15 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT GOD (4)

‘Let us not give up meeting together...’

Hebrews 10:25

15 05 2013

They took God’s Word seriously. ‘They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching…’ (Acts 2:42 NCV). Researchers tell us that, today, personal Bible reading is less common among Christians than prayer. Instead of a Word from God that fortifies us for the challenges of the day, we’ve substituted exercise and cappuccino. Our Bible reading is confined to the pastor’s Sunday sermon. The early disciples were so committed to the Word that they ‘spent [invested, paid the price with] their time, learning [studying to understand and master] the apostles’ teaching.’ God’s Word not only enabled them to withstand life’s challenges, but when persecution made them fugitives, they took the Word with them and planted new churches around the world (Acts 8:4). Are you growing in God’s Word so that it fortifies you against tough times and prepares you to influence your world for Christ? They took worship and praise seriously. ‘They stayed continually at the temple, praising God’ (Luke 24:53 NIV). For many of us, the word ‘worship’ has come to mean the Sunday morning service—a place we attend rather than the voluntary act of devoted hearts glorifying God. Being a spectator at the Sunday service isn’t worship. The New Testament believers understood David’s instruction: ‘Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise…’ (Psalms 100:4 NIV). Do you want to be a serious worshipper? Enter His presence focused exclusively on His goodness, and wholeheartedly express to Him your appreciation for all He is! 

Deuteronomy 32:29 - 34:12, Mark 9:1-13, Psalm 62 , Proverbs 12:18-19

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

ENOUGH FOOD

 There is enough food for everyone in the world, but 1 in 8 people will go to bed hungry tonight.  Thank God for an improved water supply which enables farmers in Zimbabwe to provide a wide variety of vegetables.  Thank God for weather forecasts sent by text message which allow communities in Kenya to plan their planting.  Pray for more and more innovations which will help people all over the world to ‘bite back’ against hunger.

Let's remember to pray for our Jerusalem ,Nigeria ,those that love it shall prosper !

lateef4me: Let's remember to pray for our Jerusalem ,Nigeria ,those that love it shall prosper !

@lateff4me ryt now i wanna talk, have been a silent follwer since u created dis thread, i must commend u cos ur really trying to always keep this thread updated, its not easy. I pray that the good Lord which we serve rewards u by blessing all the works of ur hands in Jesus name...amen

Thumbs up too, been long I commented or helped out there are lots of constraints but God will be helping us. Grace

@weezii,

Amen and thanks for the kind words !

@Flawless-diva,
Where have you been since ? Welcome on board once again my sister . God bless you real good !

16 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

YOU ARE SPECIAL

‘…My unfailing love for you will not be shaken…’

Isaiah 54:10

16 05 2013

Chinese missionary John Bentley distributed a book written by Max Lucado, entitled You Are Special, to children who lived in a Chinese orphanage. In China, male children are favoured over female ones. Healthy babies outrank impaired ones. Indeed, children who cannot speak or hear stand little chance of a healthy, productive life. Every message of history and culture tells them, ‘You don’t matter.’ The story in Lucado’s book describes Punchinello, a wooden person in a village of wooden people. The villagers had the practice of sticking stars on achievers and dots on strugglers. Punchinello had so many dots that the people gave him dots for no reason at all. But when he met Eli, his maker, Eli affirmed him, telling him to disregard the opinions of others. ‘I made you,’ he explained, ‘and I don’t make mistakes.’ Punchinello had never heard such words. When he did, his dots began to drop off. And when the children in the orphanage heard such words, their worlds began to change. John Bentley describes reading the story to these children and the incredible effect it had on each as they sat, glued to every word. ‘When the idea came through in the reading that they were special, simply because they were made by a loving creator…every one started crying—including their teachers! It was wild.’ Today open your Bible, get God’s opinion of you and build your life on it; it’s the only opinion that counts! ‘‘‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken”…says the Lord.’

​

1 Peter 1-5, Mark 9:14-29, Psalm 49 , Proverbs 12:20-22

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FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

 ·        Pray for our hearts, that we may never be afraid of the power of those who are greedy or abusive of the world’s resources.·        Pray for greater financial transparency and shared information across the world.·        Pray for tax justice, so that poor countries may develop more reliable income streams and be less ...

17 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

DON’T RUN OUT OF STEAM!

‘I bear him witness that he has a great zeal...’

