The Outcome Is Up To You


Tuesday, 30 June 2015


'...Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould...' Romans 12:2 PHPS


You determine the outcomes in your life, because God has given no one but you power over your options. When things aren’t working out for us, we often look elsewhere for the reason. Like Eve, we can say, ‘The devil made me do it.’ No, Jesus said, ‘…I give unto you power…over all the power of the enemy…’ (Luke 10:19 KJV) Like Adam, we say, ‘Eve made me do it.’ But the psalmist says, ‘…I trust God, so I am not afraid. What can human beings do to me?’ (Psalm 56:4 NCV) Sometimes we believe circumstances beyond our control are responsible, but with God ‘…all things [including people and circumstances] work together for [our] good…’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV)—not for our defeat!

Your mistaken beliefs victimise you and predispose you to a lifestyle of trying to change people and circumstances. That’s like attempting to unscramble an egg. You become a blame–fixer instead of a problem–solver. Accept the truth that no matter what Satan, others or circumstances do, God gives you the right to the last word in your life. ‘…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4 KJV) The outcome is not determined by what goes on around you, but by what goes on within you. ‘…as he thinks in his heart, so is he…’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) The devil can only determine the outcome with your permission and co–operation—and you don’t have to give them! So believe in God’s ability to bring you triumphantly through this difficulty.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 8-10, Matt 23:13-22, Ps 95, Prov 16:31-33


This is The Word For Today

Failure and Success

Monday, 29 June 2015


'...The God of Heaven will give us success...' Nehemiah 2:20 NIV


To turn your failures into successes you need to do two things:

(1) Realise that God wants you to succeed because you’re His child. When you think about it, what good and loving parent wouldn’t? In the face of overwhelming obstacles and enemy threats, Nehemiah announced, ‘…The God of Heaven will give us success…’ and God did!

(2) Realise that failure is a teaching tool. The greater the failure, the greater the opportunity to learn from it.

But first you must acknowledge the teaching potential in your mistakes and commit to learning, growing and changing as a result. Thomas Edison said, ‘I’m not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.’ At 21 years old he set up his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, and became a full–time inventor. At any given time, he and his team were working on as many as 40 different projects and they applied for more than 400 patents a year. Edison’s feverish work schedule and productivity caused the local citizens to dub him ‘The Wizard of Menlo Park’. But he wasn’t always successful. The fact is, he struggled with many of his inventions but, despite embarrassing failure after embarrassing failure, he refused to give up. Often ridiculed for his perseverance, he engaged in some 10,000 experiments before finally inventing the incandescent light bulb in 1879. Concerning his chequered work history, he said, ‘I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that don’t work.’ Stop labelling your failures as negative. There are very few real failures in life—only options. Some options work, others don’t. The truth is, with God on your side you’ll win if you persist!



SoulFood: 1 Sam 4-7, Matt 23:1-12, Ps 64, Prov 16:27-30


This is The Word For Today

@Chinwedym and @Chokl8y, Congratulations on your bfps. I wish, many happy returns and returns, easy carriage and delivery! HIP HIP HURRAY!

@chokl8y, so good to hear from you after all these years. You just went AWOL. Good to know it is a hapy ending. Do enjoy your course and may you receive a positive certificate at the end.

@all, wishing you a happy sunday.

ProfessorPeter:
fornication is sin, that is what the scriptures says. What am saying is that when dowry is paid, the man sleeping with the lady is not fornication. Because dowry validates marriage. Every other activity is optional and should be seen as a biblical doctrine.
If a lady is pregnant outside wedlock, the church must suspend her

When the woman is given away, actually, is when you can say a marriage is complete. It can be with or without dowry. Some cultures do not take dowry. I prefer couples who plan to do a church wedding to best do everything same day then such as this wont arise.

As you said, a woman can get pregnant out of wedlock and should be suspended so how does this relate to the couple that you said were suspended by the church because they put to bed less than 9 months after their wedding? So what if the bride was pregnant even before the traditional wedding but the wife did not show on time and the church did not know and they wedded them and 5 months after she delivers, should she and hubby still be suspended? Good church doctrine is to join a man and wife and not man, wife and baby. That is the point.

Like I said, even beyond the giving away by the bride's father at traditional, if they plan to go the white church wedding route and the church expects them to keep themselves pure till after it, they need to abide by it. That is what I am saying. If they can't and feel they are married once the traditional handover is complete then why do a white wedding? We know court has no issue (infact, the court bit is more of a registration of marriage and not the ceremony they have turned it into nowadays).

