THURSDAY MARCH 12, 2015.

YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS (3)

‘Search me, O God, and know my heart...’ Psalms 139:23 NIV

Here are two more reasons why spending time alone with God each day is important: 1) To take spiritual inventory of your life. David prayed, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting’ (vv. 23-24 NIV). Note the words ‘anxious thoughts’ and ‘offensive way’. These are things you start to take stock of when you are in God’s presence. For example, are you growing daily in your spiritual walk? Are you allowing unconfessed sins to pile up in your life? How about your attitudes? In order to see yourself from God’s point of view, you have to face these questions in His presence and answer them honestly. 2) To commit each day to the Lord. The writer of Proverbs said, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV). Share your schedule with God, ask Him to guide you in your daily activities and alter them as needed. Ask Him to help you manage your time better so you can get more done (Psalms 90:12). Ask Him to help you distinguish between what’s truly important and what isn’t (1 Corinthians 10:23). Every day of your life you’ll have to deal with two things: problems and opportunities. And God will give you the right perspective and approach to handle both. You’ll be amazed how much more effective and efficient you are when you’ve spent time with Him.

2 Kings 4:18 - 6:33, Matthew 22: 34-46, Psalm 112, Proverbs 7:6-9

Your Daily Devotions (4).

Friday, 13 March 2015 00:12

'...You will fill me with joy in Your presence...'
Psalm 16:11 NIV

To build and maintain intimacy in a relationship
you must schedule time with the other person,
otherwise it won’t happen. There’s a reason the
Bible likens your relationship with Christ to that
of a bride and groom. For a marriage to be
strong, two people must pay attention to one
another. And that happens only when they’re
willing to set aside things like work, financial
concerns, and even children. Likewise, your
devotional life should involve simply enjoying the
presence of the Lord.
The Psalmist puts it this way: ‘ You will fill me with joy in Your presence .’ And: ‘Delight yourself…in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart .’ ( Psalm 37:4 NKJV) ‘
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so
pants my soul for You, O God .’ ( Psalm 42:1
NKJV) ‘… You are my God; early will I seek You; my
soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a
dry and thirsty land where there is no
water .’ ( Psalms 63:1 NKJV)
Many of us lead unhappy lives because we never spend time in God’s presence. Do you know the Lord, or do you merely know about Him? ‘Knowing Christ’ was Paul’s number–one priority: ‘ But whatever gain I
had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... For
His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and
count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain
Christ and be found in Him…having a
righteousness of my own that comes from…faith in
Christ.’ ( Philippians 3:7–9 ESV ) Have you
reached the place where you can say that too?

SoulFood: 2 Ki 10-12 , Luke 16:19-31 , Ps 24, Prov

SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2015.

SPIRITUAL PARALYSIS

‘Four men arrived carrying a paralysed man on a mat.’ Mark 2:3 NLT

One day when Jesus was preaching at a house in Capernaum, ‘four men arrived carrying a paralysed man on a mat.’ This man wanted to move but he couldn’t. And spiritual paralysis works that way too. Inside, you know you have what it takes to succeed, but your spirit isn’t responding. What’s going on? Unremitting stress creates pressure that eventually turns to frustration, and constant frustration produces weariness. You feel bland. Nothing excites you. One day feels like the next, until you start believing that nothing will ever go right for you. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a mansion or a mud hut; unless you’re free in your spirit, it’s like living in a prison. There are different kinds of spiritual paralysis. There’s the kind that leaves you with out-of-control emotions. You can’t hold on to what you need, like a job or a relationship. You know something’s wrong but you can’t seem to make it right. Another type of spiritual paralysis stems from mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. When people are continually drawing from you, eventually you run dry. It’s impossible to be an encouragement to others without refilling your own well at the Source. Refuse to spend another day in a paralysed, out-of-control, exhausted state. Like the man in today’s story, you’ll find your answer in Jesus. He gives joy, freedom and purpose to life; He ‘refreshes the weary and satisfies the faint’ (Isaiah 40:31). But you have a part to play as well: to ‘…build [yourself] up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep [yourself] in God’s love’ (Jude 20-21 NIV).

2 Kings 10-12, Matthew 23:29 - 24:2, Psalm 135, Proverbs 7: 21-23

Remember the day of the Lord to keep it holy . Tomorrow is Sunday ,make sure you attend Sunday Service tomorrow ....