Colossians 4:13

17 05 2013

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, travelled 250,000 miles on horseback, averaging twenty miles a day for 40 years. He preached 40,000 sermons, produced 400 books, and knew ten languages. At 83, he was annoyed that he couldn’t write more than 15 hours a day without his eyes hurting. And at 86, he was ashamed he couldn’t preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary of an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5.30 a.m. One word described Wesley’s life: zeal. Paul writes: ‘Epaphras…greets you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he had a great zeal for you…’ (Colossians 4:12-13 NKJV). We speak of ‘getting up a head of steam.’ It’s the language of the locomotive. Steam is literally water turned to energy. Kate Eaton wrote in the Chicago Tribune: ‘You may see it above your whistling tea kettle or on your bathroom mirror, but that’s not it. Steam is the clear vapour between the hot water and the visible mist. As it forms at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it expands to take up much more space than its liquid state. This explosive expansion, harnessed in a giant locomotive, is what powered 250-ton engines and enabled them to pull twenty or more railcars through the Blue Ridge Mountains, across the great plains and over the deserts to the west. It’s a powerful force.’ If you work for God, you must spend time with God, otherwise you’ll run out of steam!

 

Obadiah , Malachai 1-4, Mark 9:30-37, Psalm 18:1-29 , Proverbs 12:23-24

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PRAYING FOR UCB

 UCB’s development team will be hosting ‘vision tours’ in May and July.  Pray that all those who can make the event will truly see the heart of UCB, and that they will be uplifted, encouraged and spurred to promote our work when they return home.  Pray that these events will also be opportunities for us to discover new partners, so that we can extend our work in building up the Church and spreading the good news of Jesus.

18 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

ARE YOU IN THE WILDERNESS?

‘He…guided them in the wilderness...’

Psalms 78:52

18 05 2013

The wilderness is a place where growth is difficult, water is scarce, and you plod on when there’s no end in sight. You can have a wilderness experience anywhere: at a graveside, at the Job Centre, or in a divorce court. In the wilderness: 1) There seems to be no way out. In Scripture, the number forty represents struggle. Noah experienced storms for forty days. Moses spent forty years alone in the desert. Jesus was tempted by the Devil for forty days. 2) You begin to think the worst. The wilderness weakens your resolve. It makes you look for an easy way out. A troubled marriage can make you look the wrong way at somebody else’s husband or wife. It’s the breeding ground for dishonesty, depression, even pornography—things you normally wouldn’t find appealing. ‘Jesus…was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil…’ (Luke 4:1-2 NLT). Notice: going face to face with the devil was God’s idea. Jesus, the last Adam, came to succeed where the first Adam failed. ‘Because one person disobeyed…many became sinners. But because one righteous person obeyed…many will be made righteous’ (Romans 5:19 NLT). Jesus overcame the devil by using God’s Word. Three times He said to satan, ‘It is written’ (Luke 4:4, 8, 12). And God’s Word is still your wilderness-survival guide. After using it, Jesus left the wilderness clothed in the power of God’s Spirit, ready to launch His ministry. And God can do the same for you. ‘He…guided them in the wilderness…He led them on safely, so that they did not fear…’ (Psalms 78:52-53 NKJV).


⁠
Ruth 1-4, Mark 9:38-50, Psalm 18:30-50 , Proverbs 12:25-28

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

PRAYING FOR UCB

 UCB’s development team will be hosting ‘vision tours’ in May and July.  Pray that all those who can make the event will truly see the heart of UCB, and that they will be uplifted, encouraged and spurred to promote our work when they return home.  Pray that these events will also be opportunities for us to discover new partners, so that we can extend our work in building up the Church and spreading the good news of Jesus.

19 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

HAVE YOU BEEN REJECTED?

‘…Do not be afraid…I am with you...’

