@PrettyMomma,
Welcome back o. You no try at all o. But I hope the reason you stayed away has been resolved sha. How your LO na? I no even know if na man or woman. You no also tell us the full full tory before you just 'off' like NEPA. It is so good to have you back. Please come share all the tory of those months back o. Hugs...

@Pink, it is well with you for the Lord gives you beauty for ashes, a garment of praise instead of mourning.
Try to visit your doctor for a check up and also try to prepare your body with some womb friendly fruits and vegetables like the ones @Honeypie advised like watermelon, apple, avocado and other good fruits. With prayers and confessing your desire, you will see the marvelous works of God for affliction will.not rise again.

@Honeypie, it is nice to have you back fully onboard with healthy living suggestions. Thanks for opening our eyes to uses of all these ingredients we have around us that are little gold mines.

@All who asked of me, I have been on the forum but other threads. Thanks for the concern.



Please see an excerpt of a message from the Word for Today devotional of yesterday. I pray it touches a heart and helps a soul:


Keys to Answered Prayer
'...Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.' John 16:24

If your prayers are not being answered, ask yourself:
(1) How is my relationship with the Lord? 'If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.' (Psalm 66:18.) Anything that adversely affects your relationship with God also affects your prayers. Friendship gives you favour; intimacy gives you access. Jesus said, 'If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.' (John 15:7)

(2) How strong is my faith? 'Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is...a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.' (Hebrews 11:6) Notice three words:
(a) 'Believe.' God's deepest longing is to be believed, regardless of emotion or circumstance.
(b) 'Diligently.' When you pray, put your heart and soul into it. Paul speaks of 'labouring...in prayer.' (Colossians 4:12)
(c) 'Him.' God is not some 'force out there', He's your heavenly Father Who '...knows that you need all these things.' (Matthew 6:32) Your highest priority should not be getting your needs met, but building your relationship with God.

(3) Am I showing patience? 'Until God's time finally came - how God tested his patience!' (Psalm 105:19) Joseph was tested by the very promise God gave him. Can't you hear Satan whisper, 'I thought the dream said you were supposed to be Prime Minister; what are you doing in prison?' But it only looks like a prison; in reality, it's the birthplace of destiny. Joseph saw God's promise fulfilled - in God's time. And you will too!

Good evening efribory ,
This @Dreams cooking suggestions ehn na healthy living o. Thanks so much for bringing change in meals to our homes. I will check out these recipes.
@twinsgirls, who dey find me o. Who know me?

For the diet word for the day:

THE BALANCED DIET OF THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 6:13-17 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done ll, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
How often do we guard our souls using the same principles of balanced diet? For those of us that went to school whether 'under the tree' or 'inside classrom' school, we were taught about the six classes of nutrition and what they do for the body like a body armour.
Today, Ephesians 6 tells us that we also have a balanced diet, made up of six classes of 'spirit man' nutrition we wear as the whole armour of God.

*Carbohydrate is the base of most meals that provides the energy needed to work in the first place. Energy is even needed to think. It is energy giving. (Helmet of Salvation)

*Fats which assist to maintain healthy cell membranes and is stored in adipose tissue for later use. It protects the soft organs as a layer of fat is needed around the body. The body also draws from the fatty tissues in times of starvation. (Shield of Faith)

*Protein is the body building aspect of food. The body needs muscles to develop properly as it builds the flesh the body needs to grow and develop. (Breastplate of Righteousness)

*Vitamin help to revitalise our body parts like Vitamin A for sight, Vitamin C for fighting infections, Vitamin E for good skin, Vitamin D for good skin tone. It brings out the beauty of functions and makes it easy for organs to work orderly. Your vitamins are important to you. (Belt of Truth)

*Minerals like calcium provide bone structure, potasium and iron is good for blood circulation and oxygen and zinc helps the immune system. It aids nail, hair growth and lots more which people see and commend. It helps with easier working of the body (Footwear of the Gospel of peace)

*Water which is the essence of life. Even without food, if there is no water, the person dies faster. Water is life....rivers of living water for it quenches thirst and is the make up of about 70% of the body composition. (Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God)

Today as you eat balanced diet for your physical wellbeing, remember your inner man.

