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Tips on Weekly Bible Reading
Greetings in Jesus Name,
I hope that this section of Weekly Bible Reading and Prayer tips will encourage you in every way to make decision for Christ and become his great ambassador; enrich your life and affect people around you positively.
Tips on Weekly Bible Reading
January 7,2010
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul.He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
Isaiah 43:19, 44:2
"I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland......... to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed formyself that they may proclaim my praise".
This is what the Lord says-
He who made you, who formed you in the womb,and who will help you: Do not be afraid,..................
AUGUST 10,2009.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to us thatthis all surpassing power is from God and not from us.We are hard pressed on evry side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair ;perscuted ,but not destroyed . We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Therefore we do not lose heart . Though outwardly we are wasting away,yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far out weighs them all.So we fix our eyes not on what is seen ,but on what is unseen.For what is seen temporary but what is unseen is eternal.
May our God help us to fix our eyes on him and him alone in other to be victorious over the devil's schemes in Jesus Name. Amen
July 26, 2009
ROLE MODEL FOR CHRIST
Philippians 2:12-18
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything with out complaining or arguing , so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation ,.........."
As children of God, we must keep trying by the grace of God to be good role model in turth and honesty with fear of God to be light in world. This we can do by being on our knees.
July 8,2009
Revelation 22:1-5
" Then the angel showed me the river of life, as clear as crystal,....." 5 They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light . They will reign for ever and ever.
As long as you live, temptation and trial will come and in different shape, color and sizes. However, you will alone need to stand and resist the devil and he will flee from you. Do not throw away heaven for all the temptation in the world, instead strive to live above them and our good Lord will give you victory in Jesus Name.
What are those distractions? give them up to the Lord, indeed he is able to give you victory.
June 24,2009.
Psalm 129 :3 & 4.
" Plowmen have plowed my back and mde their furrows long. But the Lord is righteous ; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked".
Hold on to God especially in times of trouble, he will rescue you.
May 31,2009.
Romans 5:3-5
" Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and character ,hope And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
What ever you are going through, trust in the Lord and it will be well with you.
May 19,2009
2 Kings 4:1
"Your servant has nothing there at all "she said except a littlte oil".
Like this servant, sometimes children of God loose sight of victory by boxing themselves in a corner and underextimating the power of the most high God.
We ought to hang on to the promises of Our living God and remember that He is able to do what he says that he will do. We need to position ourselves and believe in his word and faithfulness.
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: Go ,gather together the jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king , even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.
Read the whole book of Esther. As mothers this will help you understand the sacrifice a woman is willing to make in times of trial to save life and maintain the truth and protect integrity as a woman and a mother.
April 23,2009
2 Kings 4:32 -33
" When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord.
What we all need like the Shunammite woman, is a strong man or woman of God, who will be on their knees on our behalf, in time of crisis or trial praying to God Almighty for a define intervention.
April 16,2009
Acts 19:8
" Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months,arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God".
What role are you playing in the kingdom of God?
A question for you and I to pounder.
Read the whole of chapter 19.
April 5, 2009
2 Samuel 7:18.
" Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
My Lord has been so faithful that he has brought me thus far in my life, In all that I have and I am, I give God back the glory. For I don't deserve anything given that I am a sinner, but praise be to Him who has washed us with his blood. And Love us more than we can ever imagine. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
March 29,2009
PSALM 97:11
"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart"
Rejoice in the Lord you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
The key word is "Upright in heart". Let those who love the Lord hate evil. Do not allow your self to be entice by evil. You must continue to look up to the Lord for strength to continue in his will.
The Lord who sees your heart says rejoice.
3/1/09
Mark 5:35 & 36
“While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.” Your daughter is dead,” they said “Why bother the teacher any more?”
Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler,” Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Any one in Jairus’s situation will be confused, frustrated and completely given up hope. However, Jesus spoke a great word to Jabirus “Don’t be afraid; just believe. We know the rest of the story of how Jesus raised Jairus daughter from (dead) Sleep.
With the Country’s Economy swinging from one end to the other, it is in deed a very difficult times that we are in, As the economy swings from left to right, it cuts along people of various status there fore causing people to loose their home, jobs, late in paying bills , lack of health insurance etc.
While these are going on, most people are hit with the feelings of Hopelessness. For Christians, God is saying today, that it is not over, if you only believe. The question is do you believe? Whom are you holding on to for a better tomorrow? My sisters God is the answer. If you completely believe, he will speak to your situation; he will revive it back to life. The Country’s Economy might be swinging from one end to the other but you do not have to be caught up in it.
