When I was a kid, my dad bought a new car and drove us to church one Sunday. It was a prophetic service and our pastor was being used by God
that day to deliver people from poverty. Suddenly, our pastor looked at
my dad and said, "Daddy Wole, God is set to bless you!"
My mum jumped up and shouted excitedly, "Amen!!!"
My dad was excited too. The pastor then
came closer, placed his hand on my dad's head and prayed for him. As
our pastor turned to climb the alter, God told him something. He
stopped, looked at my dad and said, "Daddy Wole, you bought a new car
last week?"
"Yes sir." my dad responded with much
surprise on his face.
Then our pastor said, "God said I should tell you to sow your CAR KEY
into my life.
I was shocked that my dad did not argue
with the pastor, he just put his hand in his pocket, brought out the car
key and gave to our pastor.
After about 5 minutes, my dad stood up,
went outside the church, he didn't even wait till the end of the service. I
could see him boarding an Okada going home. "He must be very worried."
I reasoned in utter fear and confusion.
After a while, he returned to church with the SPARE KEY of his car and
drove the car back to the house. I was so stunned at what I was seeing.
When I asked him why he acted that way he.said, "Wole, use your brain,
the pastor asked for the KEY and NOT the CAR.
What do you think of my daddy?
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
CHOOSE THE RIGHT FRIENDS.... 'Two people are better off than one.'
The Word For Today
'Two people are better off than one.' Ecclesiastes 4:9
Take the initiative. Don't wait to be introduced. Say 'hello' and get the other person's name. If you're naturally shy, it can be hard taking the first step. But the chances are that the other person feels the same, and when you start talking you'll find things in common. Take a risk. If you like somebody, go a little deeper and mention a small struggle, fear, or disappointment you've experienced. It's called 'manageable risk' and it lets you gauge how the other person responds. If they're caring and identify with what you're saying, that's a good sign. If they shut down, try to fix you or respond critically, it may be time to move on. Invite them to join you. If everything else works out, exchange 'phone numbers and invite the other person for coffee or lunch. Then go for a second meeting and give it a little time; that way you'll know if it's a friendship worth developing.
Find out where people go to spend time. There are lots of places to get to know new people, like church, the gym, school, a play group, or volunteer service. Be willing to leave your comfort zone and try new situations. Remember that God uses all kinds of friendships to fulfil His purpose. One prominent preacher says: 'There are friends who were instrumental in my blessing, although they never embraced or affirmed me. These are the "Judas sector" that exists in the life of every child of God... the ones who cause you the most pain. They wound... and betray you, but through their betrayal God's will can be executed in your life.' Ask God for a friend, then go out and make one!
Friday, November 28, 2014
FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, “Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
Court is adjourned...." You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
The 7 Benefits of Being Open-Minded.
Letting go of control.
When you open your mind, you free yourself from having to be in complete control of your thoughts. You allow yourself to experience new ideas and thoughts and you challenge the beliefs you currently have. It can be very liberating to look at the world through an open mind.
Experiencing changes.
Opening up your mind to new ideas allows you to the opportunity to change what you think and how you view the world. Now, this doesn't mean you necessarily will change your beliefs, but you have the option to when you think with an open mind.
Making yourself vulnerable.
One of the scariest (and greatest) things about seeing the world through an open mind is making yourself vulnerable. In agreeing to have an open-minded view of the world, you're admitting you don't know everything and that there are possibilities you may not have considered. This vulnerability can be both terrifying and exhilarating.
Making mistakes.
Making mistakes doesn't seem like it would be much of a benefit, but it truly is. When you open your mind and allow yourself to see things from others' perspectives, you allow yourself not only to recognize potential mistakes you've made, but also to make new mistakes. Doesn't sound like much fun, but it's a great thing to fall and get back up again.
Strengthening yourself.
Open-mindedness provides a platform on which you can build, piling one idea on top of another. With an open mind you can learn about new things and you can use the new ideas to build on the old ideas. Everything you experience can add up, strengthening who you are and what you believe in. It's very hard to build on experiences without an open mind.
Gaining confidence.
When you live with an open mind, you have a strong sense of self. You are not confined by your own beliefs, nor are you confined by the beliefs of others. For that reason, you are able to have and gain confidence as you learn more and more about the world around you. Open-mindedness helps you to learn and grow, strengthening your belief in yourself.
Being honest.
There is an honesty that comes with an open mind because being open-minded means admitting that you aren't all-knowing. It means believing that whatever truth you find might always have more to it than you realize. This understanding creates an underlying sense of honesty that permeates the character of anyone who lives with an open mind.
Monday, November 24, 2014
You're a 'Priest' at Work
You're a 'Priest' at Work
The Word For Today
'You are a...priesthood.' 1 Peter 2:9 NIV
In his book Habits of the Heart, sociologist Robert N. Bellah described three attitudes people have towards their work. The first group treats it as a job. When you do this, you see it strictly as a way to make money and pay the bills. Like the bumper sticker says, ‘I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.’ But if your main focus is on what you receive from your work, you’ll most likely come to resent it.
The second group approaches work as a career. Here your motivation will be higher, but your focus is on advancement and prestige. That means, however, when your career isn’t going well it can feel like your self–worth is on the line. The third group sees their job as their calling. Now, logically speaking, if there’s a ‘calling’ there must be someone making the call, right? That someone is God. You’re not the ‘caller’, you’re the ‘call–ee’, and any work that has meaning, that can be a blessing to people, and fulfils His purposes, is a calling.
A doctor or pastor might get sucked into treating work solely as a means of earning a good income, therefore they see it as just a job. On the other hand, a dustman may view what he does—making the world a cleaner place—as a calling. We’re not downgrading the importance of those who stand in pulpits and preach; we’re upgrading the importance of those who serve God forty hours a week in other jobs. The main thing is: when the job’s done well, bothwill hear the commendation, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ (Matthew 25:23 NIV)
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Special For Singles: Marriage Matters Matter.
After salvation, the most important choice you will need to make is who to marry. This choice is so important that if you miss it, you will suffer for long, if you get it right then you will enjoy forever. A bad marriage can affect every other area of your life.
This subject is so important, so many married people are hoping to be single again so as to make the right choice. If you are single please don't just be in a hurry to get married, you have the best opportunity to prepare for it.
For two people to come together to live in peace and harmony, they must agree spiritually, mentally and physically. Just like an elephant cannot marry an ant so also a believer cannot marry an unbeliever. If an elephant marries an ant how would they live, if a goat marries a fish where would they meet? You must look for a Godly man or a Godly woman to marry, nothing can beat this.
The devil's primary target is the family. He knows that everyone belongs to a family and if he can make two wrong people meet then he has succeeded affecting the community and nations negatively. Ignore your age and the pressure for a moment, the pressure in a wrong marriage is far worse. God has somebody for you but you must set your priorities right. What do you need in a woman? What do you need in a man?
Marriage is not about what you want, it is about who you need, that will make you better while you make him better. It is about destiny. That is why you must know your purpose before you get married. Genesis 2:18.
You must pray before you choose. God knows the best person for you, it is only wise to seek His will. It is very easy to know God's will when sex is not involved. The moment sex is involved and you want to know His will then He will blank you out. Why? Because you have broken His first Law of NO SEX before marriage.
If you have had sex in the past then you need to repent totally and stay away from each other for sometime then you can seek the face of God.
Your marriage will not be hell on earth. Your marriage will be honorable in the name of Jesus Christ.
Don't marry for sex, don't marry because you are of age, don't marry because you are getting old, don't marry because you are lonely, don't marry because you need someone to support you financially, don't marry because you mistakenly got pregnant, don't marry because you don't want to lose the person, don't marry because of family pressures, don't marry because you like the idea of marriage and admire every wedding gown you see, don't marry because all your friends are getting married.
But get married because you want to fulfill destiny. Get married because you want to be a help mate. As a man, get married because you want to fulfill your purpose. God will help you in choosing, please let His will be done. Amen
Happy weekend!
This subject is so important, so many married people are hoping to be single again so as to make the right choice. If you are single please don't just be in a hurry to get married, you have the best opportunity to prepare for it.
For two people to come together to live in peace and harmony, they must agree spiritually, mentally and physically. Just like an elephant cannot marry an ant so also a believer cannot marry an unbeliever. If an elephant marries an ant how would they live, if a goat marries a fish where would they meet? You must look for a Godly man or a Godly woman to marry, nothing can beat this.
The devil's primary target is the family. He knows that everyone belongs to a family and if he can make two wrong people meet then he has succeeded affecting the community and nations negatively. Ignore your age and the pressure for a moment, the pressure in a wrong marriage is far worse. God has somebody for you but you must set your priorities right. What do you need in a woman? What do you need in a man?
Marriage is not about what you want, it is about who you need, that will make you better while you make him better. It is about destiny. That is why you must know your purpose before you get married. Genesis 2:18.
You must pray before you choose. God knows the best person for you, it is only wise to seek His will. It is very easy to know God's will when sex is not involved. The moment sex is involved and you want to know His will then He will blank you out. Why? Because you have broken His first Law of NO SEX before marriage.
If you have had sex in the past then you need to repent totally and stay away from each other for sometime then you can seek the face of God.
Your marriage will not be hell on earth. Your marriage will be honorable in the name of Jesus Christ.
