Prayer (5)
Monday, 19 January 2015

'And He went a little further.'
Matthew 26:39 KJV

Jesus left the crowd. He left the
twelve disciples. In Gethsemane
He even left the three who were
closest to Him, went ‘a little
further’ and fell on His face and
prayed, ‘Not as I will, but as You will.’ (Matthew 26:39 NKJV)
It was here, face to face with His
Father, that He found strength to
embrace the will of God for His
life.

Today God is saying to you,
‘The strength to handle this crisis and the wisdom to know what to
do will be yours if you’ll just go a
little further, stay in My presence a
little longer, and dig a little deeper in My Word. If only you knew how close you are to the answer!’
Jesus was only a few hours away from the cross, a few days away from the resurrection, and on the threshold of launching the church. Are you in Gethsemane? Sometimes surrendering your will to God is
hard, isn’t it? Look at Jesus.
Before Heaven accepted the
sacrifice of a surrendered body, it
demanded the sacrifice of a
surrendered will. Have you surrendered to God? Why do we
trust others so easily while God
longs for us to trust Him? You go
to a doctor whose name you
can’t pronounce, get a prescription you can’t read, take it to a pharmacist you don’t know, get medicine you don’t understand, and take it with confidence. Why is it so much easier to have confidence in
these ‘unknowns’ than in God, Who is faithful in every way? The
answer lies in where you place
your trust. Trust comes from
knowing someone intimately,
listening to them and spending
time with them. It doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time.

SoulFood: Dan 5-7, Luke 4:1-13,
Ps 89:1-14, Prov 2:20

TUESDAY JANUARY 20, 2015.

THE RISK AND THE RETURN

‘Cast your bread upon the waters.’ Ecclesiastes 11:1 NKJV

The Bible says, ‘Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.’ Notice two things in this Scripture: 1) The risk requires faith. At first this verse doesn’t make sense. When you ‘cast your bread upon the waters’, the best you can hope to get back is mushy, waterlogged bread. Its meaning becomes clearer, however, when you realise it was written in a culture where seafood was the basis of trade and economic survival. Throwing bread into the water attracted fish, which you could then catch. There are important spiritual principles at work in this Scripture. For example, catching fish depends on the current flowing in the right direction, the sun, the moon and other elements only God can control. But when you do your part, God promises to do His. George Müller said, ‘Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.’ 2) The return requires patience. ‘After many days you will find it again.’ You ask, ‘When will it happen?’ When God is ready, when He knows you are ready, and when it all fits into His plan. The Bible tells us to ‘imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised’ (Hebrews 6:12 NIV). You need faith and patience to receive what God has promised. And even when you don’t know what’s ahead, you can be sure of one thing—God will be there. Today He’s calling you to choose faith, even when you don’t know what’s on the other side.

Exodus 20: 7, Isaiah 29: 22-24, Matthew 6:9, Phil 2: 5-11

Thanks lateef 4 d update

Get Out of the Box
Wednesday, 21 January 2015

'He brought me...into a large
place... because He delighted in
me.' Psalm 18:19 KJV

Melody Beattie says: ‘First you
crawled; then you learned to
walk and the world grew bigger.
Then you rode a bike…drove a
car…bought a plane ticket.
Suddenly the horizons were limitless. Then doubts crept in: I
can’t (you fill in the blank)…and
your world shrinks a little. I
shouldn’t take that trip…I’ll never
find my way around…I’ve too
many responsibilities. And it shrinks a little more…[until]
you’re sitting in a little box with
the lid tightly affixed.
No experiences, no lessons, no life.
Boxes can be comfortable…but
no matter how cosy you make it, it’s still a box. They come in all
shapes and sizes.
When we let unrealistic fears hold us back we can be fairly certain we’re
climbing inside another box…
and sooner or later we’ll run into the walls. Find one small “I can’t”
in your life and take the lid off the
box… try for a minor
impossibility… apply for that
dream job… start pursuing your
vision… Poke the top off your box. Stick your head out and look around. Find a fear and turn
it into a ladder.
Get out of the box of doubt and insecurity and into the freedom of courage and belief.’ If you let it, fear will cause your imagination to run riot.
But ‘God has not given us a spirit of
fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.’ (2 Timothy
1:7 NKJV) A sound mind restores
your perspective and helps you see things from God’s viewpoint,
where all things are possible.

Today He wants to give you the
courage to climb out of the box
and bring you ‘into a large place’,
because He ‘delights’ in you.

