVzRqKW3YWrWbIjukNXd1mZ4rtsBaFwCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252825%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"...Tell God what you need..." </i><b>(Phil.4:6, NLT)</b></div>
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Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and asking if your order is ready? "When did you call in to place your order?" The server asks. "Oh, I didn't," goes your reply. "I just thought perhaps you might have prepared something with my name on it." If I happen to be the server, I will give you this look that says, "Really!" because you sound ridiculous!</div>
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That's as ridiculous as expecting God to answer prayer requests you haven't made-- or haven't made in faith (see <b>Jms.1:6-7</b>).</div>
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The Bible says we do not receive because we have not asked. By implication, if we want to receive, we have to ask in faith. Will God give you everything you ask for? No. He will not because your order (request) must be in total harmony with His will for your life (see <b>1 Jn.5:14</b>).</div>
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In addition to praying in faith, we must be ready to wait for our orders to be processed and brought to us. What happens after you place your order in a restaurant? You wait. You simply wait for your order to be served you.</div>
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In the same way, expectant prayer (waiting in hope that God will grant you your request according to His will) demonstrates confidence in God's goodness.</div>
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So instead of fretting, or talking about it to everybody but God, or taking matters into your own hands, say, "Lord, I'm waiting on You and I'm going to trust You with this regardless of the outcome," and He will honour your faith. </div>
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Finally, give thanks. After placing your order in the restaurant, you add "thank you" even before the order arrives. Paul writes, <i>"Pray and ask God for everything you need, <b>always giving thanks</b>"</i> (<b>Phil.4:6, </b>Emphasis mine).</div>
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Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem or breaking free from a destructive habit? The salvation of a loved one? A deeper spiritual walk? Physical or emotional healing? Guidance? No matter what you need, go ahead and place your order in faith, wait expectantly and give God thanks. Jesus said, <i>"It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of] [His] kingdom" </i>(<b>Lk.12:32, NLT</b>). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the "desires of your heart" (<b>Ps.37:4, NKJV</b>). Then thank Him believing your answers will come-- in His time!</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>God speaks to those who take time to listen and He listens to those who take time to pray.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Place your order.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Pray as led.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-8705014584862123202016-11-13T08:49:00.000+01:002016-11-13T08:53:18.268+01:00Handling Depression (II)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ip_p1mICGzM/WCgP-qoNUzI/AAAAAAAABZs/kpbXvVuvNI0sMYQzZVS6KBK5tXJbfj7NwCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252825%2529-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ip_p1mICGzM/WCgP-qoNUzI/AAAAAAAABZs/kpbXvVuvNI0sMYQzZVS6KBK5tXJbfj7NwCLcB/s320/images%2B%252825%2529-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"...Now, Lord, take my life, <b>for I am no better than my father's</b>." </i><b>(1 Kgs.19:4, NKJV, Emphasis mine)</b></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Scripture Reading: </b><span style="text-align: justify;">1 Kgs.19:1-21.</span><br />
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That was Elijah in our memory verse comparing himself to his fathers and I ask myself, how many of us are guilty of this same sin of comparison?!</div>
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Another cause of depression is comparing ourselves with other people. We think to ourselves that if we could be just like so-and-so, we'd be happy.</div>
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Comparing yourself with others is a sign that you are without wisdom. Simply put, it is a display of foolishness (see <b>2 Cor.10:12</b>). There's only one person you should strive to be-- and that's yourself. When you try to imitate another person and act like them, invariably you'll end up depressed because you will keep failing at trying to be someone else as God will not engrace (help) you to be someone else other than yourself.</div>
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You need to be honest with yourself, and be who God has created you to be. That's all God wants. That's all He expects. When we start comparing ourselves with other people, we fall into a trap: we compare our weaknesses with their strengths. We forget that those people may be weak in areas where we are strong. What more, we try to motivate ourselves through self-criticism and condemnation.<br />
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We do it by "should-ing" ourselves: "I should be able to be like that person. I should be able to act better. I should be able to accomplish it. I should be able to stop it" -- as if whipping ourselves verbally is going to change us! Nagging doesn't work when we do it to another person, and nagging ourselves don't work either.</div>
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So what's the solution? Start reprogramming your mind with the word of God. Find out what the word says concerning you. Be contented with yourself. Stop the comparison. Work on your weakness, look for people who complement your weakness and most importantly, keep building your strengths.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Comparison is the thief of joy.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Stop comparing yourself with other people.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, forgive me for the times I walked in ignorance. I choose the path of wisdom by walking in my calling and I decree that my joy is restored.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-44579997989629880502016-11-12T08:50:00.001+01:002016-11-12T08:51:09.004+01:00Handling Depression <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vY4J2w4vQfs/WCa7myFlM-I/AAAAAAAABZY/2q03AdKzmZo7abSowpTUSCbzS5HTWBRagCLcB/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vY4J2w4vQfs/WCa7myFlM-I/AAAAAAAABZY/2q03AdKzmZo7abSowpTUSCbzS5HTWBRagCLcB/s320/images.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Elijah was a man exactly like us..." </i><b>(Jms.5:17, MOUNCE)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>1 Kgs.19:1-21.</div>
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I remember the very first time I read from God's word that Elijah battled with the spirit of depression at some point in his life, I almost couldn't believe it! I kept wondering how such a one as Elijah got entangled in the web of depression to the point that he asked the Lord to take his life!</div>
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I stop wondering when I saw our memory verse: <i>"Elijah was a man exactly like us..." </i>By implication, he went through the same things we go through. His emotions were fickle just like ours. Elijah became a candidate for the spirit of depression when he got physically tired, emotionally drained, and felt threatened. He was a basket case of emotional problems: fear, resentment, guilt, anger, loneliness, and worry. The point is, he was first a man [subject to like passions as we are] before he was a prophet of God. Little wonder he wrestled with the same problems we do.</div>
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I find this very comforting because I'm confident that all hope isn't lost for someone out there that's battling with the spirit of depression.</div>
