₦airaland Forum

When life seems too hard

Fri, 5 Aug 2022

‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ Genesis 18:14

Much of our stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time—to be in control. Even after we pray with the intention of turning the problem over to God, we live by the philosophy ‘hope for the best and plan for the worst’! You don’t put your money into the bank and then stay awake all night worrying about it, right? Well, have at least that much confidence in God!

When you find yourself in the downward spiral of ‘How? What? When? Where?’ stop and give it to God. Not the limited God of your understanding, but the unlimited God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask, ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ Jesus never suffered from the fear of failure like we do. Why? Because He never entertained the thought that He couldn’t do something that His Father had assured Him He could do. And He didn’t suffer from the fear of lack, either. Even though He lived a simple life, He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others.

How did He do it? The Bible says He prayed morning, noon, and night, staying in constant touch with His heavenly Father. Consequently, He knew how to catch fish when they weren’t biting, and even find tax money in a fish’s mouth when He needed it. Now, God may not provide for you in exactly that way, but He has promised to take care of you. Here is a promise you can live by today: ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.’ (1 Peter 5:7 CEV)

Are you coming up empty?

Thu, 4 Aug 2022

‘That night they caught nothing.’ John 21:3

When Jesus first called His disciples, He told them, ‘I will make you fishers of men.’ (Matthew 4:19 KJV) Yet after hearing Him promise to rise from the dead and actually seeing Him alive, they went back to what they were doing before they met Him: fishing. Now, God will use your past experiences to teach you, but He always leads you forward—never back. When fear and uncertainty make you want to go back to the security of what you know, you end up like the disciples: ‘That night they caught nothing.’

But there is good news: if God has called you, you’re still called. Notice how Jesus addresses them: ‘Children, have you any food?’ (John 21:5 NKJV) In spite of your lacklustre performance, you’re still God’s redeemed child.

Next, He tells them: ‘“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”’ (John 21:6–7 NIV) Notice what Jesus did next. He ate breakfast with them, renewed fellowship, removed their doubts, and empowered them to change the world.

There is an important lesson here. When you work outside God’s will, it’s like fishing on the wrong side of the boat; you wear yourself out and end up having little to show for your efforts. Are you struggling? Maybe it’s because you’re fishing on the wrong side of the boat! Things will start to change when you submit to Christ, renew your fellowship with Him, and allow Him to direct you.

You are commanded to love (3)

Wed, 3 Aug 2022

‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ John 15:12

Picture in your mind the person you find hardest to love. How can you learn to love this kind of person? First, before you can love them, you must feel and understand how deeply God loves you.

Paul writes: ‘I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvellous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves.’ (Ephesians 3:17—19 TLB) Notice the words ‘feel… understand… experience’. God wants you to feel His love, and He wants you to understand His love. Why?

1 John 4:19 says that we love God because He first loved us. Why is it important to feel loved by God? Because unloved people are often unloving people. When you do not feel genuinely loved, you do not feel like giving love. So, first, you must experience God’s love for yourself. Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’

During your worst acts, and in your lowest moments, Jesus loves you. Knowing you are loved by Christ gives you value and security; it also enables you to risk loving others. All God asks is that you be willing to love, and He will supply the power to do it. ‘The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’ (Romans 5:5 NKJV)

You are commanded to love (2)

Tue, 2 Aug 2022

‘Walk in love.’ Ephesians 5:2

The Greeks used four words to distinguish different types of love:

(1) Storge, which means natural affection;

(2) Eros, which means sexual attraction;

(3) Philia, which means emotional affection or friendship;

(4) Agape, which means unconditional giving, sacrificial love. When the Bible tells of God’s love for us and the type of love we are to have for Him and others, the word is always ‘agape’, indicating a commitment to act.

Do you know it’s possible to love someone you don’t even like? Indeed, if God is going to educate us to love, He will bring certain hard-to-love people into our lives. The truth is, our lives are full of people we don’t like. We do not like the way some people speak. We do not like the way some behave. We do not like what some people wear. But most of all, we tend to dislike people who don’t like us. If you think about it for a minute, you can probably produce a list of people you don’t like. They would probably be people with whom you have difficulty getting along. Everyone is hard to love sometimes—even you—but some are hard to love at any time.