SoulFood: Dan 11-12, Luke
4:31-44, Ps 89:38-52, Prov 3:1-2

Life Is About Choices (1)
Thursday, 22 January 2015

'Daniel resolved not to.' Daniel 1:8
NIV

When Daniel was taken prisoner
to Babylon, he was quickly
promoted to leadership in the
king’s palace. But as a Jew he
refused to ‘defile himself with the
royal food and wine’. Could his choice have affected his career, or even cost him his life?
Absolutely! But what we choose
to do under pressure results from
one of two things:
(1) Clearly established convictions we live by.

(2) Fuzzy convictions we’re willing to compromise for personal gain. Hard times don’t make you, they reveal you!

In Leadership Gold John Maxwell
writes: ‘After visiting twenty cities in seven days, it was good to be
coming home! As the small
private jet approached the runway, we were celebrating the success of the week. Then, in a moment, everything changed. The plane was hit by crosswinds and dropped straight down to the runway, the wheels hitting out of balance. All conversation stopped and our eyes widened as we realised we were in danger. The pilot, without
hesitation, pushed the throttle
and launched the plane back into
the air… We all realised that could
have been it! We sat quietly as the
plane circled the airfield and a few minutes later we landed safely.’ As he got off the plane, John asked the captain, ‘When did you make the decision to put the plane back into the air?’ He replied, ‘Fifteen years ago.’ He went on to explain how as a young pilot in training, he
decided in advance what decision he would make for every possible air problem.
His decision was made long before the crisis. So have a gameplan in
place before the problem arises.

SoulFood: Jas 1-2, Luke 5:1-11,
Ps 91, Prov 3:3-4

Thanks for the update Odunharry .

Evidence of God's Grace
Saturday, 24 January 2015
'He...saw...evidence of the grace
of God.' Acts 11:23 NIV

Where there’s grace, there’s
growth. And where there’s growth, there’s clear evidence of it.
The church at Jerusalem sent
Barnabas to the church at Antioch, and ‘when he arrived and saw…evidence of the grace
of God, he was glad.’

As believers, we should be growing
in ‘grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour.’ (2 Peter 3:18
NIV) And there should be evidence of it! When you accept Christ, He ‘[equips] you with everything good for doing His will’ (Hebrews 13:21 NIV); you become ‘a new creation…old things have gone; everything is made new!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17NCV)
Grace makes you more caring and compassionate, and less critical and judgmental. It makes you slow to speak and quick to consider the other person’s point of view. You’re
less likely to react in anger when
things don’t go your way, and
more likely to put the good of
others ahead of your own (1
Corinthians 10:24).

Jon Walker says: ‘When you become a believer your role changes. You
no longer have the job of looking
out for your own interests; your
job is to represent the interests of
Jesus. You are the face of Jesus; showing up in the lives of others
on His behalf… in hospitals… at
funerals… at weddings… across
the table as you share coffee with
a friend… You’re on the job for
Jesus, and the more you serve others in love, the more you’ll
influence them toward Christ.’
Paul wrote, ‘Though I am free…I
make myself a slave to everyone,
to win as many as possible.’ (1
Corinthians 9:19 NIV) That’s what it’s all about!

SoulFood: Num 1-2, Luke 5:27-39, Ps 100, Prov 3:7-8

Happy Sunday my people !

SUNDAY JANUARY 25, 2015

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

‘Don’t try to disclaim responsibility.’ Proverbs 24:11 TLB

A woman went shopping one day and came home with a very expensive dress. Her budget-conscious husband was very upset and demanded to know what on earth possessed her. ‘The devil made me do it,’ she replied sweetly. He asked, ‘Well, why didn’t you say, “Get thee behind me, satan?” ‘I did,’ she replied. ‘But he said it looked great from the back as well—so I had to buy it!’ Satan is an expert at distorting the truth by getting us to blame circumstances and other people for our mistakes; that way we never have to take responsibility. But as Albert Ellis observed, ‘The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You don’t blame them on your mother, the ecology or the government. You realise you control your own destiny.’ Florence Nightingale, hero-nurse of the Crimean War, said, ‘I attribute my success to one thing: I never gave or took an excuse.’ When a winner messes up, they admit they were wrong and ask for forgiveness. When a loser makes a mistake, they immediately look for somebody or something to blame. The Bible says, ‘Don’t try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn’t know…God…knows you knew! And he will reward…according to [your] deeds.’ David constantly prayed about his shortcomings, and his honesty helped make him ‘a man after [God’s] own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 KJV). Instead of denying and defending your mistakes, take responsibility, learn from them and move on. That’s how you grow!