In all, I understand your view but there are aspects that need to be considered in everything.

ProfessorPeter:
The reason i raised this issue is to correct the impression that until you do "white wedding" sleeping with your partner is sin. I ve seen how
1. Church stopped " white wedding" because the lady was pregnant before the wedding date.
2. The church suspended the couple because the woman put to bed less than nine month after their wedding.
It makes d couple look like a sinners in the eye of God and the people also see then as sinner.
CHURCH WEDDING IS NOT SCRIPTURAL. DOWRY VALIDATE BEFORE GOD N MAN, THE REST IS UNNECESSARY

I think the whole marriage rites should be completed to allow for peace. From time we know the stand of the church on white wedding. It's after it that a couple is expected to consummate their union.

Atimes, people sleep together even without the traditional giving away, get pregnant, rush traditional and expect church to wed them, knowing FULLY WELL that the church frowns at it. They are institutional authorities too (Hebrews 13:17). It is not a must to do white wedding. If you decide to go ahead with a white wedding then obey the rules. It really is simple. The white gown is meant to symbolise purity. I have seen how people talk about brides that wore white yet were heavily pregnant and were being wed by the church. The church is meant to be WITHOUT blame.

If you decide to subject yourself to the church approach to wedding then fulfil the high requirements set by it. Consummate after the wedding or just do traditional and court. A few days or weeks should not be an issue to the couple if they truly abstained. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (4)


Sunday, 28 June 2015


'Leave your troubles with the Lord...' Psalm 55:22 GNT




Give your marriage to God. The last word on the matter must be God’s Word! Seeking professional help is a good thing, but until you’ve transferred ownership of your marriage into God’s hands, you haven’t exercised your best option. You say, ‘What does handing my marriage over to God mean in practical terms?’ It means two things:

(1) You stop calling the shots—that’s God’s job and you must get out of His way so that He can do His work unhindered. Your self–interest and need to control must bow to His will. As long as you insist on ‘being right’ and ‘straightening out’ your spouse, you will remain part of the problem. On the other hand, when you give the problem to God, He—not you—has a problem to work on!

(2) You learn how to ‘walk by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) When things feel out of control, you will want to resume ownership of the problem. Don’t do it, or the result will be more of what doesn’t work. Renew your decision to allow God to have control and work in both of your hearts. ‘Walk by faith’, not by feelings. The psalmist puts it this way: ‘Leave your troubles with the Lord, and He will defend you…’ (Psalm 55:22 GNT) When you trust God to handle it, three things happen: (a) you experience peace; (b) your spouse’s resistance is likely to diminish because you’re no longer stirring the pot; (c) God goes to work: ‘…He who began a good work in you [both] will bring it to completion…’ (Philippians 1:6 ESV)



SoulFood: Exod 34:29-35, Mk 9:2-27, 2 Cor 3:7-18




This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (3)

Saturday, 27 June 2015 01:09


'Pray then like this...Your will be done...' Matthew 6:9-10 ESV


Here are another two helpful keys to resolving marriage conflict:

(1) Let God direct your prayers. Prayer can be closed–ended or open–ended. When we think that our perspective is the only accurate one, we pray closed–ended prayers calling on God to solve the problem our way, believing it’s the only correct way. However, closed–ended praying produces two problems. First, it locks us into rigid thinking and blinds us to other perspectives. Secondly, it keeps us from seeing God’s perspective, the one that can heal and restore the relationship. Open–ended praying asks God to solve the problem His way. ‘Pray then like this…Your will be done…’ Ask God to reveal His will to you both, wait until He does, then pray accordingly. The Bible says: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us…we know that we have what we asked of Him.’ (1 John 5:14–15 NIV

(2) Remove the conditions from your love. Does this sound difficult? Love is a biblical command, not an arbitrary emotion. God’s not asking you to feel warm and fuzzy; He’s asking you to act in a loving way. Wouldn’t that be hypocritical? No, it’s rising above resentment, hurt, and fear, and practising real faith. It means asking yourself: ‘If I were loving unconditionally right now, what would I be doing? How would I be responding to my spouse?’ Then do it. The Bible says, ‘Love never fails…’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV) You can lovingly act your way into a new way of feeling for both you and your spouse.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 1-3, Matt 22:34-46, Ps 59:9-17, Prov 16:23-26


This is The Word For Today

raystar96:
since we are in an evolving world.. were change is a rapid occurrence.Technology seems to set the pace... but is it biblical to use pos machine in the church?