Don't marry for sex, don't marry because you are of age, don't marry because you are getting old, don't marry because you are lonely, don't marry because you need someone to support you financially, don't marry because you mistakenly got pregnant, don't marry because you don't want to lose the person, don't marry because of family pressures, don't marry because you like the idea of marriage and admire every wedding gown you see, don't marry because all your friends are getting married.
But get married because you want to fulfill destiny. Get married because you want to be a help mate. As a man, get married because you want to fulfill your purpose. God will help you in choosing, please let His will be done. Amen
Happy weekend!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Expositions on Christ Deity.
Colossians 1:15-16
This is one of the strongest statements about the divine nature of Christ found anywhere in the Bible. Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2:6), he is God (John 10:30,38; 12:45;14:1-11).
He not only reflects God, but he reveals God to us (John 1:18, 14:9). He came from heaven, not from dust of the ground (1 Corinthians 15:47), and is Lord of all (Romans 9:5; 10:11-13; Revelation 1:5; 17:14).
He is completely holy (Hebrews 7:26-28; 1Peter1:19; 2:22; 1John3:5), and he has authority to judge the world (Romans 2:16; 2Corinthians 5:10; 2Timothy 4:1). Therefore, he is supreme over all creation, including the spirit world. We, like the Colossian believers, must believe that Jesus is God or our Christian faith is hollow and meaningless.
Thank You!
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
The Howo’s Youth Forum Presents ”Fashion & Dance Over Drugs.
The Howo’s Youth Forum Presents ”Fashion & Dance Over Drugs – The Power of Style Series 2015″
Rising youth development and awareness creation social enterprise, The Hang Out With Olaide's Youth Forum and organizers of the first annual Fashion & Dance Over Drugs- The Power of Style Series 2015, an event which will mark the flag-off for the transformational and awareness creation campus tour is slated to hold on December 20th, 2014 at The Lagos State University Main Auditorium.
Endorsed by the United Nations Youth Association of Nigeria (UNYAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the event is an infusion of fashion shows, dance performances, poetic deliveries, comedy, dance dramas and other forms of art for the purpose of creating an awareness on the theme of drug/substance abuse and its negative implications on the youth sector at personal, socio- economic and national levels of development.
Seasoned with speeches accomplished personalities such as The Lagos State Minister for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, The Chief Executive Officer of popular fashion line, Celebrity Fashion Academy, Mrs. Towun Awofeso, Popular Gospel Act, Frank Edward, CEO of Wellspring Rehabilitation Center, Mrs. Julie Park including an appearance of popular female act, Saeon.
The event is fully packed with thrills for the mind including thrills for the eyes as guests gets to see latest fashion wears from top fashion lines such as BamBam Couture, Gravido Fashions, Giovannis Pairs & Stitches, Emaks Couture, Africana Couture, among others.
Set to get the best of media exposure from the event's official media partner, Pulse.Ng including other media brands such Bella Naija, The Cable Ng, ForCampus.Com, PraiseWorld Radio, Dipix Entertainment, GmusicPlus.Com, Genevieve Magazine, Exquisite Magazine including other media outlets.
It is sure to bé an evening of enlightenment, mind renewal, fashion and fun for all who are involved in making this year's event a huge success.
EVENT DETAILS:
FASHION & DANCE OVER DRUGS -THE POWER OF STYLE SERIES 2015.
LOCATION: The Lagos State University Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos.
DATE: 20th December, 2014.
TIME : Red Carpet begins @ 12:00pm, Main Event begins at 1:00pm.
TICKET PRICES: Students with Valid ID Cards (N500), General Ticket (N1000).
Tickets can bé purchased at Eko5 Restaurants & E-Net Cafes.
For Ticket Purchase Inquiry, Participation or Sponsorship details, contact OLAIDE on 08090692919 or 289131DA
Twitter @HOWOForum
Facebook@HOWOZone
Rising youth development and awareness creation social enterprise, The Hang Out With Olaide's Youth Forum and organizers of the first annual Fashion & Dance Over Drugs- The Power of Style Series 2015, an event which will mark the flag-off for the transformational and awareness creation campus tour is slated to hold on December 20th, 2014 at The Lagos State University Main Auditorium.
Endorsed by the United Nations Youth Association of Nigeria (UNYAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the event is an infusion of fashion shows, dance performances, poetic deliveries, comedy, dance dramas and other forms of art for the purpose of creating an awareness on the theme of drug/substance abuse and its negative implications on the youth sector at personal, socio- economic and national levels of development.
Seasoned with speeches accomplished personalities such as The Lagos State Minister for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, The Chief Executive Officer of popular fashion line, Celebrity Fashion Academy, Mrs. Towun Awofeso, Popular Gospel Act, Frank Edward, CEO of Wellspring Rehabilitation Center, Mrs. Julie Park including an appearance of popular female act, Saeon.
The event is fully packed with thrills for the mind including thrills for the eyes as guests gets to see latest fashion wears from top fashion lines such as BamBam Couture, Gravido Fashions, Giovannis Pairs & Stitches, Emaks Couture, Africana Couture, among others.
Set to get the best of media exposure from the event's official media partner, Pulse.Ng including other media brands such Bella Naija, The Cable Ng, ForCampus.Com, PraiseWorld Radio, Dipix Entertainment, GmusicPlus.Com, Genevieve Magazine, Exquisite Magazine including other media outlets.
It is sure to bé an evening of enlightenment, mind renewal, fashion and fun for all who are involved in making this year's event a huge success.
EVENT DETAILS:
FASHION & DANCE OVER DRUGS -THE POWER OF STYLE SERIES 2015.
LOCATION: The Lagos State University Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos.
DATE: 20th December, 2014.
TIME : Red Carpet begins @ 12:00pm, Main Event begins at 1:00pm.
TICKET PRICES: Students with Valid ID Cards (N500), General Ticket (N1000).
Tickets can bé purchased at Eko5 Restaurants & E-Net Cafes.
For Ticket Purchase Inquiry, Participation or Sponsorship details, contact OLAIDE on 08090692919 or 289131DA
Twitter @HOWOForum
Facebook@HOWOZone
The Try Worship Concert Series | Feat. Uchey, Sabrina, Peedoo, Ladi Adewumi, The Try Worship Team, & Other Music Ministers
The Try Worship Concert Series | Feat. Uchey, Sabrina, Peedoo, Ladi Adewumi, The Try Worship Team, & Other Music Ministers
Experience the glory of His presence like never before as the Try Worship Concert Series, previously held in Kaduna, Scotland and for the second time in LAGOS is here again
Join Uchey, Sabrina, Peedoo, Ladi Adewumi, The Try Worship Team, Grace Levites ( RCCG LP Youth Choir), Sandra, Busayo, Tosin, Tolu Akinola amongst others in this power packed Edition.
Date: 30th of November, 2014
Time: 4pm
Venue: RCCG Oon Eagles Wing - Youth Church. 237 Egbeda Idimu RD, Off Baba Oba Bus Stop, Seside GTBank, Idimu, Lagos.
About the Event:
''This concert stems from our passion for music, worship and love for God. We are using our God-given gift to share the love of God and preach the Word through worship. We want to use this concert as a platform where people can come together in celebration of our faith and God in the society.
Try Worship Concert Series was first held in the city of Kaduna, Nigeria in 2010. The second edition was held in Aberdeen on the 24th of November, 2012 while the third edition was held in Lagos and Aberdeen titled ‘Fresh Dew’.
2014 promises to be filled with loads of goodies from God as another edition comes up on the 1st of November ( Aberdeen) and in Lagos( 30th of November)''
For more information Call/SMS: 07068284349 || Whatsapp: 08089448049
Twitter: @tryworship
Facebook: The TRY Worship Concert Series
Email: dtryworshipconcertseries@gmail.com
Experience the glory of His presence like never before as the Try Worship Concert Series, previously held in Kaduna, Scotland and for the second time in LAGOS is here again
Join Uchey, Sabrina, Peedoo, Ladi Adewumi, The Try Worship Team, Grace Levites ( RCCG LP Youth Choir), Sandra, Busayo, Tosin, Tolu Akinola amongst others in this power packed Edition.
Date: 30th of November, 2014
Time: 4pm
Venue: RCCG Oon Eagles Wing - Youth Church. 237 Egbeda Idimu RD, Off Baba Oba Bus Stop, Seside GTBank, Idimu, Lagos.
About the Event:
''This concert stems from our passion for music, worship and love for God. We are using our God-given gift to share the love of God and preach the Word through worship. We want to use this concert as a platform where people can come together in celebration of our faith and God in the society.
Try Worship Concert Series was first held in the city of Kaduna, Nigeria in 2010. The second edition was held in Aberdeen on the 24th of November, 2012 while the third edition was held in Lagos and Aberdeen titled ‘Fresh Dew’.
2014 promises to be filled with loads of goodies from God as another edition comes up on the 1st of November ( Aberdeen) and in Lagos( 30th of November)''
For more information Call/SMS: 07068284349 || Whatsapp: 08089448049
Twitter: @tryworship
Facebook: The TRY Worship Concert Series
Email: dtryworshipconcertseries@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
WHAT WILL MAKE THE COW DANCE?
Michal and Kental started arguing asto which of them wrote the better music.
"My music is better," Michal said.
"My melodies bring tears to the eyes of
all women."
"No, my music is better," Kental
disagreed. "My scores are more
enchanting than anything! Your music
couldn't move a cow, my poor Michal."