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But then the first step to being free from the spirit of depression is finding out the root cause and attacking it from there. And this takes us to asking ourselves this question, 'Why do we get ourselves into such emotional messes?'</div>
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Sometimes, it's because of what has happened to us- bad circumstances that occur(ed) in our lives, our past (for those with a terrible past). But more often than not, it's due to our <b>faulty thinking </b>(see <b>Prov.23:7</b>). Allow me to say therefore that the rate of your faulty thinking is directly proportional to the rate of your being depressed. In other words, where there is no faulty thinking, you can't be depressed.</div>
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The truth is our emotions are generated by our thoughts and when we think in destructive and not constructive ways, we are surely going to feel depressed. Our emotions spring from how we interpret life and if you always see things from a negative perspective, you're surely going to get down. </div>
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To rid yourself of harmful emotions, you must learn to change the way you think (see <b>Rom.12:2</b>). To overcome depression, you must learn to correct your wrong thinking and attitudes about life. In the words of Jesus in <b>Jn.8:32 (TLB)</b>, He said: <i>"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." </i>And what's truth? The word of God (see <b>Jn.17:17</b>). Looking at things from the right point of view-- God's viewpoint-- is the path to overcoming depression.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>You can heal from depression.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Allow the truth control your thought pattern.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point:</b> Father, having discovered the truth, I stand on the power of the truth of Your word and I decree that the hold of the spirit of depression on my life is broken and I declare that I am free in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-62524367645471764872016-11-11T09:26:00.002+01:002016-11-11T09:26:14.315+01:00You Are Unique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcdupKxPask/WCVvsrwP9YI/AAAAAAAABZI/CXaIUU9URSA9VDvtn6qJzOI_JhrBjkmoQCLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EcdupKxPask/WCVvsrwP9YI/AAAAAAAABZI/CXaIUU9URSA9VDvtn6qJzOI_JhrBjkmoQCLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." </i><b>(1 Pet.2:9, AMP)</b></div>
<a name='more'></a><b style="text-align: justify;">Scripture Reading: </b><span style="text-align: justify;">1 Cor.15:39-41.</span><br />
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When I was a lot younger, I often wondered to my little self why people were so different. I would say to myself, 'I wish so and so was just like me!' But as I began growing, I got to discover that God made no two people alike; not even identical twins! And He made us differently on purpose and for a reason.</div>
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Here's why: </div>
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We were created to meet a need or meet needs depending on our God-given capacity (see <b>Matt.25:14-30</b>).</div>
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We see clearly even from our Scripture Reading that just like the sun, the moon and the stars all function at different times to meet different needs, we too have been fashioned to function in different seasons (times) so as to meet the various needs in our world today.</div>
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But sadly, many are struggling to be like another. They don't understand their make-up and as such cannot appreciate their uniqueness.</div>
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When we struggle to be like others, not only do we lose ourselves, we also grieve the Holy Spirit.</div>
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God wants us to fit into His plan, not to feel pressured to try and fit into everyone else's plans or our plan for ourselves.</div>
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We are all born with different temperament, different physical features, different finger prints, different personalities, different gifts and abilities etc. Our goal is to discover, develop and release our uniqueness as a flavour to the world (see <b>Matt.5:13-16</b>).</div>
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Let us be focused on discovering what needs we were born to meet and then succeed at that. <b>Romans 12 </b>teaches us to give ourselves to our gift(s). Find out what you are good at and then throw yourself wholeheartedly (with reckless abandon) into exercising same. Don't be ashamed of your uniqueness. Celebrate your difference. Groom your gifts.</div>
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And finally, let's learn how to love and accept one another's gift. Don't compete, rather let's complement each other.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>The person who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Discover, develop and release your gifts.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, give me a true revelation of who I was born to be and help me walk in that revelation in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-26150678128940030842016-11-10T08:45:00.001+01:002016-11-10T09:07:04.957+01:00Expect The Best<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDWb_eHWEIA/WCQYlXeDFoI/AAAAAAAABYw/jlSZt6btd-A6dszbyFJoetJSwC7DbnNwwCLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDWb_eHWEIA/WCQYlXeDFoI/AAAAAAAABYw/jlSZt6btd-A6dszbyFJoetJSwC7DbnNwwCLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Be of good courage...And may the LORD do what is good in His sight." </i><b>(1 Chron.19:13, NKJV)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>1 Chron.19:6-19.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;">The children of Ammon, supported by the Syrians, had come to fight against the children of Israel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;">The enemy's army was large and the battle fierce but Joab, speaking to his brother, Abishai, tells him to be of good courage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;">He encouraged him to do his best for the sake of their people and for the cities of their God. He ended his word in <b>verse 13 </b>by saying, <i>"let the Lord do that which is good in his sight." </i><b>(KJV)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 24.1598px;">Joan, the general of David's army, knew that when one puts in one's best over an issue, then that one can be sure to expect God's best to prevail. And that was what they did and as a result, they experienced God's best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">As we approach the end of this week (and even as 2016 begins to come to a close), we must make up our minds not to be lazy. Refuse to let the energy with which you began this week (and indeed this year) go down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">I know there may be some of us that had great expectations (goals) as at the beginning of this year but it is beginning to look like the year is ending and we are nowhere near the target and we're beginning to be lazy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">If that's you or if this describes someone you know, encourage yourself (or that person) with God's word that is coming to us this morning on putting in our best so we can experience God's best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">Put in your best in prayer, at work, at the study of God's word, in your relationships, in your family, in your business, in your vision and in whatever else the Lord has committed into your hands and the Lord will surely help you through.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">When God helps a man, that man is sure to experience God's best. That's why I know that God is helping you today and as a result of help, you will gain mileage this remaining weeks left in 2016.