Acts 18:9-10

When Paul tried to share his new faith with his old friends, ‘They opposed him’ (v. 6 NKJV). It hurts to be rejected by those you love. It seems like Paul was so hurt by their rejection that God had to encourage him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid…I am with you, and no one is going to…harm you.’ Later when Paul reached out to some of the apostles, they too were wary of him. They saw him as too Jewish to be Christian and too Christian to be Jewish. Throughout his ministry, Paul suffered disappointment and rejection at the hands of those he loved. But when people fail you it drives you into the arms of God. Being rejected by others can actually bring a greater intimacy with Him. When they stoned Paul and left him for dead, ‘he got back up’ and went on to greater things (Acts 14:19-20). Being rejected makes you lean on God like never before, because you’ve nowhere else to turn! In fact, at times like that, unless you hear from God, there’s no other word of hope coming! When others reject you, God has a way of opening doors to new levels of blessing you’d otherwise miss. Your greatest spiritual growth will generally result from your greatest trials. The Psalmist wrote: ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies [vindication]: thou anointest my head with oil [daily empowerment]; my cup runneth over [greater blessing]’ (Psalms 23:5 KJV). The truth is, without some pain and opposition, you wouldn’t get to sit at God’s table and enjoy His best. 

Leviticus 23:15-22, Acts 2:1-18

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JESUS OUR EXAMPLE

 We never cease to marvel at the authority and conviction demonstrated by Jesus in His earthly ministry.  We are reminded that Jesus, at all times, ministered in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that we, as individuals and as churches, may thirst for the same dynamic that was clearly the motivation behind Christ’s ministry, and that lives and communities may be impacted by the message of the gospel as a result.

20 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

IMAGINATION AND FREEDOM OF CHOICE

‘…The world and all that is in it is mine….’

Psalm 50:12

20 05 2013 

The Bible says, ‘…God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.’ (Genesis 2:7 NKJV). Until then, we were just inanimate lumps of clay in human form. At that point God breathed into us two important things: 1) Imagination. It distinguishes us from all other living creatures. It’s what makes us capable of going to the moon, inventing the Internet, having a dream, and worshipping our Creator. But even when God gives you a concept; you must work to make it a reality. God said, ‘The world and all that is in it is mine.’ That means that when you get ready to build and you only have a few bricks, you can pray for more bricks and God will give them to you. It also means that instead of complaining about what you don’t have, you look at what you do have, and what you can make of it with God’s help. 2) Freedom of choice. God has empowered you with the ability to make the right choices and act on them. But even though God has given you this ability, don’t try to go it alone. Jesus said, ‘What is born of…[the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit’ (John 3:6 AMP). Always depend on the Holy Spirit. He’s called ‘the Helper’ for a reason (John 14:26 NKJV). Jesus promised His disciples, ‘You shall receive power [ability, efficiency and might] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…’ (Acts 1:8 AMP). Imagination and freedom of choice—use them to glorify God. 

Judges 1-3, Mark 10:1-12, Psalm 88:1-9a , Proverbs 13:1-3

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

JESUS OUR EXAMPLE

 We never cease to marvel at the authority and conviction demonstrated by Jesus in His earthly ministry.  We are reminded that Jesus, at all times, ministered in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that we, as individuals and as churches, may thirst for the same dynamic that was clearly the motivation behind Christ’s ministry, and that lives and communities may be impacted by the message of the gospel as a result.

May His presence abide with us as we go forth this week !

21 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVITY

‘God created man in his own image...’

Genesis 1:27

21 05 2013 

The Bible says: ‘God created man in his own image…male and female he created them. God blessed them and said…”Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, ”I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours…’’’ (vv. 27-29 NIV). God has given you everything required to succeed at whatever He’s called you to do. But you must tap into your God-given creativity! The Bible says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Every great accomplishment begins as a vision, and every God-given vision comes with the innate power to fulfil it. Others may be more educated and experienced, but they don’t have a monopoly on creativity. The chances are, there’s a ‘God-idea’ inside you right now that’s just waiting to be released. By not tapping into it, you’re settling for less than God wants you to have. Whatever you feel called to do—write, paint, preach, play a piano, build a business, nurse, teach—make the leap and do it. If you wait until you can do it perfectly or without criticism, you’ll never do it! Walking on water begins with one step of faith. It also brings you closer to Jesus. You see, Jesus wasn’t in the boat, He was out on the water saying to His disciples, ‘Come’ (Matthew 14:29 NKJV). Only one of them did: Peter. And though he did it imperfectly, it changed his life. So don’t be afraid, tap into your creativity and watch what happens. 

Judges 4-6, Mark 10:13-22, Psalm 88:9b-18 , Proverbs 13:4-6

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ENABLING POWER

 Do you sometimes feel a sense of inadequacy in your life as a believer?  Please do not feel condemned, Jesus fully understands this.  He has promised us all the power and authority we need to be fully effective in our everyday lives.  This power enables us not only to speak the good news of the gospel, but also to demonstrate the potential to change lives.  Pray that this power may be a reality in your life today.