Breaking the Family-Resistance Barrier

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

'...At just the right time we will reap...' Galatians 6:9

Susan was the only member of her family motivated to work for change. Her husband, a military pilot, was gone months on end while she brought up the children alone. Her repeated efforts to reform him and the children had failed miserably. Pointing out that doing more of what hadn't worked wouldn't make it work, the counsellor suggested she work on what she could change: she responded! He taught her to 'defect in place': relinquishing some of her 'overload'. Everyone became responsible for their own dirty dishes, laundry, untidy room etc. And Susan used the time she saved to do something she'd always wanted to do - take voice lessons. Yes, she found it difficult to avoid picking up after everybody and carrying their responsibilities. At first, when nobody assumed the unfinished workload and the 'mess seemed unbearable', she was tempted to give in and return to 'her old job'. Then, with perfect timing, she read a book about breaking the sound barrier. Pilots who attempted it had always given up when the plane vibrated violently, until astronaut Chuck Yeager said to himself, 'Maybe once you get through the vibrating everything calms down.' Yeager sped up where the others slowed down, and flew through the barrier into the calm beyond. After a weekend of unrelenting family criticism, Susan 'revved up', persisting against her old instincts. It took time. But after their complaints, the children took on more responsibilities, and her husband accepted fewer distant assignments. 'So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.'


SoulFood: Ecc 9-12, John 12:1-11, Ps 76, Pr 30:15-17

This is The Word for Today

OLAADEGBU: The spiritual nature of the Law.

Notice how the sins named are transgressions of the Moral Law - the Ten Commandments. If civil law can prove that you are planning to assassinate the President, you can be prosecuted and severely punished. That law, however, is limited in its search for evidence - it can't see what a man thinks. Not so with the all-seeing eye of our Creator. His Law searches the heart. He sees "evil thoughts," and requires truth in the inward parts (Psalms 51:6). To think hatred is to commit murder (1 John 3:15) and transgress the sixth Commandment. To think lustfully is to commit adultery (Matthew 5:27-28) and transgress the Seventh Commandment. Fornication breaks the same Commandment (Galatians 5:19). Then Jesus names theft (Eight Commandment), false witness (Ninth), and blasphemies (Third). A person cannot lust without breaking the Tenth, and by their nature, these sins transgress the remaining four Commandments. All sin traces in some way back to the Moral Law, for sin is transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). This is why the Law must be used to bring the knowledge of sin to religious people who are trusting in their own righteous deeds for their salvation.

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, theft, false witness, blasphemies" (Matthew 15:19) The Evidence Bible.

Beautiful piece. The law of the spirit. The motive behind an action.
Even in our common law, the motive or intent of an act is traced back. But God judges the motives of an action even before it is carried out physically.
That is why the bible says He that walks in the Spirit is not under the law but those who work in the flesh remain bound by the law.

frosbel:

Absolutely, if we do not stir up the gifts they will be of no value to anyone.

However, one of the main reasons why many believers are immature is because of the clergy / laity divide. In other words the 'baby' believers remain in the pews because they get the impression that the pastor and his team possess all the special gifts and so must be listened to , followed and obeyed.

The moment we tear this class system down of clergy and laity, there will be nowhere for anybody to hide, everybody must have and operate a ministry.

No. Many reasons why people are immature is because they refuse to study the word of God and stir up their gifts.
People don't study so how can they even be bereans? People don't even know the Word of God and the ministry of Jesus, so how do they even know if their ministers are following Christ as Paul said?
We have access to the Word of God and the bible, but how many study?
Laying blames at doorsteps is not my thing, let us look inward and purge ourselves of laziness in study then we will not be tossed about by every wind of doctrine.

idnoble135:
I understand this, i was just presenting the direct opposite view of what the OP posted.

I get you. It is for those who claim they need no assistance from these offices.


