Be humble

To be humble is not to think of yourself at all !! Not many of us would qualify as being truly humble but it is a goal toward which we should all strive. We can only make real progress toward God in our lives unless we are humble.

2 Chronicles 7 : 14
.. if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Even before we pray, before we seek His face, before we turn from our wicked ways, we must humble ourselves. It is ecause we are in no position to meet any of these other three criteria without first humbling ourselves.

James 4 : 6
But He gives us more and more strength to stand against all such evil longings. As the Scripture says, God gives strength to the humble, but sets Himself against the proud and haughty

(0227) 31 July 2007

My life has taken a few turns !!

What has happened?? You have experienced more than your fair share of unexpected losses and you felt that God must be on vacation somewhere else. Others seemed to be receiving blessing from God but you felt short changed these days. You began to feel that God no longer loves you.

Doubting the goodness of God toward you can harden your heart and move you in a direction that will tempt you to live life according to your own wisdom…wisdom that will always be less than God’s wisdom for you.

1 John 3 : 1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Pay attention to the word “lavished”. You have begun to doubt God’s love and His goodness toward you. He is a God that can be counted on to lovingly take us through this journey of life. A God that lavishes us with His love is a God that can be trusted to guide us on our way and to nudge us back on track when we wander.

If your life has some unexpected bumps these day, do not doubt God’s love and care for you. He will lovingly bring His principles of living to your attention so you can correct your course when necessary. His love will lead you to the very best for your life if you trust him.

Let us ask God to forgive us for letting our hearts doubt Him. Ask God to forgive us for our impatience and thank Him for reminding us that His love for us is great. Ask God to help us to change the attitudes or actions that He dislikes. Ask God to teach us to trust Him and to know that He is always at work in any circumstances.



(0226) 30 July 2007

HE never fails nor forsakes

Men’s love for money can be compared to a pan of frogs in cold water placed over a low flame. As the flame warms the water, the frogs relax. And by the time the water is boiling, it is too late for them to jump out of the pan. They are boiled alive. In contrast, if the frogs were placed in a pan of boiling water, they would leap out instantly.
Men’s love for money is being ruined by materialism, the love of money and the love of things. Men are greedy and are grasping for more than they have. Their appetites become insatiable.
Stay away from the love of money. There is nothing wrong with money.

Hebrews 13 :5
Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never, never fail you nor forsake you'

(0225) 29 July 2007

How do you pray ??

Some begin prayer times by reading God’s Word. It is best to have a daily quiet time that includes prayer. It may be hours, but start somewhere with a regular time. You cannot expect God's blessing if you fail to spend time with Him.
Frankly, the benefits of time spent in prayer are so great; at times I wonder why we do not pray more! God will bless you as you devote more time to prayer.

Luke 11 : 2-4
He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'

(0224) 28 July 2007

Act now !!

Jesus was on his way to Jericho and as usual, there was a crowd following Him. Two blind men were sitting beside the road and when they heard Jesus was passing, they called out to Him, "Lord have mercy on us."

Jesus heard them. He stopped and asked them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

"We want to see," they answered.

And Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes. Their eyes were opened and they could see.

When I read that story last week, it seemed the question Jesus asked them, "What do you want me to do for you?" became a question He was asking me: "What do you want me to do for you?"

Today and everyday, Jesus is saying to you, "What do you want me to do for you?" Are you going to answer Him?

Matthew 20 : 32
What do you want me to do for you?

(0223) 27 July 2007

Open up

What a simple thing it is to open a door.

That still, small voice of conscience that pricks you from time to time is probably Christ Himself knocking at the door of your heart. He is waiting for that very simple act by which you open that door - an act of your will acknowledging that Christ is making a claim upon your life. He has that right; He died for you.

If you are not absolutely sure that Christ is in your life, that you would go straight to heaven if you died today, you can be sure right now.

By faith, respond to the invitation of Jesus and open the door of your life to Him. Why not make this your prayer:

If you asked Christ to come into your life, by faith, trusting that He has answered your prayer even as He has promised, then you can know with absolute certainty that He has done so.

Revelation 3: 20
Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears Me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with Me

(0222) 26 July 2007

Act cute !!!

Today, wherever you go you will witness that the young and beautiful are favored. So, we camouflage our age and try to look and act younger Truth is, aging brings with it many blessings. As we aged, we gained experience and wisdom. We gained perspective and learned to focus on what is important. We found more contentment in little things.
Temptation often comes at our weakest moments. When we have reached the limit of our love and our patience, for example, we are tempted to be unlike Christ in one way or another. Remember, Jesus' temptation began after forty days of fasting.
It is possible for one weak act to spoil a whole lifetime of witness.
The Christian life is a spiritual conflict from the moment of birth until we go to be with the Lord. The flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. There is absolutely no hope for victory until one discovers the availability of the supernatural resources of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Surrender your life totally, completely to Him and recognize moment by moment, day by day, that the Holy Spirit is the only one who will enable you to endure temptation. By faith you must draw upon His supernatural resources to live a supernatural life. Only then will you be victorious and fruitful for the glory of God.