"And what do you think? That your
scores would make it dance?"
The dispute was in full swing when a
peasant passed by, leading his cow back
home from the field. The two musicians
saw an opportunity to put their
theories to the test.
"Hello there," they said. "Would you
mind if we played something for your
cow?"
"Well, if it gives you pleasure, why
not? She's seen a lot worse in her day,
I can tell you."
Michal warmed his hands, tuned his
balalaika and played the most beautiful
melody ever heard by a cow. But without
result - the beast ruminated without
moving an ear. Vexed, Michal passed the
instrument to his compatriot, who
played a lively score with the same
result - no reaction from the cow.
"It's a lost cause," Michal cried.
"Your cow does not have a musical ear."
"Well, I don't know about that," the
peasant replied. "If you would lend me
your instrument for a moment, I could
play something for her."
over the balalaika. The peasant did his
best to imitate the humming of the
flies and the mooing of little cows.
The cow lifted her ears, started
whipping her tail from side to side,
and walked closer to the peasant as if
to hear the music better.
________________
If you have trouble communicating
with people, it may be that, like
Michal and Kental, you are not playing
the music they are used to hearing.
Don't try to flatter your listeners,
but speak with words that they
understand. Don't try to impose your
meaning by using words and sentences
that are too complex.
..........................................
"Because we think that we have to
persuade, we forget how to listen."
Robert Shapiro
..........................................
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Ten (10) Biblical Proclamations
Ten (10) Biblical Proclamations
Our world has many negative proclamations that focus on glorifying men rather than God. We are inundated with messages of the culture that we sometimes forget the amazing truths from the Bible. Choose one proclamation to memorize and meditate on this week.
#1) Melchizedek
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand” (Genesis 14:19-20).
After Abraham with his small army of 318 men defeated four kings, Melchizedek came out praising God with bread and wine. As believers we are faced with taunts and temptations from our united enemy, Satan. We depend on the Lord to deliver us from the devil so that we can walk in freedom in our faith.
You, O Lord, will deliver me from my enemies.
#2) Moses
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
Moses testified of the wonders of God after the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. God showed His greatness to the unbelieving nations. There is no one like our God who can see all things and work everything for our good. He’s all-powerful and no one can hinder His will.
You, O Lord, alone are holy, awesome, and majestic.
#3) David
“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever” (2 Samuel 7:25-26).
David knew he wouldn’t live to see God’s promises fulfilled in his lifetime—but he believed it anyway. God always keeps His promises. Just as David believed God, so we who follow after Jesus must put our trust in His promises even when we can’t see the fulfillment with our own eyes.
You, O Lord, keep all of Your promises.
#4) Solomon
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way” (1 Kings 8:23).
Solomon recognized God’s covenantal love for His people who serve Him with their whole hearts. We are deeply loved and cared for by God even when we don’t feel it. His love is strong enough to outlast any threats or obstacles we face spiritually, emotionally, or physically.
You, O Lord, love me completely.
#5) Nehemiah
‘Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man” (Nehemiah 1:10).
Nehemiah was in a difficult place—he wanted favor from a king who didn’t serve God. Just as God heard and answered Nehemiah’s prayer, we pray to our heavenly Father who never misses our requests. He answers according to His will and in His timing—we just have to trust.
You, O Lord, hear all of my prayers.
#6) Nebuchadnezzar
“His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35).
Nebuchadnezzar was brought low in order that he could see that God was really in control. Even when it seems like our world is falling apart, God has a perfect plan and He’s never asleep or distracted from what goes in our lives. There’s nothing outside of His power and might.
You, O Lord, are in control of everything.
#7) Daniel
“Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (Daniel 9:18-19).
Daniel interceded for the Jewish people because they wouldn’t survive without God’s mercy. We’ve all sinned and yet God gives us what we need—mercy—and not what we deserve—judgment. There’s great joy and humility in the knowledge of God’s mercy in our lives.
You, O Lord, are merciful.
#8) Peter
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).
By the time of Pentecost, Peter had come a long way from his night of denying Jesus. He boldly proclaimed what people must do in order to be saved. Every person who comes to the Lord must believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins. When we turn away from our sins, we turn towards the blood of Jesus for cleansing.
You, O Lord, forgive us of our sins.
#9) Paul
“But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23).
Paul testified to the message of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Jesus’ agenda was about doing His Father’s will more than any of the miracles. By dying on the cross and rising again—multitudes of people would be saved from eternal death.
You, O Lord, sent Your Son for me.
#10) Jesus
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelations 22:12-13).
Jesus is coming back for His bride, the church. He will come as a fierce warrior on a white horse punishing evildoers with a word. Yet He will also usher in the millennium with peace and justice that the world has never seen. We are commanded to look for Him and be ready when He comes.
You, O Lord, are coming soon.
Perfect Proclamations!
Today is your day to proclaim the Lord. He gives life to the dead, grace to the hurting, and strength to the weak. Proclaim each of these scriptures every day to speak hope to your heart.
#1) Melchizedek
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand” (Genesis 14:19-20).
After Abraham with his small army of 318 men defeated four kings, Melchizedek came out praising God with bread and wine. As believers we are faced with taunts and temptations from our united enemy, Satan. We depend on the Lord to deliver us from the devil so that we can walk in freedom in our faith.
You, O Lord, will deliver me from my enemies.
#2) Moses
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
Moses testified of the wonders of God after the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. God showed His greatness to the unbelieving nations. There is no one like our God who can see all things and work everything for our good. He’s all-powerful and no one can hinder His will.
You, O Lord, alone are holy, awesome, and majestic.
#3) David
“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever” (2 Samuel 7:25-26).
David knew he wouldn’t live to see God’s promises fulfilled in his lifetime—but he believed it anyway. God always keeps His promises. Just as David believed God, so we who follow after Jesus must put our trust in His promises even when we can’t see the fulfillment with our own eyes.
You, O Lord, keep all of Your promises.
#4) Solomon
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way” (1 Kings 8:23).
Solomon recognized God’s covenantal love for His people who serve Him with their whole hearts. We are deeply loved and cared for by God even when we don’t feel it. His love is strong enough to outlast any threats or obstacles we face spiritually, emotionally, or physically.
You, O Lord, love me completely.
#5) Nehemiah
‘Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man” (Nehemiah 1:10).
Nehemiah was in a difficult place—he wanted favor from a king who didn’t serve God. Just as God heard and answered Nehemiah’s prayer, we pray to our heavenly Father who never misses our requests. He answers according to His will and in His timing—we just have to trust.
You, O Lord, hear all of my prayers.
#6) Nebuchadnezzar
“His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35).
Nebuchadnezzar was brought low in order that he could see that God was really in control. Even when it seems like our world is falling apart, God has a perfect plan and He’s never asleep or distracted from what goes in our lives. There’s nothing outside of His power and might.
You, O Lord, are in control of everything.
#7) Daniel
“Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name” (Daniel 9:18-19).
Daniel interceded for the Jewish people because they wouldn’t survive without God’s mercy. We’ve all sinned and yet God gives us what we need—mercy—and not what we deserve—judgment. There’s great joy and humility in the knowledge of God’s mercy in our lives.
You, O Lord, are merciful.
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38).
By the time of Pentecost, Peter had come a long way from his night of denying Jesus. He boldly proclaimed what people must do in order to be saved. Every person who comes to the Lord must believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins. When we turn away from our sins, we turn towards the blood of Jesus for cleansing.
You, O Lord, forgive us of our sins.
#9) Paul
“But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23).
Paul testified to the message of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Jesus’ agenda was about doing His Father’s will more than any of the miracles. By dying on the cross and rising again—multitudes of people would be saved from eternal death.
You, O Lord, sent Your Son for me.
#10) Jesus
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelations 22:12-13).
Jesus is coming back for His bride, the church. He will come as a fierce warrior on a white horse punishing evildoers with a word. Yet He will also usher in the millennium with peace and justice that the world has never seen. We are commanded to look for Him and be ready when He comes.
You, O Lord, are coming soon.
Perfect Proclamations!
Today is your day to proclaim the Lord. He gives life to the dead, grace to the hurting, and strength to the weak. Proclaim each of these scriptures every day to speak hope to your heart.
BNG, Samsong, Nosa, Others Nominated in the 6th Annual South South Music Awards ‘Best Gospel’ Category
BNG, Samsong, Nosa, Others Nominated in the 6th Annual South South Music Awards ‘Best Gospel’ Category | @OfficialBNG, @Samsongfans, @Nosaalways, @Yoyo4muah, @Yhuki_Omo_oba
Lockdown Entertainment the Organizers of the biggest award event in South-South Nigeria [South South Music Awards], has released the nominees for this years event. The 6th Annual South South Music Awards nominees list which was unveiled some few minutes ago via the organizers website: http://www.lockdownnaija.com, contains Some top names in the Nigerian Gospel Music industry whom are of South South origin. Check out the list of Gospel nominees below...
Congratulations to the Nominees.
BEST GOSPEL
Samsung – If God is dead
Yhuki – Jara (rmx)
Nosa – why u love me so
Yoyo – Amen
BNG – Many Things
Voting will commence on Monday the 17th of November, 2014 via vote.lockdownnaija.com and will close on Friday, 5th of December, 2014.