22 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

THINKING FOR A CHANGE

‘The plans of the diligent lead to profit...’

Proverbs 21:5

22 05 2013. 

In his book, Thinking for a Change, Dr. John Maxwell says, ‘The right thought, plus the right people, in the right environment, at the right time, for the right reason, always produces the right result.’ Let’s take a minute and break those words down: 1) The right thought. Thinking produces ideas, and ideas have incredible power and potential. But every idea begins as a ‘seed thought,’ so you have to nurture and protect it. 2) The right people. When you expose the right idea to the right people, great things happen. In their company it blossoms and becomes infused with possibility. 3) The right environment. In the right environment thinking is valued, ideas flow freely, fresh eyes are welcome, changes are expected, questions are encouraged, egos are checked, ideas stimulate better ideas, and thinking generates teamwork. 4) The right time. The Emperor Hadrian said, ‘To be right too soon, is to be wrong.’ While still in the ‘stretching’ stage of an idea, present it without expectation, time frames, or rigidly defined goals. Why? Because if you try to implement your idea too early it may not survive. 5) The right reason. J. P. Morgan said, ‘A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good idea, and the real reason.’ Motives matter - and selfish motives disqualify us. God only gets behind ideas that fulfil His purposes and demonstrate His love for others. Sometimes an idea becomes great when it partners with another idea; other times it excels just as it is. One thing is certain: as you stretch your thinking, you will discover that your thinking is stretching you.


⁠  Judges 7:1 - 9:33, Mark 10:23-34, Psalm 93 , Proverbs 13:7-8

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

ENABLING POWER

 Do you sometimes feel a sense of inadequacy in your life as a believer?  Please do not feel condemned, Jesus fully understands this.  He has promised us all the power and authority we need to be fully effective in our everyday lives.  This power enables us not only to speak the good news of the gospel, but also to demonstrate the potential to change lives.  Pray that this power may be a reality in your life today.

23 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO PLEASE?

‘Let my words and…thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord...’

Psalms 19:14

23 05 2013
 

Are you afraid to speak up in case you encounter disapproval? The Bible says, ‘Fearing people is a dangerous trap…’ (Proverbs 29:25 NLT). And fear is common among people-pleasers. One author writes: ‘A pleaser daughter is one who, at any age, still tries to please her parents. From report cards to parenting style…her decisions are coloured by the opinions of the people who raised her. But remember what Paul said, “When I was a child…I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). A pleaser friend is one who can’t say no. Resentment may build up, but she always turns up and takes care of things. What she considers love and loyalty are often exploited by others who seek reliance, co-dependency and caretaking. A pleaser employee consistently works long hours without compensation or appreciation, covers for others who don’t pull their weight, and bites her tongue when her boss or colleagues take credit for her work. A pleaser wife is one who in her desire to be perfect…becomes an altered version of the woman her husband fell in love with. A pleaser mum fears the loss of her children’s love. She’s afraid to set boundaries, even though they create an atmosphere of comfort and respect. She equates discipline with division, and by depriving her children of rules she ends up missing out on the later-life friendship that’s the desert of good parents.’ The only thing you should be concerned about is making sure that your ‘words and…thoughts’ please God. In the end, His approval is the only thing that counts.

 

 Judges 9:34 - 11:40, Mark 10:35-52, Psalm 129 , Proverbs 20:25, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

THE SPIRIT FOR EVERYONE

 This empowering of the Holy Spirit is not the preserve of a few chosen leaders, but is the promise to all who seek.  The events of the Day of Pentecost not only impacted a city, but changed the lives of 3,000 people.  Pray that through the enabling of the Spirit, the Church in your community and in the nation at large may respond to the challenge of bringing healing and reconciliation into broken lives and communities.

Our altimate goal should be to please God,and Him alone !

24 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

GRATITUDE—IT’S CONTAGIOUS!

‘In every thing give thanks...’

1 Thessalonians 5:18

24 05 2013. 