2/15/09
JUDGES 3:5-7
The Israelites lived among the Canaanites ,Hitties,Amorites,Perizzites,Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
Read the book of Judges from Chapter 1-3 to understand verse 3-7 of chapter 3.
Their is every need for us to be careful, not to get entangle with any one or group that will eventually affect our relationship with God. Certain things are good at the surface but inside is not worth the trial. (All that glitter is not gold). When the Israelites where getting married to nations that practice different faith; they did not sit to count the effect of what they were doing. At the end, they forsook the Lord.
2/12/09
PSALM 139:14-17
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God how vast is the sum of them.
Do you some times feel hopeless, worthless, confused or worst ready to throw in the towel?
Naturally some times we all feel that way. If you are feeling that way or ever feel that way, remember that God’s spirit is ready and willing to work with you. Know that He knows what you are going through and he will never leave nor forsake you.
No matter how hard you struggle the most important thing you should not do is silent the Holy Spirit.
Instead be un your knees, constantly invite Him to take control, and when you don’t know what to pray about…….. The Holy Spirit will intercede on your behalf to the Most High God. May Be all you need do is be still and know that He is God.
Dec 5, 2008.
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation-
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strong hold of my life-
Of whom shall I be afraid?
3. Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
4. One thing I ask of the Lord,this is waht I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27 is an important prayer, very very important, particularly to me and probably it should be important to all Christians. As Christians we get tested in our different ministry /calling, and it is very very difficult for one to keep a calm head /mind to focus on the word of God and what He would have you do at a time like that. We struggle between representing Christ, doing that which we believe is right and struggle of our human nature taking the upper hand, and bringing out the worst in you. This is why it is very important that we pray the prayer in Psalm 27, because no matter what happens, we should not loose focus of who we are in Christ Jesus. And we know that neither by our power nor strength but by the Power of the Holy Spirit, we will become over comers.
Nov 1,2008
Isaiah 56:1-2
This is what the Lord says: "Maintain justice and do right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Often in mist of trial, it is very hard to keep our head straight and do the right thing. Especially when we feel that we are being pressed to the wall, our natural human instincts will be to react and most of the time we do so, in a negative way.
Ignoring the warnings we get from God will make it possible for us to drift away from God.
What does God say today, regarding the situation that pushes us against the wall?
"Maintain justice and do right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
As a Christian it is very hard to do, but we must pray for the Holy Spirit to help us keep a clear mind, be focus and not be drawn into the mud by the devil or more lose our Salvation by doing it our way.
Oct 26,08
Psalm 85: 8
"I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly.
As children of God, we need to listen at all times to what God has to say. Some situations could be difficult and as a result we might be over whelm that we will not listen or even remember that we need to know what God has to say about that particular situation.
We need to be focus as children of God and learn different ways to carefully listen to him.
Oct 6,2008
"I will trust the Lord at all times."
Psalms 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain".
Unless you have a relationship with God, you know him and believe in him, it will be hard for you to trust and commit everything concerning you into his hands.
The reality is that, either way, weather you choose to serve him or not, your life and times is in his hands. And only those that trust him will see his goodness in the land of the living order wise you will end up toiling in vain.
verse 2 states " In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-
He grants sleep to those he loves.
Question for the Day- What can the clay do without the potter? Can the clay fashion itself?
ASK YOURSELF- DO I HAVE A REASON TO TRUST THE LORD AND ACCEPT HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR?.
October 1st,2008
Joshua 24 :15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord"
Recommendation, read the whole book of Joshua 24. Go through the latest article on What's new.
9/08/08
Brace up for the blessing of God: Samuel 1:9-12
" So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now E-li the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was on bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord,
verse 19 " ..and Elkannah, knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.
The only one you can truly go to with your burden , is the Lord Jesus and he will not only give you rest, he will wipe your tears. So why not go to him today, do not not wait another minute. Go to him continously and don't let go till he grants you rest.
8/24/08
Patient : Romans 8:25
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have,we wait for it patiently" Recommended Reading RomansChapter 8.
The Dictionary meaning of Patient is
1. Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint.
2. Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain.
3. Not hasty or impetuous
4. Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty ,or adversty.
As Christians we ought to be patient in a world where things are going so fast and yet seem not to be right. As we go through the numerous trials in life, we should remember that we are in the world but not of the world, therefore we have to patiently wait upon the Lord for answers to prayers, direction,guidance and deliverance from the perils and dangers of life.
Psalm 40:1, Ps 37:7, Heb 6:15.
