₦airaland Forum

Author Unknown

I know not by what methods are,
But this I know - God answers prayer,
I know not when He sends the word
That tells us fervent prayer is heard.
I know it cometh -- soon or late:
Therefore we need to pray and wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought.
I leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own.

Lord let me capture the pure spirit of a loving child when I speak
Your name.
Let me pray as a child prays, asking little for myself, much for
other souls
and for Your beautiful world.
Protect me, sleeping and waking, from evil.
Lead me by the hand to good works.
Let me praise You in simple words and in glorious silence through all
the days and the nights of my life.

Amen.

Meditation: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since I took the back seat to Jesus, My Lord. Christ makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way, but it was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said "Pedal!" I was worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says..."Pedal."

Meditation: So He said, “I will certainly be with you.” – Exodus 3:12

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

I believe in Miracles and dreams that will come true,
And I believe in happiness And friendship, through and through
I believe that when you cry your tears are not in vain,
And when you're sad and lonely someone knows that you're in pain.

I believe that when we laugh a sparkle starts to shine,
And before you know these sparks will spread
From more hearts than just mine.
I believe the gifts you have are there for you to share
And when you give them from the heart, the whole world knows you care.

I believe that if you give, even just to one,
That gift will grow in magnitude before the day is done.
I believe that comfort comes from giving part of me,
And if I share with others, there's more for all so see.

I believe that love is still the greatest gift of all,
And when it's given from the heart, Love will conquer all.

Meditation: therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:10

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. – Proverbs 3:19-20

Understanding
Understanding establishes an entity; this is how you become renowned, a brand or a market leader. It is possible to know something and not understand it. You need to understand the intricacies of the entities you are building or the offerings you are taking to the marketplace. Understanding helps you choose the problem you solve. It is not every life problem you are created to solve. The same way your offering should not be one that aims to solve all the problems of the world or in the marketplace.

You need to have an understanding of your core. The core is the heart of a thing, the central point from where your energy exudes and your light shines. The core of the universe is the sun. It is a ball of fire; the source of energy and life. Without the sun none of us will be alive. It is the binding force that holds all the planets together. You should be able to know your own core.

Understanding will help you to achieve this. You will discover your core when you have a sound knowledge of what you are doing. Knowing your core will stop you from majoring on minor things. Seek to know the core and then build your structures, operations, marketing, etc. around it.

The account of creation in Genesis 1:1-25; 2:7, shows that God didn’t just leave creation the way He started. He kept on visiting them and making them better by the day with each visit. From the base creation of light and darkness (day and night), He fashioned a firmament to form Heaven, then Earth and Seas. From the Seas, He produced sea creatures. He didn’t stop there, from the earth He brought forth grass, herbs, trees, animals and finally humans. All these He was able to achieve because He kept appraising His output and, in doing that, He kept seeing potential for more that could come out of them. That is the way God builds. Since you are made like Him, you should consider building likewise.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. – Proverbs 3:19-20

Knowledge
Knowledge is the tool you use to enhance the structure or whatever you are building. The questions of what, how, why, with who, when and where, is a function of knowledge.

For every endeavor you undertake, you will be faced with legitimate distractions. Some will be glaring, while others will be subtle, but you have to be able to differentiate between what you are meant to do and when you should do it, as against what is asking to be attended to. Knowledge will be of great help in such scenarios because it will help you prioritise.

Knowledge is also tied to capacity. You need to build capacity, because projects grow, and with growth comes fresh brand of challenges than the ones you grappled with when you were starting. One of the reasons entities fail is because when the project is growing, the people running it are not growing at commensurate pace with the complexity of the project at hand. The entity thus outgrows them, thereby rendering them outdated, ineffectual or irrelevant altogether to its present realities or future potentials.

Knowledge helps you to know your process, operations and industry. You must know what to improve in your process, operations, skills, expenditure of time and resources. You must know your competition and what they’re doing better than you; the competitive edge they have over you. You must also have a marketing strategy and know which one works best for you. You must know how your customers want to be served. You must research and analyse your market.

