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Take Time To Rest THU, 26 SEP 2019 ‘Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.”’ Mark 6:31 NLT There’s an ancient legend that says the apostle John had a partridge he enjoyed feeding and tending. One day a hunter visited him and was astonished to see him playing with the bird. ‘I’m surprised to see you engaged in such amusement when there are great matters related to the Gospel with which you could be busy.’ John replied, ‘Do you always keep your bow bent?’ The hunter said, ‘No, that would render it useless. I loosen the string unless I am hunting.’ The apostle nodded and said, ‘Me too; I unbend my mind for the same reason.’ Guess who said, ‘Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’ Jesus, the most-in-demand person Who ever lived. Why did He say it? The Bible tells us, ‘There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat.’ And Jesus is our example. One summer a pastor announced he wasn’t going to take a holiday, since the devil never goes on holiday. Some of his congregation laughed; others thought he was very ‘spiritual’. One man went home, however, to see if Jesus had the same attitude. He found that in His three years of active ministry Jesus had ten periods when He got away from the crowds, in addition to His nightly rest and Sabbath day rest. Next Sunday he asked his pastor, ‘Are you following the devil’s example or the Lord’s example?’ Recreation is just that: re-creation, a time to renew your energy and nurture your most valuable relationships. So, take time to rest. |
Handling The Pressures Of Leadership WED, 25 SEP 2019 ‘I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.’ 2 Corinthians 11:28 NIV Preachers prepare sermons, teachers plan lessons, accountants crunch numbers, and mechanics fix engines. But there’s no institution of higher learning that can fully prepare you for the pressures of leadership. That only comes through on-the-job training. Paul lists the pressures of leadership along with being whipped, beaten, stoned, betrayed, and shipwrecked. It’s one of the reasons why more than 21 per cent of pastors say they wouldn’t go into ministry if they had their time over. As author Zig Ziglar said, ‘It’s lonely at the top.’ If you’re a leader in any area of life—and most of us are whether we realise it or not—the buck not only stops at your door, but you can’t move it with a bulldozer. As a leader you will hear little when things go according to plan, but when they don’t go well, watch out. Leaders draw criticism as surely as a picnic draws ants. Influencing others always comes at a price. A leader will pay the cost in time, thought, and trust. The instalments look like daily risk taking, visionary thinking, diligent working, and problem solving. But the biggest cost is dealing with people, especially those who may wear the same uniform but aren’t on the same team. Paul refers to it this way: ‘In danger from false brothers.’ (2 Corinthians 11:26 NIV) If this is what you are experiencing today, here’s what God said to Moses: ‘Stand near Me on this rock. As My glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with My hand.’ (Exodus 33:21–22 NLT) What’s the answer to the pressures of leadership? A consciousness of God’s presence in your life. |
agbara nla.... |
Step Back And See The Bigger Picture SAT, 21 SEP 2019 ‘A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’ 1 Corinthians 16:9 NKJV One day the Chamber of Commerce in a small town invited a successful businessman to come and speak. The local economy was bad and they were discouraged, so his job was to motivate them. He took a large piece of white paper and made a red dot in the centre of it. ‘What do you see?’ he asked the audience. One person replied, ‘I see a red dot.’ The speaker said, ‘Fine, but what else do you see?’ Others chimed in, ‘A red dot.’ The speaker asked, ‘Don’t you see anything else besides the dot?’ The audience responded with a resounding: ‘No!’ The speaker said, ‘You’ve overlooked the most important thing; you’ve missed seeing the sheet of paper!’ Then he went on to explain that in life we are often distracted by small, dot-like failures and experiences. They keep us from seeing the blessings and successes that are more important than the disappointments that try to monopolise our attention and drain our energy. Paul wrote, ‘A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’ Opportunity and obstacles—they go together like macaroni and cheese or fish and chips. Now, Paul didn’t deny the reality of the opposition he faced; he just chose to focus on the opportunity it presented. The poet wrote, ‘Two men looked through prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars.’ What are you looking at? Are you so preoccupied with what is that you’ve lost sight of what can be? If so, you need to step back and ask God to help you see the bigger picture. |
I thought he was arrested in the acts nii? I earlier read that he was arrested in an hotel room in PH nii? |