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;">Don't depend on your ability. Just do your part <u>well</u>. He, God, will do His. By the end of this year, you will look back and thank God for His helps because what's coming for you cannot be compared to all you've had or experienced since the year began.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><b>Ponder Point: </b>Nothing empowers expectation like insight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><b>Action Point: </b>Raise the bar of your expectation and put in your best.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 26.7397px;"><b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, by Your Spirit, power my insights and help me Lord to raise the bar of my expectation even as You help me to put in my best in all that I have to do the remaining days of this year in Jesus name, Amen.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-66087967326403019432016-11-08T09:43:00.000+01:002016-11-08T09:55:38.731+01:00The Never Changing God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qy3OwXkAaAc/WCGHk0ynUcI/AAAAAAAABYQ/STdnS7WEL9Q6C64CbooKEZ1vmyLknKmKwCLcB/s1600/exodus-3-14-i-am-that-i-am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qy3OwXkAaAc/WCGHk0ynUcI/AAAAAAAABYQ/STdnS7WEL9Q6C64CbooKEZ1vmyLknKmKwCLcB/s320/exodus-3-14-i-am-that-i-am.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Because I am the Eternal One, I never change..." </i><b>(Mal.3:6, VOICE)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Ex.3:7-15.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -19.2px;">One very striking truth about the character of God is that, He is the same yesterday, today and forever (see <b>Heb.13:8</b>). He doesn't change! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Oh how we need such a One in a fast changing world! And Moses had a proper understanding of this revelation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Moses had made a request to God to introduce Himself to him knowing fully well that from a person's name, much can be told of the person's personality and character.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">But how can such a Great Being as God introduce Himself to a mere mortal?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">However, the Lord simply told him, "I Am That I Am!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Such a powerful revelation about this Man! I'm literally screaming right now because I'm excited that I have this Man for a Father. How about you? How does this revelation make you feel?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Think about this, this Man is the God who always is, who is always relevant. Times and history are for men but not this God. Time and history has got nothing on this Man! He is always in the "now" of our lives. He is to us <b>whatever</b> we need Him to be! Glory!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;">As we go through this week, let us take some time out of our schedule just to think upon the greatness of our God. Let these thoughts on the greatness of our God saturate our hearts and minds knowing that no matter what is facing us, the Great "I Am" is up to the task.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Since He is the same (because His power remains the same), whatever He did before, He can conveniently do it again. Since He's the same, whatever He did for one, He's capable of doing the same [and even greater] for another and what a joy, that another can be <i>you</i>! Because His power remains the same!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">What a joy to know that we can go ahead and make demands on His power today, tomorrow and for the rest of our rest of our lives.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><span style="background-color: white;">P</span>onder Point: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">If we serve Him the way the men of the Bible served Him, we will experience Him the way they did. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Action Point: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Expect great things from God as you attempt great things for Him.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pr</span>ayer Point: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Lord, cause me to experience the greatness of Your power in my life in Jesus great name, Amen.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-28926781565475129792016-11-07T09:10:00.002+01:002016-11-07T09:24:35.516+01:00Dealing With Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHiTN_OiuEY/WCAojZIvXdI/AAAAAAAABXo/QfJwGtJJ-7UwgLTh2FP8ddShU81oDxNJQCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHiTN_OiuEY/WCAojZIvXdI/AAAAAAAABXo/QfJwGtJJ-7UwgLTh2FP8ddShU81oDxNJQCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252823%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"For God has not given us a spirit of fear..." </i><b>(2 Tim.1:7, NLT)</b><br />
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Mk.6:45-52.<br />
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Fear is a spirit (we see this clearly from our memory verse) and it kills faster than death. It is therefore safe to conclude that fear is more lethal than death.<br />
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When a man receives (PS: the spirit of fear is a gift; hence the word 'given') the spirit into his life, it cripples him and that is why fearful people are never sure of anything. They are constantly plagued with anxiety and doubts.<br />
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However, there is an antidote to fear and that is the Word of God. The Word of God is the antidote to fear. Reading, studying, listening and meditating on the Word of God constantly produces confidence in our spirit.<br />
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Like I said earlier, fear is a gift (speaking from a place of revelation) and for there to be a gift, there has to be a giver. Since God is definitely not the Giver, the devil is and he goes around distributing this spirit to those that are without the true knowledge of the Word of God and because they are ignorant, they receive it.<br />
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Apostle Peter learnt about fear the hard way.<br />
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Just a short while ago, he asked Jesus to bid him come and Jesus did bid him come and he began to walk on water! However, as he was walking, the focus of his gaze changed and he began to sink.<br />
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Friends, we start sinking the moment we take our eyes off the Word. But as long as our gaze is on the Word, we will not sink; the prevailing circumstance not withstanding.<br />
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Now that we know that the Word of God is the surest antidote to dealing with the spirit of fear, wisdom demands that we become friends with the Word and allow the word influence our minds and spirits.<br />
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Therefore, whatever area of our lives that may have been crippled by this spirit, we now know that we can take the Word of God as it relates to those areas and confront the spirit of fear. Go ahead and confront every fear in or around your life with the faith-inspiring and confidence-building Word of God and watch the spirit of fear bow out of your life.<br />
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Everything you want is on the other side of fear.<br />
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<b>Action Point: </b>Deal with the spirit of fear using the Word of God.<br />