Numbers 1-2, Matthew 10: 11-20, Psalm 100, Proverbs 3: 7-8

MONDAY JANUARY 26, 2015

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF (1)

Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.’ Proverbs 4:7 NIV

Like any good parent, God wants His children to succeed. But to succeed in life, you must periodically ask yourself two questions: 1) Am I committed to personal growth? ‘Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.’ Keep reading, keep learning, keep asking questions. A Chinese proverb says, ‘He who asks is a fool for five minutes; he who doesn’t ask remains a fool forever.’ Some of us are like the little girl who thought she’d exhausted the subject of mathematics once she learned her twelve-times tables. When her grandfather asked with a twinkle, ‘What’s 13 times 13?’ she scoffed, ‘Don’t be silly, Grandpa, there’s no such thing!’ Your hunger for wisdom and knowledge determines your future. In order to keep giving out, you must keep taking in. 2) Am I enjoying what I do? You’ll never fulfil your destiny doing something you despise. Passion lies at the core of true success and fulfilment; it’s the spark for your fuse. It energises you when those around you grow tired. It helps you come up with answers when others cease to have creative ideas and strengthens you when they drop out. It gives you courage to take risks while others crave security. When you lose your passion, two things happen: first, you fail to pursue excellence; second, you jeopardise your integrity, because you’re tempted to take shortcuts and compromise by settling for less than God intended. One leader says, ‘What generates passion in you is a clue to your destiny. What you love is often a clue to something you can achieve.’

Number 3:1 - 4:33, Matthew 10: 21-31, Psalm 104: 1-23, Proverb 3: 9-10.

Questions You Should Ask Yourself (2)

Tuesday, 27 January 2015
'Whoever wants to become great
among you must be your
servant.' Mark 10:43 NIV

Two more questions you should
constantly ask yourself are:
(1) Am I willing to serve others?
You say you want to be a leader?
Why? Until you answer that
question with the right motives,
God won’t promote you.
Sometimes we just want to be in control. Other times we don’t
want to pay the price for success.
We just want the perks that come
with it: a corner office, a higher
salary, a respected title and the
admiration of others. Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant.’ Leadership puts you in a position to take care of your own needs first—to set yourself up— before helping others. That’s always a temptation and it’s always wrong! You must
genuinely care about people and
help them to reach their potential.
When you do that you’re
honouring God and He will honour you.

(2) Am I doing what I’m called to
do? ‘We have different gifts,
according to the grace given
us.’ (Romans 12:6 NIV) Samuel
Johnson said, ‘Almost every man
wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does
not possess…and gain applause
which he cannot keep.’ If you’re
harbouring a mental image of the
qualities talented people are
supposed to have and you don’t possess, you’ll have a hard time
finding your true strengths.
Henry Ford remarked, ‘The
question, “Who ought to be the
boss?” is like asking, “Who
ought to be the tenor in the quartet?” Obviously, the man who can sing tenor.’ To succeed in life, you must know what God gifted you to do.

SoulFood: Num 4:34-6:27, Luke
6:17-26, Ps 104:24-35, Prov
3:11-12

Questions You Should Ask Yourself (3)
Wednesday, 28 January 2015

'Be very careful, then, how you
live.' Ephesians 5:15 NIV

Three more questions you
should ask yourself are:
(1) Am I making the most of today? ‘Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.’ (Ephesians 5:15–16 NIV)
Only by focusing on what’s required of you today can you prepare for tomorrow. If you don’t do the right things today, tomorrow will be spent fixing today’s mistakes. You’ll
never change your life until you change something you do daily.
Only by asking yourself, ‘Am I
making the most of today?’ will
you be able to keep yourself on
course, and make a course
correction when you’re not.

(2) Am I taking time to think?
One of the wisest things you can
do is take time to think. This is
especially important if you’re
action–oriented and goal– oriented. We like to feel we’re making progress, moving ahead and getting things done. But in order to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, you must take time to evaluate what you’re doing. Are you?

(3) Is my life pleasing to God?
Enoch is remembered by these
words: ‘He…pleased God.’ (Hebrews 11:5 NIV)
What a testimony! Jesus said, ‘What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own
soul?’ (Mark 8:36 NKJV)
Regardless of what you accomplish, your supreme goal should be to please God. And to do that, you must spend time with Him in prayer and reading the Scriptures. In prayer you talk to God and through the
Scriptures He talks to you. That’s
a winning combination that
never fails!