Lockdown Entertainment the Organizers of the biggest award event in South-South Nigeria [South South Music Awards], has released the nominees for this years event. The 6th Annual South South Music Awards nominees list which was unveiled some few minutes ago via the organizers website: http://www.lockdownnaija.com, contains Some top names in the Nigerian Gospel Music industry whom are of South South origin. Check out the list of Gospel nominees below...
Congratulations to the Nominees.
BEST GOSPEL
Samsung – If God is dead
Yhuki – Jara (rmx)
Nosa – why u love me so
Yoyo – Amen
BNG – Many Things
Voting will commence on Monday the 17th of November, 2014 via vote.lockdownnaija.com and will close on Friday, 5th of December, 2014.
Friday, November 14, 2014
STUBBORN BULLS AND GOATS!
STUBBORN BULLS AND GOATS
Just recently,I finished killing three (3) very big,strong and stubborn Chickens,all in 10 to 15 minutes (Dont ask me what for..lol). I was all sweaty and a bit tired afterwards coz those guys have really grown, they are strong,they had muscles!..lol
And mehn!, it quickly brought to mind the Levitical priesthood of Israel. And I was like, 'Boy,is this how the Priests killed numerous bulls and goats for the many sins of Israel everyday?!' I could imagine! Israel, a stubborn people, around 1.3 million people, so rebellious. And then, for every of their sin, there was always a goat to slaughter, and a bull to kill!
Think of it! A GOAT, A BULL! Nobody likes to be compared to a goat! You know those animals are naturally stubborn, very strongwilled and strongheaded! I tried to travel back in time to view what it looked like. I killed 3 strong Chickens in a short space of time, and I was all sweaty. Imagine killing bulls and goats every blessed day for about 40 years! Even if not for 40years,close to it! Not for one, not for two, not for three persons! They must have killed at least a thousand everyday since there were about 1.3 million people travelling to Canaan at that time. 1000 might even be an understatement! Maybe I want to be merciful on them.
Those Priests must have built so much muscles doing that everyday!..lol. No matter how enjoyable the job will look at first, after sometime, it will surely bore them! They might be planning to take a rest after killing say 200 at a time, and as they are about to sit, another set of maybe liars, thieves and adulterers will just throng to the entrance again. And work begins.
Maybe they even made a roster for the 'Killing Time of Bulls and Goats'..Maybe they say, 'For thieves,come from the 6th to the 9th hour of the day. For adulterers, so you wont feel too ashamed, come in the 3rd watch of the night'..lol.
Many permutations! And I just kept thinking and broadening my imaginations to see various possibilities. But bottomline, IT MUST HAVE BEEN STRESSFUL!
That made me cherish the Sacrifice of my Jesus much more! It was a Once-And-For-All payment for my Sins.
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14).
No need to come back in the afternoon or evening coz it's not yet Killing Time.
No stress of resharpening the axe, knife, cutlass of whatever was used to kill the bulls and goats every time.
No need of cleaning the instruments of killing everytime after use!
No need of looking for where to get more bulls and goats since the ones in my flock have been exhausted due to my many sins!
No need to worry about scarcity or fee-hike of bulls and goats.
ALL GONE! ALL GONE!! ALL GONE!!!
BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS!
It was STRESSFUL yet it was NEEDFUL
It was PAINFUL yet it is GAINFUL
I was UNFAITHFUL but He is FAITHFUL
My bucket was SIN-FULL yet He is MERCY-FULL
Because He is GRACEFUL, I will forever be GRATEFUL!
WHAT AN EXCHANGE!
Just recently,I finished killing three (3) very big,strong and stubborn Chickens,all in 10 to 15 minutes (Dont ask me what for..lol). I was all sweaty and a bit tired afterwards coz those guys have really grown, they are strong,they had muscles!..lol
And mehn!, it quickly brought to mind the Levitical priesthood of Israel. And I was like, 'Boy,is this how the Priests killed numerous bulls and goats for the many sins of Israel everyday?!' I could imagine! Israel, a stubborn people, around 1.3 million people, so rebellious. And then, for every of their sin, there was always a goat to slaughter, and a bull to kill!
Think of it! A GOAT, A BULL! Nobody likes to be compared to a goat! You know those animals are naturally stubborn, very strongwilled and strongheaded! I tried to travel back in time to view what it looked like. I killed 3 strong Chickens in a short space of time, and I was all sweaty. Imagine killing bulls and goats every blessed day for about 40 years! Even if not for 40years,close to it! Not for one, not for two, not for three persons! They must have killed at least a thousand everyday since there were about 1.3 million people travelling to Canaan at that time. 1000 might even be an understatement! Maybe I want to be merciful on them.
Those Priests must have built so much muscles doing that everyday!..lol. No matter how enjoyable the job will look at first, after sometime, it will surely bore them! They might be planning to take a rest after killing say 200 at a time, and as they are about to sit, another set of maybe liars, thieves and adulterers will just throng to the entrance again. And work begins.
Maybe they even made a roster for the 'Killing Time of Bulls and Goats'..Maybe they say, 'For thieves,come from the 6th to the 9th hour of the day. For adulterers, so you wont feel too ashamed, come in the 3rd watch of the night'..lol.
Many permutations! And I just kept thinking and broadening my imaginations to see various possibilities. But bottomline, IT MUST HAVE BEEN STRESSFUL!
That made me cherish the Sacrifice of my Jesus much more! It was a Once-And-For-All payment for my Sins.
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14).
No need to come back in the afternoon or evening coz it's not yet Killing Time.
No stress of resharpening the axe, knife, cutlass of whatever was used to kill the bulls and goats every time.
No need of cleaning the instruments of killing everytime after use!
No need of looking for where to get more bulls and goats since the ones in my flock have been exhausted due to my many sins!
No need to worry about scarcity or fee-hike of bulls and goats.
ALL GONE! ALL GONE!! ALL GONE!!!
BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS!
It was STRESSFUL yet it was NEEDFUL
It was PAINFUL yet it is GAINFUL
I was UNFAITHFUL but He is FAITHFUL
My bucket was SIN-FULL yet He is MERCY-FULL
Because He is GRACEFUL, I will forever be GRATEFUL!
WHAT AN EXCHANGE!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
FAITH ANALYSIS!
Faith is a word with many meanings. It can mean faithfulness (Matthew 24:45). It can mean absolute trust, as shown by some of the people who came to Jesus for healing (Luke 7:2-10). It can mean confident hope (Hebrews 11:1). Or, as James points out, it can even mean a barren belief that does not result in good works (James 2:14-26).
What does Paul mean when in Romans, he speaks of saving faith? We must be very careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word, because he ties faith so closely to salvation. It is not something we must do in order to earn salvation, if that were true, then faith would be just one more work, and Paul clearly states that human works can never save us (Galatians 2:16). Instead, faith is a gift God gives us because he is saving us (Ephesians 2:8). It is God's grace, not our faith, that saves us. In his mercy, however, when he saves us he gives us faith, a relationship with his Son that helps us become like him. Through the faith he gives us, he carries us from death into life (John5:24).
Even in Old Testament times grace, not works, was the basis of salvation. As Hebrews points out, "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (10:4). God intended for his people to look beyond the animal sacrifices to him, but all too often they, instead, put their confidence in fulfilling the requirements of the Law, that is, performing the required sacrifices.
When Jesus triumphed over death, he cancelled the charges against us and opened the way to the Father (Colossians 2:12-15). Because he is merciful, he offers us faith. How tragic if we turn faith into a work and try to develop it on our own!
We can never come to God through our own faith, any more than his Old Testament people could come through their own sacrifices. Instead, we must accept his offer with thanksgiving and allow him to plant the seed of faith within us.
Shalom...Good morning
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Your Answer Is--God!!!
The Word For Today
'Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.' Job 23:3 NKJV
Job’s troubles lasted almost a year. In that year he lost his children, his money, and his health. That’s when he prayed, ‘Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.’ Notice, Job didn’t pray, ‘Oh, that I knew how to get back my children, my money, and my health.’ He focused on none of those things. He realised that when you are in right standing with God, all the rest will fall into place. Here’s a truth you learn when you lose what you love: when you’ve nothing left but God, you discover that God is enough! Much of the book of Job is about his confusion regarding God and his complaints about his lot in life. Are youdoing that? If you are, don’t worry.
God can handle it. As long as your eyes are on Him,He can correct you, teach you, help you, and cause you to grow stronger in faith. Job wasn’t privy to what had gone on behind the scenes. He didn’t know that a discussion had taken place between God and Satan in which Satan said that if God stripped Job of all he had, he would curse Him (Job 1:11). But God knew differently, so He allowed Satan to attack Job for a season. When it was over, God hadn’t changed His mind about Job and Job hadn’t changed his mind about God. If you’re wondering how the story ends: ‘The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.’ (Job 42:12 NKJV) So if you’re in trouble today, your answer is—God. Keep trusting Him and He will bring you through victorious.
'Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.' Job 23:3 NKJV
Job’s troubles lasted almost a year. In that year he lost his children, his money, and his health. That’s when he prayed, ‘Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.’ Notice, Job didn’t pray, ‘Oh, that I knew how to get back my children, my money, and my health.’ He focused on none of those things. He realised that when you are in right standing with God, all the rest will fall into place. Here’s a truth you learn when you lose what you love: when you’ve nothing left but God, you discover that God is enough! Much of the book of Job is about his confusion regarding God and his complaints about his lot in life. Are youdoing that? If you are, don’t worry.