Establish Your Core Convictions FRI, 20 SEP 2019 ‘Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.’ Daniel 1:8 NIV What was Daniel’s problem? What was wrong with eating the best food in the country? Most people lived on a meagre diet. Daniel was going to have the opportunity to eat, literally, like a king. Why the hard line? When you dig down into the cultural realities of the situation, more seems to be at stake. A Babylonian feast was always eaten in honour of the gods. So whenever you sat down to a meal, it wasn’t just dining that you participated in, but an act of worship. This food had previously been sacrificed to a pagan god. For a Jewish teenager who took his faith in God seriously, participation would mean compromising who he was called to be. By eating their meal, he would be worshipping their god. And for Daniel, that was a bridge too far. It was about compromising his character, and that he would not do. You don’t discover your convictions when the pressure is on; you decide them in advance. It’s during the good times that you determine what you will or won’t do during the hard times. The psalmist said: ‘How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.’ (Psalm 119:9–11 NIV) Victorious Christian living is encapsulated in these three statements: (1) ‘By living according to Your word.’ (2) ‘I seek You with all my heart.’ (3) ‘I have hidden Your word in my heart.’ |
Overcoming Stress (7) WED, 18 SEP 2019 ‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Mark 6:31 NIV Take time out to enjoy life. Jesus did that. ‘Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”’ Jesus not only took time for relaxation and recreation, He essentially told those who’d been working hard without relief, ‘You deserve a break today. Let’s get some rest. Let’s take time off.’ So they got into a boat, rode to the other side of the lake, and went out into the desert. Jesus was able to handle stress because He knew when to relax. Rest and recreation in life aren’t optional, and they’re definitely not ‘unspiritual’. Rest is so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments. The Sabbath was made for mankind because God knows our physical, emotional, and spiritual constitutions demand regular periodic breaks. Jesus survived stress because He enjoyed life. JB Phillips’ paraphrase puts it like this: ‘The Son of Man came, enjoying life.’ (Matthew 11:19 PHPS) And Paul tells us that God has richly provided ‘everything for our enjoyment.’ (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV) Balance is the key to stress management. Today if you feel burned out, check two things: (1) Are you drawing daily on God’s grace, or are you depending on yourself? (2) Do you regularly set aside time for rest and recreation? The word ‘recreation’ means ‘restore, refresh, or create anew’. Are you getting the picture? If you burn out, what use will you be to God’s Kingdom, to your family, or to yourself? |
If dem born the serial killer well, let him come and try his shit at Ota. Stupid set of people. |
Overcoming Stress (6) TUE, 17 SEP 2019 ‘Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.’ Mark 1:35 NIV Make prayer your daily habit. Prayer is the great stress-reliever. Jesus began His day with prayer. He often stopped throughout the day to pray, and He ended each day with prayer. Now, if Jesus made time for prayer as busy as He was, how much more do you need to do it! Time alone with God can be a decompression chamber for life’s stresses. We talk to God in prayer, tell Him what’s on our minds, and let Him talk to us as we read the Bible. Then we look at our schedule, evaluate our priorities, and wait for instructions. If we lived that way, the pharmaceutical industry would go broke because we wouldn’t need a fraction of the tranquillisers they market! Many of our problems come from our inability to sit still. We just don’t know how to be quiet. God says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ (Psalm 46:10 KJV) And one reason we don’t know God more personally is because we can’t be still. We’re too busy to be quiet and just think. Someone said, ‘It seems to be an ironic habit of man that when he loses his way he doubles his speed.’ The story’s told of a World War II Air Force pilot who flew over the Pacific. When he radioed the tower and the controller asked for his location, he replied, ‘I don’t know—but I’m making record time!’ A lot of us are like that, speeding through life without knowing where we’re headed. We need to start our morning with prayer like Jesus did, and stop throughout the day to pray again and recharge our spiritual batteries. |
Overcoming Stress (5) MON, 16 SEP 2019 ‘He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out.’ Mark 3:14 NIV Don’t try to do it all yourself. One of the reasons we get stressed out is because we think that everything depends on us. Not Jesus. He enlisted, trained, and empowered twelve others so they could share the load. He delegated His work. He got other people involved. So why don’t we do that? Two reasons: (1) Perfectionism. We think, ‘If I want a job well done, I’ll do it myself.’ That’s a nice idea, but often it doesn’t work well because there are just too many things to be done. We simply don’t have the time and talent to do everything ourselves. It’s really an egotistical attitude that says, ‘Nobody, but nobody, can do it the way I can!’ Do you think Jesus could’ve done a better job than His disciples? Of course, but even knowing that, He still let them do the work. Why? Because we need to let other people make some of the mistakes in order for them to learn, the same way the disciples learned. Don’t rob others of an education. (2) Insecurity. ‘What if I turn this responsibility over to someone else and they do a better job than I do?’ That possibility is threatening to many of us. But you won’t feel threatened if you know who you are, who you’re trying to please, what you want to accomplish, and the one thing you need to focus on. In order to be effective you must get other people involved, because you can’t focus on more than one thing at a time and do it well. |