SUNDAY MARCH 15, 2015.

LEARNING TO LET GO!

‘…A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife...’ Matthew 19:5 NIV

Don’t make your children feel guilty about growing up! They were born to fly. If they can’t, what does that say about you as a parent? It was God who first came up with the idea of children leaving home. So when your role changes, don’t lose your perspective and give in to resentment and self-pity. Learn to move gracefully from owner to coach. That’s how God intends life to work. Your children are supposed to have what it takes to succeed on their own. The question is, do you? Don’t attack the people who are now part of your grown child’s life. It’s easy to become judgemental when you’re no longer in control. Don’t do it! Nobody is attracted to a critic; you’ll just push your kids away. Don’t lose your head; you’ve too much invested in the relationship. Whether you’re upset because you’ve given so much and seem to be getting so little in return, or you genuinely don’t approve of their choices, prayer is a better option than bickering. Talk to God about it. He can change what you can’t! Your children would be ill-equipped for life if they’d grown up physically without developing their own opinions and uniqueness. As a parent you’re entitled to your thoughts and feelings, but once you’ve expressed them, respect their choices and support them the best you can. Don’t let the devil rob you of your most precious investments. The best thing you can do is love your child, pray for them, and ‘be there’ when they need you.

2 Kings 13-15, Matthew 24: 3-28, Psalm 24, Proverbs 7:24-25.

Monday MARCH 16, 2015.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU (1)

‘Teach me to do Your will...’ Psalms 143:10 NKJV

In considering God’s will for your life, let’s begin with: what you pretend to be. When you know you’re doing His will, you can drop the mask. You don’t have to convince people you’re important while secretly fearing you’re not. Nothing is more boring or disconcerting than someone who ‘name-drops’ in order to make an impression. A newly-promoted lieutenant was eager to impress his underlings, so when a young private walked into his office the lieutenant pretended to be on the phone with the general. ‘Yes, General, you can count on me, Sir,’ he said, as he banged the receiver down. Turning to the private he asked what he wanted. ‘I’m just here to connect your phone, sir.’ Pretending to be what you’re not is hard work. That’s why you feel so tired after a first date, or a job interview, or when you’re around people who expect you to project a certain image. Inside you is an unpretentious person. And it’s such a relief not having to act humbler than you are, or feign that you pray more, or know more about the Bible than you do. The good news is that you never have to pretend with God; genuine brokenness pleases Him more than spiritual pretentiousness. To fulfil His will and become the person He wants you to be, you need to be honest about who you really are. The Psalmist prayed, ‘Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.’ So be who you are. When you do that—God will do the rest.

2 King 16: 1- 18:16, Matthew 24: 29-51, Psalm 26, Proverb 7:26-27

Have a wonderful week ahead my people !

lateef4me:
Have a wonderful week ahead my people !

thanks for the update.

have a nice week too

lateef4me:
Have a wonderful week ahead my people !

U 2, a lovely wk 2 u.

TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2015.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU (2)

‘I delight to do Your will, O my God...’ Psalms 40:8 NKJV

In discovering and doing God’s will for your life, you must come to terms with what you think you should be. Comparison kills spiritual growth. For example, the mother of three young children hears her pastor preach about Christians who rise at dawn every day to spend an hour of quiet time with God. The fact is, she’d love an hour of quiet time—anytime! But her kids won’t cooperate! So what she takes away from the sermon is that she doesn’t measure up as a Christian. In essence, she’s practising ‘spirituality by comparison’ and living under a cloud of guilt. It doesn’t occur to her that the love she expresses to her children counts as a spiritual activity. Or that she may be serving God more faithfully than somebody who neglects their family in order to have that hour of quiet every morning. Another example: a gregarious, spontaneous husband is married to a woman who enjoys solitude. It comes easily to her. Nevertheless, he feels like he’s a failure when it comes to prayer because he doesn’t enjoy being alone the way his wife does. He doesn’t consider that his joy and willingness in serving others counts, or that the degree to which he loves them is shaping his soul and delighting God. ‘Should’ is an important word, but when it comes to spiritual growth, God doesn’t want you to obey Him just because you ‘should’. He designed you to want His plan for your life—to get to the place where you can say, ‘I delight to do Your will, O my God.’