8/17/08
GENESIS 37... . THE STORY OF JOSEPH
(THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS)
The story of Joseph is a very good example of how each of us should learn to forgive. Often it is very hard to forgive people who have hurt us, especially when people we trust is involved.Yes we may suffer and go though pain, which may include physical, emotional or mental pain. In some cases we may ask questions like "WHY?"(Job 7:17-21;Ps 10:1; 22:1; 74:11-12; Jer 14:8-9) We tend to feel betray, lost confidence and trust in such people.
Joseph, for example suffered much because of his brothers' jealousy and cruelty.However he did not take it up on himself to punish his brothers instead he committed his ways to God and showed mercy and love to his brothers. This shows us how God fights our battle, what people might mean for evil, God will turn it around for good(Genesis 50:19 "But Joseph said to them "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good ..")
The lesson here is that our hearts have to be straight with God at all times both in good and bad times. And we should have total confidence and believe in him. Finally we should learn to let go of all grievances and revenge into God's hands. For he alone know our end. If we decide to take matters in to our own hands, we will make bad situation worst).
God is able to make all things work for the good of those that believe in Him. In other for us to enjoy God's faithfulness we must take up our responsibilities, which includes
1. To obey God and his revealed will
Ge 39:2-3,21,23. Mt 2:13.Pr 3:5-7.
2. We must constantly be in tune with God's will for our lives as we serve him and minister to other people in his name Ac 18:9-10;23:11;26:15-18;27:22-24.
3.We must love God and submit to him by faith in Christ if we want him in all things to work for our good Ro 8:28.
4.In order to experience God's care in the midst of affliction, we must call out to him in persistent prayer and faith.
Through prayer and trust we experience God's peace( Php 4:6-7)
We receive strength from the Lord (Eph 3:16; Php 4:13)
We receive God's mercy, grace and help in time of need (Heb 4:16).
8/3/08
Our Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name,
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This is a powerful prayer, which all Christians ought to mediate upon. Most times we just ramble through this prayer with out meditating on it. And when we do that, it real holds no meaning for us nor really achieves the purpose for which it is said. We should first humble ourselves, when we come in the presence of the Most High God, and recognize that He is our creator before any thing else. Imagine, if you are invited to sit or visit with the President of America, we will intentionally do everything to be at our best, this include what we will wear, what we will say, how to comport one self in the presence of the president...............
Recognizing first that He is our Creator
Praise and give all honor to him
Pray that the world will be a better place, His Kingdom to come and let his will be done on earth, and in your life, seeking, desire that his perfect purpose for the earth and your life be done. Recognizing God as our Creator, and Father, humbling ourselves before him and mediating upon his power and might gives us the peace and assurance that he is able to do what he says he will do.
Read up: Matthew 6:25-34
7/27/08
Count it all joy.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore,since we have been justified through faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces persevarence; perseverance, character ; and character hope; And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,whom he has given us.
Key Points : Faith,Peace,and Hope.
In what ever we are going through as children of God, we should hold on to our Faith in God, knowing that he never disappoints nor will he abandon his own. Instead he will always give you the grace to bear and go through what ever you are going through and these calls for hope in the ever lasting word and promises of God to us. Finally we resting and putting our trust in God should give us peace. Believing that joy comes in the morning.
July 21,2008.
Hebrews 12 : 1-2
Therefore ,since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of our faith,who for the joy set before him endured the cros scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
As believers we should evaluate our lives and pin point those things that stops us from growing spiritually or cause us to back slide as children of God. When we identify them we should pray that God gives us the grace to deal with them.
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, identify those things that stop you from giving your life to Christ and having eternal life. Pray that God will help you to be come an over comer.
7/13/08
Psalm 119:105 & 106
" Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws."
When we read the word of God ,how do we view it ? Do we see it as one of those novels or books that we read ? Or do we see it as a guide to our life?.
When we read the word of God, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to interpret and give us discernment that we may understand his statutes.
July 6,2008
Psalm 92 1-3.
"It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp".
We must acknowledge our Lord, his faithfulness, mercies, love and kindness towards us through Praise & Thanksgiving. We should be able to just go into the presence of God with songs of Praise, and sing to him with our whole heart and soul, enjoy singing about his wonderful work, creation, victory, salvation . And express our gratitude for his word and spiritual gifts which he has bestorwed on us. 1 Th 2:13, Col 1:12,Col 3:17.
June 30,2008.
Psalm 91 :1
He "that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
What does it mean to dwell in the secret place of the Most High?
V 2 states " I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
The key word is trusting in the Lord with your whole being. You can not trust in Him, if you don't know him and how can you know him? by reading his words, believing and trusting in Him. You can not know him by going to church alone or simply saying , I believe in Him.