Author Barbara Johnson was frazzled; she was running late, and on the bus to work she had to stand. Her attitude was going downhill fast when a cheery voice from the front of the bus announced, ‘Beautiful day, isn’t it?’ She couldn’t see the man, but she listened to his commentary as he described the lovely scenery…this church…that park…a cemetery…a firehouse. His grateful attitude lightened the mood of everybody around him. Then as Johnson got off the bus she caught a glimpse of the speaker: an average-looking man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white stick! Paul said, ‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.’ We don’t thank God for trials, we thank Him in them. Gratitude is like a boomerang. It blesses the recipient, makes a 180-degree turn and blesses the person who gives thanks. One Bible teacher says: ‘Whatever crisis there is in your life, before it ever came God made sure you’d be able to endure it…others have gone through exactly what you’re going through…and made it through victoriously…with every temptation God promised to “’‘…make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Trials and “’‘escape ways” are inseparable. But the devil doesn’t want you to know that, so every time you go through a test, he tells you there’s no way out. I learned long ago when the devil keeps pressuring me, it’s always an indication that “the way out” is about to be revealed…We need to do what God says. “Rejoice!” Remember, “…The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). When you have His joy, it gives you strength for the journey’.

​

Judges 12-15, Mark 11:1-11, Psalm 97 , Prov 13:9-10

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NEIGHBOUR FRIDAY

 Lord forgive us that our society worships idols such as money, football, TV and celebrities.  I pray for those living on my street, that they will give up worshipping empty idols and seek a real, meaningful relationship with You.  Put a hunger in their hearts which is satisfied by nothing less than You.  Can you give up TV, radio or web-browsing for a few hours this week in order to help a neighbour?

25 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

WHEN A BELIEVER DIES (1)

‘…You will not grieve like people who have no hope.’

1 Thessalonians 4:13

25 05 2013.

Our culture makes death a subject to avoid or to speak of with gloom. When the subject comes up, even Christians try to dodge the bullet by escaping into vague, irrelevant-sounding metaphors. But God’s Word makes death clear and unthreatening for those who trust in Christ. ‘Dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.’ God’s Word is direct, concrete, and encouraging on this subject. ‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His [godly ones]’ (Psalms 116:15 NKJV). From our heavenly Father’s perspective, death just opens the door for Him to enjoy perfect, eternal, delightful fellowship with each of His redeemed children. ‘I heard a voice out of Heaven, “Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master…how blessed to die that way!” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end’’’ (Revelation 14:13 TM). The Bible assures every believer that their death is not a tragedy but a triumphal entry into heaven. The Amplified Bible puts it: ‘Blessed (happy, to be envied).’ God instructed John, ‘Write this.’ Why? Because God understands that when we lose a loved one we tend to forget His perspective and adopt an emotion-driven perspective. Rejoice, believer, ‘…Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord’ (Romans 14:8 NIV). And the Lord takes good care of what belongs to Him!

Judges 16:1 - 19:15, Mark 11:12-26, Psalm 47 , Proverbs 13:11-12

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE UNITING

 Christian young people in the UK today tend to be undeterred by denominational boundaries and theological differences, and so God is using them to unite the church across our villages, towns and cities.  Please pray for the many area-wide, cross-church youth initiatives that have been established in recent years.  Pray that young people will be catalysts in bringing the whole Body of Christ together in prayer and mission across your area and across our nation.

26 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

WHEN A BELIEVER DIES (2)

‘…God will bring back with [Jesus] the believers who have died.’

1 Thessalonians 4:14

26 05 2013
 

Dealing with death separates us into two categories: The hopeless and the hopeful. The hopeless believe that they have nothing to look forward to. Their losses feel permanent—the end of life and all that’s good. But the hopeful have everything to look forward to. Their losses are temporary—the beginning of an endless life filled with God’s finest gifts. God wants you ‘to know what will happen to the believers who have died so [you] will not grieve like people who have no hope’ (v. 13 NLT). Our hope results from knowing these truths: 1) ‘We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again’ (v. 14 NLT). All hope begins here: believing in Jesus’ death for our sin and His resurrection to represent us before God. 2) Since we believe this, we also believe that…Jesus returns. Faith in Christ’s physical return to earth gives us confidence that ‘God will bring back with him the believers who have died.’ God will raise us from our resting places and bring us back again with Jesus (Romans 8:11). At that moment, ‘He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own…’ (Philippians 3:21 NLT). Never again will you be vulnerable to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, strokes, Lou Gehrig’s disease, paralysis, disabilities, weariness, weakness, grief, fear, depression, temptation, addictions, failure, remorse, suicidal thoughts, bipolar disorder, OCD or PTSD or any kind of ailment. You’ll be transformed into the very likeness of Christ. Isn’t that wonderful?