Jesus never demanded that we have a tender fondness for everyone. He did not feel warmth for the Pharisees. We don’t have to like everyone—isn’t that a relief?—but we must love them. What does the Bible mean when it says, ‘Walk in love’? Like physical walking, this unconditional love

(a) requires effort,

(b) moves in a certain direction, and

(c) is something you do every day.

chatinent:
The world can do anything as far as it defiles all rules of morality.


Not all old people are wise. Some foolish young people grew old too.


The world un poco loco

......that words "poco loco"

You are commanded to love (1)

Mon, 1 Aug 2022

‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.’ John 13:34

Love is almost certainly the most misunderstood word in the world. We dilute its meaning by overuse: ‘I love my wife, I love my country, I love pizza.’ Giving and receiving love is difficult when we don’t even comprehend what it is. So, we need to clear up a couple of misconceptions. We think love is a feeling—a sentimental knot in your stomach. True love does create feelings, but it is more than a feeling.

A second misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said, ‘I fell in love’—as if you had stumbled? We say, ‘I can’t help it if I’m in love,’ or the opposite, ‘I can’t help it; I just don’t love him (or her) anymore.’ The fact that Jesus commands us to love one another means that we do have control over whom we love and whom we do not. Love, at its core, is two things.

First, love is a matter of choice. ‘Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’ (Colossians 3:14 NIV) Notice those two small words, ‘put on’. Like you choose the clothes you wear each day, you choose the attitude you will display. So, love is controllable.

Second, love is a matter of behaviour. ‘Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.’ (1 John 3:18 NIV) It works like this: when you reach out towards someone with genuine love and concern, your feelings towards that person change. And even if they don’t return your love, God is pleased with you. That’s reward enough.

It’s An Inside Job (4)

Sun, 31 Jul 2022

‘The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.’ Romans 8:26

The twin pillars of a believer’s daily life should be prayer and Scripture. But, while praying may be simple, it’s not always easy. We lack motivation, we’re easily distracted, and we are not always sure what we should be praying for. So, recognising our human inadequacies, God provides help for us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes: ‘The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father… knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us… in harmony with God’s own will.’ (Romans 8:26–27 NLT) That means, no matter how you feel when you pray, the Holy Spirit is in prayer with you and for you, transforming your feeblest prayers into powerful appeals to the Father.

And when it comes to the second pillar, namely the Word of God, the Holy Spirit’s role is equally dynamic. Jesus said, ‘When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth… He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.’ (John 16:13 NIV) Note, the Holy Spirit does three things.

(1) He guides us as we study the Word of God and seek to understand it.

(2) He takes what Jesus wants us to know and reveals it to us.

(3) He opens our understanding about things that are still to come. No question about it, good reference books, Scripture-based resources and skilled Bible teachers are necessary and helpful, but they’re no substitute when it comes to hearing from the Holy Spirit for yourself and listening carefully to what He wants to tell you

It’s An Inside Job (3)

Sat, 30 Jul 2022

‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ John 14:16

In the New Testament account, Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ The Greek source for the word ‘Comforter’ is parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside’ to strengthen, encourage, and advise you. How good is that? When you feel discouraged, confused, and powerless, you have access to a wise, compassionate, competent Helper who will show up to support you and supply you with what you need. So instead of struggling to go it alone, learn to lean on Him, draw on His power, and trust Him to do His mighty work in you.

Paul also tells us, ‘He [the Holy Spirit] will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.’ (Galatians 5:16 TLB) The battle of the Spirit versus the flesh is unrelenting. And our fleshly nature can never be subdued by human thinking; that just produces defeat and discouragement.

What’s the answer? The Holy Spirit ‘will tell you where to go and what to do.’ And here is another wonderful benefit the indwelling Holy Spirit will bring you: ‘All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.’ (Romans 8:14 NLT) Praying and taking your best guess isn’t God’s way. The Holy Spirit’s guidance—not our guesswork—should direct our lifestyle.

So, the word for today is—remember ‘it’s an inside job’.

It’s An Inside Job (2)

Fri, 29 Jul 2022

‘It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.’ John 16:7

Even as the disciples’ hearts ached about Jesus’ departure, He assured them it was to their advantage because it would bring them a new era of power and authority (see John 14:12). Being ‘under new management’ wasn’t the end but a continuation of Christ’s ministry as the Holy Spirit took the baton from the Son’s hand and placed it in theirs. The Son would leave, but the Spirit would ‘abide with you [them] for ever.’ (John 14:16 KJV) This was their ‘advantage’. The Spirit would enter their human bodies and live permanently in them!