Overcoming Stress (4) SUN, 15 SEP 2019 ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ Luke 4:43 NIV Focus on one thing at a time. Are you being pulled in different directions? People constantly tried to do this to Jesus and distract Him from His goal in life. The Bible says, ‘At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them.’ (Luke 4:42 NIV) Jesus was about to leave and they tried to make Him stay. Here’s how He responded: ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ He refused to be distracted by less important matters. Indeed, He was a master at this. Everybody tried to interrupt Him. Everyone had a Plan B for His life. But in essence He responded, ‘No, I must keep moving towards My goal.’ And He kept right on doing what He knew God had told Him to do. He was determined. He was persistent. He was focused. So when you have a dozen different things to do, pick the most important one and stick with it until it’s complete. Then pick the second most important and do the same thing, until you’ve completed the list. When we diffuse our efforts we’re ineffective; when we concentrate our efforts we’re more successful. Diffused light produces a hazy glow, whereas light that’s concentrated produces fire. Jesus didn’t let interruptions prevent Him from concentrating on His goal. He didn’t let others make Him tense or stressed or irritated. And He is your example! |
Overcoming Stress (3) SAT, 14 SEP 2019 ‘I know where I came from and where I am going.’ John 8:14 NIV Know what you want to accomplish. Jesus said, ‘I know where I came from and where I am going.’ Can you say that too? Unless you plan your life and establish priorities, you’ll be pressured by other people to do what they think is important. Every day you either live by priorities or you live by pressures. There’s no other option. Either you decide what’s important in your life or you let other people decide for you. It’s easy to operate under the tyranny of the urgent, to come to the end of your day and wonder, ‘Have I accomplished anything at all? I used up a lot of energy and did a lot of things, but did I achieve anything important?’ Busyness is not necessarily productivity. You may be spinning in circles but not accomplishing anything of real value. Preparation causes you to be at ease. Or to put it another way, preparation prevents pressure, whereas procrastination produces pressure. Good organisation and good preparation reduce stress because you know who you are, who you’re trying to please, and what you want to accomplish. Having clearly defined goals simplifies life. So spend a few minutes at the beginning of every day talking with God in prayer. Then look at your schedule for the day and decide: ‘Is this really the way I want to spend a day of my life? Am I willing to exchange the next twenty-four valuable hours for these activities?’ The right answer to those two questions will lower your stress level by helping you prioritise. |
Overcoming Stress (1) THU, 12 SEP 2019 ‘“Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The One I have always claimed to be.”’ John 8:25 NLT Jesus was constantly under pressure. There were gruelling demands on His time. He rarely had personal privacy, and He was constantly interrupted. People repeatedly misunderstood, criticised, and ridiculed Him. He was under enormous stress, yet He remained at peace under pressure. How did he do it? He based His life on eight sound principles of stress management. So for the next week let’s look at them and see what we can learn. Know who you are. ‘“Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The One I have always claimed to be.”’ If you don’t know who you are, others might try to tell you who they think you are. If you don’t know who you are, you’ll subconsciously let other people pressure you into believing you’re somebody you’re not. A lot of stress comes from our hiding behind masks, living double lives, being unreal with others, and trying to be somebody we’re not. Insecurity always produces pressure in our lives; when we’re insecure we feel coerced into performing and conforming. We set unrealistic standards for ourselves, and even though we work, work, work, we still can’t meet them. So what should you do? You must know who you are, and Whose you are! You’re a redeemed child of God, put on this earth not by accident but for a purpose. You are deeply loved and fully accepted by God. He has a plan for your life; therefore you are significant. To overcome stress you must know who you are, and until you deal decisively with this issue you’ll be plagued by it. |
Eeyah! Sorry Atiku. I feel your pain brother. |
oluwatosink:You are welcome. All will be well IJN |