All these are the advantages that knowledge offers you in your building endeavour. It helps you to know what needs to be done, how, when and where such should be done. If you want your structure to stand the test of time, then you need to fortify it with knowledge.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Wisdom
Through wisdom a house is built. And by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. – Proverbs 24:3-4

To build a sustainable entity you need wisdom, and wisdom comes from God alone. That is why you cannot take the God factor away from whatever you are doing. James 1:5 attests that wisdom indeed comes from God: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

When building, the foundation is important; the higher a structure is, the deeper the foundation must be. The foundation includes rigorous thinking, meticulous planning, sound decision making and right choices. In business terms, these are your self-audit to determine what line of business you are best suited for, your business plan which usually covers knowledge of industry, knowledge of the market, knowledge of competition, knowledge of your processes, operations, legal and regulatory environment, etc.

When planning, the destination you see will help you in preparing appropriately. It is true that the depth of your preparation most times determines the heights of your manifestation. You must prepare mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Mental preparation is done by ingesting all information related to your field. Emotional preparation revolves around your ability to think through what you want to do from point A to Z. You have to think things through; you should have the end, the destination, or the outcome in mind. The 3Ps Planning, Preparation and Prayer are very vital to laying the foundation of an entity that will last.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. - Proverbs 3:19-20

Science tells us that the universe has been in existence for billions of years, the earth has been in existence long before God populated it with life – humans, animals and plants. Let’s even assume that the earth has been existing for 6,000 years, is there any business or empire that has lasted that long?

The truth is empires rise and fall, civilisations come and go, but the entities that God created have survived all manners of circumstances. This implies there are certain things that God got right that human beings are still grappling with. in the next few days, we shall unravel some of those principles that God used in building His own entities with the mind of helping you to build likewise.

So how does God build? The Bible tells us that The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. (Proverbs 3:19-20)

This scripture gives us an insight into how the biggest and oldest empire was constructed. In founding the earth, God deployed three principal tools: wisdom, understanding and knowledge. These are the resources used in building planet earth, an entity that has outlived zillions of lives, species and generations, yet it keeps getting better by the day.

We will treat in detail each of these fundamentals in relation to creating an entity – be it business, ministry, home, etc. – that will stand the test of time.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

I carry a cross in my pocket,
A simple reminder to me
That I am a Christian,
No matter where I may be.

This little cross isn't magic,
Nor is it a good luck charm.
It isn't meant to protect me
From every physical harm.

It's not for identification
For all the world to see.
It's simply an understanding
Between my Savior and me.

It reminds me too, to be thankful
For my blessings every day,
And to strive to serve Him better
In all that I do or say.

When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or a key,
The cross is there to remind me
Of the price He paid for me.

It's also a daily reminder
Of the peace and comfort I share
With all who know my Master
And give themselves to His care.

So, I carry a cross in my pocket
Reminding none but me
That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life,
If only I'll let Him be.

Meditation: Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. – Revelation 22:14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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By Daily Encourager

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. "Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you." They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties. Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.

Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble. He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.

One of the parents looking on asked, "What are you doing?" "Digging for my son," Samuel answered. The man then said, "You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable," and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble. Samuel looked at him and said, "Won’t you help me?" The worker left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins. But, Samuel just kept working. He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. "Help! Help!" Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then he heard a muffled voice, "Papa?"

Samuel began to dig furiously. Finally he could see his son. "Come on out, son!" he said with relief.

"No," Armand said. "Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me." Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared. Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, "I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!"

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father! Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness. He is true to His character. He is reliable and trustworthy and can always be counted on.

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…"

"For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever."

Meditation: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, - Psalm 46:1-2

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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For the end of those things is death. – Romans 6:21b

In conclusion of our series on understanding the nature and workings of the body, soul and spirit, let us consider the final destination of each of these entities at death.

Spirits don’t die. So whenever someone dies it is the soul that really dies. And, once death has happened, the body which was formed out of sand starts to decompose until it finally returns to its primordial state (Genesis 3:19); while the spirit, which is the engine of the body (this is different from the Holy Spirit), departs from the dead body and reports back to God. ‘Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it’ (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

On the other hand, the soul, which is the real person clothed in physical flesh and powered to life by the spirit (breath of God), is the one that dies (Matthew 10:28). It is the soul that will stand in judgement and be released to enjoy everlasting life among other saints or be condemned to the second death. “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

It is the soul that is either redeemed to live a new life in Christ Jesus from the earth to eternity; “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). It is also the soul that will be sentenced to hell. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

So, while the destinations of the flesh and spirit are constant, where the soul will end depends on whether the soul in question accepts Jesus’ invitation to all souls to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-29, Luke 12:20, Jeremiah 38:20).