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, in the name of Jesus, I take the Word of God as it relates to (mention those areas you find yourself walking in fear) and I stand on its authority and dislodge the effect of the spirit of fear on my mind. I walk in total victory today and for the rest of my life, Amen.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-44113958884507716472016-11-06T04:59:00.003+01:002016-11-06T05:08:10.683+01:00Grow, Spiritually.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-1poInZplo/WB6jVTtEiaI/AAAAAAAABXU/zwFYOluBNegLNgDpRMqcPzNNh0CgxSqrACLcB/s1600/ist2_3351406-growing-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-1poInZplo/WB6jVTtEiaI/AAAAAAAABXU/zwFYOluBNegLNgDpRMqcPzNNh0CgxSqrACLcB/s320/ist2_3351406-growing-trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"As newborn babes, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow toward salvation- now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." </i><b>(1 Pet.2:2-3, TLV)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Heb.5:11-14.</div>
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Today's devotional topic sounds like a command; isn't it? Yes, that's because growing spiritually is indeed a command from God.</div>
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Spiritual growth is a must for every believer who wants to make heaven. </div>
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The starting point in the heavenly race therefore, is first the salvation of our souls. Thereafter, spiritual progress, growth or maturity commences. It is for this reason that Peter wrote to the believers in Christ:<i> "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."</i> (<b>1 Pet.2:2, KJV</b>)</div>
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Sadly today, many of our churches do not quite emphasise the salvation experience which is central to our growth and maturity in Christ. People are encouraged to join a church and become workers <u>without</u> the initial experience of salvation. It's more like raising the <i>'Martha-kind-of-believers.'</i></div>
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The result is that we breed half baked and dysfunctional workers- some of whom may not have experienced the saving knowledge of Christ. Some have even gone ahead to become Pastors just because they have made themselves available to serve.</div>
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This ought not to be so. </div>
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The Bible says this as touching the qualifications of a Bishop or an overseer: <i>"Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into condemnation of the devil" </i><b>(1 Tim.3:6, KJV)</b>. We cannot afford to appoint a novice in the faith into positions of authority. Spiritual Growth therefore is key if we must amount to anything in ministry- not limited to pulpit ministry and assignments.</div>
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If you have been in a particular spiritual state for long, this is the time to make progress and move on to higher spiritual levels- talking about moving on to perfection as stated in <b>Heb.6:1</b>:<i> "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God."</i> </div>
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Therefore, in order to finish well this year; the need to move on beyond the basic salvation experience unto perfection or maturity cannot be overemphasised.</div>
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Be intentional about your growth. </div>
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Remember, there's no end to spiritual growth. Just be committed to spiritual growth and keep growing.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>"Spiritual growth is like learning to walk. We stand up, fall, stand up, fall, take a step, fall, take a couple of steps, fall, walk a little better, wobble a bit, fall, run and finally, eventually fly." <b>(Geri Larkin)</b></div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Grow, spiritually.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father in Jesus name, I decree that the jinx of spiritual complacency and stagnation is broken in my life. I accept full responsibility for my spiritual growth and I ask that the forces from Heaven that propels one towards spiritual growth be released to help me. Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-32769492738241285092016-11-04T07:07:00.000+01:002016-11-04T07:08:35.268+01:00A Lesson From The Ants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9fo6XrEOZX8/WBwYGhV70mI/AAAAAAAABWw/Vtx0SqeNVk8PmJ9yD3ANq8ER7A260xE0QCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9fo6XrEOZX8/WBwYGhV70mI/AAAAAAAABWw/Vtx0SqeNVk8PmJ9yD3ANq8ER7A260xE0QCLcB/s320/images%2B%252825%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"While ants are hardly a strong species, they work <u>constantly</u> to store up food during the summer." </i><b>(Prov.30:25, VOICE, Emphasis mine)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Prov.6:6-11.</div>
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Often times when I hear the phrase, 'Small but mighty', the ants quickly come to my mind.</div>
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Ants are pretty small, but smart. They work <b>constantly</b> during summer in preparation for the next season.</div>
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I read a story about the ant and the grasshopper and I'm going to share it with us this morning.</div>
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In summertime, the ant is busy working, gathering food while the grasshopper plays. Then winter sets in, the ant retires to its home and enjoys life. He paid the price, now he can enjoy the reward. I wish the story says same for the grasshopper. The table turned. The grasshopper starves in the cold because he didn't understand that <b>the only adequate preparation for tomorrow is the <u>wise and effective</u> use of today.</b></div>
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Think about the time you had to sit for an examination you were very much prepared for. You walked into the hall with so much confidence because you knew you'd ace it.</div>
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Let's bring this home.</div>
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Do you know it is very possible to bring this same confidence to your everyday life? I wish we would all get this.</div>
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But sadly, like the grasshopper in today's story, many of us don't lead our lives, we accept them! We sleep and play when we're supposed to be working only to realise that the next season is here and we're unprepared for the new season.</div>
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It's important we understand that life is not a dress rehearsal. We don't get a second chance. The secret of success in life is to be ready when the time comes.</div>
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Some of us have intimidating prayer lives but the question is: "If God gave you everything you're praying for right now in the various department of your life, would you be ready to handle it? Think about that for a minute.</div>
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Nothing great is created suddenly; nobody succeeds by accident. Personally, I believe that the distinguishing factor between success and failure is that: <b>one may fail without knowing but you cannot be on the path of success and not know</b>. Attaining success is deliberate and preparation (all-round preparation) is key.</div>
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The journey to success and failure is a process. </div>
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But if we can understand that Friday is a preparation for Saturday (as simple as that sounds), it will help us take Friday seriously so we can have a beautiful Saturday.</div>
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Therefore, let's learn a lesson on the subject of preparation from the Ants (PS: Please sit with the text for our Scripture Reading today). It will help us a whole lot.</div>
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So the next and final questions for today on this particular subject include: 'What are you preparing for?' 'How are you preparing for it?' 'Are you grooming yourself for success or failure in these areas of your life?'</div>