SoulFood: Num 7, Luke 6:27-36,
Ps 107:1-9, Prov 3:13-18

Thursday 29th January, 2015
The Grace to Handle It

‘He will empower you with inner
strength.’ Ephesians 3:16

For fifteen years Dr Robert Schuller’s
secretary Lois battled cancer, and for
every one of them she served God
faithfully. Schuller writes: ‘I don’t think I ever met anyone more courageous.
Some days she was so ill…getting out of bed took all the strength she had!
She’d deliberately fall out of bed, walk on her hands and knees to the
bathroom, reach for the sink and pull herself up. She’d force herself to get dressed, stumble into the kitchen, drink some water, eat a dry piece of toast, search for her purse, and walk to the door. Perspiration pouring off her forehead, she’d look at her husband and say, ‘‘Well, Ralph, I think I can make it now.’’ Then she’d get into her car and drive to church.
She was always there before me, and when I arrived with my usual greeting, ‘‘Good morning, how are you?’’ she’d always smile and say, ‘‘Great!’’ I never knew until after her funeral what she went through…Only God can give you
that kind of courage.’
The Bible says, ‘From his…unlimited resources [God] will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.’ There are many ways to say it, but none more eloquent than the hymnist
Annie Johnson Flint, who put it like this: ‘When we have exhausted our store of endurance; when our strength has failed ere the day is half-done; When we reach the end of our hoarded resources our Father’s full giving has only begun. His love has no limit…His grace has no measure…His power no
boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.’
Ex 12-13, Matt 16

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2015.

FOCUS ON WHAT IS ‘ABOVE

‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’ Colossians 3:2 NIV

Today we’re big on the concept of instant gratification and acquiring more stuff. But ‘earthly things’ lose their appeal once the bill arrives and the interest on your credit cards starts piling up. When that happens, blessings can turn into curses and rob you of the joy of living. One pastor says: ‘Materialism doesn’t satisfy because it’s tyrannical and human beings were born to be free…We find we don’t own the house—the house owns us. We’re married to a mortgage. We become slaves to gadgets and garments. After they’re purchased, delivered and installed, we enjoy a fleeting sense of pleasure, but they still dominate, dictate and demand, ‘‘Press me, polish me, patch me, paint me, prune me, plaster me!’’ We spend our best years and the bulk of our money working for ‘‘things” until…we’ve no time left to pursue life’s really enjoyable vocations: visiting friends, having fun and going to church…no time to do good deeds, see places, or visit the people who give us the greatest inner joy. Paul says, ‘‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’' (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV). And to experience that contentment you need to count your blessings every day and thank the One who made them all possible.’ Jon Walker writes: ‘Assume there’s an imaginary line dividing what you can see from what you can’t see—the temporal from the eternal. Our objective in Jesus is to look upon the things ‘‘above”, so we can understand that what we see and feel is not a full and accurate measurement of God’s reality…people are eternal beings, and decisions that seem insignificant now, when seen in the fullness of reality, are of eternal significance.’

Number 7, Matthew 11: 1-9, Psalm 107: 1-9, Proverb 3: 13-18

SATURDAY JANUARY 31, 2015.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

‘What do you have in your house?’ 2 Kings 4:2 NIV

When you pray, God can answer in two ways: 1) He can use somebody you know. Who do you know? Who knows what you don’t know? Jesus said, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom’ (Luke 6:38 KJV). Note the word ‘men’. When God blesses you, He often does it through people. So who should you be listening to and walking with? ‘He who walks with wise men will be wise’ (Proverbs 13:20 NKJV). Observe the word ‘walks’. Wisdom comes when you’re moving forward, not resting on your laurels. You must be teachable, discerning, relational, and responsive. 2) He can use something you have. In 2 Kings 4 a minister’s wife was in trouble. Her husband had died, the bills were piling up and the creditors took her sons to work off the debt. When she turned to the prophet Elisha for help, he asked her, ‘What do you have in your house?’ She answered, ‘Just a little pot of oil.’ He replied, ‘Find every empty pot you can and start pouring oil into them. If you do, you’ll have enough to pay off your debts and live well’ (2 Kings 4:3-7). With God you always have enough to create what you need! He can do ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Where’s the power? Within you! Your resources are in your gifting, your tenacity, your relationships and your connection to God. So the word for you today is: What do you have?

Numbers 8-10, Matthew 11: 10-19, Psalm 107: 10-16, Proverb 3: 19-20

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2015.