It is biblical to give and mode of giving is the convenience of giving whether material, cash or cheque. The goal is that God is glorified in your giving and the church is credited or a need met.
When I receive a call from a brother telling me he is hungry and has no funds to buy food to eat or they need to get a particular application form but no funds to get it and i ask them to send me their account number so i can credit it with money so they can buy what they need, have i given 'biblically' or is it till I get the food or form personally for them?

When I study scriptures on my tablet or phone, have i studied it biblically or is it till i read it on parchments and scrolls to qualify?

What is the spirit behind and essence of what you are doing? Your answer will guide your approach.

Double post.

Don't get it twisted though. If the parents of the bride require a 'white' wedding as part of the final seal of the wedding, do oblige especially If both are Christians. I helped decide a wedding plan where there was issue of choice of the church. Parent and bride wanted different churches. It ended well, court and traditional cum reception with pastoral blessing was agreed. I think clergy of both churches were present to bless them. Funnily, this same approach was adopted by another attendee . Cost saved, goal achieved.
In all i Iove church weddings and that is why some churches ensure the parents of the couple are in support and hold it after the trad not before. That is the key.

ayoku777:


Hi hi. How've you been? And family?

I know its about tithes and offering. The point I'm trying to make is whether you give five percent or twenty-five percent; God is pleased with your giving.

I've said it time and time again, that priests don't pay tithe. But those who are bent on preaching tithe will find a way around it.

The early church only encouraged giving, not tithing. I give but I don't tithe.

Why can't pastors just ask believers to give? What is the addiction to the word tithing? I know non-tithers that give to God's work more than even those who tithe.

Preach giving, not tithing. Priests don't tithe. I'm sounding like a broken record already.

I am well. Thanks for asking.
Lol. Yes you are but hey it must be based on your experience.
There are many forms of giving and tithe is one. In all, the heart of giving is key. I won't delve further. Have a great day.

@Vooks,
Lol at the word 'grace-giving' . Good to see how you are dividing scriptures. The bible is a complete book. Jesus spoke scripture which was initially spoken by God through Moses and the prophets which people did not believe, the dividing line was that he spoke THE SPIRIT of it. Jesus, the Word, had to become flesh to simplify it for us. The Word of GOD is ONE. It is human understanding and comprehension that tries to divide it. The Spirit is what we need to decipher scripture and in there lies understanding, life and light.

ProfessorPeter:
Traditional wedding or church wedding also known as white wedding Which one is them is scriptural?
I was teaching some weeks back on marriage, i told my audience that marriage is valid as soon dowry is paid. The scriptures recognizes traditional marriage. I told them that a man is free to sleep with hi wife as soon as dowry is paid.
I told them that white wedding is not scriptural and it is not biblical doctrine but church doctrine. It is high time we stop keeping people in bondage through a church doctrine

I believe wedding is complete after the woman has been GIVEN AWAY to the man as his wife. Scriptures are rife with this. In scriptures, Jacob had paid the dowry of Rachel (through labour) yet he still had to request from her father that he had fulfilled the requirements to have her to which Laban called a feast (optional) before handing Leah (cunningly) over to him. At Rachel's time, Laban still gave her away as scripture says.
There is a thing about fulfilling all righteousness atimes that allows for peace. I wonder what would have happened had it been that Jacob just took Rachel and slept with her without this formal handover.
Jesus also attended a wedding feast. I think there is something about a number of people being involved in the 'Giving Away' process (either held at chirch, court or family gathering) but I do not see it as mandatory as long as the woman is being given away by her family anyway.

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (2)

Friday, 26 June 2015


'In order that Satan might not outwit us...' 2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV


Recognise who the real enemy of your marriage is. On those days when you think, ‘I can’t spend another moment in this relationship,’ it’s easy to lose perspective and focus on the wrong things. Marriage was God’s idea. He planned it as the foundation of His earthly Kingdom. That makes marriage one of Satan’s prime targets. It’s why he poisoned the perspective and confused the thinking of the first couple. He deceived Adam into believing that Eve was his problem, blaming the fiasco on her (Genesis 3:12). But both of them were deceived by ‘…the father of lies.’ (John 8:44 NLT) Satan knew he could undermine God’s plan by driving a wedge between the first couple, creating antagonism, blame and self–interest, and his methods haven’t changed. It’s why we ‘keep tabs’ on each other’s shortcomings, identifying our mate as the problem and refusing to show grace.