Galatians 5:22, 1 Corin 13, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 15: 1-17.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 18, 2015.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU (3)

‘…Prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’Romans 12:2 NKJV

In order to fulfil God’s will for your life, you’ll have to deal with what other people want you to be. Your boss wants you to be more productive. Your health club wants you to be fitter. Your credit card company wants you to be deeper in debt. It seems like everybody has an agenda for you, and, if you spend your life trying to meet their expectations, you’ll never be free. Sometimes loving people means having to disappoint them. Seeking to become the person others want you to be is a shallow way to live. Nobody can tell you exactly how to change, because only God knows. Even you can’t tell yourself how to change, because you didn’t create yourself. To love someone is to desire and work toward their becoming the best possible version of themselves. And the one person in the entire universe who’s qualified to do this is God. Unlike people, God has no hidden agenda or unmet needs that He’s hoping you can help Him with. He knows what the best version of you looks like. He delights in the very idea of it, and is already working to bring it to fruition in your life. The Bible says, ‘…In all things God works for the good of those who love Him…’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). That means God is at work every moment to help you become His best version of you. And you’ll only be truly free when you make up your mind to be happy about being the person God meant you to be—the one He’s working on every day.

2 Kings 18: 17 - 20:21, Matthew 25: 1-23, Psalm 115, Proverb 8:1-3.

God's Will for You (4)

Thursday, 19 March 2015 00:12

'...How different from this way of faith is the
way of law...' Galatians 3:12 NLT
To fulfil God’s will for your life and become the
person He wants you to be, you must deal with
the ‘me’ you’re afraid God wants you to be. Most
people equate spiritual maturity with trying hard
to follow the rules of the Bible. But as long as
you think God’s aim is to produce rule–followers,
spiritual growth will feel like an obligation rather
than a desire of your heart. Paul writes, ‘ How
different from this way of faith is the way of law,
which says, “If you wish to find life by obeying the
law, you must obey all of its
commands.” ’ (Galatians 3:12 NLT) Rigid
adherence to rules and regulations produces a
desire–smothering, emotion–controlling, self–
righteous person. The Bible says, ‘… The written
law brings death, but the Spirit gives life .’ (2
Corinthians 3:6 NCV) There’s a big difference
between following rules and following Jesus,
because you can’t follow Jesus without
cultivating the right heart. Jesus didn’t say, ‘I
have come that you might follow the rules.’ He
said, ‘…I have come that [you] may have life, and…
have it more abundantly .’ (John 10:10 NKJV) Until
you understand that spiritual growth is about God
conforming you into the image of His Son Jesus,
the question, ‘How’s your spiritual life going?’ will
intimidate you. A nagging sense of guilt and
deceit will prompt you to say, ‘Not too well. Not
as good as it should be.’ People are apt to use
external behaviours and devotional practices to
gauge their spiritual health. For example, they
measure by how early they get up to read and
pray, how long their quiet times are, or how
often they attend church. That’s not what
spiritual formation is about. It’s about your
relationship with Christ, not rule–keeping!


SoulFood: 2 Ki 24-25, Luke 19:1-21, Ps 116:1-11,
Prov 8:8-9

Was about to update when I saw this . Thanks for the update and coming up so early !

FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2015.

FTT

‘…I have come that they may have life…to the full.’John 10:10 NIV

Psychologists have begun to speak of what is perhaps today’s largest mental health problem. And it’s a rapidly growing problem. They call it ‘FTT’, which means ‘failure to thrive’. When you have it, you’re still able to function, but you’ve lost your sense of hope and meaning. FTT isn’t the presence of mental illness; it’s the absence of mental, spiritual and emotional vitality. In ancient lists of deadly sins it was called ‘acedia’, which means ‘weariness of soul and inability to delight in life’. It’s why Jesus looked at a crowd of people with dead marriages, dead-end jobs, and a feeling of inner deadness, and said, ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10 NIV). In a vision, Ezekiel saw a valley full of dead bones. It was FTT in its final form. God asked him, ‘Can these bones live?’ He replied, ‘…You alone know’ (Ezekiel 37:3 NIV). God did know, and He made them come alive. And He can cause you to live again, and to thrive. The Talmud says that every blade of grass has an angel bending over it whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’ Paul said that in Christ the whole redeemed company ‘…grows and builds itself up in love…’ (Ephesians 4:16 NIV). But it’s not just about you. God wants you to flourish so that people can be encouraged, gardens can be planted, music can be written, sick people can be helped, or companies can thrive in ways they otherwise would not. So let’s stop and propose a toast: ‘Here’s to the person God designed, desired, and has determined you will become!’