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The answers to these questions are evident in the way and manner you live your day-to-day life. Check yourself and make the necessary adjustments. </div>
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<u>Now</u> is the time to plan and prepare for the next season of your life because you don't know when the next season will be ushered in. Quoting Bishop David Oyedepo, <b>'You are absolutely responsible for the outcome of your life.' </b></div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>If you are willing to work hard on the front end, you will reap rewards on the back end.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Plan. Prepare. Stay prepared at all times.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, grant me the wisdom to plan with my mind and the discipline to work with my hands in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
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<span class="text Prov-30-25" id="en-VOICE-16677" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-32786574440367476302016-11-03T01:18:00.003+01:002016-11-03T02:50:09.711+01:00A Tested Help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhMkaR3vng/WBp8DNYotaI/AAAAAAAABWU/xRDdJididzQoTLem4xTc1FPL5Meez1ktACLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyhMkaR3vng/WBp8DNYotaI/AAAAAAAABWU/xRDdJididzQoTLem4xTc1FPL5Meez1ktACLcB/s1600/download%2B%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Memory Verse: </b><i style="text-align: justify;">"God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], <u>A very present and well-proven help</u> in trouble." </i><b style="text-align: justify;">(Ps.46:1, AMP)</b><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Scripture Reading: </b><span style="text-align: justify;">Ps.46:1-11.</span><br />
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Our focus is on <i>'A very present and well-proven help.'</i><br />
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Think of those seemingly <i>very-present-and-well-proven-help-figures</i> in your life.<br />
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Anytime my sisters are in trouble or get stuck in a situation, I'm privileged to be their first of point of call. Somehow, they believe that when they call, I will respond to help them.<br />
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This 'trust' is as a result of their previous experiences with me.<br />
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Like my sisters, we all have people like this in our lives- our <i>go-tos!</i><br />
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However, <b>Ps.46 </b>speaks of Someone better. Jesus!<br />
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He defies time to help. He breaks protocols to send us help. He is unlimited and can be in several places all at the same time. He's always present and available when we call on Him [in faith].<br />
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Point is, He is the <b>best</b> help there is!<br />
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In my own life, I've come to realise that He's a reliable helper. Our memory verse tells us that He's a <u>well-proven</u> (fully demonstrated, tested, or tried; (hence) reliable, true) help. And I'm sure you will agree with me.<br />
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He has never failed. He showed up in the den of lions (see <b>Dan.6:1-28</b>). He showed up in the prison (see <b>Acts 12:1-11</b>). He showed up in Egypt (see <b>Exodus Chapters 10-12</b>). He was at the red sea (see <b>Ex.14:1-31</b>). He showed up at the burial of the son of the widow of Nain (see <b>Lk.7:11-17</b>). He showed up during the shipwreck (see <b>Acts 27:1-44</b>). He showed up at the wedding in Cana of Galilee (see <b>Jn.2:1-10</b>). He showed up in the fiery furnace (see <b>Dan.3:1-30</b>). These instances make me burst into tongues and it's welding faith in my heart.<br />
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And the good news is that He will show up to help you too. He's just a call away.<br />
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Like I tell my sisters and I'm telling us this morning, let us make Him our first point of call.<br />
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Man at their very best is limited.<br />
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For instance, I'm not in the same geographical location with my sisters. Apart from the heart connection that exists between us, my phone lines and the social media platform are our major points of contact. But too bad, the relationship I have with my phone is not a very romantic one so most times I'm not available when they try to reach me.<br />
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But not the Man, Jesus! Distance is no barrier. That's why He is Omnipresent.<br />
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Therefore, take your eyes off men and fix your gaze on the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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Eventually, He uses men (although sometimes, He shows up Himself). But then our expectations shouldn't be on men but on Him (see <b>Jere.17:5-8</b>).<br />
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In closing, be confident (settled in your heart) that He is a tested help in times of trouble; even if the world is going ga-ga, situations are crazy and heaven and earth is about to compress; don't let it bother you. Refuse to be moved. Be rest assured that in the end, God's help will come through for you.<br />
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<b>Ponder Point: </b><i>"I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth." </i><b>(Ps.121:1-2, ERV)</b><br />
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<b>Action Point: </b>Receive help from God.<br />
<span class="text Ps-121-2" id="en-ERV-15822" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; position: relative;"><br /></span><b>Prayer Focus: </b>Ask for the help you desire. Pray as led.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-15693402367511940022016-11-01T02:51:00.000+01:002016-11-01T03:00:40.137+01:00The Power of Thanksgiving <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fxVfgGqWiFs/WBfnj8ddQJI/AAAAAAAABWA/jgpZiHSGy4YuJrXlTtSdOCmNzn1nb5AkQCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fxVfgGqWiFs/WBfnj8ddQJI/AAAAAAAABWA/jgpZiHSGy4YuJrXlTtSdOCmNzn1nb5AkQCLcB/s320/images%2B%252826%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"But one of them, seeing that he was healed, <u>returned</u> and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan." </i><b>(Lk.17:15-16, KJV)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Lk.17:11-19.</div>
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These two powerful words: 'Thank you.'</div>
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I'm blessed with two younger sisters. Every time they <b>come</b> to me with their requests, only one <b>returns</b> saying those two words. Short but powerful. The one that returns understands the power of thanksgiving. She not only has an attitude of thanksgiving, she also knows how to put it to action - by saying it.</div>
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If there is one thing the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit this morning while pondering on our memory verse, it is the distinguishing difference between prayer and thanksgiving. He said, '<b>Coming is the attitude to prayer (making requests) while returning is the attitude of thanksgiving.'</b></div>
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<u>Many come. Only few return!</u></div>
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In <b>Luke 17</b>,<b> </b>out of ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one <u>returned</u> to say thanks. I am sure that the other nine (just like my other sister) had (has) an attitude of thanksgiving but never applied (apply) their gratitude.</div>