Remember The Overlooked And Forgotten WED, 11 SEP 2019 ‘Plead the case of the widow.’ Isaiah 1:17 NIV In New Testament times society had no welfare system. That’s why the apostle James wrote, ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows.’ (James 1:27 NIV) This could be the kind of ministry you’ve been looking for! The only qualification you need is the memory of how it feels to ‘be left out’ and the compassion to ‘do something about it’. The following poignant letter, The Story of Widowhood, was written by a lady whose husband died. ‘First numbness, then busyness. A million things to settle. Endless death certificates and things to sign. Friends are so considerate; caring support from relatives. You keep busy. But at night you pound the empty side of the bed in grief. Finally you close your eyes, throw his toothbrush into the garbage, and toss out the old work shoes you brought home from the hospital in a plastic bag. You empty the closet and give all his things away. It’s heartache like you wouldn’t believe. Every suit in his closet reminds you of a special place or time you shared together. A year has passed; you’re still in one piece. Then the blow! Your friends celebrate a birthday—all couples. You’re not included because you’d be a “fifth wheel”. Some wives may even consider you a threat. Please remember us. Don’t treat us like excess baggage. We’ve been handed a rotten break, and we need friends. Signed, Forgotten.’ Think of the difference you could make today in somebody’s life by being willing to seek out those that society so often overlooks and forgets. |
let me siddon dey look. |
You Can Overcome Your Past! TUE, 10 SEP 2019 ‘Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, but he was the son of a harlot.’ Judges 11:1 NKJV Sociologists tell us that human behaviour is largely determined by two things: our parents and our environment. Judging by that, they’d have written Jephthah off as a lost cause! But not God. His Word says, ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing.’ (Isaiah 43:18–19 NKJV) When Jesus becomes Lord of your life, neither genes nor environment can prevent you from becoming everything He intends you to be. Before his life was over, Jephthah became famous as Israel’s youngest governor, and is listed among the Bible heroes in Hebrews chapter 11. That’s because God is a turnaround specialist! Maybe you were born in less-than-ideal circumstances, and you’re wondering if you can ever overcome them. The answer is yes! So the next time someone tries to use your past to put you down, remind them about Jephthah. The truth is, our God is awesome! He can lift the disadvantaged higher than those who have had every possible advantage. His strength is revealed and released in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). He specialises in using those who have been rejected. He used Joseph, a man thrown into a pit by his brothers and written off by his father as dead. He used David, a shepherd boy alienated and ignored by his family. He used Jesus, ‘the stone the builders rejected’ (Psalm 118:22 NIV), who went on to become ‘the chief cornerstone.’ (Luke 20:17 NKJV) And He can do the same for you. So be encouraged; God has a plan for your life and as you spend time with Him He will show you what it is. |
It can only be GOD. thank God for your life brother. |
Kennitrust:amen my brother. |
Enjoy Your Life! MON, 9 SEP 2019 ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV When did you last take time to laugh, to dance, and to love? Can you even remember? In the words of an unknown poet: ‘This is the age of the half-read page; the quick hash and the mad dash. The bright knight with the nerves tight; the plane hop and the brief stop. The lamp-tan in a brief span; the big shot in a good spot. The brain strain and the heart pain; the catnaps until the spring snaps… and the fun’s done!’ Sobering words, right? But does it have to be that way? No, if it’s that way in your life today, chances are it’s because you made it that way. And you’re the only one who can make it different! You say you’re busy? We’re all busy. Who says you can’t enjoy life even when the pace picks up? Certainly not God! Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘I refuse to force hilarity into the back seat every time responsibility takes the wheel. If the fun’s gone, it’s because we didn’t want it around—not because it didn’t fit… I don’t care if your “to do” list is as long as the horizon, you need to get back in balance and take the time to laugh… to dance… and to love. Why? Because the Bible says so! Furthermore, your family and friends will enjoy you a lot more when you do.’ The psalmist said, ‘You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’ (Psalm 16:11 NKJV) So go ahead and enjoy your life the way God intended—it will be over before you know it. |
Stop Putting It Off SUN, 8 SEP 2019 ‘Teach us to number our days.’ Psalm 90:12 NKJV In a 1985 newspaper essay, Anne Wells wrote: ‘My brother-in-law opened my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. It was an exquisite silk handmade slip; the price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. “Jan bought this the first time we went to New York… eight or nine years ago… She never wore it; she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.” He put the slip on the bed with the other clothes we were taking—to the mortician. Then he turned to me, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion!”’ Those words changed Anne Wells’ life. She continued: ‘I’m not saving anything anymore. Now we use our good china… for every special occasion—like losing a [kilo], getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. “Someday” and “one of these days” are fighting a losing battle to stay in my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing, hearing, or doing, I want to see, hear, and do it now. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and lustre to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself this is a special occasion.’ Makes you think, doesn’t it? Makes you want to drain the last drop of joy out of every day and break free from the cement of procrastination that whispers, ‘You can do it later.’ Wise up! Forgive that offence, tell that person you love them, take that trip, go back to school. Decide today to do the thing you’ve been putting off. |