A HUNGER FOR GOD’S WORD

‘As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word …’ 1 Peter 2:2 NKJV

How does a newborn baby desire milk? With an intensity you can’t imagine unless you’ve heard the midnight cry! The fact that you’ve worked hard all day and are tired, or that you fed the baby just an hour earlier, doesn’t matter. An infant’s agenda is about as focused and uncluttered as you can get. He or she wants to eat—right now! When was the last time your spiritual stomach growled so much at midnight that you just had to get up and feed your soul on God’s Word? Here’s how Peter addressed the issue: ‘Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious’ (vv. 1-3 NKJV). Note the words ‘if…you have tasted’. When you’ve tasted the real thing you can’t get by on junk food. Your spiritual taste buds won’t let you. Note, not only can you not ignore a baby’s hunger; you can’t fool their sense of taste. When you start mixing stuff into their formula that wasn’t meant to be there, their taste buds and stomach will reject it. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘projectile vomiting’? Junk food is designed to fill a need with a quick fix that may satisfy you for a while, but it doesn’t provide any real nourishment. You can tell when you’re spiritually malnourished and underdeveloped. Peter says the symptoms are malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. So open your Bible today and pray, ‘Lord, give me a hunger for Your Word.’

Numbers 14-15, Matthew 12: 1-14, Psalm 107: 23-32, Proverb 3: 25-26

Monday FEBRUARY 2, 2015.

SEARCHING FOR SIGNIFICANCE (1)

‘…You are Mine.’ Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

Do you remember the hit song by Dean Martin, ‘You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You’? Such lyrics show up our deepest concern. We want our lives to matter, to mean something. Our deepest fear is of coming and going—and nobody knowing! We strive with our lack of education, our spot on the financial totem pole, and our looks. That’s why it bothers us when a friend forgets to call, or a teacher forgets our name, or a colleague takes credit for something we have done. We crave attention, drop the names of important people in conversations, and put flashy hubcaps on our cars. Fashion designers tell us, ‘You’ll be somebody if you wear our jeans.’ So we go out and spend half our wages on a pair of Italian jeans. But then—horror of horrors—the style changes from tight to baggy, faded to black, and we’re left wearing yesterday’s jeans, feeling like yesterday’s news. Simply stated: you can’t gain significance from the outside. It’s an inside job. Your sense of significance must come from someone you trust, someone you know will never change, someone who knows the worst about you and always believes the best. And there’s only one such source: God. So read on: ‘Thus says the Lord, who created you…who formed you…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned…For I am the Lord your God…you [are] precious in My sight’ (vv. 1-4 NKJV).

Number 16-18, Matthew 12: 15-21, Psalm 107: 33-43, Proverbs 3:27-28

Happy New Month my people . May God's protection. Be upon us as we navigate through this delicate,turbulent period in the history of our nation !

lateef4me:
Happy New Month my people . May God's protection. Be upon us as we navigate through this delicate,turbulent period in the history of our nation !

Amen

HFOG:

Amen

Amen

God Knows What You've Done Thursday, 05 February 2015 00:06
'...God will bring every work into
judgment, including every secret
thing, whether good or evil.'
Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV

One of the chief attributes of God
is His omniscience. It’s a word
comprising two parts. The first
part, ‘omni’, means ‘all’, and the
second part, ‘science’, relates to
knowledge. That means He is an omniscient God who knows
everything you say, everything
you think and everything you do.
The story is told of a wealthy
grandfather who had a hearing
aid fitted. When he went for a routine check–up, his doctor
commented, ‘Your family must be
happy to know that now you can
hear.’ The grandfather said, ‘Actually, I haven’t told them about the hearing aid. I just sit around and listen to their conversations—and I’ve already changed my will twice!’ God wants to bless you, but sin and
disobedience can keep that from
happening.
When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he tried to conceal it. But God exposed him. In God’s
eyes the only thing that’s worse
than sin is your unwillingness to
own up to it. Finally, David came clean and prayed, ‘Against You,
You only, have I sinned, and
done this evil in Your sight…’ (Psalm 51:4 NKJV) Then he added, ‘Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow.’ (Psalm 51:7 NKJV)
Note two important words:
‘hyssop’, which spoke of a
branch dipped in blood during
Passover, and ‘wash’. David needed a spiritual bath and God gave him one. The fact is, God knows your ‘every work… whether good or evil’, and no matter how badly you’ve failed He will cleanse you, forgive you, and restore your joy.