2 Kings 24-25, Matthew 26: 1-25, Psalm 19, Proverbs 8: 6-7.

SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2015.

DON’T BE SO CONTROLLING

‘Love…does not demand its own way...’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT

Some kids at a summer camp were discussing creation, and one asked, ‘If everything has a purpose, how come God made poison ivy?’ Another replied, ‘Because He knows there are some things we should keep our hands off!’ But keeping your hands off things isn’t easy when you’re insecure and controlling by nature. ‘Sometimes my husband drives me crazy,’ you say. Well, maybe you drive him crazy too! The Bible says, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they will become one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24 NAS). Notice the word ‘become’. Leaving is the easy part; becoming is the hard part. It takes love, patience, kindness, and hard work. Jesus said, ‘…Stop allowing yourselves to be…unsettled’ (John 14:27 AMP). You’re doing it to yourself! Learn to ‘let go’ and work on developing the fruits of the Spirit in your own life. Letting go doesn’t mean you don’t care; it just means allowing others to learn in their own way and through their own experiences. It calls for focusing on Jesus rather than obsessing on the other person’s behaviour. ‘You will keep in perfect peace…all whose thoughts are fixed on You!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Fix your thoughts on God, not others. Letting go means caring about, instead of care-taking. It means stepping out of the middle and not trying to influence the outcome by fixing, judging, nagging, scolding, arguing, criticising, and regulating. It’s about facing each day with God’s help and cherishing each moment. It’s about realising the only person you can ‘change’ is yourself. It’s about fearing less and trusting more. And it’s the only way to be happy.

Hosea 1-5, Matthew 26: 26-46, Psalm 116:1-11, Proverbs 8:8-9

Before You Date Someone

Sunday, 22 March 2015 00:11
'
...Spur one another on toward love and good
deeds.' Hebrews 10:24 NIV
Here’s some advice for making your dating
experiences something you can feel good about
afterwards:
(1) Be spiritually prepared . Talk to
God while you’re getting ready. Time spent
before the mirror is important, but time spent
with God is all–important. This is never more so
than when you’re looking for someone to spend
the rest of your life with.
(2) Talk openly about
sex before it becomes an issue. Physical intimacy
is a wonderful thing, but the Bible confines it to
marriage where two people are committed to one
another. So think protectively—and proactively.
Genuine love doesn’t say, ‘If you loved me, you
would…’ It says, ‘I love you too much to take
advantage of you, or cause you pain, or ask you
to do something you feel is wrong and that you’ll
feel bad about tomorrow.’
(3) Limit the time you
are alone ; it can easily lead to things you’ll regret
later. When your friends start saying they never
see you anymore, chances are you’re becoming
too exclusive, and setting yourself up to fail.
Don’t always date as a couple; spend time in the
company of others too.
(4) Do it right this time . If
you’ve been permissive in past relationships,
don’t be discouraged. ‘ If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins …’ ( 1
John 1:9 NIV ) That means you can start again
with a clean slate. The strongest relationships
always put God at the centre. They strive to
demonstrate the kind of love Paul describes in
First Corinthians chapter thirteen. Make a point
of reading it today!

SoulFood: Lev 24:17-22 , Deut 15:7-11 , Matt

thanks lateef4me for the update.. wanted to post that for Saturday and Sunday, good you posted that of yesterday...
it been a while I saw alwaystrue

Monday MARCH 23,2015.

BRING THEM TO JESUS

‘…If two of you agree…it will be done...’ Matthew 18:19 NKJV

They came to Him, bringing a paralytic, who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic…‘arise, take up your bed…’’ (Mark 2: 3-11 NKJV). We learn from this man’s story that some people are incapable of getting to Jesus on their own; their condition makes it impossible. Notice three important things here: 1) It took four people with faith to do it. Spiritual synergy works miracles, so look for some prayer partners to stand with you. Jesus said, …‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ 2) They refused to let the crowd stop them. The crowd had its own agenda. Some were curious, some were critical, and some were sincere seekers. In order to bring your loved one to Jesus, you’ll have to overcome anything and anybody who stands in your way. 3) They ‘raised the roof’. Stand on God’s promises, lift your voice in prayer, ‘raise the roof’ if you have to, but don’t give up. Jesus didn’t disappoint them, and He won’t disappoint you either. It’s hard to pick up the weight of another person, but if you hold up your end of the deal God will hold up His. Don’t give in to weariness or discouragement. Don’t stop until you get them to Jesus.