God can handle it. As long as your eyes are on Him,He can correct you, teach you, help you, and cause you to grow stronger in faith. Job wasn’t privy to what had gone on behind the scenes. He didn’t know that a discussion had taken place between God and Satan in which Satan said that if God stripped Job of all he had, he would curse Him (Job 1:11). But God knew differently, so He allowed Satan to attack Job for a season. When it was over, God hadn’t changed His mind about Job and Job hadn’t changed his mind about God. If you’re wondering how the story ends: ‘The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.’ (Job 42:12 NKJV) So if you’re in trouble today, your answer is—God. Keep trusting Him and He will bring you through victorious.
Your Answer Is--God!
The Word For Today
'Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.' Job 23:3 NKJV
Job’s troubles lasted almost a year. In that year he lost his children, his money, and his health. That’s when he prayed, ‘Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.’ Notice, Job didn’t pray, ‘Oh, that I knew how to get back my children, my money, and my health.’ He focused on none of those things. He realised that when you are in right standing with God, all the rest will fall into place. Here’s a truth you learn when you lose what you love: when you’ve nothing left but God, you discover that God is enough! Much of the book of Job is about his confusion regarding God and his complaints about his lot in life. Are youdoing that? If you are, don’t worry.
God can handle it. As long as your eyes are on Him,He can correct you, teach you, help you, and cause you to grow stronger in faith. Job wasn’t privy to what had gone on behind the scenes. He didn’t know that a discussion had taken place between God and Satan in which Satan said that if God stripped Job of all he had, he would curse Him (Job 1:11). But God knew differently, so He allowed Satan to attack Job for a season. When it was over, God hadn’t changed His mind about Job and Job hadn’t changed his mind about God. If you’re wondering how the story ends: ‘The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.’ (Job 42:12 NKJV) So if you’re in trouble today, your answer is—God. Keep trusting Him and He will bring you through victorious.
'Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.' Job 23:3 NKJV
Job’s troubles lasted almost a year. In that year he lost his children, his money, and his health. That’s when he prayed, ‘Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.’ Notice, Job didn’t pray, ‘Oh, that I knew how to get back my children, my money, and my health.’ He focused on none of those things. He realised that when you are in right standing with God, all the rest will fall into place. Here’s a truth you learn when you lose what you love: when you’ve nothing left but God, you discover that God is enough! Much of the book of Job is about his confusion regarding God and his complaints about his lot in life. Are youdoing that? If you are, don’t worry.
God can handle it. As long as your eyes are on Him,He can correct you, teach you, help you, and cause you to grow stronger in faith. Job wasn’t privy to what had gone on behind the scenes. He didn’t know that a discussion had taken place between God and Satan in which Satan said that if God stripped Job of all he had, he would curse Him (Job 1:11). But God knew differently, so He allowed Satan to attack Job for a season. When it was over, God hadn’t changed His mind about Job and Job hadn’t changed his mind about God. If you’re wondering how the story ends: ‘The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.’ (Job 42:12 NKJV) So if you’re in trouble today, your answer is—God. Keep trusting Him and He will bring you through victorious.
Multi-Talented Author and Businesswoman Tonya L. Moore Tackles Music Via Her Emotional Debut Single ‘You Are (The Source of my Strength)”
Multi-Talented Author and Businesswoman Tonya L. Moore Tackles Music Via Her Emotional Debut Single ‘You Are (The Source of my Strength)”
She may wear many-a-title, from author and entertainment executive to celebrated businesswoman, entrepreneur, and mother, but the multi-talented Tonya L. Moore still makes room for more as evidenced by her new single “You Are (The Source of My Strength)" (https://itun.es/i6Bj7Dq).
The guitar laced ballad beams as a love song to God and features lyrics that stand as a testament to His faithfulness. Alongside Moore’s emotional vocal delivery, the tune’s makeup moves with a style that doesn’t overshadow her voice, but helps bring it and its powerful lyrics to life.
"You Are” serves as a soundtrack to the candid collection of stories housed inside of the celebrated author’s latest book 'I’m All F*d (Freed) Up: The Story of My Life', available now via Kindle Book and paperback at Amazon.com. A compelling and candid view into her life, the autobiographical book recounts Tonya’s roller-coaster of a life that’s taken sharp twists and turns down roads of abuse, neglect, and later to love, rebirth, and triumph.
The day holds special meaning for Moore as she is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force.
She may wear many-a-title, from author and entertainment executive to celebrated businesswoman, entrepreneur, and mother, but the multi-talented Tonya L. Moore still makes room for more as evidenced by her new single “You Are (The Source of My Strength)" (https://itun.es/i6Bj7Dq).
The guitar laced ballad beams as a love song to God and features lyrics that stand as a testament to His faithfulness. Alongside Moore’s emotional vocal delivery, the tune’s makeup moves with a style that doesn’t overshadow her voice, but helps bring it and its powerful lyrics to life.
"You Are” serves as a soundtrack to the candid collection of stories housed inside of the celebrated author’s latest book 'I’m All F*d (Freed) Up: The Story of My Life', available now via Kindle Book and paperback at Amazon.com. A compelling and candid view into her life, the autobiographical book recounts Tonya’s roller-coaster of a life that’s taken sharp twists and turns down roads of abuse, neglect, and later to love, rebirth, and triumph.
The day holds special meaning for Moore as she is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force.
Monday, November 10, 2014
BREAKING NEWS: Dr Myles Munroe And His Wife Dead In Plane Crash
BREAKING NEWS: Dr Myles Munroe And His Wife Dead In Plane Crash
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth, Today, November 9th, at approximately 5pm local Bahamas time, Dr. Munroe, his beloved wife Ruth, and several key members of their staff passed in a plane crash. There were nine passengers aboard and confirmations of the deaths are still coming forth.
The rain is rumoured to have played a role in the crashing of the Lear 36 Executive Jet Dr. Munroe, his wife, and staff were aboard. At 4:07pm local time, the passengers were travelling from Freeport, Grand Bahama Island to Nassau where the plane was said to have “exploded on impact” in the Grand Bahama Shipyard while in the process of landing.
The party was headed to their Global Leadership Forum, planned for November 10th through 13th, which is hosted by Dr. Munroe and his ministry, Bahamas Faith Ministries International.
Dr. Munroe had an incalculable impact on the world with his demonstrative, illuminating Kingdom teachings. Please keep their son, Chairo, the remainder of their family as well as the congregation and loved ones of the others who passed in your prayers.
We cannot make sense of this. However, we can remember the words of the Apostle Paul:
To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:8)
You do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13 NIV)
ARE YOU "DEAD"???
Gal2:20;I have been crucified with Christ;it is no longer I who live,but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal5:16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit,and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.17.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another,so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit,you are not under the law. 19. Now the works of the flesh are evident,which are: adultery,fornication,uncleanness, lewdness ,20. Idolatry,sorcery,hatred,contentions, jealousies,outbursts of wrath,selfish ambitions,dissensions,heresies,21; envy,murders,drunkenness,reveries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22;
But the fruit of the Spirit is love,joy,peace,long suffering,kindness, goodness,faithfulness,23;gentleness, self- control. Against such there i no law.24; And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25; If we live in the Spirit,let us also walk in the Spirit. Nkjv.Col3:3. For[as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your[new,real] life is hidden with Christ in God. Amp. Kenneth.E. Hagin of the blessed memory said after many years in ministry that he discovered that it was his own responsibility to put his flesh or his body under not God. Malice,covetousness,etc are all the outward manifestations of the flesh.
Apostle Paul ended Gal 5:21 with "and the like" which means there are still many other workings and manifestations of the flesh. Heb12:1 says since we have so great or many cloud of witnesses that are watching us,we should set aside all weights and entanglements of sin which easily beset us.
They are the little foxes that spoil the vine and hinders our walk with the Lord. It is our responsibility to keep our body under my beloved brethren. So help us God.
Good morning and have a wonderful week ahead
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The interesting last wishes of Alexander the Great.......Read up
The last wishes of Alexander the Great.........
On his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin ...
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery ...
3. His hands should be let loose, so they hang outside the coffin for all to see !!
One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain .
Here is what Alexander the Great had to say :
1. "I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death , even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal .."
2. "I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth , will stay on earth.."
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is : TIME.
We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back . Our time is our life !
The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME.
On his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin ...
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery ...
3. His hands should be let loose, so they hang outside the coffin for all to see !!
One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain .
Here is what Alexander the Great had to say :
1. "I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death , even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal .."
2. "I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth , will stay on earth.."
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is : TIME.
We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back . Our time is our life !
The best present that you can give to your family and friends is your TIME.
Countdown: MyTop 15 Christian Quotes About Overcoming Anxiety
MyTop 15 Christian Quotes About Overcoming Anxiety
No matter who you are, where you live or what your walk in life might be, at some time in your life you will need to deal with anxiety or worry and how to overcome it. It might be work-related. It might be grief related. It might be parenting related. It might even be anxiety due to relationships. Because of this, anxiety is often the subject of conversations, motivational speaking, course work and even a topic that is very popular in the Bible. Overcoming anxiety and worry is something that many people desire to do. I have been collecting some Christian quotes about overcoming anxiety and here are what I have chosen as my top 15.