SoulFood: Num 25-26, Luke
8:16-25, Ps 120, Prov 3:33-35

Caring for the Needy
Friday, 06 February 2015

'Blessed is he who considers the
poor...' Psalm 41:1 NKJV

One of the most common
excuses for not giving to the
needy is: ‘I had to work hard for
what I’ve got; so should they.’
True, the Bible teaches that if
you’re not willing to work you’re not entitled to support (2
Thessalonians 3:10). But did you
know:
(1) Six million children under five die every year of starvation?

(2) One out of seven people goes to bed hungry every night?

(3) The three richest people on the planet have more collective wealth than the combined gross national product of the world’s 48 poorest
countries?

General Booth, who founded the Salvation Army, said,
‘How can you convince a man of
the love of God if his feet are
perishing with the cold?’ If your
prayers aren’t being answered,
here’s something to consider. The Israelites fasted and prayed,
then complained that God wasn’t
answering their prayers. That’s
when He told them: ‘The kind of
fasting I want is this: Remove the
chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.
Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear… Then My favour will shine on you…and
your wounds will be quickly
healed. I will always be with you
to save you; My presence will
protect you on every side. When
you pray, I will answer you.’ (Isaiah 58:6–9 GNT)
When you care for the needy, the Lord promises to ‘deliver [you] in times of trouble’ (Psalm 41:1 NKJV)— and you can take that to the
bank.

SoulFood: Num 27-29, Luke
8:26-39, Ps 67, Prov 4:1-2

How God Works (1)
Sunday, 08 February 2015

'Indeed, the "right time" is now.'
2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

The story of this incapacitated man’s healing is rich in lessons.
Let’s look at them for the next
few days:
(1) He was in a beautiful situation but he wasn’t enjoying it. ‘…A man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called
Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg…’ (Acts 3:2 NIV)
When you have a stubborn problem, even if you’re in a beautiful situation, you can’t enjoy it.

(2) He was close to the answer but it was beyond his reach. Every day he sat at the Temple gates watching others go in and be blessed. But because of his condition, the Law of Moses prevented him from doing the same. Is that where you are
today—in church, but not able to
receive what God has for you?
You sing the songs, pray the prayers, and listen to the sermons, but you still have the same old problem?

(3) When his moment of deliverance came, he needed help to seize it. ‘Peter said…“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him
by the right hand, he helped him
up…’ (Acts 3:6–7 NIV) This man
had no reason to think that today
would be any different. He didn’t
know God had earmarked it on His calendar as the day of his deliverance. And this could be your day! ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT) The ‘right time’ for you is now. But it won’t happen until you acknowledge your need of God and get ready to receive His help. That means keeping your faith strong, your heart open, and speaking God’s promises over your situation.

SoulFood: Is 53:1-12, Acts
8:26-40

How God Works (2)
Monday, 09 February 2015

A man who was lame from
birth was being carried to the
Temple gate...to beg.' Acts 3:2
NIV

The Bible says: ‘When he saw
Peter and John…he asked them
for money…Then Peter said,
“Silver and gold I do not have,
but what I have I give you. In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right
hand, he helped him up, and instantly…he jumped to his feet
and began to walk…’ (Acts 3:3–8
NIV)
This story raises three questions:
(1) What’s your area of weakness? That’s important to know, because a handicap in one area can cripple you in other areas. Apart from lacking strength in his ankles this man was normal, but his weakness stopped him from living a happy
life. We all struggle with something. ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience…’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

(2) How are you handling your
weakness? This man was at the
Temple gate to beg. Why are you
there? You need to know that,
before you can get up and move
on. Refuse to settle there; rise up and say: ‘This may be who I am
now, but by God’s grace it’s not
who I’m going to be!’

(3) What are you expecting? A crutch to help you live with your problem? A way to avoid doing what’s necessary to become whole? This man was looking for handouts,
not healing. But handouts won’t
get you back on your feet.
Furthermore, when your focus is
limited to what people can do for you, it can cause you to miss
what God can do for you. By
God’s power this man got up and
walked—and you can, too.

SoulFood: Num 32:25-33:56,
Luke 9:1-17, Ps 134, Prov 4:5-13

Thanks for the update Odunharry ....God bless !

How God Works (3)
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
'Taking him by the right hand, he
helped him up...'
Acts 3:7 NIV

A few important observations:
(1) Peter allowed God to change
his plans. ‘…Peter and John were
going up to the temple at the time
of prayer—at three in the afternoon.’ (Acts 3:1 NIV)
Is prayer important? Yes, it’s all–
important! But you can get so
caught up in church activities that
you walk past hurting people sitting on the church’s doorstep.
You must be sensitive to people’s needs, available to God, and
willing to change your plans at a
moment’s notice.