This is no tentative, vague connection. It’s God’s Spirit choosing us as His permanent dwelling place. Have you ever considered the advantage this gives you? For example, you might awake tomorrow feeling stressed, weary, and irritated, and, humanly speaking, these feelings could easily dictate your day. But because the Spirit lives in you, these things don’t have to control you.

Paul writes, ‘Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?’ (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV) Once you accept that promise by faith, you become God’s temple. You can be at work, driving the kids to school, walking the dog, waiting for biopsy results, or attending the funeral of your best friend, and as you go about your everyday life, God’s Spirit is living in you. Can you see now why Jesus told the disciples it was good for Him to leave and send the Holy Spirit? Whatever you do, don’t let this life-changing truth slide by you!

It’s An Inside Job (1)

Thu, 28 Jul 2022

‘He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ John 14:16

Remember dinner without mobile phones, voice mail, texts, and brain overload? Friends and family enjoying each other’s company, uninterrupted by technology? We’re a generation that’s losing the art of communication and intimacy—and it’s impacting the time we spend alone with God. Although Jesus preceded the high-tech age, He was in constant demand; multitudes pursued Him at all hours of the day and night.

Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us: ‘Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.’ (Mark 1:35 ESV) Jesus made time to be alone with His Father.

It requires spiritual discipline to eliminate life’s noise and racket and be still and listen. But if you practise it, you will discover a heart-satisfying intimacy and fellowship with God. Invest a few minutes reading John chapters 14–16, and let your spirit absorb Jesus’ message. Notice, He wants His disciples to have peace, and He comforts them with the assurance that they’re never left alone. These are blessings He wants you to share too.

So, how can you find this peace and comfort? Answer: ‘It’s an inside job,’ because the Holy Spirit lives in you. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’

It may be Christianity’s best-kept secret, that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and is available to provide everything we need to handle life’s difficulties. The Comforter was promised by the Son, sent by the Father, and today He is ours by faith. Embrace Him, trust His power, experience His peace, and follow His unfailing guidance

.......and they have the best roads in Africa too.

Let God’s Peace Be Your Yardstick

Wed, 27 Jul 2022

‘The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:7

You can have peace today regardless of your circumstances: ‘The Lord of peace Himself [will] grant you His peace… at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes].’ (2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMPC) Think about it: God has no worries or problems because He controls everything. And as you learn to trust Him, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.’

Jon Walker put it like this: ‘If you lived in a town constantly harassed by enemy raids, one option for the military would be to send troops to actually live beside you. They wouldn’t just provide protection during an attack, they would dissuade the enemy from launching future attacks. This is the implication in Philippians 4:7. The Holy Spirit has set up a garrison [a stronghold… a defence army… an occupying force] within us. And God’s garrison of peace will indwell your heart and mind, protecting you, and healing the wounds of worry and fear that threaten to invade your life. It’s the kind of peace that transcends human understanding because it’s God-powered and Spirit-connected. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1–2 NIV)’

Are there areas in your life where you lack peace? Give them to God. The psalmist said, ‘He speaks peace to His faithful people.’ (Psalm 85:8 NLT)

Diane Eble observes, ‘When God speaks, peace is the message… never settle for any course that’s not characterised by peace… it’s not God.’

Zip It!

Tue, 26 Jul 2022

‘They will start gossiping and become busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business.’ 1 Timothy 5:13

The Bible says gossip is nothing less than meddling in other people’s business. Jon Zens says: ‘I have watched friends and families suffer untold pain because of gossip… the information someone dumps on you without your consent and consent of the person involved. It can be true, partially true, or completely false. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative information and colours people’s perceptions of someone unjustly. The person being torn down is out of the loop because talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning.’

Fred Gage said, ‘The Christian army is the only one that shoots and buries its wounded.’ So set the standard for your own life by evaluating people based on your experience with them, not on what somebody else says. Second-hand information is notoriously unreliable and misleading, and it violates Christ’s command to ‘treat people the same way you want them to treat you.’ (Matthew 7:12 NASB) When you have been hurt by tittle-tattle, you can relate to the wisdom of those words.