@Frosbel,
For those who decide to stir up the gift of God in them will do it for the church. Not all have these gifts for not all are teachers or prophets and some are still babies or babies who refuse to grow and still need to be pushed for the whole aim is to grow mature men.


@Bidam
Ofcourse. Thanks. Jesus came to serve as well and all these offices are for service and have responsibility.

vickyO:
this is what she said.................. i agree with her

@vickyO, I am glad you understand what I am saying and the scriptures I posted especially in your last quote.
When God has need of something as I said earlier irrespective of if any man throws a fit, He will use it for His work.
Jesus knew the perfume the woman brought was so expensive and because of the need for it, He commended her even though Judas, using human wisdom was thinking otherwise yet could not help the very poor he was concerned about as he was a thief.
Some people see nothing wrong in buying cars for themselves or phones or gadgets but find fault with others. The man who has issues with what people decide to buy based on the need they see should as well not own anything because of the poor around him (that will always be with us) else he is a hypocrite.
Jesus wasn't joking when He said those that leave their family and property for the sake of the gospel will receive in 100 folds with persecutions according to Mark 10:29-30.

idnoble135:
Very well, we should not be in a haste to discard anything. We should test it first.

Yes. The Word of God will confirm if it is true or not, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Atimes some prophecies are for an appointed time.

idnoble135:
Wrong.
We might as well say it was improper for God to give the apostles special knowledge about the body of Christ. He should have transmitted it to each believer instead since he relates with us alone.

Paul says those in the five fold ministry are gifts to the church:

Ephesans 4:11-13
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

So we are to test every spirit and let us be led right to the ministers that are of God.

idnoble135: Better still, everything a man of God says will be checked from the Word,
but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is
good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT And from my inner peace
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from
Christ rule (act as umpire
continually) in your hearts
[deciding and settling with
finality all questions that arise in
your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of
Christ’s] one body you were
also called [to live]. Col 3:15 AMP

Thanks so much for these verses,it just helped me advice someone. This is really true. We are to test every spirit by the Word of God ofcourse for it is one of the three witness on earth and has to agree.

Daniel 1:8-16
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king." 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see." 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.
There is something so good about pleasing the Lord so much so that even the food we eat will do our bodies well. God said He will bless our food and our water when we serve and worship Him (Ex.23:25). Just like the case of Daniel, even though they were captives in a strange land, they maintained their steadfastness to the word of God and refused to become gluttons on the kings food. Despite eating just beans and water, their countenance was brighter and better than those who were eating from the best chefs.
Today, I admonish us to be faithful servants to God and watch even the cup of water you take nourish you beyond the ordinary.

@vickyO,
Amen. The word of God is truly complete.

Keys to Answered Prayer

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

'...Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.' John 16:24

If your prayers are not being answered, ask yourself:
(1) How is my relationship with the Lord? 'If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.' (Psalm 66:18.) Anything that adversely affects your relationship with God also affects your prayers. Friendship gives you favour; intimacy gives you access. Jesus said, 'If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.' (John 15:7)

(2) How strong is my faith? 'Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is...a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.' (Hebrews 11:6) Notice three words:
(a) 'Believe.' God's deepest longing is to be believed, regardless of emotion or circumstance.
(b) 'Diligently.' When you pray, put your heart and soul into it. Paul speaks of 'labouring...in prayer.' (Colossians 4:12)
(c) 'Him.' God is not some 'force out there', He's your heavenly Father Who '...knows that you need all these things.' (Matthew 6:32) Your highest priority should not be getting your needs met, but building your relationship with God.

(3) Am I showing patience? 'Until God's time finally came - how God tested his patience!' (Psalm 105:19) Joseph was tested by the very promise God gave him. Can't you hear Satan whisper, 'I thought the dream said you were supposed to be Prime Minister; what are you doing in prison?' But it only looks like a prison; in reality, it's the birthplace of destiny. Joseph saw God's promise fulfilled - in God's time. And you will too!