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Be the one who returns.</div>
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Sweet, if there's one thing you must know: <b>God expects your thanksgiving. </b>It's a debt we owe Him and we must pay! Please checkout <b>Mal.2:1-4</b>!</div>
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There's so much power in thanksgiving. Thanksgiving should be the theme song of the believer. We should have thanksgiving flowing from our lips daily. The people we connect with should be soaked with thanks, because we are overflowing with thanksgiving (see <b>Col.2:6-7</b>).</div>
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Thankfulness overflows if we have deep roots in Jesus Christ and if we build our lives around Him. As believers, if we are over-full with God, then we overflow with thanksgiving. Otherwise, we are just ungrateful.</div>
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When we overflow with thankfulness, it shows in everything: our speech, attitude and actions. We are first thankful to God and then thankful for other things. We are even thankful for the tough times.</div>
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The Bible admonishes, <i>"Do not withold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." </i>(<b>Prov.3:27</b>)</div>
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No more witholding blessing and thanksgiving from God. Enough of just coming. We must start returning in thanksgiving. </div>
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Today, being <b>November 1, 2016 </b>is a good day to return. As you return today, don't stop returning. Let returning become your lifestyle and I can assure you, it's power (talking about its many wonders) will be unleashed in your life.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Unspoken gratitude is expressed unthankfulness.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Be a person who's given to thanksgiving. </div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Dear Lord, I have been coming and I'm guilty of not returning. Having received this light, I consciously return and enter into a covenant with You to keep returning. As I return, let the power of thanksgiving be unleashed in my life in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-47596538882267930522016-10-31T11:21:00.001+01:002016-10-31T11:41:11.232+01:00The Power of His Presence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KM1QryZvwGk/WBbdrBQPzcI/AAAAAAAABVw/U_rwZlKZXXIt5DdB6XZ-cY9MabpR0qX-gCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KM1QryZvwGk/WBbdrBQPzcI/AAAAAAAABVw/U_rwZlKZXXIt5DdB6XZ-cY9MabpR0qX-gCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252823%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 28.7969px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><b style="text-indent: -19.2px;">Memory Verse: </b><i style="text-indent: -19.2px;">"My presence will travel with you, and I will give you rest." </i><b style="text-indent: -19.2px;">(Ex.33:14, VOICE)</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", verdana, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -19.2px;">Scripture Reading: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 19px; text-align: justify; text-indent: -19.2px;">Ex.33:1-19.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Just as the Lord replied these words to Moses when he was worried about leading the children of Israel alone, God goes with you, too. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Whatever it is you’re faced with this week, be confident that God goes with you <b>as long He is Your Father.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Perhaps you’ve been abandoned by others, or maybe the people you thought you could count on just aren’t able to be there for you because they’re dealing with so much on their own. Or m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">aybe you’re not sure who you can trust with what you're currently passing through.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">If that’s you or someone you know, know you are not the first of God’s children who has been alone or felt alone. Remember today that your God will go with you, and because of that, you will never be alone, no matter how often you feel that way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Because of this, you can truly rest, knowing that the presence of God is always with you. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">The more you begin to embrace this, the more you will begin to see that it’s not your earthly relationships that will give the comfort you need throughout the day. It’s not a text message or a certain amount of money in your bank account that will give you peace. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Instead, you will find that it is in the presence of the Lord that you find rest. Your relationship with Jesus is what gives you true rest in the Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;">Never take this for granted. Relish in it and find true joy, peace and contentment. Encourage someone with this today!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><b>Ponder Point: </b>One moment in God's presence can rewrite an entire story. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><b>Action Point: </b>Seek God's presence.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24.1598px; text-indent: -19.2px;"><b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, strip me of whatever chokes Your presence in my life. Let my life be inhabitable for Your presence in Jesus name, Amen.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-4418710747027717152016-10-30T10:40:00.000+01:002016-10-30T10:40:39.866+01:00No Good Old Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ipg7nSiL6Vo/WBW0UlkkNNI/AAAAAAAABVg/7xsWygaEa0A3FEcEYKIP4wx8aTOEL3OAwCLcB/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ipg7nSiL6Vo/WBW0UlkkNNI/AAAAAAAABVg/7xsWygaEa0A3FEcEYKIP4wx8aTOEL3OAwCLcB/s1600/download.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Do not ask, "Where have all the good times gone?" Wisdom knows better than to ask such a thing." </i><b>(Eccl.7:10, VOICE)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Is.43:18-19.</div>
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The phrase 'Good old days' is a cliché in popular culture and it refers to an era considered by the speaker to be better than the current era.</div>
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But we're told by Scriptures that only fools think and speak this way! The Spirit of God lets us know that it's pointless wishing for the so called 'good old days.'</div>
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God wants you to be happy about today; not wishing you could go back in time and live in the days of your forbears, because you believe things were better back then than they are now.</div>
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The Bible lets us know that it is not wise to make such a comparison (see <b>Prov.4:18</b>).</div>
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When you say things were better 5 / 10 years ago than they are today, you're inadvertently making a self-contradictory statement. If things were truly better 5 / 10 years ago, that certainly ought to have given birth to better days today. Remember, a good tree will only produce good fruits (<b>Matt.7:17-18</b>). Therefore, what you're harvesting in your life today are the investments of five years ago. Whatever you did then was programmed to deliver to you what your life is today.</div>
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Always remember that today's problems (whether in your life or in the world) didn't arise of themselves. They're the offspring of yesterday's choices and investments. This is why you ought to ensure that you sow the right seeds everyday, every time.</div>
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Rather than wish for yesterday, be happy about the day in which you're living. You're here now, so this is your time. Be excited about life and be hopeful about tomorrow. Don't wish for days that have passed because they will never come back again.</div>