#15 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” Psalms 37:7-9
#14 “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” ~ George Mueller
#13 “A Christian’s freedom from anxiety is not due to some guaranteed freedom from trouble, but to the folly of worry and especially to the confidence that God is our Father, that even permitted suffering is within the orbit of His care.” ~ John Stott
#12 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22
#11 “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
#10 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” ~ John 14:1-4
#9 “The child of God should not be overanxious to make new gains; what he essentially requires is to keep what he already has, for not losing is itself a gain. The way to retain what he possesses is to engage it.” ~ Watchman Nee
#8 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” ~ Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)
#7 “What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?” ~ Thomas A. Kempis
#6 “Christ told his disciples not to be anxious about tomorrow, but he never said not to consider tomorrow. Intelligent problem solving demands careful consideration of the future effects of present solutions.” ~ R.C. Sproul
#5 “I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient.” ~ Hudson Taylor
#4 “As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you.” ~ Charles Stanley
#3 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
#2 “Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either a denial of the wisdom of God or as a confession that he is out of his will.” ~ Williams Law
# 1 Christian Quote for Overcoming Anxiety – Commit it to Memory
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9
Final Thoughts
A great way to overcome anxiety is to commit Scripture to memory. This helps you to draw upom the comfort and peace of God when you are dealing with an anxious time in your life. The key to overcoming anxiety is to put your full faith and trust in Jesus because we are promised that “I can do all thing through Christ which strengtheneth me, (Phil 4:13)
No matter who you are, where you live or what your walk in life might be, at some time in your life you will need to deal with anxiety or worry and how to overcome it. It might be work-related. It might be grief related. It might be parenting related. It might even be anxiety due to relationships. Because of this, anxiety is often the subject of conversations, motivational speaking, course work and even a topic that is very popular in the Bible. Overcoming anxiety and worry is something that many people desire to do. I have been collecting some Christian quotes about overcoming anxiety and here are what I have chosen as my top 15.
#15 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” Psalms 37:7-9
#14 “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” ~ George Mueller
#13 “A Christian’s freedom from anxiety is not due to some guaranteed freedom from trouble, but to the folly of worry and especially to the confidence that God is our Father, that even permitted suffering is within the orbit of His care.” ~ John Stott
#12 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22
#11 “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
#10 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” ~ John 14:1-4
#9 “The child of God should not be overanxious to make new gains; what he essentially requires is to keep what he already has, for not losing is itself a gain. The way to retain what he possesses is to engage it.” ~ Watchman Nee
#8 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” ~ Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)
#7 “What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?” ~ Thomas A. Kempis
#6 “Christ told his disciples not to be anxious about tomorrow, but he never said not to consider tomorrow. Intelligent problem solving demands careful consideration of the future effects of present solutions.” ~ R.C. Sproul
#5 “I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient.” ~ Hudson Taylor
#4 “As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you.” ~ Charles Stanley
#3 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
#2 “Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behaviour as either a denial of the wisdom of God or as a confession that he is out of his will.” ~ Williams Law
# 1 Christian Quote for Overcoming Anxiety – Commit it to Memory
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9
Final Thoughts
A great way to overcome anxiety is to commit Scripture to memory. This helps you to draw upom the comfort and peace of God when you are dealing with an anxious time in your life. The key to overcoming anxiety is to put your full faith and trust in Jesus because we are promised that “I can do all thing through Christ which strengtheneth me, (Phil 4:13)
Friday, November 7, 2014
Bishop E. L. Palmer presents Freddie Washington and Cornerstone ‘THE ORDER OF WORSHIP’
Bishop E. L. Palmer presents Freddie Washington and Cornerstone ‘THE ORDER OF WORSHIP’
Bishop E. L. Palmer Presents Freddie Washington and The Cornerstone Music Ministry announce their debut release THE ORDER OF WORSHIP. The high energy worship masterpiece, produced by multi-award winning producer Trent Phillips, will take you in to the presence of God. The project includes the energetic praise song "The Lord Is Exalted", led by Gospel Dream winner Benita Washington, and "Hold On", the choir's first gospel radio single impacting radio now. Powerhouse vocalists Kim McFarland and Minon Bolton-Sarten also make special appearances on the project. THE ORDER OF WORSHIP is available Nov 11 on all digital music outlets.
The Cornerstone Choir, from Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church is an exceptional Choir hailing from Tuscaloosa Alabama under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Earnest L. Palmer. Cornerstone FGBC, known as “The Stone”, has two ministry locations in Tuscaloosa, AL. and Demopolis, AL. The Choir will celebrate the release with a listening party on Saturday, Nov 8 at Cornerstone FGBC, 610 Brookdale Dr., Tuscaloosa, AL.
Bishop Palmer is a trailblazer and paradigm shifter as a pastor, leader, and visionary in the Body of Christ. He currently serves as Alabama State Bishop within the FGBCF International, with twenty-two churches under his leadership throughout the state of Alabama. Bishop Palmer is also the CEO of Full Gospel Publishing, providing Sunday School materials, hymnals and all other types of Christian printed materials for distribution within the FGBCF International.
Freddie Washington, front man for THE ORDER OF WORSHIP project, is the Pastor of Worship and Arts at Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church. His artistry has elevated him as one of the most recognized leaders in music and ministry. Elder Washington is the overseer of minstrels within the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and serves in leadership alongside of Bishop William Murphy III, Vashawn Mitchell, JJ Hairston, Tasha Cobbs, Trent Phillips, Miah White, and Rod Lumpkin. Freddie was co-production coordinator for the 2010 Stellar Award winning record CRY YOUR LAST TEAR, recorded by Bishop Paul Morton and the FGBCF Mass Choir, and recently authored his first book The Glory Chasers, which deals with understanding and accessing the presence and power of God through praise and worship.
Freddie Washington and Cornerstone FGBC Music Ministry is a high praise, intense worship music ministry, ready to impact the world for Jesus Christ through their THE ORDER OF WORSHIP CD. The choir ministers with fervor and passion on a weekly basis, ministering various styles and genres of gospel music, from hymns, to anthems, to contemporary. They are committed and determined to keep the choir sound alive and relevant in today’s evolving music industry.
Bishop E. L. Palmer Presents Freddie Washington and The Cornerstone Music Ministry announce their debut release THE ORDER OF WORSHIP. The high energy worship masterpiece, produced by multi-award winning producer Trent Phillips, will take you in to the presence of God. The project includes the energetic praise song "The Lord Is Exalted", led by Gospel Dream winner Benita Washington, and "Hold On", the choir's first gospel radio single impacting radio now. Powerhouse vocalists Kim McFarland and Minon Bolton-Sarten also make special appearances on the project. THE ORDER OF WORSHIP is available Nov 11 on all digital music outlets.
The Cornerstone Choir, from Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church is an exceptional Choir hailing from Tuscaloosa Alabama under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Earnest L. Palmer. Cornerstone FGBC, known as “The Stone”, has two ministry locations in Tuscaloosa, AL. and Demopolis, AL. The Choir will celebrate the release with a listening party on Saturday, Nov 8 at Cornerstone FGBC, 610 Brookdale Dr., Tuscaloosa, AL.
Bishop Palmer is a trailblazer and paradigm shifter as a pastor, leader, and visionary in the Body of Christ. He currently serves as Alabama State Bishop within the FGBCF International, with twenty-two churches under his leadership throughout the state of Alabama. Bishop Palmer is also the CEO of Full Gospel Publishing, providing Sunday School materials, hymnals and all other types of Christian printed materials for distribution within the FGBCF International.
Freddie Washington, front man for THE ORDER OF WORSHIP project, is the Pastor of Worship and Arts at Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church. His artistry has elevated him as one of the most recognized leaders in music and ministry. Elder Washington is the overseer of minstrels within the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship and serves in leadership alongside of Bishop William Murphy III, Vashawn Mitchell, JJ Hairston, Tasha Cobbs, Trent Phillips, Miah White, and Rod Lumpkin. Freddie was co-production coordinator for the 2010 Stellar Award winning record CRY YOUR LAST TEAR, recorded by Bishop Paul Morton and the FGBCF Mass Choir, and recently authored his first book The Glory Chasers, which deals with understanding and accessing the presence and power of God through praise and worship.
Freddie Washington and Cornerstone FGBC Music Ministry is a high praise, intense worship music ministry, ready to impact the world for Jesus Christ through their THE ORDER OF WORSHIP CD. The choir ministers with fervor and passion on a weekly basis, ministering various styles and genres of gospel music, from hymns, to anthems, to contemporary. They are committed and determined to keep the choir sound alive and relevant in today’s evolving music industry.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
SHORT STORY: Jeremy's Egg.
Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to St. Theresa's Elementary School.
At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher. One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a consultation.
As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!"
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here."
Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy."
From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered, "Wh-Why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
Yes, Miss Miller!" the children responded enthusiastically - all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them. That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.
The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes that is new life, too" Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My Daddy helped me!" he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!"
Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, " Do you know why the tomb was empty?"
"Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!"
The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.
At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher. One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a consultation.
As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!"
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here."
Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy."
From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered, "Wh-Why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them, "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs. In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.
The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes that is new life, too" Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My Daddy helped me!" he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!"
Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, " Do you know why the tomb was empty?"
"Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!"
The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty.