Paul helps us understand how to overcome Satan’s strategy. ‘…I have forgiven in the sight of Christ…in order that Satan might not outwit us…we are not unaware of his schemes.’ (2 Corinthians 2:10–11 NIV) Then he counsels us further by saying that ‘…love… keeps no record of wrongs…’ (1 Corinthians 13:4–5 NIV) That doesn’t mean love lives in denial, but that it chooses to practise self–denial! So rather than keeping score of your spouse’s worst qualities, choose to look for their best ones and show your appreciation. Nothing melts resentment and hardness like expressing appreciation for each other.



SoulFood: Song 5-8, Matt 22:23-33, Ps 59:1-8, Prov 16:20-22


This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (1)


Thursday, 25 June 2015



'...humans must not pull apart what God has put together.' Mark 10:9 CEB



Not every relationship can be saved. When physical, mental or emotional abuse threatens your child’s safety, or your own, you may be forced to leave. Failing to do so could lead to tragedy, but where a workable resolution can be found, a troubled relationship can become a source of shared joy and fulfilment.

Here are some keys to make staying worthwhile: Adopt God’s perspective on sin—yours and your spouse’s. One of the major problems is the way we classify sin—especially our spouse’s. You’re understandably overwrought and anxious because they’re incorrigible and selfish. They’re the wilful sinner—you’re the offended saint. They need a major overhaul, and you’re responsible to see they get it. Things like being critical, nagging and controlling seem like small things compared to a spouse who swears, drinks and visits porn sites.

From God’s perspective, sin is sin—yours and theirs! It’s all harmful to relationships. Stop ‘classifying’ sin and try to discover the relationship–transforming power of handling the situation the way Jesus taught. ‘How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’ (Matthew 7:4–5 NIV) You’ll be amazed at how God will cause your spouse to acknowledge and deal with ‘their’ problem when you get honest and deal with ‘yours’!



SoulFood: Song 1-4, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 21, Prov 16:16-19


This is The Word For Today

@ Ayoku777, is this you. Quite an age. Saw your antics on the traditional/white wedding thread. Still as vehement as usual. Hope you are well. By the way Ayoku, the robbing scripture of Malachi was talking about Tithe and Offering.

@Vooks, Wow, e be like say you don turn pastor o. Lol. See as you are trying to argue for, all of a sudden.

Anyway, it is the principle of a thing as well as motive as I have always said. The heart is what matters. Your conviction is a place you can only get to on your own.

On the Home Front

Wednesday, 24 June 2015


'...I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire...' 1 Samuel 2:35 NLT


Being the high priest in Israel was a prestigious job, and Eli seemed suited to it. Yet he failed badly on the home front. ‘…His sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.’ (1 Samuel 8:3 NIV) As a result, God told Eli He ‘…would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed against God, and he failed to restrain them.’ (1 Samuel 3:13 NIV) As a parent and leader you need to answer this question: If God applied the same standard to you as He did to Eli, how well would you do? Eli ended up losing his credibility, his children, his career, and eventually his life. He missed the mark because he made some critical errors. Let’s look at them and see what we can learn:

(1) He had the wrong emphasis. He emphasised the Word of God to the people in his congregation, but not to his own children.

(2) He had the wrong expectations. He thought his children would ‘get it’ because they lived under his roof and worked in the church. But it doesn’t work that way.

(3) He set the wrong example. Eli failed to live at home what he taught at work. He had 20/20 vision when it came to his profession, but where his family was concerned he was blind to his own weakness. Leadership on the home front isn’t about power and control; it’s about ‘giving yourself’ to the people who should matter most (Ephesians 5:25). So, how are you doing on the home front?


SoulFood: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14, Matt 22:1-14, Ps 17, Prov 16:12-15


This is The Word For Today

Handling Your Failures (2)

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

'Return... I will heal your backslidings...' Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV



What’s the root of our failures? Failure doesn’t lie in the strength of the enemy, or our own weakness, or God’s reluctance to help us overcome. Israel was defeated by a small town after having conquered mighty Jericho. Their failure, like ours, was the result of unconfessed sin (Joshua 7). But once their sin was brought to light and dealt with, God spoke encouragement to them. ‘…Do not be afraid…Take all the people of war with you… I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’ (Joshua 8:1 NKJV) Sin unacknowledged will keep you defeated, but sin confessed will bring you forgiveness and restoration that leads to victory.