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when, suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared. The Lord told the man He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it."

Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that was what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have laboured long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimetre. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My son, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never did I mention to you that I expected you to move the rock. Your task was to push, and now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?

Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscular, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition, you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.

Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient, push, exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. – John 6:63

Even as the body relies on food for sustenance and the soul feeds on information, so does the spirit require word to thrive, the best diet for it being the word of God.

The spirit, the third part of a human, responds to words. As much as it is invisible, it can be quickened to tangible activity by the spoken words. That is why you see strange things happen either to an animate or an inanimate as a result of incantations or exchange of words. That is because some spirits must have been invoked there.

However, the spirit, the engine that powers life, comes from God. So the best nutrition it can get to function optimally and effectively play its guiding role as the big brother of soul and body is the word of God. God Himself is Spirit (John 4:24); therefore, His word is the best diet for any spirit to feed on. His word revives the dead by infusing spirit back into it; spirits don’t die. His word energises a fainting spirit (Psalm 119:25); His word stabilises the spirit and keeps it attuned to divine wavelength such that man is able to easily connect to and commune with his Creator about any matter of interest. God Himself so desires such fellowship or spiritual connection (John 4:23-24).

If you desire a refined and attuned spirit, then you need to constantly expose yourself to the implanted word of God. You can start today.

[This series will be concluded tomorrow].

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival. – Acts 27:34

Food is the primary source of nourishment for the body. The body must be well fed to flourish and perform at its optimal best. For its frame to maintain a strong outlook, it must be nurtured through constant physical activities or exercise. The extent to which the body is nourished in balanced diet and nurtured in physical activities is the extent it will last and serve its owner (1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Timothy 4:.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge - Colossians 3:10

In continuation of our series on the differences between the spirit, soul and body, today we shall dwell on how to cultivate these three aspects of human for optimal performance.

Growth is a natural process for most animate; and by virtue of being a living, the body, the spirit and the soul of human are susceptible to a growth process from a smaller state to a higher or bigger one.

Whilst the body develops through a biological or natural process; the same cannot be said of the other entities making a human. The spirit and soul do not grow or develop through a detached biological process. On the contrary, they have to be consciously cultivated before they can develop.

Even the human body needs more than the workings of biology to blossom and remain fit; as it needs constant attention to be at its best and serve its owner optimally. The same way the spirit and soul requires dedicated attention to develop.

For the soul, which has bearing on the mind and thoughts, it derives its nourishment from knowledge. The best way to develop the human soul is to expose it to learning. The extent that one is exposed to information is the extent his soul will be able. For the soul, the saying, ‘information is power’ is most apposite, as a soul derives its ability to process information and arrives at a course of action based on the exposure it has to knowledge on the matter at hand or a related subject.

A soul that is not informed will be prone to make bad decisions; while the enlightened soul will most likely make wise choices. Information is the nourishment of the soul. That is why our reference passage above says that the new man within is “renewed in knowledge.” Meanwhile, the depth of bearing of the soul is usually determined by the level of exposure it has to knowledge.

To be continued...

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

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For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

Of all the three entities that make a man, the most complex to explain or understand is the soul. Perhaps, that is why it is often confused for the spirit, or its activities misrepresented as that of the flesh.

The soul is the part of man that constitutes his real personality. It is what is otherwise called the inner man. The inner man is not the spirit; it is the soul. The soul is the summation of the personality of man, with direct bearing on the mind, and dictating the pattern and kind of thoughts, desires, feelings, choices, impulses, preferences, peeves, decision making, and other such complex inner workings and processes of man.

The soul is the real person that is powered by the spirit to operate through a body form. Simply put, the soul is the nature of the spirit projected through the flesh. It is what is referred to as the “nature” of man. It is the one that influences individual behaviours and peculiar ways of doing things. The soul is the real person; the expression of the spirit inside through the form of flesh.