Recognising and Walking in God's Will
The Word For Today
'Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.' Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Nothing matters more than recognising and walking in God’s will. When you don’t know His will, it can be a real source of insecurity. Knowing you’re walking in His will enables you to rise above the challenges life throws at you. The question is: does God intend us to know His will? If not, why bother searching? Let His Word settle the issue once and for all: ‘Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’ There’s no vagueness there! ‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.’ (Psalm 37:23 NLT)
God will address even your smallest concern. So what do you need to discern it? Let’s consider some practical Bible principles: There’s no room for two wills. If you want God’s will, you must be prepared to surrender your own will. Jesus said, ‘As I listen to the Father, I make My judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the One who sent Me wants.’ (John 5:30 GWT) Wills frequently clash, so there are choices you must make, and maintain, if you want to walk in obedience to God (Matthew 26:39). Begin your search by surrendering your will; then focus your heart and mind on God and His enlightening Word. Once you accept that He is the leader and you are the follower, it’s a lot easier to say, ‘I delight to do Your will, O…God… Your law is within my heart.’ (Psalm 40:8 NKJV)
'Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.' Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Nothing matters more than recognising and walking in God’s will. When you don’t know His will, it can be a real source of insecurity. Knowing you’re walking in His will enables you to rise above the challenges life throws at you. The question is: does God intend us to know His will? If not, why bother searching? Let His Word settle the issue once and for all: ‘Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’ There’s no vagueness there! ‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.’ (Psalm 37:23 NLT)
God will address even your smallest concern. So what do you need to discern it? Let’s consider some practical Bible principles: There’s no room for two wills. If you want God’s will, you must be prepared to surrender your own will. Jesus said, ‘As I listen to the Father, I make My judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the One who sent Me wants.’ (John 5:30 GWT) Wills frequently clash, so there are choices you must make, and maintain, if you want to walk in obedience to God (Matthew 26:39). Begin your search by surrendering your will; then focus your heart and mind on God and His enlightening Word. Once you accept that He is the leader and you are the follower, it’s a lot easier to say, ‘I delight to do Your will, O…God… Your law is within my heart.’ (Psalm 40:8 NKJV)
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
'MASTER'
The Word For Today
'Master... because you say so, I will.' Luke 5:5
The disciples were overwhelmed by a sense of failure: 'We have toiled all night and caught nothing' (v. 5 NKJV). Look at them, washing their nets--the last thing fishermen do before they pack up and head for home. And that's when Jesus showed up! He waits until you've reached the end of your rope, then He steps in. Why? Because as long as you think you can solve the problem on your own, you won't reach for Him. Do you feel overwhelmed by failure today? Are you saying, 'Lord, I tried so hard, but look at my marriage, my finances, my career.
I've been mistreated and overlooked. Perhaps they're right about me; maybe I'm not supposed to be blessed.' No, Jesus can turn your situation around if you'll go to Him and say what Peter said: 'Master... because you say so, I will.' Obedience, even when it doesn't seem to make sense, is what leads to blessing. Notice what happened next: 'They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break' (v. 6 NIV).
On the other side of your decision to obey God waits a blessing so great that it'll also touch the lives of those around you. One word changed everything--'Master'. It's an expression of worship. It's an acknowledgment that He's in control of the circumstances you're facing. Master over weakness. Master over fear. Master over lack. Go ahead and say it: 'Master, take control of things. Better still, take control of me.' Jesus had bigger things in mind for the disciples. After this miracle we read, 'They... left everything and followed Him' (v. 11 NIV).
'Master... because you say so, I will.' Luke 5:5
The disciples were overwhelmed by a sense of failure: 'We have toiled all night and caught nothing' (v. 5 NKJV). Look at them, washing their nets--the last thing fishermen do before they pack up and head for home. And that's when Jesus showed up! He waits until you've reached the end of your rope, then He steps in. Why? Because as long as you think you can solve the problem on your own, you won't reach for Him. Do you feel overwhelmed by failure today? Are you saying, 'Lord, I tried so hard, but look at my marriage, my finances, my career.
I've been mistreated and overlooked. Perhaps they're right about me; maybe I'm not supposed to be blessed.' No, Jesus can turn your situation around if you'll go to Him and say what Peter said: 'Master... because you say so, I will.' Obedience, even when it doesn't seem to make sense, is what leads to blessing. Notice what happened next: 'They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break' (v. 6 NIV).
On the other side of your decision to obey God waits a blessing so great that it'll also touch the lives of those around you. One word changed everything--'Master'. It's an expression of worship. It's an acknowledgment that He's in control of the circumstances you're facing. Master over weakness. Master over fear. Master over lack. Go ahead and say it: 'Master, take control of things. Better still, take control of me.' Jesus had bigger things in mind for the disciples. After this miracle we read, 'They... left everything and followed Him' (v. 11 NIV).
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
LIVE FOR GOD UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH
Word For Today
'With long life will I satisfy Him.' Psalms 91:16
When asked, 'How do you grow old so gracefully?' Alexandre Dumas replied, 'Because I give all my time to it.' If you're over fifty, let your age be measured by your spiritual progress instead of a date on the calendar. How would you like to have these words engraved on your headstone? 'Enoch lived... 365 years. Enoch walked ... with God; then he was no more, because God took him away' (Genesis 5:23-24 NIV). Picture this: Enoch goes for a walk with God and when they reach a certain point, God says, 'It's closer to My house than yours, so just come home with Me.' Like an old oak tree, a mature Christian's roots have weathered life's storms. But don't take your wisdom to the grave with you; share it with people who'll listen. And those who are wise will listen, because they recognise the foolishness of paying twice for the same information.
Don't retire--refocus. Victor Hugo once said, 'Forty is old age to youth, fifty is youth to old age.' With God, availability, not age, is what counts. The Bible says: 'There was... a prophetess, Anna... she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them (Mary and Joseph with the Christ child) at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all' (Luke 2:36-38 NIV). The world respects eX-Generals and eX-presidents, but not ex-Christians. A respected character actor said, 'As we grow older we must discipline ourselves to continue expanding, broadening, learning, keeping our minds active and open.' So live for God until your last breath.
'With long life will I satisfy Him.' Psalms 91:16
When asked, 'How do you grow old so gracefully?' Alexandre Dumas replied, 'Because I give all my time to it.' If you're over fifty, let your age be measured by your spiritual progress instead of a date on the calendar. How would you like to have these words engraved on your headstone? 'Enoch lived... 365 years. Enoch walked ... with God; then he was no more, because God took him away' (Genesis 5:23-24 NIV). Picture this: Enoch goes for a walk with God and when they reach a certain point, God says, 'It's closer to My house than yours, so just come home with Me.' Like an old oak tree, a mature Christian's roots have weathered life's storms. But don't take your wisdom to the grave with you; share it with people who'll listen. And those who are wise will listen, because they recognise the foolishness of paying twice for the same information.
Don't retire--refocus. Victor Hugo once said, 'Forty is old age to youth, fifty is youth to old age.' With God, availability, not age, is what counts. The Bible says: 'There was... a prophetess, Anna... she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them (Mary and Joseph with the Christ child) at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all' (Luke 2:36-38 NIV). The world respects eX-Generals and eX-presidents, but not ex-Christians. A respected character actor said, 'As we grow older we must discipline ourselves to continue expanding, broadening, learning, keeping our minds active and open.' So live for God until your last breath.
“T-Ran Gilbert Live” Bringing Christian Pop/R&B to Music Row on December 11 | Check Out Ticket Details
“T-Ran Gilbert Live” Bringing Christian Pop/R&B to Music Row on December 11 | Check Out Ticket Details
Coming to the Music City is a show for all ages that pairs the energy and vitality of Christian Pop and R&B music with the life-affirming messages of the gospel. “22Visionz Presents: T-Ran Gilbert Live” will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the music venue, 12th & Porter. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.
T-Ran Gilbert is an International Christian Artist who does Pop- and R&B-infused worship. He is known for his debut single, “Need You Now,” which has rotated nationally on radio and television. The video for the song also has over 1.4 Million views on YouTube.
Gilbert is a seasoned performer who has spent 17 years on the road, perfecting his vocal dynamics and stage presence. He’s currently in the studio working on his full-length debut project, The Imprint, on the 22Visionz label.
Tickets for the December 11 show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.T-RanGilbert.com and http://www.22Visionz.com. The venue, 12th & Porter, is located on Music Row at 114 12th Avenue N, Nashville, TN 37203.
22Visionz Entertainment is sponsoring show, along with Yes Lord Radio, Jam The Hype Radio, Coco-Loco World Class Gourmet, SAE Institute Nashville and international nonprofit Feed The Children. For information, call (423) 228-0763 or email info@22visionz.com.
Coming to the Music City is a show for all ages that pairs the energy and vitality of Christian Pop and R&B music with the life-affirming messages of the gospel. “22Visionz Presents: T-Ran Gilbert Live” will take place on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the music venue, 12th & Porter. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.
T-Ran Gilbert is an International Christian Artist who does Pop- and R&B-infused worship. He is known for his debut single, “Need You Now,” which has rotated nationally on radio and television. The video for the song also has over 1.4 Million views on YouTube.
Gilbert is a seasoned performer who has spent 17 years on the road, perfecting his vocal dynamics and stage presence. He’s currently in the studio working on his full-length debut project, The Imprint, on the 22Visionz label.
Tickets for the December 11 show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.T-RanGilbert.com and http://www.22Visionz.com. The venue, 12th & Porter, is located on Music Row at 114 12th Avenue N, Nashville, TN 37203.
22Visionz Entertainment is sponsoring show, along with Yes Lord Radio, Jam The Hype Radio, Coco-Loco World Class Gourmet, SAE Institute Nashville and international nonprofit Feed The Children. For information, call (423) 228-0763 or email info@22visionz.com.