Author Hannah Whitall Smith tells of moving into a new home. She noticed in the cellar a very clean–looking cider cask sealed at both ends. She de-bated whether to open it and see what was inside, but decided to leave it undisturbed. Each spring and autumn when the cleaning was being done, she’d remember the cask but put off opening it. Unaccountably, moths began to fill the house. She used every means she knew to get rid of them, without success. At last, remembering the cask, she opened it and thousands of moths poured out! The lesson here is simple: anything we cling to that’s contrary to God’s Word will cause us to fall before our enemies.

Always keep before you David’s prayer: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there be any wicked way in me…’ (Psalm 139:23–24 NKJV) Whatever God shows you, confess it immediately and by faith receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you’ll be able to stand victorious before your enemies.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15, Matt 21:33-46, Ps 8, Prov 16:8-11


This is The Word For Today

Handling Your Failures (1)


Monday, 22 June 2015


'...the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.' Joshua 7:5 NKJV


Even the most seasoned believers experience failure and the big question at such times isn’t, ‘How could I have let that happen?’ but, ‘What’s the right way to deal with it?’ Indulging in self–condemning thoughts comes naturally to us, but it does no good. It just produces discouragement, and adds failure upon failure. As a result of Achan’s sin, Israel was defeated at Ai and fled before their enemies. Like us, in response to their defeat, ‘…the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.’ Their faith forsook them, and they ‘lost their courage.’ (Joshua 7:5 GNT) Even their leader Joshua ‘…fell facedown to the ground…’ (Joshua 7:6 NIV), despairing that things could only get worse!

Have you been there? Do you recognise the pattern? Defeat, discouragement, despair, and more defeat. What was God’s response? ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus…? Israel has sinned… Get up, sanctify the people…’ (Joshua 7:10–13 NKJV) He’s a God of repentance—not wallowing in remorse; a God of getting up—not lying down in failure! Holiness is a path, not a place. When you’re off the path, God’s plan is simple—get back on it immediately. Confess your sin (1 John 1:9). By faith ac-cept God’s mercy and forgiveness. And refuse Satan’s condemnation (Romans 8:1). ‘…Forgetting those things which are behind…press toward the goal…’ (Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV) Like a child learning to walk, when you fall don’t lie down and give up. Minimise your down–time—get back up and walk again.

Remember this: the moment that brings the awareness of sin should also bring the confession of sin and the assurance of forgiveness!


SoulFood: 2 Cor 5-8, Matt 21:18-32, Ps 144:9-15, Prov 16:4-7


This is The Word For Today

The Huddle


Sunday, 21 June 2015


'I appeal to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another...' 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV



To lead your family effectively, you need to learn how to huddle regularly. The ‘huddle’ is where a team:

(1) sets its goals;
(2) discusses the division of responsibilities;
(3) tackles the issues that determine whether it wins or loses.

Parent, even though you call the plays from overhead, your family must be taught how to accomplish them on the field. That means working through things, talking through the disagreements, motivating and appreciating each member. Try to listen with an open heart. Don’t just hear what your children say, try to understand how they feel. Yes, you’re the boss, and yes, you can try to enforce your will if you want to. But sooner or later you’ll have trouble, for resentment grows when people feel left out.

Every member of your team has got to be part of the decision–making process. Involve them! Ask God to help you look beyond what you want to what’s best for all of you. And don’t fall under the spell of instant gratification. What looks good to you today could be taking you off the path to a better tomorrow. And don’t let ‘outsiders’ into your huddle. Tell them to stay in their own. Too often their opinions are based on hearsay, self–interest or jealousy. Respect the privacy of your team. Build loyalty. Huddle regularly in prayer. When you do that, everybody wins!


SoulFood: Esther 4:9-5:3, Heb 4:7-16



This is The Word For Today

How to Overcome Doubt


Saturday, 20 June 2015


'...If you have faith and do not doubt...' Matthew 21:21 NIV


Doubt is a doorway through which Satan enters your life. It causes the ‘fight of faith’ to become the ‘flight of faith’. When fear, confusion, discouragement and despair take up residence within you, they rob you of confidence, joy and peace. But isn’t doubting just human? Of course it is and it’s also Satan’s ploy! ‘…whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given…’ (1 John 5:10 NIV) Your doubts reveal a lack of confidence in what God says. So how can you stop doubting?

The same way you deal with other sin—by acknowledging you have a problem and doing something about it. Doubt cannot be conquered by reason or even resistance; it will only submit to complete relinquishment. Trying to overcome your doubts one by one is like an alcoholic trying to reduce his or her alcohol intake one drink at a time. It doesn’t work.