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The problems and delays in your life today are not for you to cry about, they're your opportunities to create the change you desire to see in your world.</div>
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Start programming and re-programming yourself now for a better tomorrow by using all the necessary tools found in God's word to make quality decisions that will bring about the tomorrow that you so much desire. </div>
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Remember, an hour from now is future and one hour ago is past. If you have this understanding, you'll be under pressure to sow the right seeds and make proper investments every second.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>The only way you may correct the bad things in your past is to add better things to your future.</div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Sow the right seeds. Make the right investments for your future today. Now.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Lord forgive me for the times when I spoke in ignorance. Having received wisdom from Your word this morning, I ask that You help me make the right decisions for a better tomorrow in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-47559438610762687232016-10-29T00:52:00.002+01:002016-10-30T02:41:09.829+01:00The Art of Spiritual Separation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z-2nom9Cmf4/WBPCQvjMdMI/AAAAAAAABVQ/kHuBuAEufQsTLxsW9NBqAPw8cpuM1WXcACLcB/s1600/download%2B%25281%2529-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z-2nom9Cmf4/WBPCQvjMdMI/AAAAAAAABVQ/kHuBuAEufQsTLxsW9NBqAPw8cpuM1WXcACLcB/s1600/download%2B%25281%2529-1-1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom." </i><b>(Prov.18:1, KJV)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Lk.10:38-42.</div>
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For sometime now, the Lord has been speaking to my heart on the need for me to re-order my priorities. I kept on being 'busy' until I began running on red and I didn't even know!</div>
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You see, I have the best of intentions when it comes to connecting with God, yet somehow, I never seem to do what I hope to do. Most mornings, I get up extra early (not usually easy as I am not a morning person) to have an extended prayer time, only to get distracted by the day's activities. I've scheduled regular times to read and study God's word only to find that I don't open my bible nearly as I thought I would.</div>
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At this point, I preached myself to stop and refill my spiritual tank and for me to do this, I went on a 3-day personal retreat. And I also used the time to re-order my priorities just as the Lord had instructed.</div>
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How many of us are like me- running on red and we are yet to realise that we're running on red!</div>
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Like I did, allow me 'preach' you to stop. You need to practice the art of spiritual separation.</div>
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Create pauses from time to time where you stop to refuel your spirit man. Even though it may sometimes seem like you don't have enough time to stop for spiritual refuelling, you actually do if you rearrange your priorities.</div>
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Make your walk (relationship) with God your topmost priority over your work (activities / purpose / vision / mission) and fit everything else in your life around it.</div>
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Go ahead and say "no" to activities that do not add value to you. <b>Don't wear a badge that reads busy. </b>Although the world today gives us the message that being busy equals being important. That's a lie. I've learnt this.</div>
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From God's perspective, our walk with Him is far more important to Him than our work- what we do. Hence the need for spiritual separation and the life of Jesus was characterised by this spiritual virtue (see <b>Matt.14:23, Mk.1:35, Lk.5:16, Lk.6:12</b>).</div>
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So stop justifying busyness, saying yes to everything, occupying your life with trivial things that won't matter tomorrow, filling your life with many things and living with no margin.</div>
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Instead decide to stop at various intervals during your normal schedules (like I'm doing now) to check in with God. If you check through the life of Jesus Christ, strange things usually happened after His time of separation.</div>
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Same way, our spirit man is re-strengthened and we're re-energised and re-equipped to further accomplish our mission here on earth.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Separation to God, separation from the world, is the first principle of Christian living. </div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Learn the art of spiritual separation.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father in Jesus name, I ask that You teach me the art of spiritual separation and as I submit to this spiritual discipline, cause me to intermeddle with Your wisdom for exploits, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-9091405277357068682016-10-25T05:39:00.001+01:002016-10-25T05:39:51.518+01:00The Unfailing Love of God<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSq4rIrkUuM/WA7aMh_iE0I/AAAAAAAABVA/oEYLKuBUGFA4kA-S5QS31uiNgE8F68K5QCLcB/s1600/images%2B%252841%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSq4rIrkUuM/WA7aMh_iE0I/AAAAAAAABVA/oEYLKuBUGFA4kA-S5QS31uiNgE8F68K5QCLcB/s320/images%2B%252841%2529.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"How precious is your unfailingly love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings." </i><b>(Ps.36:7, NLT)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Ps.36:1 -12.</div>
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Take a moment and think about the people you love the most. What do you feel when you are with them? Comfort?Safety? Security? Peace?<br />
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Love is a place of refuge.<br />
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When we are with those we love, we let our hair down, we take deeper breaths, and even though our relationships with them are not perfect, we know and appreciate their love because it's priceless and we know we can't find it anywhere else. Even if it's just towards one person: a parent, a child, a sibling—as you go through life, you learn to love them more and more each day. Different experiences in life draw you closer together and as the years pass, your love for them never fades, but grows deeper.<br />
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Today, learn to love the Lord even more than you did yesterday. Trust in His unfailing love. If you can find refuge in those you love on earth, surely you can find refuge in Him as He keeps wooing us to Himself alongside demonstrating His <i>never-failing</i>, <i>never-ending</i> love for us.</div>
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God demonstrates His love for you when you are at your darkest. He loves you when you're weak, when you're lonely, and when you're tired. He loves you when others don’t. He loves you when you don't feel like you deserve it. He loves you when you don't love yourself. Through Jesus Christ, He loves you, even to the death of the cross (see <b>Jn.3:16 </b>and <b>Rm.5:8</b>). This alone is what separates the love of God from human's love. <br />
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Jesus is the perfect example of what love truly is. At times it may seem cliché or redundant to be reminded of this, but we all have times in our lives where we need to be reminded of the basic truth of the unfailing love of God.<br />