⁠ Galations 5:23, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 42:1-4 , Psalm 18:31-35

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE UNITING

 Christian young people in the UK today tend to be undeterred by denominational boundaries and theological differences, and so God is using them to unite the church across our villages, towns and cities.  Please pray for the many area-wide, cross-church youth initiatives that have been established in recent years.  Pray that young people will be catalysts in bringing the whole Body of Christ together in prayer and mission across your area and across our nation.

27 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

WHEN A BELIEVER DIES (3)

‘We tell you this directly from the Lord...’

1 Thessalonians 4:15

27 05 2013.

What Paul wrote about death, he heard straight from the Lord: ‘We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.’ The Lord reserves this high privilege exclusively for those who die in Him; they will be the first to experience the resurrection. Try to imagine that moment. Arising from their rest like we do after a good night’s sleep, now dressed in Christ-like bodies, they awake to the sight of their Lord returning in glory with His angels. They meet Him—the first believers to witness His return, the initial wing of His airborne vanguard to escort Him back to earth. This is no pipe dream or mere fantasy; Paul got it ‘directly from the Lord.’ Our source is flawless! He writes: 1) ‘Together with them, we who are still alive…will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…’ (v. 17 NLT). Living believers will rise to join with resurrected brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, spouses, friends, family of God never-met-before, in a spectacular mid-air reunion with Christ. We’ll be together, inseparable, eternal, one international, multicultural, love-based, Christ-centred family! 2) ‘…Then we will be with the Lord forever’ (v. 17 NLT). No speculating or imagining what He’s really like. ‘…For we will see him as he really is’ (1John 3:2 NLT). We will see, touch and talk with Jesus as we do each other. And He will respond to us in real time! 3) ‘Encourage each other with these words’ (1Thessalonians 4:18 NLT).

 Judges 19:16 - 21:25, Mark 11:27-33, Psalm 45 , Prov 13:13-16

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE UNITING

 Christian young people in the UK today tend to be undeterred by denominational boundaries and theological differences, and so God is using them to unite the church across our villages, towns and cities.  Please pray for the many area-wide, cross-church youth initiatives that have been established in recent years.  Pray that young people will be catalysts in bringing the whole Body of Christ together in prayer and mission across your area and across our nation.

Thank God for the break tomorrow !

@lateef4me, you are doing a great job, you will never regret serving the Lord.

God bless you.
God2man.

God2man,
Thanks for the kind words sir !

28 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

WHEN A BELIEVER DIES (4)

‘…To go and be with Christ, which would be far better...’

Philippians 1:23

28 05 2013.

No matter how much you enjoy where you are living at present, there’s always a longing in your heart for the place you call ‘home.’ And how much more so for those who have been born again into God’s redeemed family! The world has its beautiful shorelines and landscapes, but deep down we yearn, like Paul, for our heavenly Father, heavenly family and home. ‘For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better…I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me’ (Philippians 1:21-23 NLT). Leaving this life to be with Christ, in Paul’s judgment, ‘is far better.’ Far better than what? Anything else! Nothing here can compare with what awaits you there! ‘…No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it—what God has arranged for those who love him…’ (1Corinthians 2:9 TM). You ask, ‘How will this transition happen to us?’ At death, ‘The dust [our body] returns to the ground it came from, and [our] spirit returns to God who gave it’ (Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV). Our bodies will ‘fall asleep in Christ’ (1Corinthians 15:18). Our God-indwelled spirits return to His presence, delighting in ‘the fullness of joy’ and revelling in the ‘pleasures forevermore’ that are found in abundance at His right hand (Psalms 16:11). While we wait, anticipating our best days, heaven’s hosts rehearse for the drama of the ages, the awesome return of Christ and our accompanying Him in our glorified bodies! We say, ‘…Come, Lord Jesus’ (Revelation 22:20 NIV).

 

Galatians 1-3, Mark 12:1-12, Psalm 128 , Proverbs 13:17-19

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE UNITING

 Christian young people in the UK today tend to be undeterred by denominational boundaries and theological differences, and so God is using them to unite the church across our villages, towns and cities.  Please pray for the many area-wide, cross-church youth initiatives that have been established in recent years.  Pray that young people will be catalysts in bringing the whole Body of Christ together in prayer and mission across your area and across our nation.