The solution is two–fold.
(1) It begins with a once–for–all decision. It calls for a total relinquishing of your right to doubt anything God promised. It’s saying, ‘From now on, I will not doubt God!’ It’s believing that when you surrender a thing to Him, He takes it and deals with it.

(2) By faith declare, ‘Lord, I absolutely trust Your every Word!’

Will doubt come knocking again at your door? Yes, but instead of letting it in, ‘...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ (Ephesians 6:16 NIV) Don’t fret, wrestle, or reason with your doubts. Instead, repeat your Scriptural declaration of faith, disregard your feelings, and trust God to do what He says.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 1-4, Matt 21:1-17, Ps 144:1-8, Prov 16:1-3


This is The Word For Today

How to Overcome Doubt


Saturday, 20 June 2015


'...If you have faith and do not doubt...' Matthew 21:21 NIV


Doubt is a doorway through which Satan enters your life. It causes the ‘fight of faith’ to become the ‘flight of faith’. When fear, confusion, discouragement and despair take up residence within you, they rob you of confidence, joy and peace. But isn’t doubting just human? Of course it is and it’s also Satan’s ploy! ‘…whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given…’ (1 John 5:10 NIV) Your doubts reveal a lack of confidence in what God says. So how can you stop doubting?

The same way you deal with other sin—by acknowledging you have a problem and doing something about it. Doubt cannot be conquered by reason or even resistance; it will only submit to complete relinquishment. Trying to overcome your doubts one by one is like an alcoholic trying to reduce his or her alcohol intake one drink at a time. It doesn’t work.

The solution is two–fold.
(1) It begins with a once–for–all decision. It calls for a total relinquishing of your right to doubt anything God promised. It’s saying, ‘From now on, I will not doubt God!’ It’s believing that when you surrender a thing to Him, He takes it and deals with it.

(2) By faith declare, ‘Lord, I absolutely trust Your every Word!’

Will doubt come knocking again at your door? Yes, but instead of letting it in, ‘...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ (Ephesians 6:16 NIV) Don’t fret, wrestle, or reason with your doubts. Instead, repeat your Scriptural declaration of faith, disregard your feelings, and trust God to do what He says.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 1-4, Matt 21:1-17, Ps 144:1-8, Prov 16:1-3


This is The Word For Today

What Are Your Children Watching?

Friday, 19 June 2015


'I will set nothing wicked before my eyes...' Psalm 101:3 NKJV


Today our children have more access to the internet than ever before. Over half of all children between the ages of nine and seventeen have internet cable or satellite television access in their bedrooms. The old image of the family gathered around a single TV set in the living room is almost non–existent. Instead, often children are off by themselves where they can choose anything they want to see. They don’t even have to be in their bed-room because now they can access it all on a hand–held device like a tablet or an iPhone! One prominent social researcher put it this way: ‘Almost everything children are seeing is essentially going into their minds in some sort of uncensored or unfiltered way.’

Under the ‘freedom of expression’ rule, the government and courts permit internet sites to peddle explicit sex, violence, nudity and profanity to your children and your grandchildren. Are you concerned? You should be! Why do sheep need a shepherd? For the same reason children need loving and observant parents—wolves! And your ignorance of technology is no defence! Because you weren’t exposed to these evils growing up doesn’t guarantee that your children won’t get hooked on them. Many parents don’t even take the time to know what their children are watching! Don’t be one of them. After his disastrous affair with Bathsheba and the heartache and havoc it brought to his family, David said, ‘…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes…’ (Psalm 101:2–3 NKJV) Parents, what are your children watching?



SoulFood: Ezek 46-48, Matt 20:29-34, Ps 139:13-24, Prov 15:31-33


This is The Word For Today

Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.


Acts 3:20-24
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days

It is Jesus. He is the mediator of the new convenant just like Moses mediated for the old,

You Can Break the Cycle (5)


Thursday, 18 June 2015


'...Go to the pool...and wash...' John 9:11 NKJ



Jesus told this blind man to go to the pool of Siloam and wash the dirt from his eyes. So here’s the question: What do you need to remove from your life today in order to see what God wants you to see and do what He wants you to do? Whether it’s a destructive habit, a toxic relationship, or a bad atti-tude, you must get rid of it. James writes: ‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double–minded.’ (James 4:7–8 NKJV) God will do His part, but you must do yours. God will extend grace to you, but you must act on it. It’s said that the water which flowed into the pool of Siloam came from under the temple and was used to wash the utensils which were part of worship and sacrifice. In other words, this water didn’t come from a man–made source, but from the presence of God. Don’t miss the point here! Jesus said, ‘You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.’ (John 15:3 NKJV) Paul speaks of ‘…the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). David writes, ‘How can a young man [or an older one] cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.’ (Psalm 119:9 NKJV) The secret of victorious Christian living is bathing your mind each day in the Scriptures. Picture yourself taking a bath in God’s Word and the dirt and grime coming off you. That’s what meditating on the Scriptures does for you.