The bible tells us that their is abundant blessing that pours on any one that believes and trust in the Lord.
To get a clims of the blessing read the whole of Psalm 91.
June 15, 2008.
Isaiah 63: 8
He said, "Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me"; and so He became their Savior.
Verse 10
Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
God is extremely happy with all who invites him into their life and are committed. To such people he is always with them in all situations.
God is a perfect God and can not behold iniquity, and that is the reason why he frowns at us when we sin and continues to work with us to repent and turn back completely to him. When we continue to resist and do wrong, he takes his Holy Spirit. The beauty of God is that he is slow to anger and abandoning in grace so that when we genially repent, he is willing and ready to receive us back.
Finally he said in his words, should we continue to sin that grace might abound?
That is a question for you?
What is the status of your relationship with Christ? Let today, mark a new beginning in your life with Christ. Say this prayer and mean it in your heart.
“Lord Jesus, I am sorry that I have sinned against you, I truly repent of my sins, please forgive me. Come into my heart and take your rightful place. Give me the strength to resist the devil and the grace to continue dueling in you and do your will in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen
June 8,2008
Isaiah 62:6
....You who call on the LORD,give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
I don't know what you might be going through today, but God is encouraging you & I to pray with out season. And he has promised to answer our prayers, lead us out of the deep and give us rest by the Spirit of the Lord.
June 1st,2008
Psalm 143 :10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Most times, we are not ready for God's will to be done in our lives, we might be praying for his will to be done yet at the back of our mind, we are holding on to our personal wish and wishing that our will and not God's will be done.
Proverbs 18:1 tells us that any man who holds on to his desire and does not seek God's will, isolates himself against all wise judgment. Remember Proverbs 16:2 states "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirit. And verse 3 tells us that we should "Commit our works unto the Lord and out thoughts shall be established.
May 25
We will look at the word PATIENCE
Patience is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.
Impatienceis an opposite of patience or having a lack of patience.
In the Christian religion, patience is one of the most valuable virtues of life. Increasing patience is viewed as the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian who has accepted the gift of salvation. The high value placed on patience by Christianity is evidenced in the following bible references:
In the Christian Bible, patience is considered an integral part of the fruit of the spirit, as can be seen in Galatians 5:22.
As Paul explained in his first letter to the Christian community at Corinth, love is the greatest virtue in life and "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, ... It bears all things, ... endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NAB)
In the first letter Paul wrote to the Christian community at Thessalonica, he urged them to be patient: "We urge you, brothers, ... be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good for each other and for all." (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, NAB)
The Epistle of James advises: "Be patient, therefore, brothers, ... See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient." (James 5:7-11, NAB) .
May 18-2008
Deutronomy 30:15-16
"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess".
In the world of today, it is very easy for us to get over whelm with the hardship and difficulties of life. Naturally as human, we also try so much to make a head way in our situations according to our personal understanding. The reality is, the more we try to do things in our own way the more we make a mess of things. Haggai 1:5-6 God says "Give careful thought to your ways. Other wise you will be like the man who have planted much, but have harvested little. He will eat but never have enough. He will drink, but never have his fill.
Deuteronomy 30:14 states that the word of God is near us; it is in our mouth and in our heart so we may obey it. That is all it takes, to search the word of God for ourselves, believe in it and obey its commands and it will be well with us. God has promised to bless us if we serve him with our hold heart and mind.
May 12, 2008
Psalms 145 :13
" ...... The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made".
V 18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Do you know what God's promises are? Do you know His promises for you?
In other to claim your promises, you have to know what they are. You have to believe in Him that made the promise; you have to wait upon him for the fulfillment of the promise.
It doesn’t matter what your situation is right now? In all situations God has made a way of escape for you, all you need to do is believe and claim in the name of Jesus.
All who call on God in truth i.e. in sincere and upright heart may be assured that he is near. He will hear their prayer, fulfill their desires for help and work for their deliverance.
April 27-08
A Call to Persevere Jude 18-20
".......," In the last times" there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires" These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
It seems we are in the last days where so many things are happening, false teachers teaching and the devil is at work getting many people into his camp, increase in divorce rate, children against parents, parents against children, brothers against brothers, rape, killings, drug abuse, etc.
How can we fight against these?
We can fight against these through four ways.
1. Building ourselves up in our faith by studying of God's Word and a determination through prayers to know the truth and teaching of scripture by the Holy Spirit.
(Ac 2:42)
2. By praying in the Spirit, at times we don't know what to pray for but the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf.
(1Co 14:15, Gal 4:6)
3. By remaining in the sphere of God's love (Jn 15:9-10)
4. By longing and waiting for our Lord's return
4/20/08
Romans 8 :28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".