Perhaps, this analogy will help us to understand the three entities better: imagine a car; on its own, a car cannot do much without an engine. Even when it has an engine, it cannot drive itself unless there is someone to drive and control its courses. The human spirit is the engine that powers the car; the human body is the built of the vehicle; whilst the human soul is the driver that steers the vehicle in whatever direction he chooses. These three are interdependent and cannot function adequately without one another.

To be continued...

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

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“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.” – Matthew 12:43

The spirit is the entity that animates the body and supplies it the energy to live. Spirit gives life (read John 6:63 and 2 Corinthians 3:6). Blood is the tangible representation of the spirit. That is why the Bible says ‘the life of every creature is in its blood’ (Leviticus 17:11, 14). Once a creature is drained of blood, the spirit departs from such being and he/she/it becomes a lifeless body.

However, even while the spirit is emblemised by blood, it is nonetheless an invisible entity. It takes more than the physical eyes to see a spirit. It is not a tangible thing, and it can do little on its own except through a physical form. That explains why the spirit is accommodated in a body, through which it lives and operates.

The body is the physical container that houses the spirit, and the spirit is the power source that gives life to the body, without a spirit in a body, the body will be lifeless, the same way a spirit without a body may just be a nuisance all over the place and may not realise its full potential because a spirit is at its best when it is inside a tangible form. That is why the legion of unclean spirits that Jesus cast out of the man at the country of the Gadarenes earnestly begged Him not to render them homeless, but allow them to enter a herd of swine nearby (Mark 5:1-13, Luke 8:36-33). If Jesus hadn’t given them permission to go into the swine, they would have been floating frantically in the air looking for a willing or unguarded vessel to enter.

Such is the extent that spirits depend on a physical form to function.

To be continued...

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

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Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

In the following days, we shall meditate on the much confusing issue of the spirit, soul and body of man. We will explore the differences between these entities, their individual operations and functions, how each can be enhanced and cultivated, as well as the final destination for each of them.

In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” The Bible later introduced God to us as a tripartite Being: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). Therefore, when God set out to create humans in His image and likeness, He also made a tripartite creature, just like Himself. He created a spirit being who has a soul and lives or operates through a body.

Some scholars usually interpret the spirit and soul to mean the same thing, or perform the same functions. No, they are not the same, nor do they do the same thing. As our reference scripture above states, the spirit, soul and body are separate entities, and they perform functions unique to each of them.

The spirit is the entity that animates the body and supplies it the energy to live. Spirit gives life (read John 6:63 and 2 Corinthians 3:6). Blood is the tangible representation of the spirit. That is why the Bible says ‘the life of every creature is in its blood’ (Leviticus 17:11, 14). Once a creature is drained of blood, the spirit departs from such being and he/she/it becomes a lifeless body.

To be continued...

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. – Genesis 1:3-5

This passage offers us an unusual insight into the creative strategy of God. After having created the structure (the heavens and earth) as the base for His operations, He thereafter proceeded to create light, a system of illumination, so He could appreciate His projects.

He also created Day and Night, a measuring system, with which He could track His own progress, rather than leave it all to chance or whims. He that really has no one to report to still instituted a system of accountability that would help Him not only to derive encouragement from the development of His work, but one that would also aid the evaluation of His progress within the confines of time. That is why the concluding part of the passage introduced a new phrase, a measuring phrase, "So the evening and the morning were the first day."

If you desire to build a sustainable entity, then you need to learn from the way God builds His own.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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In the beginning God created… - Genesis 1:1

If you are searching for meaning, it is advised that you closely examine your first activities or spontaneous inclination in a new environment. Those are good indications of your calling or personal identity.

When situated in the middle of infinite nothing and nowhere, in the beginning, the first thing God did was to create. He created a system called the heavens (note the plurality) and the earth as the bases for His bearing going forward. Little wonder He is universally known as the Creator.

Now He has created us like Him; so, if you wish to ascertain bearing, you need to consider those things you are naturally inclined to do firstly at the starting phase of something or at a fresh encounter. They could be pointers to your bearing.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

{1} Once all villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.