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Despite the to-do lists, the emails, the phone calls—no matter how crazy things get today, tomorrow, or next week, God loves us, He loved us at our worst, and He will love us through whatever we're faced with!<br />
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>God's love never fails.<br />
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<b>Action Point: </b>Journal your thoughts on what you have learned about God's love.<br />
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<b>Prayer: </b>Dear God, in moments when I try to doubt or question Your unfailing love for me, remind me of Your unfailing love using Your word, people, situations and circumstances in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-42047228717684791652016-10-24T10:29:00.000+01:002016-10-24T10:40:33.837+01:00Questioning God's Instruction?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"...Is it true that God has forbidden you to eat fruits from the trees of the garden?" </i><b>(Gen.3:1, VOICE)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Gen.3:1-24.</div>
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If you know me personally, you'll know I love questioning instructions that come from people. I like to know <u>why</u> I should do what you're asking me to do. And it doesn't end there. I'll meditate on it and if it doesn't make sense to me, I will not do it.</div>
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What would you call someone like me?</div>
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Okay, I got to meet the Lord and initially, I had a hard time obeying (PS: If you've been hanging around the Lord for sometime, you'll know that Daddy's instructions most of the time doesn't make sense and we know Daddy's style: He doesn't owe you any explanation- you either obey or not). Having sustaining several injuries, I choose the former. In other to grow in God, I needed to give up questioning His instructions (biblical and personal) for my life.<br />
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However, it's only God (for now) that enjoys this from me. Every other mortal's instructions is subject to questions for obvious reasons (Amen).<br />
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When it comes to God, don't be like my former self. Don't question the instructions of God. Never!</div>
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Remember Adam and Eve? One question from the chief tempter altered the course of their destinies and eventually changed the whole earth forever.</div>
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Satan is still tempting us with questions about God and His instructions. Is God real? Are you really saved? Do you really need to wait for a husband? Do you really need to stay with your husband? Do you really need to be faithful to your spouse? Do you really need to give tithes and offerings? Do you really need to pray every day? Is it really neccessary you fast? Do you really need to wait for God? Do you really need to know the Bible? Do you really need to date in purity- no cohabiting (living together before marriage), no kissing, no smooching and the other 'little physical expressions' of love? Is fornication wrong, even on the eve of our wedding?</div>
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These questions from the devil are meant to cast doubts and aspersions on God so that we can be deceived just as Eve was. Jesus demonstrated what we are to do when Satan questions the motives and intentions of God. Regardless of what Satan said or did, Jesus quoted the <u>accurate</u> Word of God. He did not entertain Satan with conversation like Eve did—He simply said the Word and that was it.<br />
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Getting into a dialogue with the devil is the worst mistake any believer will ever make. Don't even attempt it.</div>
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We need to answer Satan's questions using the same model of Jesus Christ as contained in His temptation story (see <b>Matt.4:1-11</b>)</div>
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We have the answers to Satan's questions nestled in the word of God. Be like Jesus– speak the word and move on to do your Father's bidding.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point:</b> Everything dysfunctional in your life is as a result of the wrong answer to the question, "Did God really say?"<br />
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<b>Action Point: </b>Obey God's instructions and never question them.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point:</b> Dear Father, help me to become more discerning when the devil seeks to tempt me towards unbelief. I need Your Word to be a light to my path in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157058736033267523.post-32961594173239246502016-10-23T10:32:00.000+01:002016-10-23T10:51:56.156+01:00Lean In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Memory Verse: </b><i>"[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patient with joy." </i><b>(Col.1:11, AMP)</b></div>
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<b>Scripture Reading: </b>Col.1:3-23.</div>
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As the Lord dropped this topic into my heart this morning, I began to think deeply on this subject and I also said to myself, oh how we need this message at a time like today.</div>
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What does it mean to <i>Lean in</i>?</div>
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It simply means to incline or press into something.</div>
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At a time such as this when everything is falling apart, we need something to press into. And what a joy we have God's power to lean into.</div>
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We have to lean into God's power as you go through the <i>not-so-pleasant </i>seasons of life or we will be blown over. </div>
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In today's memory verse, Paul is challenging us to be strengthened with all power according to God's glorious might. Not by our own might, and not by anyone else's but God's.</div>
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Basically, this is a clarion call for us to lean into God's power.</div>
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Oh how we need to lean in in moments when we feel as if we're getting weaker instead of stronger, when we feel as if we're moving backwards instead of forward, or even when we begin to doubt ourselves and our capabilities. Or perhaps your finances / resources are running low and you're not sure how you're going to make it. Or maybe your boss / professor(s) are giving you a hard time and you're not sure if you can keep up.</div>
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No matter what you're faced with, remember, you were not meant to conquer this world alone or through your own might. </div>
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You can mentally prepare yourself for tasks and work as hard as you can toward achieving your goals, but until you begin to lean into His power, you will keep struggling!</div>
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Leaning into God's power will make all the difference.</div>
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<b>Ponder Point: </b>Leaning into God's power will get you through anything. </div>
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<b>Action Point: </b>Lean into God's power.</div>
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<b>Prayer Point: </b>Father, thank You for this word. I thank You because there is a power I can lean into. Therefore, in moments when I'm weak, down and out; I consciously choose to lean into Your power at all times in Jesus name, Amen.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02282079198892579905noreply@blogger.com0