Do you know that in all things Christ works for your good? You will not know the facts, if you have not been reading and meditating on the word of God.
We go through different trials in life at different stage of our life’s. As a child of God you can identify how different trials or situations in your life have ended before you gave your life to Christ and after wards.
As Christians we believe in God and His power to see us through different circumstances. We might not know when or how it will end, but we hold on to God who knows our beginning and end. He has never ever failed us.
What ever we are going through, we have to persevere and Hope in the Lord because we know that our present suffering will not be worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
At the time of Hope, we don't know what the out come will be, no one hopes for what he already have seen, so we ought to be PATIENT while holding on to Faith and the Hope we have in God. While doing all these, we must keep praying, saturate our mind with the word and wait patiently for God's define intervention.
4-14-08
Luke 24 :17, 25-27
v 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along"? They stood still, their faces downcast.
v25-27 He said to them, " How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And begining with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself.
When we are hurting for what ever reason, their is the tendency that we always dual in our suffering, our thoughts most of the time is consume by what we are going through and yes that is human............. however as Children of God, we should look up to God, believe in his Powers and Promises to bring us out of every difficult situation.
Christ went through so many humiliations for our sake, but it was for a purpose.
What ever you are going through, you have to keep seeking God and his righteousness and it will be well with you.
3-31-08
Psalm 119-105
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
God's word contains the spiritual principles that will help us avoid many sorrows, pitfalls and tragedies brought on by wrong decisions and choices; consequently, we must treasure its wisdom and steadfastly hold on to its precepts in all life's situation.
Psalm 127 makes us understand that "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
The Big question to do is what are you going through?
What is the situation in your life?
Are you in the process of making a big decision?
HAVE YOU SERACHED THE WORD? WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HE SAYS? ARE YOU WILLING TO DO OR MAKE THAT DECISION GOD'S WAY?
3-23-08
Matthew 6:19
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven ,where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".
As we celebrate Easter, let us pray that God will help us to hold fast to our belief in him, and continue to serve Him with refreshing Spirit, received from fasting and praying.
3-16-08
Matthew 26, 27 and 28
What does Easter mean to you?
The month of March has been a month of reflection for all Christians and a time to remember the single act performed by our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us from the Claws of the devil and Ever lasting death.
Christians have spent time all over the world praying, fasting and re-establishing their faith in the Lord. For some it is a time to reframe from their sinful ways, for others it is a time to try to be Holy and for others, it is a real time when they meditate on the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As Easter draws closer with the Holy Week, what does Easter mean to you?
The resurrection of Jesus is one of the central truths of the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-8)
The importance of Christ resurrection to Christians who believe is, it proves that Christ is the Son of God
(Jn 10:17-18; Ro 1:4)
It guarantees the efficacy of his redemptive death(Ro 6:4, 1 Co 15:17.
It verifies the truth of Scripture
(Ps 16:10;Lk 24:44-47; Ac 2:31)
It is proof of future judgment on the wicked
(Ac 17:30-31).
It is the foundation of Christ gift of the Holy Spirit and spiritual life to his people
(Jn 20:22; Ro 5:10; 1 Co 15:45) and his heavenly ministry of intercession for the believer (Heb 7:23-28).
It assures believers of their future heavenly inheritance (1 Pe 1:3-4) and of their resurrection or translation when the Lord returns (Jn 14:3)
It makes available the presence of Christ and his power over sin in our everyday experience
(Gal 2:20, Eph 1:18-20).
When Jesus died and breathed the last breath, he said it is finished........ It means that you do not have to suffer any more or remain in bondage. All you need do is take advantage of what Jesus has done for you and me, accept him into your life as Lord and Savior and let him be Lord of your Life and as you do that, your life will never be the same again as you will begin to enjoy the abundant blessing the Lord has in store for you.
3-11-08
Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently".
Read Romans chapter 8.
The English dictionary meaning of Patient is
1: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3: not hasty or impetuous
4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
As Christians we ought to be patient in a world where things are going so fast and yet seem not to be right. As we go through the numerous trials in life, we should remember that we are in the world but not of the world, there fore we have to patiently wait upon the Lord for answers, direction, guidance and deliverance from the perils and dangers of life. Psalm 40:1, Ps 37:7,Heb 6:15
3-1-08
Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently".
Read Romans chapter 8.