That's FAITH

{2} When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her.

That's TRUST

{3} Every night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning but still we set the alarms to wake up.

That's HOPE

{4} We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.

That's CONFIDENCE

{5} We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.

That's LOVE

{6} On an old man's shirt was written a sentence 'I am not 80 years old…. I am sweet 16 with 64 years’ experience.'

That's ATTITUDE

Meditation: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. – 1 Corinthians 15:19

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Meditation: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. – John 17:17

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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- Author Unknown

The 26-year-old mother stared down at her son who was dying of terminal leukaemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent she wanted her son to grow up and fulfil all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukaemia would see to that. But, she still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?"

"Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."

Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true.”

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six year old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat- not a toy one, but one with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program.

Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital, extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window and five firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room. With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?"

"Yes, Billy, you are a fireman now," the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and closed his eyes one last time. He passed away later that evening.

Note: This is a true story, but names were changed to protect the family. "Billy" was the first child to be helped by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that fulfils the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. The story is from 1981, and it was Make-A-Wish that made the contact with the Phoenix Fire Department.

Meditation: To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend. – Job 6:14

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Be a blessing; share this with your loved ones.

By David Coleman and Kevin Randall

In the summer recess between freshman and sophomore years in college, I was invited to be an instructor at a high school leadership camp hosted by a college in Michigan. I was already highly involved in most campus activities, and I jumped at the opportunity.

About an hour into the first day of camp, amid the frenzy of icebreakers and forced interactions, I first noticed the boy under the tree. He was small and skinny, and his obvious discomfort and shyness made him appear frail and fragile. Only 50 feet away, 200 eager campers were bumping bodies, playing, joking and meeting each other, but the boy under the tree seemed to want to be anywhere other than where he was. The desperate loneliness he radiated almost stopped me from approaching him, but I remembered the instructions from the senior staff to stay alert for campers who might feel left out.

As I walked toward him I said, "Hi, my name is Kevin and I'm one of the counselors. It's nice to meet you. How are you?"

In a shaky, sheepish voice he reluctantly answered, "Okay, I guess."

I calmly asked him if he wanted to join the activities and meet some new people. He quietly replied, "No, this is not really my thing."

I could sense that he was in a new world, that this whole experience was foreign to him. But I somehow knew it wouldn't be right to push him, either. He didn't need a pep talk, he needed a friend. After several silent moments, my first interaction with the boy under the tree was over.

At lunch the next day, I found myself leading camp songs at the top of my lungs for 200 of my new friends. The campers were eagerly participated. My gaze wandered over the mass of noise and movement and was caught by the image of the boy from under the tree, sitting alone, staring out the window. I nearly forgot the words to the song I was supposed to be leading. At my first opportunity, I tried again, with the same questions as before: "How are you doing? Are you okay?"

To which he again replied, "Yeah, I'm alright. I just don't really get into this stuff".

As I left the cafeteria, I too realized this was going to take more time and effort than I had thought - if it was even possible to get through to him at all.

That evening at our nightly staff meeting, I made my concerns about him known. I explained to my fellow staff members my impression of him and asked them to pay special attention and spend time with him when they could.

The days I spend at camp each year fly by faster than any others I have known. Thus, before I knew it, mid-week had dissolved into the final night of camp and I was chaperoning the "last dance". The students were doing all they could to savour every last moment with their new "best friends" - friends they would probably never see again.

As I watched the campers share their parting moments, I suddenly saw what would be one of the most vivid memories of my life. The boy from under the tree, who stared blankly out the kitchen window, was now a shirtless dancing wonder. He owned the dance floor as he and two girls proceeded to cut up a rug. I watched as he shared meaningful, intimate time with people at whom he couldn't even look just days earlier. I couldn't believe it was him.

In October of my sophomore year, a late-night phone call pulled me away from my chemistry book. A soft-spoken, unfamiliar voice asked politely, "Is Kevin there?"

"You're talking to him. Who's this?"

"This is Tom Johnson's mom. Do you remember Tommy from leadership camp?

The boy under the tree. How could I not remember?