Rumours and innuendos may seem innocent and come to you subtly, but even if someone isn’t operating in malice, their motive is irrelevant. Spreading gossip defies walking in love and looking for the best in others. AW Tozer said, ‘Never pass anything on that will hurt somebody. “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV), and the talebearer has no place in God’s favour. If you know something that would hurt one of God’s children, take it out, bury it and say, “Here lies in peace the story about my brother.” God will take care of it.’

Give It All You’ve Got!

Mon, 25 Jul 2022

‘The rest of the apostles were Simon, known as the Eager One…’ Luke 6:15

When Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines met in the 1968 college American football championships, Ohio soundly defeated their arch-rivals 50–14. The game will long be remembered because of what happened minutes from the end. With a commanding lead of 44–14, the Buckeyes pressed heroically to win a final touchdown. Instead of opting for the normal one-point conversion, the legendary Woody Hayes pushed unsuccessfully for a two-point conversion. After the game when he was asked by the press why he had opted for two points when the game was already won, Hayes replied, ‘Because I couldn’t go for three!’

Giving it your all results in victory not defeat; in satisfaction not regret. Enthusiasm is at the core of every worthwhile accomplishment. Paul writes, ‘It is good to be zealous in a good thing always.’ (Galatians 4:18 NKJV)

Among the disciples, one in particular was known for his enthusiasm: Simon the ‘Eager One’. Before his conversion, Simon belonged to a militant nationalist party committed to Jewish liberation from Rome. By grace, Simon the political zealot became a spiritual firebrand whose passion was channelled into the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom.

The word enthusiasm comes from the two Greek words en Theos, meaning ‘God within’. Christian enthusiasm is God-inspired passion, driven by the Glory of God, directed by the Word of God, dedicated to the Son of God, and derived from the Spirit of God. When it comes to loving and serving Christ, giving it everything you’ve got is the only way to go! Today strive like Simon to be known as the ‘Eager One’.

nijaomegacode:
He's not after toddlers; he's after virgins (I guess).

hummm.
Virgins!

Fi àmi hàn mi fun rere; ki awọn ti o korira mi ki o le ri i, ki oju ki o le tì wọn, nitori iwọ, Oluwa, li o ti ràn mi lọwọ ti o si tù mi ninu.

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalms 86:17

ELEYI of Eleyi land talking.

potbelly:
So na 12 year old old man Ned dey eye?

is there anything in Ned's brain when it come to sleeping with todlers?

Three ‘Cheers’

Sun, 24 Jul 2022

‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33

In the mid-eighties, Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as ‘Moz’, dominated the British rock charts. Known for his melancholy as much as for his music, Morrissey’s songs had predominantly depressive themes. They dwelled on fractured relationships, lonely nightclubs, and the hopeless weight of the past. In short, Morrissey was a singer who lived a cheerless life in a minor key.

How different from the life Jesus called His followers to live! On three different occasions He encouraged His disciples to ‘be of good cheer.’ Bible teacher Philip De Courcy calls them ‘the three cheers of the New Testament.’

The first reason to be cheerful is because your sins are forgiven and forgotten in Christ (see Matthew 9:2). Because of Calvary, your faults and failings will never be used in judgment against you (see John 5:24).

The second reason to be cheerful is because we’re not fighting for victory but from the vantage point of victory. ‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33 NKJV)

And the third reason to cheer is because Jesus will be with you no matter what life throws at you or who comes against you. Like the terrified disciples on board a storm-tossed boat, He will be there when you need Him. You have His word on it: ‘They were troubled… But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”’ (Matthew 14:26–27 NKJV)

Peace isn’t the absence of storms. It’s knowing Christ is with us and ‘nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God… in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:39 NLT)

Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (3)

Sat, 23 Jul 2022

‘Pray for each other so that you may be healed.’ James 5:16

Paul writes, ‘Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6–7 GWT)

Here are three final thoughts on the power of prayer:

(1) Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that when prayer and religious practices are important to people, their stress levels plummet and they experience much less anxiety.

(2) University of Texas researchers determined that people who regularly attend church take a more active role in maintaining their health. They’re more likely to get regular check-ups and take vitamins, and less likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco. They also tend to exercise daily and get a good night’s sleep. Consequently, they live longer, healthier lives. The Bible says your body is the home of the Holy Spirit… it doesn’t belong to you (see 1 Corinthians 6:19), so you must respect and take care of it.