Hosea 11-14, Matthew 26: 57-75, Psalm 13, Proverbs 8:14-16

I

Bn a yl u posted @Lateef4me n @Odunharry
Hp my brothers r doin gud
Xpectin u back ere soonest
Lovely day

TUESDAY MARCH 24,2015

Learn to ‘Wait’ On God

‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’

Isaiah 40:31

The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘…energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to drop-outs. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 TM). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude—and that can happen for you too. ‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

 Deuteronomy 13-15, Mark 12:28-44

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH,2015

The Holy Spirit (1)

‘I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind...'

John 14:27


Life comes with surprises. Some of them you welcome, and some of them you don’t. One summer you take a trip to the beach, next summer the beach is covered with oil. One month your stocks are soaring and your investments are growing, then suddenly it all comes crashing down. And the ‘brains’ you thought were running the system sit at a congressional hearing and say, ‘We just never anticipated this.’ And in those rare seasons when you think the world has settled down, watch out! A malignant cell shows up in a colon, or a tornado rips through a neighbourhood flattening a house. So what are you going to do? When Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them, they were in panic mode, so He said to them, ‘…When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I’m leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid’ (vv. 26-27 NLT). You need to recognise the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, and build a relationship with Him. He’s not an ‘it’ or a ‘thing’ or an ethereal spirit that’s beyond your reach. He is Christ’s ‘representative’. He’s willing to teach you what you don’t know, and to remind you of the things you so easily forget. And best of all, He will give you ‘peace of mind and heart’ regardless of what life throws at you.

 Deuteronomy 16-18, Mark 13:1-20

THURSDAY 26 MARCH, 2015

The Holy Spirit (2)

‘…He will give you another Counsellor.'

John 14:16

In the Bible, Solomon lists twenty-eight different seasons in life. Here they are: ‘A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to stop searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace’ (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NLT). God determines each of your life’s seasons. The Psalmist said, ‘My times are in Your hand…’ (Psalms 31:15 AMP). So what should you do when you enter a new season of life? Reach for the Holy Spirit’s help because He’s a ‘Counsellor’. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever.’ When you need an advisor because you’re not sure what to do or which way to go, the Holy Spirit is available to guide you. That means you must be sensitive when He highlights a particular Scripture you’re reading, or plants a persistent thought or idea in your mind that won’t go away, or speaks to you through a friend. You’re not alone, unless you want to be. Just consult the ‘Counsellor’ within you.

 Deuteronomy 19-21, Mark 13:21-37

nice one lateef4me wanted to post the word for today but will wait after you are done with the ones we didn't post

FRIDAY 27 MARCH, 2015

The Holy Spirit (3)

‘…The Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything...’

John 14:26

As a departing teacher might introduce the pupils to his or her replacement, so Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit. And what a ringing endorsement He gives Him! He calls the Holy Spirit His ‘representative’. The Holy Spirit within you comes in the name of Christ, with equal authority and identical power. How comforting it is to know that, when you’re entering a new season of life in which so many things will be different. This verse is translated in different ways. In The Message, the word ‘counsellor’ means ‘friend’. In the New King James Bible, He’s called ‘Helper’. In the Amplified Bible, He’s referred to as ‘Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener’.  In the original Greek, the Holy Spirit is referred to as ‘parakletos’, a compound of two words: para, which means ‘alongside of’, and kletos, which means ‘one who’s designated to you’. The Holy Spirit has been assigned to come alongside you. He is the presence of Jesus with and in you. Can you see how the disciples needed this encouragement? It’s Thursday night before the crucifixion. By sunrise they will all have abandoned Him. Within twenty-four hours He will be hanging on the cross and their world will seem like it’s been turned upside down. But Jesus wants them to know: ‘You’ll never face the future without My help.’ And neither will you. Wherever the journey leads, He will be there by your side. The songwriter said, ‘And He walks with me, and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.’