SoulFood: Ecc 5-8, John 11:38-57, Ps 81, Pr 30:11-14

This is The Word for Today



@Lateef4me,
I am not a pastor.
Please study Psalm 105:17-22 as seen in today's Word how the Word of God tested Joseph...His goal tested Him.

@OP,
Jesus, the Word of God addressed every single thing for He said the whole law and the prophets are hinged on love....love for God and love for man. People of before read the law in lust and unrenewed minds, so they needed to be told every single thing so they find no excuse.

That is why we need to really understand what love is and how the law of God we read relates to love. Even when Jesus addressed adultery by relating it to lust, the disciples were saying it is a hard saying...the law of the Spirit is even harder than letters for it proceeds from the heart so our need for Jesus is constant:

1. Slavery, War, Racism: Jesus is the prince of peace, He came to free people from bondage and make all men one in Him. He addressed all if only you study.
Matthew 22:39; 7:21; Luke 6:31; 4:18; Mathew 25:40; John 13:4; Matthew 26:52; 5:40; 24:8; Matthew 5:44-45; Mathew 10:15; Matthew 10:16-33; Matthew 5:5,9-12;
John 16:38; John 4:27; 7:24; Luke 10:29-37

2. Addictions, pedophilia, in breeding, transsexual (change of gender), bleaching, bosom enlargement:
We cannot serve God and mammon, or have two master of which addiction is one or hurt little children which paedophilia covers. He preached contentment and keeping ourselves pure for God.
Luke 21:34; Mark 7:15; Matthew 18:6; Luke 16:15; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 15:19-20; Mark 4:9; Luke 9:23;

3. pastors buying private jet
Is it OK for ANYONE to buy a private jet? Did Jesus talk about buying phones, laptops, cars or even flying in a jet? Whether commercial or private?
Jesus has told us all to proclaim the gospel and if you see nothing wrong in studying your bible on your phone or coming to gain insights on the internet, apply that to what pastors have said they need to proclaim the gospel.
Possibly the first pastor that bought a car and phone would have been persecuted as well.
If God has need of a private jet for His work, no matter how much anyone throws a fit about it, He will use it for the earth is the Lord's and the FULNESS thereof.
Mark 10:30; Luke 19:30-34

4. Gambling, bribery and corruption
Most of these have been handled above but I will still paste a few:
Luke 3:14; Luke 16:13-14; 12:15; Mark 7:20-23; Luke 15:11-32

The funniest thing is that God has blessed us all with a conscience which is further worked on by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, so that when we do something not right, a good conscience will tell us even without a written law.
That is why Paul said the gentiles who have no law do things in the law...Romans 2:14-15

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?
7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a. fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
We are talking about yeast today. Yes! All raising ingredients...if you remember I made @Dreams Banana bread muffins without baking soda and I got a thick tummy filling result but my next attempt had a fluffier turn out.
The bible has some interesting analogy around it though:
The bread of God is straight, direct, thick, filling and without yeast for it is true and sincere, no beating around the bush, thst why communion bread is without yeast.
But the bromate-filled bread of sweet stories are full of air, deception, 'lies' to make it look more appealing.
No wonder Jesus said we should beware of the yeast of the Pharisees (that is any doctrine that lacks truth or has half truths) for in a multitude of words is sin.
If we have to 'add foam' to the truth, its like adding yeast to make bread. But the truth is usually short, straight and heavy.
Lies always have stories and beating around the bush...truth covered in lies.
As the bible says, purge out the yeast today and be unleaved for that is who you really are.

@lateef4me,
From your question, it looks like it is a matter of time and weighing goals. Are both goals or one is a just incase perhaps it is delayed?
Circumstances are not always within our control and atimes there may be an obstacle or a waiting time especially if we have the sure word of God on our desire or goal. As long as we do not lose sight of the goal, we may use the time of delay to build better character attributes in the lesser goal to launch us better in the main one.