The English dictionary meaning of Patient is
1: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint2: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain3: not hasty or impetuous4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
As Christians we ought to be patient in a world where things are going so fast and yet seem not to be right. As we go through the numerous trials in life, we should remember that we are in the world but not of the world, there fore we have to patiently wait upon the Lord for answers, direction, guidance and deliverance from the perils and dangers of life. Psalm 40:1, Ps 37:7,Heb 6:15
2 /23/08 JOB 23:10-12
We some times go through fire to be
refined as GOLD
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold .My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread."
This week we are encouraged to read the book of Job. As Christians to understand that for all the trouble and or pain that we go through that God has not forgotten us. We should have confidence in his love and promises for each of us, that says He will never forsake or abandon us, especially in trial. We some times go through fire to be refined as GOLD.At the time it is painful and maybe unbearable. As Children of God we must always stand firm, and not waver in our faith and believe in God.
2/16/08
Ezekiel 34:12
As a shephered looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep . I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
What ever you are going through; God is in control and ready to pull you out, if you only acknowledge him as Lord and Savior. And acknowledge the power he posses as the creator of heaven and earth.
Do not give up, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
2-11-08
Psalms 20:1-2
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. Amen
You are encouraged to read up all of psalm 20.
May our good Lord continue to shower his blessing upon us through the prayers of the faithful in Jesus Name.
Amen.
2/3/08
Mark 5:6
The Healing of a Demon -Possed Man.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice,"What do you want with me, Jesus , Son of the Most High God? v 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit"
v19 Jesus did not let him,but said , Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." v20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.
Recommendad to read Mark 5 :1-20
To understand that all we need do like the demon possed man is to hold on to our faith, never to give up on ourselves. v4 "For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
If he had allowed himself to be subdued, he may never have had the oppurtunity to be healed. It was a great battle between the man and the demon that wanted to destroy him. Knowing that God is God and all powers on earth and in heaven belongs to Him, the demon had no choice, as soon as he saw God, he bowed and asked not to be tortured, but God simply commanded him to get out of the man he was tormenting.
When the demon left the man, he begged to follow God, but God said no to him, he directed him to go to his family and tell them how much the Lord has done for him and how he had mercy on him. The man obeyed God. He went and was telling people how much God has done for him.
Today, you are encouraged to hold on to God, no matter what you are going through, do not give up, God will come your way and will heal, answer you. Only remember, when you are healed, you have to share the testimony to the Glory of God.
1-25-08
Hebrews 2: 17-18
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God , and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
You are encourage to read through the book of Hebrew to be able to grasp the reality and certianity of God's Power and true identity.
As long as you are here on earth, trials and temptation will come.No matter what you are going through, God knows and understands it, he is willing and ready to make way for you to over come the situation. All he seeks from you today is obedient heart , trust and faith .
Are you willing to commit to God today?
Are you willing to let God take over ?
Hebrews 4:6 states " It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefor God again set a certian day,calling it Today,when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
"Today ,if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.
1-20-08
Romans 4: 20 “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Read Romans chapter 3-4:1-21. Understanding the life of Abraham, his believe, hope and trust in God helped him hold firmly to God and God fulfilled his promise to him. Like wise, we must hold on to our faith in God.
1-12-2008
Philippians 3:12-13
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect , but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. B rothers, I do not considered myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behinde and straining toward what isahead.
My Theme for the year is Ecouragement and HOPE
Looking at the above , God is telling us to forget the past, be encouraged in our situation and press forward to receive our blessing these year.
We need to individually seek the face of our Lord. As he told us in Psalm 34 :5 "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
12/30/07
Psalm 65:5
"You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,"
I encourage reading through Psalm 65. To enable you grasp through the power of God and his willingness to answer our prayers and being the hope we have for tomorrow.
12-23-07
Psalm 34:8-9
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear tthe Lord ,you his saints,for those who fear him lack nothing.
In deed , as the year 2007 draws to an end, i want to encourage those who has not given their life to Christ, to make decision for the Lord and they will never regreat that they did. You never know that the Lord is good untill, you taste and see for your self. What can be more rewarding in life than to trust in your Creator, the Creator of the whole world, the Prince of Peace, Mighty Counsellor. Since I gave my life to Christ he has never ever disappointed me, he has always met me at every point of needs and I am sure that same thing applies to all true blievers. Please do not let these year go by without giving your life to Christ.
God has been too good to me and my Family these year. check testimony section for details.
12-9-07
Jeremiah 32:10-11
"This is what the Lord says:You say about this place , "it is a desolate waste ,without men or animals." Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals , there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying "Give thanks to the LORD ALMIGHTY,for the Lord is good, his love endures forever."
For i will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before, says the LORD.