Monday, November 3, 2014
:::::Life Tips from Rick Warren:::: you'll surely be blessed
This is an absolutely incredible
short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose
Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback
Church in California .
> People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
> And I respond: In a nutshell, life is
preparation for eternity. We were not made to
last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in
Heaven.
> One day my heart is going to stop, and that
will be the end of my body-- but not the end of
me.
> I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am
going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This
is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God
wants us to practice on earth what we will do
forever in eternity..
> We were made by God and for God, and until
you figure that out, life isn't going to make
sense.
> Life is a series of problems: Either you are in
one now, you're just coming out of one, or
you're getting ready to go into another one.
> The reason for this is that God is more
interested in your character than your comfort;
God is more interested in making your life holy
than He is in making your life happy.
> We can be reasonably happy here on earth,
but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to
grow in character, in Christ likeness.
> No matter how good things are in your life,
there is always something bad that needs to be
worked on.
> And no matter how bad things are in your
life, there is always something good you can
thank God for.
> You can focus on your purposes, or you can
focus on your problems:
> If you focus on your problems, you're going
into self-centeredness, which is my problem,
my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways
to get rid of pain is to get your focus off
yourself and onto God and others.
> Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the
good is harder. For instance, this past year, all
of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
> It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had
never had to deal with before. I don't think God
gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.
> So I began to ask God what He wanted me to
do with this money, notoriety and influence. He
gave me two different passages that helped me
decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm
72.
> First, in spite of all the money coming in, we
would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We
made no major purchases.
> Second, about midway through last year, I
stopped taking a salary from the church.
> Third, we set up foundations to fund an
initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant
churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care
for the sick, and educate the next generation.
> Fourth, I added up all that the church had
paid me in the 24 years since I started the
church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating
to be able to serve God for free.
> We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live
for possessions? Popularity?
> Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt?
Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be
driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
> When I get up in the morning, I sit on the
side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get
anything else done today, I want to know You
more and love You better. God didn't put me on
earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more
interested in what I am than what I do.
> That's why we're called human beings, not
human doings.
> Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
> Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
> Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
> Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
> Every moment, THANK GOD
short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose
Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback
Church in California .
> People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
> And I respond: In a nutshell, life is
preparation for eternity. We were not made to
last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in
Heaven.
> One day my heart is going to stop, and that
will be the end of my body-- but not the end of
me.
> I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am
going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This
is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God
wants us to practice on earth what we will do
forever in eternity..
> We were made by God and for God, and until
you figure that out, life isn't going to make
sense.
> Life is a series of problems: Either you are in
one now, you're just coming out of one, or
you're getting ready to go into another one.
> The reason for this is that God is more
interested in your character than your comfort;
God is more interested in making your life holy
than He is in making your life happy.
> We can be reasonably happy here on earth,
but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to
grow in character, in Christ likeness.
> No matter how good things are in your life,
there is always something bad that needs to be
worked on.
> And no matter how bad things are in your
life, there is always something good you can
thank God for.
> You can focus on your purposes, or you can
focus on your problems:
> If you focus on your problems, you're going
into self-centeredness, which is my problem,
my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways
to get rid of pain is to get your focus off
yourself and onto God and others.
> Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the
good is harder. For instance, this past year, all
of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million
copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
> It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had
never had to deal with before. I don't think God
gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.
> So I began to ask God what He wanted me to
do with this money, notoriety and influence. He
gave me two different passages that helped me
decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm
72.
> First, in spite of all the money coming in, we
would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We
made no major purchases.
> Second, about midway through last year, I
stopped taking a salary from the church.
> Third, we set up foundations to fund an
initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant
churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care
for the sick, and educate the next generation.
> Fourth, I added up all that the church had
paid me in the 24 years since I started the
church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating
to be able to serve God for free.
> We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live
for possessions? Popularity?
> Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt?
Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be
driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
> When I get up in the morning, I sit on the
side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get
anything else done today, I want to know You
more and love You better. God didn't put me on
earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more
interested in what I am than what I do.
> That's why we're called human beings, not
human doings.
> Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
> Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
> Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
> Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
> Every moment, THANK GOD
Birmingham’s Best Kept Secret JOSILYN DRAKE Reveals Cover, New Website and Readies New Album ‘I WILL WORSHIP YOU’
Birmingham’s Best Kept Secret JOSILYN DRAKE Reveals Cover, New Website and Readies New Album ‘I WILL WORSHIP YOU’
Josilyn Drake is an amazingly gifted vocalist who is a dedicated worshiper, a passionate lover of God, and "Birmingham's Best Kept Gospel Secret," says The Birmingham Times. With a crystal clear soprano voice, obvious gift for writing profound worship ballads, her quiet and almost shy demeanor has been a giant personal transition in moving from the background into the forefront as a solo artist in the gospel music industry. Now Josilyn steps forward with God-filled authority, equipped with a collection of powerful songs and life changing music to impact the hearts and minds of all who desire to lift HIM up via her new album I WILL WORSHIP YOU.
In 2011, during her personal time with the Lord, God began to give Josilyn songs, confirming a word spoken over her life almost two decades ago. In the space of two months, she had received all the songs for her debut project I WILL WORSHIP YOU. The recording process was an exciting time for Josilyn. "I am thrilled to be in the studio recording my own CD," Josilyn shares. "Although I have been in the studio before, it is wonderful to be working on my own music."
Josilyn is the sole writer on her freshman album I WILL WORSHIP YOU. She tapped into a paragon of producers to sculpt the project. Her current radio hit single “Worship You”, a tender melodious ballad, was produced by Birmingham’s Clinton Green. Green also produced “Keep Us Lord”, her first radio single, which was chosen as a selection taught at the prestigious Gospel Music Workshop of America and nominated for the 2014 Rhythm of Gospel Award for Praise & Worship Song of the Year. Josilyn’s comforting, beautiful vocals also helped garner her additional nominations for Worship/Praise Artist of the Year and Best Performance Praise and Worship Artist of the Year.
Josilyn also sought after Gary Diggs of New Jersey to produce and her friend and multiple Grammy™ and Stellar Award Winning hit maker Kevin Bond to put the immaculate touches on the album. "Josilyn brings a uniqueness and purity to her worship presentation," states Bond. "Prepare to be transcended into the presence of God as she ministers to you."
With an arsenal of elite producers at the helm of her project, Josilyn’s sole desire is "to create and offer music that will elevate the consciousness of people to connect with and adore Christ and in response to their lifted consciousness, it will yield an act of worship that creates continuous moments of GOD ENCOUNTERS," she continues, "I pray that these songs leave a positive influence in the earth. It’s truly an honor to be able to place something in the atmosphere that I believe will bring forth change in people’s lives."
In addition to being anointed for music ministry, Josilyn has also been called to the preaching ministry. She is pursuing her Bachelor Degree in Biblical Ministries at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. In between studies and recording her album, she is also writing a book Returning To My First Love that will release in 2015.
Josilyn is slated to sing songs from her forthcoming CD on WATC TV's Atlanta Live Television program on Friday, October 31 at 7PM EST. The multi-talented songstress has launched an all new website and will release I WILL WORSHIP YOU on her own independent label KJD Sounds in January of 2015.
For more information on this anointed woman of faith, visit Josilyn's all new website http://www.JosilynDrake.com.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Ugliness And Beauty
A pig contemplated his image in the
water of a pond. He found he looked so
ugly that he started to cry, and his
tears soon obscured his image. Then he
heard a voice from above:
"No creature is more beautiful than
you are, pig," it said.
"That's not true!" cried the pig. "I
am even uglier than a toad!"
"But there's nothing more beautiful
than a toad," the voice replied.
"You see! You're contradicting
yourself! A toad and I can't both be
the most beautiful of creatures at the
same time."
"All my creatures are most beautiful
to my eyes, and all at the same time,"
the voice said.
It was then that the pig understood
he was talking to God. He looked again
at his reflection in the water, and
this time his heart felt light and
there was a smile on his face.
..........................................
Ugliness and beauty are not
consistent qualities: even among people
not everyone agrees what constitutes
beauty and what doesn't.
Both ugliness and beauty are in the
eyes of the beholder.
..........................................
"Even if we travel the world in
search of beauty, we must first have it
in ourselves before we can find it."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
..........................................
HAPPY SUNDAY
water of a pond. He found he looked so
ugly that he started to cry, and his
tears soon obscured his image. Then he
heard a voice from above:
"No creature is more beautiful than
you are, pig," it said.
"That's not true!" cried the pig. "I
am even uglier than a toad!"
"But there's nothing more beautiful
than a toad," the voice replied.
"You see! You're contradicting
yourself! A toad and I can't both be
the most beautiful of creatures at the
same time."
"All my creatures are most beautiful
to my eyes, and all at the same time,"
the voice said.
It was then that the pig understood
he was talking to God. He looked again
at his reflection in the water, and
this time his heart felt light and
there was a smile on his face.
..........................................
Ugliness and beauty are not
consistent qualities: even among people
not everyone agrees what constitutes
beauty and what doesn't.
Both ugliness and beauty are in the
eyes of the beholder.
..........................................
"Even if we travel the world in
search of beauty, we must first have it
in ourselves before we can find it."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
..........................................
HAPPY SUNDAY
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