1. Though Joseph dreamed of being a leader, he still had to suffer certain things to get to the goal.
2. Despite prophecy and annointing of sheperd David as king, he still had to return to tending sheep and suffered to get to kingship.
3. Jacob had to work for 14 years to be fully wedded to His goal.
4. Though Jesus was the Son of God, He learnt obedience by the things He suffered.

In all the sight of the main goal is not lost and God had a way of guiding us and ordering our steps to reach the goal in His time and way.

Be Single Minded (2)

Monday, 18 November 2013

'...Fix your gaze directly before you.' Proverbs 4:25

It doesn't take much effort to let your mind drift and dream. But it takes great effort to set your mind to the task of developing a clear goal, of having a clear and compelling dream. John Maxwell says: 'For me the whole process begins with questions I must ask myself. The dream is always rooted in the dreamer, in his or her experiences, circumstances, talents, and opportunities. I ask: What am I feeling - what are my emotions telling me? What am I sensing? - what is my intuition telling me? What am I seeing? - what is happening around me? What am I hearing? - what are others saying? What am I thinking? - what do my intellect and common sense say? ...A clear picture may come to you all at once, in lightning-bolt fashion, but for most people it doesn't work that way. Most people need to keep working at it, clarifying it, redrawing it. If the process is difficult, that's no reason to give up. In fact, if it's too easy, maybe you're not dreaming big enough. Just keep working on it because a clear dream is worth fighting for.' If you can get a clear sense of where you are, what you know, and what you want, you're well on your way to understanding and embracing the thing God put you on earth to do. Moses spent the first two-thirds of his life working out what God wanted him to do, trying to do things his own way, only to fail. But he had a heart for God, and a vision from God, and eventually he succeeded. And you will too!



SoulFood: Ecc 1-4, John 11:28-37, Ps 50, Pr 30:7-10

This is The Word for Today

Thanks my ladies. @twinsgirls, you suppose get award o. Infact we should make you challenge prefect. You are a very good student. So you even planted it then made that wonderful meal on top. I like you o. I never start the chickpea and quinoa business. I will get there. Greet your oga at the top wey dey enjoy all this o.
About the word, yes it cannot be bound because it is alive and sharp...it goes to nooks and crannies and we too have to be instant in season and out of season.

Proverbs 31:14-15 MSG
14 She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.
15 She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day
Don't we have wonderful virtuous women here just like the Proverbs 31 woman?
Part of her virtues is being like a well researching, internet traveller who brings exotic meals from far away states, countries and continents to provide good nourishment for her family. Not only that, she is even awake early to provide breakfast meals from the scratch like @Dreams oatmeal pancakes rather than buying Mr Biggs for her family. Same way I am awake so early to provide the spiritual breakfast of the day

Be Single Minded (1)


Sunday, 17 November 2013

'A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.' James 1:8

The Bible says, '...he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.' (James 1:6-8.) Peter Marshall, former chaplain to the U.S. Senate, prayed, 'Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand, and what to stand for.' A dream that isn't clear won't help you get anywhere. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to contribute? Who do you want to become? In other words, what does success look like for you? If you don't define it, you won't be able to achieve it. Most people don't get what they want because they don't know what they want. They haven't defined their dream in clear. and compelling detail. Ben Stein writes: 'The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want!' John Maxwell adds: 'Instead of saying, I want to lose weight, say, I will weigh [80 kg] by June 1. Instead of saying, I want to get out of debt, say, I will pay off all credit card balances by December 31. Instead of saying, I need to improve my leadership, say, I will read one leadership book every month. Being specific doesn't necessarily mean having every little detail thought out before you move forward. But your main goal should be clear. The rest will unfold as you move forward, making adjustments as you go.' The question you need to answer is, 'Am I single minded?'


SoulFood: Dan 1:3-21, Dan 3:7-30, Dan 5:10-31, Dan 9:1-19


This is The Word for Today

@All that prayed with @Dreams, thanks so much. We will rejoice very soon and Amen to the prayers.

@Twinsgirls, lol. You too funny. Build address...lol. That one no go take you time na.