I don't know what your situation is or what your expectations are for the end of this year 2007. Hold firmly to God, because he is God of Hope. No matter what you are going through and no matter how long it has lasted, all you need to do is trust and invite God into that situation and he is able to move that mountain completely out of your life and restore peace and joy into your life.
The Lord says " I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?.
Mediate on the Willingness and Power of God to intervene in your situation today and please let him take total control .
12-1-07
Acts 5:18-19
They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out." Go stand in the temple courts," he said and tell the people the full message of this new life."
In serving the Lord, you might encounter obstacles however; God is telling you today, that you should not be afraid of the enemy nor what he will do, for God will deliver you from the claws of the wicket one. God wants all his servants to stand and give his undiluted message, the message of good news, peace and salvation.
Jeremiah 11:3-5
Tell them that this is what the Lord ,the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant- the terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnance. I said Obey me and do everything I comman you, and you will be my people , and I will be your God. Than I will fulfill the oath I swore to your forefathers ,to give them a land flowing with milk and honey- the land you posses today.
As the year draws closer to an end, let each of us reflect on our walk with the Lord this year, 2007. Reflect on things that you seem to have done right and those things you have not done so well and ask the Holy Spirit to help you become a better person in the future.
11/18/07
Psalm 75:1
We give thanks to you ,OGod , we give thanks ,for your Name is near;men tell of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 77 :1-7
I cried out to God to hear me . When i was in distress, i sought the Lord ; at night i stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.
I remember you, O GOd , and i groaned ; i mused , and my spirit grew faint .You kept my eyes from closing ; i was too troubled to speak . i thought about the former days, the years of long ago; i remeber my songs in the night . My heart mused and my spirit inquired :Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he nevershow his favor again?
Each individual have expirenec God in their life at one point or the other. Our God always keeps his promises. Now is the time to acknowledge the goodness of our God in our lifes.
May the Name of the Lord be praised now and forever
more. Amen.
11/11/07
Micah 5:1
Marshal your troops, O, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod.
As children of God, we should always be alert at the enemy's scheme, we can not afford to be relaxed and pretend that the devil does not exist. It comes in different ways and in different form. God truly expose situations to alert us, or to warn us.
We have to learn to trust God completely, listen to him and work with his words.
Nov 5,07
Psalm 104 :27
These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.
As we go to God in Prayers, let us have it in mind that our God surely answers our prayers, he is always on time. we have to believe ,have faith , trust in him and he will surely answers our prayers.
10-29-07
Isaiah 51:7
"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults."
The Lord is talking to all who have accepted him as Lord and Savior, who listens to him. To all whom the Lamp of God is a light onto their feet . He states in
Psalm 27:2 that when evil men advance against you to devore your flesh , to attack you, they will stumble and fall.
As long as you continue to live by God's standard, pray at all times , he will keep you safe in the day of trouble.
10-22-07
Luke 18:1-8, Isaiah 58:3-9
Power of Persistant Prayer
"Why have we fasted; they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?
Do you get frusted, discouraged; upset when you pray and fast and it seems God does not answer your prayer?
Question What is your relationship with God? He desires to loose the chain of injustice in our lives. We must know him in order to receive the ans to our prayers . Not getting the answer to our prayers immidiately could also be an answer, we need to be patient and trust in our God. Knowing that he is All Knowing God and he is always on time and gives all good gifts.
We must never give up but persist in our trust , believe,hope and prayer.
10-15
Psalm 20:7
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God"
Who do you put your trust in? Have you considered the Most High God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that’s in it? To day I challenge you to put your trust in God. And your life will nerve be the same again, you will become a better person and he will answer your prayers in accordance with his will for your life. Keeping in mind that his will for you is for good and not for evil.
Further reading
Ezekiel 16:15-19
Psalm 37:1:7
Verse 7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
As human beings, it takes the special grace of God to be still in time of crisis especially if dealing with wicket men. Most of the time our initial reaction will be to react, to take charge of issues in our hands. God is telling us today that we need to be patient. We need to be still and wait upon the Lord to fight our battles for us.
Especially when we know that we are being accused wrongly or treated on justly.
It is of great importance that we listen to God and be patient and wait upon the Lord.
For further reading, Read the whole of Psalm 37
9/ 30/2007
2 Corinthians 6: 1-2
As God fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of Salvation I helped you."
I tell you , now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation I helped you.
My dear sisters in Christ, let us rise up from our slumebr and respond to God's calling. Some of us has had variuos oppurtunity to give our life to Christ, but for some reason or the other we keep pronsponing making that decision. If you are one of those, please know that tommorow might be too late.
so say a prayer of repentance and accpet Christ into your life.