"Yes, I do", I said. "He's a very nice young man. How is he?"

An abnormally long pause followed, then Mrs. Johnson said, "My Tommy was walking home from school this week when he was hit by a car and killed." Shocked, I offered my condolences.

"I just wanted to call you", she said, "because Tommy mentioned you so many times. I wanted you to know that he went back to school this fall with confidence. He made new friends. His grades went up. And he even went out on a few dates. I just wanted to thank you for making a difference for Tom. The last few months were the best few months of his life."

In that instant, I realized how easy it is to give a bit of yourself every day. You may never know how much each gesture may mean to someone else. I tell this story as often as I can, and when I do, I urge others to look out for their own "boy under the tree."

Meditation: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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© Paul Coelho in "The Alchemist"

A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for 40 days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man's attention.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

"Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something," said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. "As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill."

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

"Well," asked the wise man, "Did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?"

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

"Then go back and observe the marvels of my world," said the wise man. "You cannot trust a man if you don't know his house."

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

"But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?" asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

"Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you," said the wisest of wise men.

"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."

Meditation: Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. – Job 5:17

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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-- Author Unknown

Imagine there was a bank that credited your very own account each morning with a large sum of money. But, it carried over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deleted whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out all of it, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is - Time

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.

Each day it makes a new deposit for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow." You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running. Make the most of today. And remember that time waits for no one.

Meditation: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as for edeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-17N

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Author Unknown

A wise old man was sitting at the river bank when he saw a cat that had fallen into the water, flailing around, trying to save itself from drowning.

The man decided to save the cat. He stretched his hand out but was scratched by the cat. He pulled his hand back in pain.

However, a minute later he stretched his hand out again to save the cat, but it scratched him again, and again he pulled his hand back in pain.

Another minute later he was yet again trying for the third time!!

A man, who was nearby watching what was happening, yelled out: "O wise man, you have not learned your lesson the first time, nor the second time, and now you are trying to save the cat a third time?"

The wise man paid no heed to that man's scolding, and kept on trying until he managed to save the cat.

He then walked over to the man, and patted his shoulder saying: "My son, it is in the cat's nature to scratch, and it is in my nature to love and have sympathy. Why do you want me to let the cat's nature overcome mine?

My son: Treat people according to your nature, not according to theirs, no matter what they are like and no matter how numerous are their actions that harm you and cause you hurt sometimes.

And do not pay heed to all the voices that loudly call out to you to leave behind your good qualities merely because the other party is not deserving of your noble actions.

When you live to give happiness to others, God will send you those who will live to give happiness to you.

"Is the reward for good anything but good?"

Be beautiful in character and hearts will love you.

So never regret the moments you gave happiness to someone, even if that person did not deserve it.

And suffice in the fact that you have a Lord Who will reward you for good with good.

“The entire lesson is (about) good character, so whoever exceeds you in good character, has exceeded you in the reward.”

Meditation: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, - Matthew 5:44

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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A Little Child's Wish

A Primary School teacher asked her pupils to write an essay "what wish do you want from God?"

At the end of the day, the teacher collected all the essays given by her pupils. She took them home, sat and started marking them.

While marking the essays, the teacher saw a strange essay written by one of her pupils. That essay made her very emotional. Her husband came and sat beside her and saw her crying. The husband asked his wife, "What happened?"

She answered "Read this. It is one of my pupils’ essay."

"Oh God, Make me into a Television. I want to live like the TV in my house.

“In my house, the TV is very valuable. All of my family members sit around it. They are very interested in it.

When the TV is talking, my parents listen to it happily and calmly. They don’t shout at the TV. They don’t quarrel with the TV. They don’t slap the TV. So I want to become a TV.

“The TV is the center of attraction in my house. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives from my parents. Even when it is not working, the TV has a lot of value.

“When my dad and mom come home, immediately they sit in front of the TV, switch it on and spend hours.

The TV is stealing the time of my dad and my mom. If I become a TV, they will spend their time with me.

“While watching the TV, my parents laugh a lot and they smile many times. But I want my parents to laugh and smile with me. So please make me into a TV.

And last but not the least, If I become a TV, surely I can make my parents happy and entertain them. Lord I don't ask you anything except this. I just want to live like a TV. Please make me into a TV."