@All, let's never forget to add the two key ingredients to any meal we eat.:

1 Samuel 9:13
As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time

Matthew 26:26
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Luke 9:16
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Blessing and Thanksgiving. Blessing by prophesying the goodness the food will do in your body and thanking God and the chef for providing the meal.

Ask any of the angels this question 'Which way will the other angel tell me is the way to life'? When he points, take the opposite direction of where he points because:

1. If it is the truthful angel, he will show the way to death because that is where the lying angel will point to truthfully.
2. If it is the lying angel, he will lie and point to the way of death which is opposite of where the truthful angel will have pointed to.

Doing the Right Things

Saturday, 16 November 2013

'...You...harvest what you plant.' Galatians 6:7

George Bernard Shaw said, 'People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get ahead are those who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them.' A farmer can plant anything he wants; the land doesn't care one way or the other. Suppose he plants both wheat and poisonous hemlock. The land will return poisonous hemlock as plentifully as it does wheat. Your mind is far more fertile, but the same principle applies. It doesn't care what kind of seeds you plant; success or failure, good or evil, anxiety or peace - what you sow returns to you. The Bible says, 'If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction...if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life.' (Galatians 6:8.) Success lies in your daily routine. So, get to know God better through His Word and prayer. Make up your mind to be of service to somebody every day. Tackle a problem bigger than you. Encourage everyone you meet. Take the first step toward overcoming a bad habit. Do something for somebody who can't repay you. Instead of spending your working week looking forward to Friday, each day look forward to today! Do three things that will take you outside your comfort zone. Be thankful for what you have. Ask for help when you need it. Give God the best part of your day. The Psalmist said, 'This is the day the Lord has made...rejoice and be glad in it.' (Psalm 118:24) The time to be happy is now, and the place to be happy is .


SoulFood: Rom 15-16, John 11:17-27, Ps 8, Pr 30:5-6

This is The Word for Today

@tpia,
By their fruits we shall know them. @alexleo simply showed examples (that many do not even consider). So many talk about love but forget love takes effort, it takes patience, it takes faithfulness, it takes a LOT OF WORK! but Jesus helps us. Good works are an expression of love and it grows with experience and exercise. Jesus is the only one who can help us love truly for the bible says that even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

I love @Pastor Olu T's comment. You can give without loving but there is no way you can love without giving. It works pari passu. God loved then He gave...

@Dreamsinbc,
A MIGHTY AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ecclesiastes
9:7 Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God], for God has already accepted your works

5:12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the fullness of the rich will not let him sleep

When our ways please the Lord, He will make even our 'enemies' to be at peace with us or how else will you be able to enjoy in peace when the Lord prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies.
The beauty about serving and walking with God is that because God has accepted our works, even our eating and drinking will be with joy and cheer. The bible further says the sleep of a working man is sweet due to contentment whether or not he eats but when the rich people have acquired so much, they sleep with one eye open because of worrying about their possessions.
A rich man in God's sight are those who are rich towards Him and those who have stored their treasure in heaven.

A rich man is he who needs less thus gives more, not he who needs to acquire so much and much more.

@Lateef4me,
Thanks to God for giving me the strength. The Word for today is always powerful. Today's message is so true. Many times people suffer consequences of their actions and feel it is the devil that is waging war. The Lord says whatever we sow, we shall reap. There is a just recompense for all our acts and it does not mean we are hated by God for who the Lord loves He disciplines and puts the person in order when he has done wrong bu still helps us bear the punishment to learn more fruits of the Spirit.