SoulFood: Ezek 43-45, Matt 20:17-28, Ps 139:7-12, Prov 15:28-30



This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (4)

Wednesday, 17 June 2015


'...he went and washed, and came back seeing.' John 9:7 NKJV


Sometimes Jesus healed sick people by speaking to them, other times He laid His hands on them. But this blind man’s healing was not the work of a moment; it was the result of a process. ‘…He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”…So he went and washed, and came back seeing.’ (John 9:7 NKJV) Question: How far away was the pool of Siloam? For a blind man, any journey is a long one. Picture this man with mud in his eyes, trying to navigate his way to the pool of Siloam. There’s an important lesson here. Even when God touches us, sometimes we’ve got to walk with our mess until we get to the place of healing, freedom and deliverance.

Here’s another thought. Whoever told this man about Jesus, and brought him to Jesus, had to keep walking with him until he got his sight back and could walk on his own. You can’t say to someone who’s struggling with a problem, ‘I told you about Jesus, and I even brought you to church but you’re still stumbling around in darkness bound by the same problems, so I give up.’ God never gives up on people, and we must not give up on them either. When someone continues to struggle with an old habit, some Christians say they mustn’t really be saved. Question: How often do you give in to resentment, pride, lust, greed, gossip, etc.? The list is endless, yet God doesn’t give up on you. Sometimes people have to ‘walk out’ their deliverance and healing until it fully comes to pass. That’s how long you need to love them, believe in them, pray for them, and keep working with them.



SoulFood: Ezek 40:10-42:20, Matt 20:1-16, Ps 139:1-6, Prov 15:25-27


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (3)

Tuesday, 16 June 2015


'...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.' John 9:25 NKJV



When Jesus restored this blind man’s sight, the Pharisees tried to engage him in a theological debate about who Jesus was and where His power came from, but he refused to argue with them. He simply said, ‘…One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see,’ and the same arguments still continue today. Some people say, ‘The day of miracles is past.’ The truth is that there is no day of miracles; there’s only a God of miracles Who says, ‘…I am the Lord, I do not change.’ (Malachi 3:6 NKJV) The Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ (Hebrews 13:8 KJV) That means what He was, He still is. What He did, He still does. What He said, He still says.

Whatever your problem may be, you have two choices: live with it and try to adjust to it, or believe God to set you free from it. Certain things like alco-holism, addiction, and abuse may run in your family, but by the grace of God you can break the cycle! Please hear this: God’s power is greater than your habit! Not only can He set you free from the thing that holds you captive, He can deliver you from its lingering effects. His Word to you is: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way…’ (Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV) So turn to God today. Give Him a chance. You’ve tried other things, now try Him. He will not fail you!


SoulFood: Ezek 37:1-40:9, Matt 19:15-30, Ps 73:17-28, Prov 15:22-24


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (2)


Monday, 15 June 2015


'...He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.' John 9:6 NKJV



Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, points out that your DNA is in your saliva and that when Jesus spat, this blind man received a divine DNA transfer. The fact of the matter is that sin is in our DNA and that’s why Jesus goes back to the root of our problem! Understand this: God doesn’t merely treat your symptoms; He goes back to the source of your problem in order to set you free from it. To change the fruit, He changes the root. This man never had the ability to see; he was born blind and needed a creative miracle—and that’s exactly what he got. Physical miracle and spiritual miracle—a total transformation. Our God is awesome, isn’t He?

Do you know why Jesus came? ‘…To bind up the bro-kenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour…to comfort all who mourn…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of de-spair…’ (Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV) It doesn’t matter whether your parents contributed to your problem or you simply made bad choices in life, Jesus can set you free, make you whole, and give you a new life. Jesus didn’t blame this man or his parents. That’s because God has no desire for your condemna-tion; His desire is for your transformation.