The husband completed reading the essay. He said, "My God, poor kid. He feels loneliness. He did not receive enough love and care from his parents. His parents are horrible".

The eyes of the primary school teacher filled with tears. She looked at her husband and said, "Our son wrote this essay".

Meditation: But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Timothy 5:8

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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A Fable from "Walking on Water" By Anthony De Mello, SJ

Once, long ago, an Indian warrior found an eagle's egg on a mountaintop, and he put it in the nest of a barnyard hen. When the time came, the chicks hatched, and so did the little eagle, who had been kept warm in the same brood.

The tiny eagle grew along with the hatchlings. After some time it learned to cluck and cackle like chickens, to scratch the ground, to look for worms. And he would thrash his wings and fly a few feet into the air onto the lower branches of the bushes, just like all the other chickens.

Years passed and the eagle grew very old. One day he saw a magnificent bird above him in the cloudless sky. Up there in the bright blue, this bird glided with graceful majesty among the wind currents, with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings.

The old eagle was awestruck. It turned to the nearest chicken and asked, "Who's that?"

The chicken looked up and answered, "Oh, that's the golden eagle, the king of the birds. He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth... we're chickens."

So, the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that's what he thought he was.

Meditation: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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Be a blessing; share this with your loved ones.

By Ann Wells

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue - wrapped package. "This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. Then he slammed the drawer shut, turned to me and said, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event, such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing.

I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with - someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write - one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband often enough how much I truly love them.

I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.

Meditation: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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-Author unknown

A missionary on furlough told this story while visiting his home church in Michigan. "While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I travelled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord.

I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.

Two weeks later, I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, "Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.”

At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, "No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone."

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date and the man who interrupted told him this story: "On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.

The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it.

Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. I encourage you to share this story with as many people as you know. If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God once again. As the above true story clearly illustrates, "with God, all things are possible"–and more importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.

Meditation: So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. – Ezekiel 22:30

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

To download the Daily Dew mobile app on your Android and iPhone devices, please click on http://daily-dew.com/android-iphone, for Blackberry app, click on http://daily-dew.com/blackberry.

Be a blessing; share this with your loved ones.

Author Unknown

An elderly man in Oklahoma calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, son. but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 45 years of marriage... and that much misery is enough!"

"Dad, what are you talking about?" the son yells.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old dad explained. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!”

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

"Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls her elderly father immediately, and screams at him, "You are not getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, you hear me?" she yells as she hangs up the phone.

The old man hangs up the mouthpiece at his own end and turns to his wife. "Okay", he says, "it's all set. They're both coming for Christmas and paying their own air-fare."

Meditation: But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. – Matthew 15:5-6

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

To download the Daily Dew mobile app on your Android and iPhone devices, please click on http://daily-dew.com/android-iphone, for Blackberry app, click on http://daily-dew.com/blackberry.

Be a blessing; share this with your loved ones.

Author Unknown

ADDRESS: Heaven

FEATURES:
Many rooms with a master suite
Spacious love
Open floor plan for peace
Large eat-in grace
Fenced in mercy with room for expansion
Son room with a marvellous view of salvation
Pool of milk and honey in the back
Pearly gates in front

DIRECTIONS:
The only way to the Father is through the Son

PRICE:
$0.00 - Calvary - Owner financing

COMMUNITY:
Friendly angelic neighbours.
Great family and friends.
Praise the Lord all day and night.

BONUS:
Crown of stars, new luxurious robe and golden slippers with matching wings.
Bring a friend and get a reward.

For more information, call your local agent or representative -
Name, address and phone number listed below.

NAME: Jesus Christ
ADDRESS: Repent Highway and Streets of Gold
PHONE: Dial John 3:16

Meditation: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” – John 14:1-3

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Daily Dew is published by Sons of Issachar Projects. To subscribe by email or read previous editions, visit www.daily-dew.com

To download the Daily Dew mobile app on your Android and iPhone devices, please click on http://daily-dew.com/android-iphone, for Blackberry app, click on http://daily-dew.com/blackberry.

Be a blessing; share this with your loved ones.