Spiritual Warfare (3)

Friday, 15 November 2013

'The Lord disciplines those he loves...' Hebrews 12:6

It's important to know when you're under attack - and when you're not. Henry and Richard Blackaby said: 'There's a tendency among Christians to view anything unpleasant... as spiritual warfare...rather than admitting that we're merely reaping what we've sown... If you've neglected your role as spiritual teacher to your children, what will stop them falling into sin? If you've been dishonest, God may let you face the consequences. It would be foolish to ask Him to ease your discomfort when He's disciplining you to get your attention. How tragic never to make the connection... God's discipline won't help you if you dismiss it as Satan's doing. If you misunderstand... you may blame Him for not answering your prayers or failing to protect you; meanwhile, God's warning you of danger.' '...For a little while you may have had to suffer...that your faith...may be proved genuine...' (1 Peter 1:6-7) A blacksmith with a chunk of metal on the anvil envisions what he wants. But it means melting down the old, recasting it, removing scars, repairing cracks, filling voids, and purging impurities until what was useless becomes valuable. Finally he plunges it into cold water until it hardens into an unbending, useful tool. Max Lucado says, 'An instrument is useful only if it's in the right shape...A good blacksmith keeps his tools in shape... And so does God. Should He place you on His anvil, be thankful. It means He thinks you're still worth reshaping.'


SoulFood: Rom 12-14, John 11:1-16, Ps 4, Pr 30:1-4

This is the Word for Today

@alexleo,
Love is in our hearts, only if we remove the foreskin and allow the soft flesh to be worked on by God.
Love is not in mere words, love is sacrifice, love is a decision, love requires effort most times but we have the grace to love, if only we use it.
It is when a heart is full of love that perception changes.

Love:
+ endures long and is patient and kind;
+ love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy,
+ is not boastful or vainglorious,
+ does not display itself haughtily
+ is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride);
+ it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly.
+ (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking;
+ it is not touchy or fretful or resentful;
+ it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. + It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
+ Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,
+ is ever ready to believe the best of every person,
+ its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
(culled from 1 Corinthians 13)

Isaiah 1:19
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
Eating good is tied to obedience to God's voice. For a rigteous man always ensures His steps are ordered by the Lord and the Lord orders us in everything even including what we put in our bellies. This challenge has been a great opportunity for @Dreams to showcase different everyday meals in classic, unique, creative, tasty and well presented fashions. Those obedient to these seeming informal rules are enjoying wonderful meals.

By the way, some banana bread muffins are busy warming themselves in my oven made per the direction of @Dreams this time and it looks impressive . I made the yummy coconut, almond, honey milk shake and decided to use the remainder for my normal oats for breakfast. Kudos @Dreams. This don become enterprise o.

@Skimpychick,
Congratulations! The Lord is Faithful! Healthy, Happy, nine months. So happy for you.

@Pinky dear, Check am well. Congrats!

Spiritual Warfare (2)

Thursday, 14 November 2013

'Our struggle is...against...spiritual forces...' Ephesians 6:12


When the first plane hit the World Trade Center in September 2001, we thought it was accidental. When another plane hit it, we knew New York was under attack. Dr. Robert Jeffress says: 'Knowing the source of the problem is crucial...a navigational accident demands one response. A hostile strike requires a completely different strategy. Every day our world is invaded by what we consider random events. Couples divorce, so we develop marriage guidance; drug use increases, so we educate our children to just say no; pornography among Christians rises, so we organise accountability groups; churches threaten to split, so we employ arbitrators to help with conflict resolution; Christians battle depression and suicidal thoughts, so we medicate them with the latest drugs. Please understand, I'm all for [such programmes], but what if the source is more than random events and we're under enemy attack? Would we change our strategy? Through Scripture we discover there's an unseen world and it's at war. Paul writes: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...spiritual forces of wickedness. You can't just shrug your shoulders and say, I don't have a horse in that race. You're living in the crossfire of this spiritual war...the enemy's determined to destroy everything and everyone important to you. And those who dismiss such words as being over the top - do so to their own detriment.' Martin Lloyd-Jones said, 'Not to realise you're in a conflict...means you are so hopelessly defeated...that you do not even know it.' We're in a very real war, the stakes are high, the enemy skilled, armed, and determined. The possibility of losing...is real. You must be aware of what's happening and be prepared to fight.

SoulFood: Rom 9:17-11:36, John 10:22-42, Ps 83:9-18, Pr 29:23-27


This is the Word for Today