SoulFood: Ezek 34-36, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 73:1-16, Prov 15:18-21


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (1)


Sunday, 14 June 2015


'...Who sinned, this man or his parents...?' John 9:2 NKJV


‘His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his par-ents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”’ (John 9:2–3 NKJV). When someone is trapped in a self–destructive habit, we sometimes say it’s genetic: ‘It runs in the family.’ Yet psychiatrists tell us 90% of those who abuse others were first abused themselves; they are simply ‘acting out’ what was done to them.

Some say if alcoholism and addiction run in your family, you’ve got an ‘addictive gene’, meaning you’re at much greater risk if you pick up a drink or a drug. But you’ll notice Jesus didn’t get into the whole ‘nurture vs nature’ debate. In essence, He said, ‘This is just an opportunity for God to demonstrate His love and grace by setting this man free.’ So your problem may be too big for you, but it’s not too big for God. It’s actually a platform for Him to demonstrate His grace in your life.

‘Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP) God doesn’t consult your past in order to determine your future. Before you met Jesus, you were spiritually dead. That’s why He said, ‘…you must be born from above…’ (John 3:3 CEV) From that point forward, the past no longer has any power over you (except the power you give it). So you can break the cycle.


SoulFood: Josh 1, Ps 27:11-14, 2 Tim 2:1-13


This is The Word For Today

To Lead, You Must Keep Learning

Saturday, 13 June 2015


'...Make every effort to add to your faith...' 2 Peter 1:5 NIV


As a leader you should stand on this Scripture: ‘[God’s] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life …He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…For this… reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self–control; and to self–control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive.’ (2 Peter 1:3–8 NIV) Note the word ‘add’.

Whether you’re a leader at home, the workplace, or the church, you must keep learning and growing. When you continually invest in yourself, over time the inevitable result is growth. Although it’s true that some people are born with greater natural gifts than others, the ability to lead is really a collection of skills, nearly all of which can be learned and improved. But the process doesn’t happen overnight. Leadership is complicated. It has many different facets such as: respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, and timing—the list goes on and on. That’s why leaders require so much seasoning to be effective.

The truth is, in order to keep leading, you must keep learning and the learning process is ongoing, resulting from self–discipline and perseverance. Your goal must be to get a little better each day, to build on the previous day’s success, and to learn from its failure. Solomon put it this way: ‘A wise man will hear and increase learning.’ (Proverbs 1:5 NKJV)


SoulFood: Ezek 31-33, Matt 18:21-35, Ps 80:12-19, Prov 15:15-17


This is The Word For Today

Today, Show That You Care

Friday, 12 June 2015


'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.' John 15:12 NKJV

Take a deep breath, and hold it for a moment. Now exhale it. Where did it go? The air that you just exhaled will circle the globe in the next twelve months, during which time each of the molecules you exhaled will be breathed in by someone else only to be exhaled again. In this way we are all linked to each other, we are all connected by our breath to each other and to the One who first breathed life into us.

Just as we all share our chemistry with other members of the human family, so we are all interdependent. We’re affected positively or negatively by the actions of each other. During the self–centred days of what used to be called the ‘Me Generation’, it was common to hear people say, ‘As long as I’m not hurting anyone, it’s nobody’s business what I do.’ Unfortunately, everything we do affects other people, and there’s no such thing as a completely independent act.

The poet John Donne wrote, ‘No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of a continent, a piece of the main.’ With that in mind, read these two Scriptures:
(1) ‘A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12 NKJV)
(2) ‘Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another…’ (Romans 13:8


This is The Word For Today

@divinemandate, @Udoka, @Venizia
Glory to God, I know my dear, thank God for the wealth in His word.

@mamafresh, @kaycee676, @Apple19 wohooooo! Amen! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BFPS! Can you imagine, Ayaayo, upon all the doctor's report. No man can change what God has ordained. Happy nine months and safe, enjoyment-galore carriage with easy-peasy delivery. There shall none cast her young before the time.

@All, what do you see? Sequel to my last post, after the Abraham/Hagar saga, God had to show Abraham a picture of the number of descendants he would have. He had to make him to start walking in it by bringing a pictorial evidence. Infact, it was at that point he had to change the name of Abraham from Abram and Sarah from Sarai.
After you have received the word of God, meditated on it, berra start imagining what you desire and see yourself get it! Our 10 things we cannot wait to do when we get our BFPs was not in vain. See yourself carry your babies, feed them, take them to school and watch as God brings the imaginations to pass. As a man thinks is his heart....so is he!
I see our mothers and fathers imagining frantically now

Ephesians 3:20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!