September 23,2007
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall i be afraid?
V:8 My heart says of you,"Seek his face
Your face, Lord , I will seek".
When we know whom we are in the Lord Jesus, than we can confidently seek his face, knowing that he will answer us in accordence with his will for us.
We can not know who we are in the Lord Jesus, if we do not seek him in prayer , read his words and wait up on him.
September 16,2007.
Psalm 61:1-3
"Hear my cry ,O God;listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my hearth grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I .
For you have been my refuge
A strong tower against the foe".
The underlined word suggest that the writer Psalm 61 already had a relationship with God, it seems this was not the first time that he has been to God in prayer. He had positive expectations to his prayers.
God answers our prayers and the time / result we get depends on our relationship with God.
In Joshua 10:1-14, Joshua prayed and God answered him immidiately and Joshau received expected positive response.
Joshua was Moses Aide ,he demonstrated an intense devotion and heart for God by often staying for a long time in the presence of God. Ex 33:11
September 9,2007
Mark 16:1-3
When the Sabbath was over , Mary Magdelene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome bougth spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus ' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise , they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other ,"Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
God has made women to be Strong ,compassionate caring and to play Sailent important role in life. He also has endure women with all the qualities to achieve and carry out remarkable mission.
One problem among others that stop us from reaching our goal is fear. The fear of the unknown, failure , what people will say . As we can see in V 3 Mary Magdelene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome where afraid and worried about who will roll away th stone from the entrance of the tomb.
In V 4 we see how Jesus has taken care of their problem and has done much more than they expected. He revealed to them that Jesus is risen.
Jesus wants his followers to be strong and ready for when he calls and assign a task.
September 2,2007
Psalms 26:6-7
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your alter, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your deeds.
Ephesians 5:8-21
These days we hear of terrible things that
"Christians "do. Christians are supposed to be ambassadors of Christ . How many of us can stand and say"I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your alter, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your deeds."? THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ALL CHRISTIANS
Let us their fore pray that God will help us to be good ambassadors of Christ in Jesus Name.
August 27th, 2007.
Exodus 23:20-33, Psalm 91
Verse 25-26.
“Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”
God is saying to you today, worship me and I will bless everything you lay your hands on; your job, busyness, marriage, school,(Psalm 21:1-7).
He will also bless everything that goes into your mouth; everything and anything you put into your mouth will be nourishment to your body and soul.
He understands that health is wealth.
He will also heal your sicknesses; he will guide your footstep to the right Doctor’s whom he has given wisdom and knowledge to heal you. Our world today is full of risks, mistakes and the likes; so he already has a firm and concrete plan to keep you healthy come rain or shine. (Psalm 30:1-3, 11-12)
And don’t think that you are above sickness because even when God has a shield around you, the book of Job 1: 7 tells us that Satan roams through the earth, looking for whom to destroy.
Do you know that heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will remain? And God is not a man that he will lie. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The promises of God are so real and sure, he needs us to know him, acknowledge him as our Lord and Savior, believe in him and worship him. That is all he is asking us to do.
Than and only than will his blessings follow us, un measurable blessings in all aspect of our lives.
Every individual has to make that decision for them selves of whom to serve and worship.
If you have not made that decision, today is the day; tomorrow is not promise to us.
Life and death is in God’s hands. Not in the hands of Science, Material Wealth, Power or other gods ( Psalm 24:1-2).
August 20th, 2007
BIBLE READING TAKEN FROM
Romans 13:8, 11-12
"Let no debt remain outstanding,except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law."
"And do this ,understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,because or salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light".
Time for reflection
What do you understand by the word Love? What is your definition of love?
Swinging money out of people; is that love?
Having outside marital sex; is that love?
Committing adultery; is that love?
Keeping malice with your spouse; is that love?
Bossing your wife or husband around; is that love?
Gossiping about other people; is that love?
Malicious talk about your in-laws; is that love?
Telling your spouse you love him or her while having extra-marital affairs; is that love?
God expects us to share in the kind of Love that caused him to give up his only son to die on the cross that we might have life. And though no man can ever have that kind of love in full, yet he expects us to share in sincere kind of love. The love that is selfless, honest, patient, understanding, forgiving, and sharing.
The love that will cause us to rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who morn, live in harmony with one another. That is the kind of Love God expects us to have and share.
We are not talking about Lust because people confuse love and lust, Lust can lead to sin, rejection, hatred, bitterness, anger and even death in worst cases. We must be careful to identify the kind of love that God wants us to share with one another.
This week let us think of how to cloth our selves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk and Live the Life he desires for us.
MD
ph: 240-481-9232
ebele