(3) Research on Aging published study results from three major universities showing that people who hold meaningful religious beliefs and live accordingly are less likely to suffer from heart disease. The key lies in the critical role of blood pressure and heart disease. People who described their perspective as, ‘My religious beliefs are what lie behind my approach to life,’ had healthier blood pressure readings and weren’t negatively affected when they experienced stress.

It’s important to note that all these research reports were published by secular, non-religious institutions. The truth is, daily prayer enriches and enhances every aspect of your life.

Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (2)

Fri, 22 Jul 2022

‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.’ James 5:16

Seven more thoughts to consider:

(1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress.

(2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious.

(3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations and do better in maths and reading. And kids who went to church as little as once a month are less likely to repeat a year in school.

(4) Psychiatric Services journal cites several studies showing how positive religious beliefs play an important role in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and greatly reduce the rate of recidivism.

(5) When researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied 2000 people over sixty-five, they found that the ones who attended church were less likely to lose their mental faculties in future years.

(6) Anger puts your stress reaction into overdrive, and raises your blood pressure. Ohio State University studies confirm that praying for the person you’re angry with can calm your anger and foster positive emotions like compassion, which improves your overall health.

(7) And Sociological Quarterly reports that teens who find meaning and importance in their faith have better relationships with their parents, which leads to a more satisfying experience for the whole family.

Yinmu.
......as dollar today at the black market is 651.

Whao!

Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (1)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022

‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.’ Philippians 4:6

God’s Word clearly tells us to ‘pray about everything.’ Today, science is beginning to recognise the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer. Here are some additional benefits:

(1) Florida State University researchers found that praying for somebody increases your readiness to forgive them. When a group of men and women prayed for the well-being of a close friend every day for four weeks, they were more willing to forgive not only the friend but people in general. Forgiveness is associated with better overall health and satisfaction with life.

(2) University of Miami researchers discovered that prayer and religious practices improve your ability to pursue and achieve long-term goals. Prayer affects regions in your brain that improve self-control, and people who view their goals as sacred are more determined to attain them.

(3) A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that victims of abusive relationships recovered a positive self-image and reduced their emotional pain when their lives included prayer.

(4) Columbia University researchers found that people who value religion and regularly attend church are 90 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than their non-religious peers.

That’s pretty strong evidence in favour of prayer, wouldn’t you say?

nazicartel:
Wait. I don't want to buy into all these talks of Priests being killed. I want to ask. Is there any gangup against Catholic priests?... They are being killed almost every week. What's really happening

I think Vatican City should do something too.

When You’re Tested

Wed, 20 Jul 2022

‘Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.’ Genesis 22:10

We are not all tested in the same ways, but we’ll be tested on the same issues. Consider Abraham. After waiting for twenty years, God gave him a son destined to ‘father of many nations.’ (Genesis 17:5 KJV) Then God told him to sacrifice that boy on a remote wilderness altar. It didn’t make sense because it contradicted God’s promise, yet Abraham obeyed.

Now, it’s unlikely you’ll be called to face the same challenges as Abraham, but, rest assured, you’ll be tested on the same issues. For example, you’ll be tested on your level of commitment. When the going gets tough, will you stay committed to God and obey His Word, or will you look for a way out? When it doesn’t make sense, isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve it, will you trust God and remain faithful to Him?

You’ll be tested on the issue of who is in control of your life. When you can see the hand of the Enemy at work or identify the person responsible for your predicament, pressure, or pain, will you remember that ‘all things work together for good’ and God is still running the show? (see Romans 8:28.)

Another area where you’ll be tested is on the issue of your faith. When it looked like God was reneging on His promise, yet ‘by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ (Hebrews 11:17 NKJV) How could a loving father do such a thing? Because he never doubted that God could raise Isaac up, ‘even from the dead.’ (Hebrews 11:19 NKJV)

So when you’re tested, ‘continue to hold firmly to [your] declaration of faith. The One who made the promise is faithful.’ (Hebrews 10:23 GWT)

Getting Older, And Better

Tue, 19 Jul 2022

‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of My people; My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’ Isaiah 65:22

In 1968 a scientist discovered a six-hundred-year-old necklace in a Native American grave. It was made up of seeds which had been strung together. He planted one of those seeds, and guess what happened: it sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years, it still had the potential for life.

Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time, but now you would like to be productive. You desire to be fruitful. The good news is, it’s not too late! You can begin right now. ‘The righteous will flourish like a palm tree… planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock.”’ (Psalm 92:12–15 NIV)

Did you know that a palm tree produces its greatest harvest of fruit in its final years? That can be your destiny too. ‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of My people; My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’ That Scripture means bunions, bifocals, and baldness notwithstanding, your last season of life can be your greatest season of life. It may take you longer to do what you do, but fuelled with the wisdom of God’s Word and the years you have walked with Him, you can still make a mark for God in this world.

Everybody Needs Somebody

Mon, 18 Jul 2022

‘Two are better than one.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9

Sportswriter Rick Reilly gave rookie professional athletes this advice: ‘Stop thumping your chest. The line blocked, the quarterback threw you a perfect spiral while getting his head knocked off, and the good receiver drew the double coverage. Get over yourself!’

During twenty-seven years coaching his ten-time national-champion UCLA basketball teams, Coach John Wooden reminded them, ‘It takes ten hands to score a basket.’

His message lines up perfectly with Solomon’s counsel: ‘Two are better than one’! No one realises his or her best potential on their own. God’s Word and life itself teach us that living is designed to be a team sport. In the very beginning, God established this principle: ‘It is not good for the man [or woman] to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ (Genesis 2:18 NIV)

Being the ‘lone ranger’ was never God’s intention for us. Loneliness is a killer. Companionship is the elixir of life. In Ecclesiastes 4:1–12, Solomon talks about the value of human relationships in a challenging and difficult world. And teacher Philip De Courcy tells us that Biblical wisdom embraces ‘a theology of we’ and ‘rejects a theology of me’ (see Philippians 2:4). To win in life, we need to commit ourselves to:

(a) resisting the ‘go-it-alone’ spirit that often characterises our culture;

(b) cultivating meaningful relationships and learning to treasure our friends; (c)

staying closely connected to the members of the body of Christ;

(d) reaching out to the lonely and the fallen; and

(e) going out of our way to demonstrate the nature of real friendship (see Proverbs 17:17; Hebrews 10:24–25; Luke 10:25–37; John 15:13).

Blazing your own trail is a dead-end street. Life shared is life fully lived!

Stress Dots

Sun, 17 Jul 2022

‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!’ Isaiah 26:3

Have you heard of stress dots? They are little pressure-sensitive dots that you place on your hand. As adrenaline changes in your body, the dots change colour and reveal if you are under stress. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a tiny internal warning light that informed us every time our focus was off the Lord? Or if we had a small beep or signal light that cautioned us we were out of tune with God? We do! It’s known as tension.

Becoming tense is a sure indication that we have taken our eyes off the Lord and set them on circumstances. We are staring at the problem rather than the solution. And when we do that, we are going to get tense. When you think about it, stress can be God’s way of saying, ‘Get your focus in line: look at Me.’ The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!’ You have the choice of focusing on your troubles or focusing on the One who holds the solution.

Corrie ten Boom wrote: ‘The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God. If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at God, you’ll be at rest.’

It’s what you concentrate on that decides your amount of peace. So when trouble comes, focus on God’s presence; He is with you, and He has promised that He will never leave you (see Hebrews 13:5)

Are You Producing For God?

Sat, 16 Jul 2022

‘I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last.’ John 15:16

Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, ‘I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do’?

What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life? Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word ‘fruit’ occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three different kinds of fruit are referred to: the kind we eat—figs and grapes; biological fruit—infants; and spiritual fruit—Christ-like character. The Bible defines this spiritual fruit as nine things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22–23).

Now you know the kind of fruit that God wants produced in your life. That’s how He defines a productive life. Jesus said, ‘This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.’ (John 15:8 NIV) The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit.

Perhaps you’re a good ‘fruit inspector’ when it comes to examining the lives of others. But what kind of fruit is growing in your own life? Are you growing more carnal or more Christ-like? To know how fruitful you are, examine what’s growing in your life. If you like what you see, keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t, get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies You.’

20 millions followers?......like all the 20 millions have voters card or leave in Lagos?
A bi she expected them to vote via Instagram nii?