29 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

TRUE GIVING (1)

‘...see that you also excel in this grace of giving.’

2 Corinthians 8:7

29 05 2013.

Paul tells the Corinthians '...see that you also excel in this grace of giving' (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV). Then he challenges them with the example of the givers in Macedonia: '...I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colours: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of...generous gifts...They gave offerings of whatever they could - far more than they could afford! - pleading for the privilege of helping...This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives…' (2 Corinthians 8:1-5 TM). Notice, the Macedonian givers: 1) First gave themselves to the Lord, without reservation. 2) Understood that everything they possessed was through God's grace alone. Paul said that the way he knew the Macedonians had given themselves to the Lord, was that they begged him for the offering plate. Wow! When was the last time you sat in church, anxiously waiting for the offering to be taken because you couldn't wait to give? This is not giving because the minister is begging, or the ministry will go under, or you feel guilty, or you're trying to broker a deal with God. No, this is giving out of the overflow of God's goodness to you. This is true giving!

 Galatians 4-6, Mark 12:13-27, Psalm 101 , Proverbs 13:20-23

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE PRAYING

 As young people from 52 areas around the UK create an unbroken prayer chain throughout 2013, let’s join them in praying that we will leave the dry bones of our history behind us and will discover again God’s calling on us as a nation.  As young people refuse to settle for just praying in church, but ask permission to establish prayer rooms in schools and high streets, pray that God will grant them boldness and favour.

True giving is borne out of having the zeal to touch lives even with the very little we have !

lateef4me: True giving is borne out of having the zeal to touch lives even with the very little we have !

thats the truth oooo. May God kip giving u the grace to touch more n more lives in Jesus name i pray... Amen

30 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

TRUE GIVING (2)

‘...see that you also excel in this grace of giving.’

2 Corinthians 8:7

30 05 2013.
 

Our giving should be regulated and motivated by gratitude for what Christ has done for us. Paul writes: '...though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich' (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV). Understanding how gracious and generous God is to us is important, because some of us give Him our leftovers; if we've anything left after we've paid our bills and done everything we wanted to do, we'll give. But even if we give God a million pounds, if it's out of our leftovers, have we given Him our best? (Malachi 1:6-14). Some people are 're-givers'. Re-givers receive a present they don't want, wrap it up and give it to someone else. Some folks have whole wardrobes full of these kinds of gifts. That's how some of us approach giving to God - and it's an insult! In the New Testament you don't see preachers begging, selling stuff or using gimmicks to raise money for God's work. What you see is people like the Macedonians responding to God's grace because they understood and loved the God they served. Everything God created was meant to give. He created the sun to give light during the day and the moon and stars during the night. He created flowers to give seeds. God Himself is a giver: 'For God so loved the world, that He gave...' (John 3:16 KJV). When you understand grace, circumstances take a back seat. Your giving is not determined by your debt-to-income ratios, financial indexes, leading economic indicators, or tax code. No, your giving is motivated by God's grace!

 

Lamentations 1:1 - 3:39, Mark 12:28-44, Psalm 108 , Proverbs 13:24-25

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

YOUNG PEOPLE TRANSFORMING

 As we approach the 100th anniversary of the 1st World War, a time in our history when we lost so many fathers, let’s pray that 2014 will be a year when the love of the Father will be taken to every household in every street across our nation.  Pray for our young people, that they will know how deeply God loves them, and that they will mobilise the church to take that love to our communities.

No matter what we give Him,they cannot equate what He has given us,His precious Son on the cross .

What a precious gift,what a precious God who gives liberally !

31 MAY 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

THANK GOD FOR YOUR FAMILY

‘Children are a blessing...’

Psalm 127:3

31 05 2013. 

If you've forgotten how well off you are to have your family, read this: 'I'd finally had it. The children were loud, irritable and impossible. I was tired and fed up. My wife was tired and fed up. So I decided to run away from it all and have a day just for me; a day in which I did what I wanted. I was going to live it up and be as greedy as I pleased. I wasn't going to tend to anybody but myself. 'I zoomed out of the house with £25. "There, I did it." I said to myself as I drove to the A-road and headed north. Well, I went to a shopping centre, had a great time in a bookstore and bought the collected poems of Walt Whitman. Afterwards, I drove to McDonald's and ordered two hamburgers, my own large fries and my own large cola. I ate everything without being interrupted, without wiping anyone's mouth, nose or bottom. Then I ate the biggest chocolate ice cream I could find. 'I was free! I was out of town! So I drove to the cinema and watched a film without buying popcorn, without someone sitting on my lap, without escorting someone to the bathroom. I was a free man. I was living it up - and I was miserable. 'By the time I returned home, everyone was asleep. As I slipped into bed my wife whispered, "We missed you." I answered, "Me too." I never ran away from home again!'