(2) Peter used the name that’s bigger than any problem. ‘…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ (Acts 3:6 NIV) And he did!
Paul writes, ‘…At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…every tongue should confess that Jesus…is
Lord…’ (Philippians 2:10–11
NKJV) You say, ‘What’s in a name?’ In this case—everything!
At the name of Jesus hell trembles, sin is forgiven, sickness is healed and stubborn habits broken.

(3) Peter did more than pray; he extended a helping hand. ‘Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He
jumped to his feet and began to
walk.’ (Acts 3:7–8 NIV)

Today you’re surrounded by people
who need help to get back on their feet spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. Reach
out in love and lift them! They don’t need you to spend the rest of your life supporting them.
They just need a hand up—and
an introduction to the One who’s
able and waiting to meet their need. God used Peter to bring deliverance to this man, and He will use you too. But you have to be ready.

SoulFood: Num 34-36, Luke
9:18-27, Ps 138, Prov 4:14-17

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2015.

GIVE GOD THE ‘FIRST-FRUITS’ OF YOUR TIME

‘…I require…the first-fruits and the choicest of your contributions….’Ezekiel 20:40 AMP

In the Old Testament, the first part of the harvest was to be offered to God in gratitude. So when God says, ‘…I require…the first-fruits and the choicest of your contributions…,’ it means instead of fitting Him into your agenda you must put Him at the top. Notice: He wants your ‘first-fruits’, not your leftovers. One Bible teacher put it like this: ‘I’ve trained myself to start each day by giving God the first-fruits of my time. I’ve realised that I’m not going to get through the day peacefully if I don’t…So, each morning I get coffee, and usually while still in my pyjamas, I spend as much time with God as I need to in order to feel I can behave properly and walk in the Fruit of the Spirit throughout the day. I’ve learned to use the best part of my day to give God the best part of my heart.’ Giving God the first moments of the morning helps keep my priorities straight for the rest of the day. Don’t use this gift of time with God to meditate on your problems…set your heart as the Psalmist did: ‘…I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, “You are my God. My times are in Your hands’’’ (Psalms 31:14-15 AMP). Note the words ‘my times are in Your hands….’ Each day will bring times of joy, times of testing, times of challenge, and times of temptation. That’s why you need to pray, ‘Lord, each hour of this day I’m depending on You. Let my words, my attitudes, my decisions, and my actions bring glory to You.’

Number 34-36, Matthew 13: 47-58, Psalm 138, Proverbs 4: 14-17

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2015
HOW TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS (1)

‘When I heard these things, I sat down and wept...’ Nehemiah 1:4 NIV

In spite of impossible odds and implacable enemies, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in just fifty-two days. It was an incredible accomplishment! And he wasn’t even a builder; he was a waiter in the palace of King Artaxerxes, a heathen monarch. Robert Goddard says, ‘It’s difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.’ So before you say, ‘It can’t be done,’ or ‘I don’t have the qualifications,’ examine Nehemiah’s story. In fact, that’s what we’re going to do for the next few days. The first lesson we learn is: you must find a need that moves you. ‘They said to me… “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned…fasted and prayed before…God…’ (vv. 3-4 NIV). And what did Nehemiah fast and pray for? ‘…Give your servant success…’ (v. 11 NIV). When you find a need that moves you to tears and causes you to say, ‘Something must be done about this!’ the chances are that God’s calling you to do something about it. You may be a leader like Nehemiah, or you may simply be like one of the followers who helped him. Either way, when God stirs your heart about a need, He’s calling you to get involved and take action. If you’re willing to say ‘Yes!’, He will place the resources of heaven at your disposal. When your heart says, ‘This is what I was born to do,’ you may have found your life’s vision.

Jonah 1-4, Matthew 14: 1-12, Psalm 141, Proverb 4: 18-19

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015
HOW TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS (2)

…If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight….’ Nehemiah 2:5 NIV

Pray for favour with the right people. When you study the lives of successful people, you’ll find they had vision, patience, determination, character and talent. And you’ll also find one more thing at work—favour. There are some closed doors that will open when you approach them in faith, and there are other doors that’ll open only with help from the right people. That’s when you need favour! Alex Haley, the author of Roots, had a picture in his office. It was of a turtle sitting on top of an eight-foot-high fencepost, and the caption read, ‘You can be sure he didn’t get up there by himself’! Nehemiah needed an army to protect him, and resources to enable him to build. So he prayed, then went to the one man who could provide what he needed: the king. He said, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favour in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.’ And the king did. There’s an important lesson here: when your heart is set on promoting God’s kingdom, He will give you ‘kingdom connections’. But be careful; your help may not always come via the people you expect, agree with, or even like. God used a heathen king to help Nehemiah, and He used a penniless widow to feed the prophet Elijah. Don’t dictate to God who He can and cannot use. Just pray for favour, expect it, and accept it with thanks in whatever form He sends it.