Deuteronomy 22-24, Mark 14:1-26

SATURDAY MARCH 28,2015

THE HOLY SPIRIT (4)

‘These little troubles are getting us ready...’ 2 Corinthians 4:17 CEV

Everything Jesus did for His followers, the Holy Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Holy Spirit teaches us. Jesus healed; the Holy Spirit heals us. Jesus comforted; the Holy Spirit comforts us. Jesus sends us into new seasons, and He sends His Counsellor with us. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit Who …‘will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have told you’ (John 14:26 NLT). When change comes, embrace it, don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life, it’s a necessary part of God’s strategy for your life. To use us to change the world, He alters our assignments. Gideon, the farmer, became a general. Mary, the peasant girl, became the mother of Christ. Paul, the rabbi, became a world evangelist. God changed Joseph from a baby brother into an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee; Christ called him to lead the first church. God gives us our assignments. But what about painful changes that are hard to understand? It’s like your time in the womb: you are being developed for a greater time outside the womb. Inside the womb you had the ultimate comfort and security. But only outside the womb could you fulfil God’s purpose for your life. Your life in this world is simply to prepare you for your life in the next one. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.’ Eternal glory—you can hardly imagine it!

Jeremiah 7-9, Matthew 27:27-32, Psalm 38: 1-12, Proverbs 8: 22-23

SUNDAY MARCH 29, 2015.

JOSEPH’S STORY, AND YOURS

‘…God intended it…to accomplish…the saving of many lives.’ Genesis 50:20 NIV

Here’s Joseph’s story in a nutshell: his brothers put him in a pit, his boss put him in a prison, but God put him on a throne. And here’s what we learn: 1) Your dream may work out differently from what you thought. As a boy Joseph dreamed of being in a position of power. But God had something better in mind: namely, the saving of a nation. What God has in mind for you will often exceed all your expectations, bless others, and promote His kingdom on the earth. 2) When it feels like you’re losing, you’re learning. When you experience unfair treatment and hardship, complaining doesn’t do any good. Plus, you’re not growing while you are grumbling! In every experience there’s a lesson, so glean it and move forward. When life knocks you down—just make sure it knocks you to your knees. 3) Seek divine promotion instead of self-promotion. Every time Joseph tried to promote himself it worked against him. Look what happened when he asked the royal cupbearer, who was his prison-mate, to recommend him to Pharaoh: ‘The chief cupbearer…did not remember Joseph…’ (Genesis 40:23 NIV). Joseph learned the hard way that success comes from God, and that we must give Him the credit for it. Indeed, the only advancement that counts is the kind that comes from Him. So pray: ‘Lord, help me to see these difficulties as stepping stones to maturity. Give me patience to wait for the kind of promotion that comes from You. Help me to remember that I’m blessed for a reason—to bless others.’

Genesis 22:1-18, Matthew 27: 33-56, Psalm 22, Isaiah

MONDAY MARCH 30


Be Open To Correction

'…They did not respond to correction….' Jeremiah 2:30 NIV

How do you respond to correction? By taking offence? By interpreting it as rejection? By getting defensive? By shooting the bearer of bad news and making sure they never get to you again? By keeping scores and saying, 'In comparison to what I've accomplished in life, you've done nothing? By giving in to self-pity and thinking how hard your life is because people don't understand or appreciate you? We need people who'll be honest with us. Why? Because we're too easily blinded by our egos! When God sends somebody to correct you, it's because He wants the best for you. His willingness to correct you actually demonstrates how much He cares for you. 'If you are not disciplined… you are illegitimate children and not true sons…' (Hebrews12:8 NIV). So check your spiritual certificate! People who are open to correction generally exhibit these four qualities: 1)Vulnerability. When they're wrong they're capable of admitting it--even before they're confronted. 2) Teachability. They're willing to hear, quick to learn, and always open to counsel. 3) Availability. They don't try to avoid you. 4) Honesty. They are committed to the truth, regardless of how much it hurts. You say, 'That's a high standard.' You're right! It's a standard pride resists and fragile egos run from. There's something in each of us that would rather look good than be good. So when God sends people into your life who love you enough to be straight with you--be open to them. Your personal growth and success depends on it.

Jeremiah 10-13 Matthew 27:57-66 Psalm 38:13-22 Proverbs 8:24-26

Longtime guys!
I have been around though I was not very active on this section. Hope you are all doing good.

@Alwaystrue,we are doing though you've left us alone on this thread !

Noooooo I did not leave you alone.
It is good to know you are doing well.