 

Lamentations 3:40 - 5:22, Mark 13:1-11, Psalm 113 , Proverbs 14:1-4

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

NEIGHBOUR FRIDAY

Lord I pray for the households on my street, that the words we speak will be honest and loving.  I pray that lying and deception will stop, and that the use of bad language and crude humour will fade away.  Where households are filled with rage, bring peace.  May my street be a place of positivity and joy.  Make a special effort to be careful how you speak this week, guarding against dishonesty and negativity.

Lateef4me God bless u 4 always being there.

1 JUN 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

SPEAK WORDS OF HEALING

‘…The tongue of the wise promotes health.’

Proverbs 12:18

01 06 2013. 

Matthew Henry describes grace as ‘salt that seasons our words and keeps them from corrupting.’ Salt has two primary purposes: it preserves, and it adds flavour. So when the Bible says your words should be ‘seasoned with salt’ (Colossians 4:6), it means they should preserve and not corrupt, always be in good taste, and promote wellbeing. James the apostle says, ‘You can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring’ (James 3:12 NLT),in other words you can’t fake what’s in your heart. It’s not just a question of learning to say the right things; it’s about having a right attitude, because what you say reflects ‘the things that are in [your] heart’ (Matthew 12:34 NCV). Solomon says, ‘There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.’ (Proverbs 12:18 NKJV). Unless you are careful, you can end up talking yourself and the people around you into all kinds of problems. One Bible teacher says: ‘We have the ability to speak words of faith, which cause miracles to manifest…Faith is a law and we operate in it with our words, either to our benefit or our destruction…‘The tongue of the wise promotes health.’ We could turn that around and say, ‘The tongue of the unwise promotes sickness.’ It’s your choice. You can line up your mouth and heart with what the devil tells you, or you can operate in faith by lining your mouth and heart up with God’s Word, pointing towards His blessings. Faith works by believing and saying what God says.’ So begin to speak words of healing.


⁠ Amos 1:1 - 5:17, Mark 13:12-23, Psalm 82, Proverbs 14:5-8

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 Give thanks:·        For the faith and commitment of Christians under what may have been the harshest and most widespread persecution of the Church in all history. ·        Christians are now found in every stratum of Chinese society.  Pray:·        That more vibrant urban professional churches will emerge, alongside the existing State ...

2 JUN 2013

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

BE HONEST

‘…Be careful to do what is right…’

Romans 12:17

02 06 2013. 

Jeremiah writes, ‘Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means…in the end he will prove to be a fool’ (Jeremiah 17:11 NIV). Don’t think that you can do whatever you like in small things, and be okay as long as you’ve no major lapses. Whether you steal a pound or a million pounds, you’re still a thief. The Oxford Dictionary defines integrity as—honesty. Every time you break a moral principle it becomes harder, not easier, to act with integrity. Everything you’ve done in the past, including the things you’ve neglected to do, comes to a head when you’re under pressure. That’s why developing integrity requires constant vigilance. John Morley observed, ‘No man can rise beyond the limitations of his own character.’ And that’s particularly true when you’re a leader. So: 1) Keep your promises. When you make a promise you create hope. When you keep a promise you create trust. 2) Acknowledge your mistakes. When your decisions don’t turn out the way you intended, you owe people an explanation. 3) Apologise and try to make amends. When your actions hurt others, you need to admit that what you did was wrong and say you’re sorry. This is usually very painful in the moment. But not only is it the right thing to do, it can actually shorten the agony and help you to put the incident behind you.

 

Galatians 5:23, 1 John 2:15-17, Proverbs 29:18 , Genesis 39:1-23

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

PRAYER & ME

 Are you aware of situations where you haven’t kept a promise?  We sometimes break promises because we forget about them or feel unable to fulfil them.  Lord, I want to be a person of integrity.  As I take time with You in prayer today, remind me of the people to whom I have made a promise which I haven’t yet fulfilled. Where those promises seem impossibly hard to meet, give me all the resources I need.