Joel 2: 12-13, Matthew 4: 1-17, Mark 2: 18-22, Luke 9: 23-26

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2015.

HOW TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS

‘…They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.’
Nehemiah 2:18 NIV

It’s said that of all the people who have dreams, only one out of ten will fulfil theirs. Why? Because the other nine never started! To enter the Promised Land, Israel had to cross the Jordan River when it was in flood and they were afraid. But God said, ‘When you step into the water it will roll back’ (See Joshua 3). It did, and they reached their destiny. So, what are you waiting for? 1) Perfect conditions? You’ll never find them. ‘Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap’ (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV). The New Living Translation says, ‘If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.’ You say, ‘I’m waiting for God to move.’ Has it occurred to you that maybe He’s waiting for you to move?
2) Everybody to agree with you? When David announced his intention to fight Goliath, his older brother Eliab, a general in King Saul’s army, told him to go back home because he was embarrassing the family. But David refused to be put off or put down; instead, he went out and defeated the giant. And with God’s help you can too! 3) Until you feel ‘qualified’? God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He always qualifies the called. Regardless of your education, nationality, or gender, God can use you. Oliver Wendell Holmes started studying Greek at eighty. When a friend asked him why, he replied, ‘Frankly, it’s now or never!’ Because Nehemiah was willing to start, God gave him a glorious finish. And He will do the same for you. So what are you waiting for? Get moving!

Ephesian 5: 21-33, Song 2: 1-7, Psalm 45, Proverb 5: 15-19

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015.

HOW TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS (4)

‘Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of this Your servant…’Nehemiah 1:11 NIV

You must ask God for the plan. Why? Because the only plan He will bless is the one He gives you. Every good idea isn’t necessarily a God-idea. The Bible says, ‘Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails’ (Proverbs 19:21 NIV). How will you know your plan lines up with God’s plan, especially when you encounter obstacles and opposition? In two ways: 1) A fire will burn within you. Jeremiah said, ‘…His word is in my heart like a fire…shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot’ (Jeremiah 20:9 NIV). When God places a burning desire within you, He will enable you to rise above the adverse circumstances that surround you. You’ll find yourself drawn, driven, directed, and dedicated. You may not always be able to explain it to others, but you’ll know deep inside that you are in the will of God. 2) God will show you the right path to take. ‘…along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them’ (Isaiah 42:16 NIV). Note the words ‘unfamiliar paths…darkness…rough places’, but don’t be thrown or discouraged by them. Instead, expect them! David said, ‘The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever…’ (Psalms 138:8 NLT). And David’s God is your God—He hasn’t changed one iota!


Titus 1-3, Matthew 14: 13-21,
Psalm 145: 1-13, Prov 4:20-22

Monday FEBRUARY 16, 2015

HOW TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS (5)

‘…Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other.’ Nehemiah 4:17 NIV

Do you know how Nehemiah’s team rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem? With a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. Why is that significant? Because even though God gives you the plan, the chances are you’ll have to fight for it. Not everyone wants you to succeed. In fact, some will do everything they can to stop you. That’s when you must constantly remind yourself that God gave you the plan, that He’s on your side, and that if you’re willing to persevere, you’ll win. God guarantees it! Listen to what Nehemiah’s enemies said about him: ‘It is reported…you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: “There is a king in Judah!” Now this report will get back to the king…’ (Nehemiah 6:6-7 NIV). Nehemiah had to overcome threats and intimidation. He wrote: ‘…They were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?’’’ (Nehemiah 6:2-3 NIV). Every minute devoted to your critics is time stolen from your God-given assignment. Don’t step down to their level! It’s not what your enemies say that matters; it’s what you say to yourself when your enemies have finished talking. ‘[Nehemiah] answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success…but as for you, you will have no share in Jerusalem or any claim…to it’’' (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV). Now that’s the winning attitude.

Hebrew 1-4, Matthew 14: 22-36,
Psalm 145: 14-21, Proverb 4: 23-24