A Moveable Altar SAT, 7 SEP 2019 ‘Make the altar out of boards and leave the inside hollow.’ Exodus 27:8 NCV The altar in the tabernacle was a place where sacrifices were offered in worship to God. And He had definite ideas about how it was to be built: ‘Make the altar out of boards and leave the inside hollow.’ A stone or metal structure would have been heavy to transport, whereas a hollow wooden altar could be carried on poles and travel along with the Israelites. The image of a moveable altar is a reminder that while you should be part of a local church, you’re not restricted to worshipping God in a particular location. You can do it anywhere by ‘continually offering up a sacrifice of praise…the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.’ (Hebrews 13:15 NASB) At home, on the job, in the supermarket, at the gym, in the classroom, your everyday activities can become a ‘spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God.’ (1 Peter 2:5 NASB) By sharing a word of encouragement, giving of your resources to help someone in need, or making a professional decision based on integrity instead of what’s popular, you’re honouring God. Jesus said, ‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.’ (Matthew 5:16 NIV) One author says: ‘The Lord is my boss. He gives me reviews, critiques, promotions, and demotions. He provides my benefit plan and my health insurance. He can transfer me… change my responsibilities… develop all my goals and objectives. I report to Him alone… While my tasks change, my essential job doesn’t. I’m instructed to do His work and be His hands and feet in whatever position He assigns me.’ |
Justice, Mercy, Humility FRI, 6 SEP 2019 ‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8 NIV The prophet Micah asks: ‘What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give Him? …Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?’ (Micah 6:6–7 NLT) Do you feel like you can never be good enough to please God? Does religion look to you like a set of impossible, guilt-inducing demands designed to appease a distant deity who takes delight in making us squirm? Thank God for Micah, who comes along and dispels that notion by telling us, ‘He has showed you, O man, what is good.’ (Micah 6:8 RSV) Because you’ve been redeemed and filled with God’s Spirit, you can: (1) Act justly. Just simply ‘do right’, even when nobody else is. Why? In order to maintain your confidence before God! (see 1 John 3:21–22) Nothing in your life is more important than that. (2) Love mercy. Remember the old Nancy Sinatra hit song, ‘These boots were made for walkin’, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you’? Jesus went through life lifting people up, not walking all over them. And His Word says: ‘Go and do likewise.’ (Luke 10:37 NIV) (3) Walk humbly with your God. When God promotes you, your greatest challenge will be to make sure He gets all the glory. Every good thing you have today is a gift from Him; try to remember that! So the word for you today is: ‘Act justly… love mercy… walk humbly.’ |
Check or cheque? I know come understand again ooo.... Lol |
Silly man. You will feel me soon on your twitter handle. |
eye service. |
Know Your Life’s Purpose THU, 5 SEP 2019 ‘For this cause I was born.’ John 18:37 NKJV Standing before Pilate, Jesus said, ‘For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.’ Jesus knew why He was born and what He was called to do, and He focused on it like a laser. And you are called to follow in His footsteps (see 1 Peter 2:21). There are three types of people: (1) Those with no life purpose. They are drifters, aimlessly cruising through life. They go to school, get a job, switch jobs, find a spouse, switch spouses, move from house to house and place to place, retire, and eventually die. They don’t really live; they just exist. (2) Those who have the wrong life purpose. They may be super achievers, people who have climbed the ladders of financial, political, and social success only to find their ladder was leaning against the wrong wall. They either discovered too late or never realised that they missed a purposeful life that positively influenced others. (3) Those who have the right life purpose. They know why they were created. They know why God put them on this earth, and they are all about fulfilling that purpose. That is the life that brings a smile to the face of God. That is success that lasts. It has nothing to do with popularity, power or possessions. It has everything to do with purpose, because that is the only thing that brings a God-given assurance of success. So do you know your life’s purpose? If not, ask God and He will reveal it to you. |
God will heal you in Jesus name my dear sister. |
asiwajumi:I love that part .... "that revolution will start like this, without notice or campaign" lol |
I want to see the same zeal from Nigerians against our law markers and the head of the governments. Let the revolution begins. lol |
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eye service.