Psalm 37 : 2

…for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

(0221) 25 July 2007

Stand firm

Let us ask God for help for our friends, neighhours and those around usto stand firm in Himto draw them to His heart of love.to walk in His way.to reach out to others to call them to follow the example of Christ. to love those around them dearly and to long for their salvation.

Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

(0220) 24 July 2007

Suffering

Suffering is not a privilege unless it is done for Jesus. The early apostles were counted as worthy to suffer to Jesus (Acts 5 : 41) Jesus suffered so that we could be saved. As we suffered for the cause of Christ and His works, we help to inspire others to live faithfully in adversity. At the same time we show to others our genuine faith. Let us ask God to make us courageous. Ask God to help us to be faithful in times of trouble and strong in times of persecution, hardship, and suffering. Most important of all, always share our experience and testimony so that God can be glorified.

Philippians 1:29

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him

(0219) 23 July 2007

Be an example

The world needs to see good examples. They need to see believers walk in love and purity and faith in their homes, in their schools and in their businesses.In your daily contact with people, they might reject or argue with the words you say. But they will never refute or forget your acts of love. Do not let petty sins and spiritual compromises cast a shadow over your example. Live above reproach and let the light of Jesus shine brightly through you. Always remember to share your experience and testimony so that God may be glorified.

1 Timothy 4:12

Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

(0218) 22 July 2007

HE is near

God is with us! God is among us. He is mighty to save. He loves us. He delights in us. He calms the storms of our hearts with his loving touch. He sings us songs of joy. God longs to be close to us and invites us to draw near. What will your response be?

Let us ask God to strengthen our resolve as we turn away from evil and seek to draw near to Him. We want to know Him. We want to experience His presence and to be used as His tool of grace in the lives of others. We need His presence to settle the uneasiness of our soul. Let us thank God for being near.

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will
rejoice over you with singing.

(0217) 21 July 2007

Fasting

Fasting really has more to do with humility than it does with food "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6) So while the world often stands in fear of the proud, we need to remember that God favors the humble. The problem is that while humility is a godly quality, it does not come supernaturally like meekness. It only comes through practice.

When we fast, we are putting the act of humility into practice. We deny ourselves something as basic as food. We deny ourselves much more than food. Fasting is a spiritual acknowledgment that it is God who sustains life, not food. And only through a deep and obedient relationship with God, through prayer and fasting, can we ever fully understand His purpose for our lives.

Isaiah 58:4
You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.

(0216) 20 July 2007

Nothing is impossible

Very often we stand face-to-face with situations in our daily lives that need to be changed. Some of those situations look totally impossible. But they are not.

The next time you are tempted to look at situations as impossible, remember GOD

Luke 18:27
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

(0215) 19 July 2007

True freedom

Our personality always wants more and more. We are designed with a great capacity for God; and sin and our individuality are the things that keep us from getting at God. We have to deliver our selves from individuality. We have to present our natural life to God and sacrifice it until it is transformed into a spiritual life by obedience.

John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

(0214) 18 July 2007

Forgive and forget

Grudge is, "a deep-seated feeling of resentment or rancor." ( feeling of ill-will)
rancor is "bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will." and,
resentment is "indignation or ill will felt as a result of a real or imagined grievance."

If you hold your grudge out at arms length and try to take an honest appraisal of it, you will see that it surely is not the most important thing in your life. Try to put your grudge into its proper perspective. What are some of the truly important things in your life? In fact, your grudge is a little thing that you should put behind you and forget about.
If you do not forgive and forget those injustices, they will take root in bitterness and poison the rest of your life.
Do not let grudge ruin your life.
Forgive and forget it and then move on to the really important things in life.

Mark11:25.
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. –

Ephesians 4:32.
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.-

(0213) 17 July 2007

Learn from one another

Let us be focused on peace and mutual learning

We must pursue and share peace if we are going to have it ourselves. We must edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen. In other words, we live with other people in God's family. He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family. He reminds us it will require strenuous effort.

Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others.

Let us ask God to forgive us for our impatience and selfishness. Ask God to help us to defeat the bad attitude of competitiveness that we often display in arguments and disagreements with others in our family. Let us ask God to energize us by His Spirit to see areas where we can be a blessing and an encouragement to others.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

(0212) 16 July 2007

Undivided and indivisible

Let us ask God to help us

never to be a party to any division within the body of Christ.
to be perfectly united in mind and heart with all others who follow God.
from misplacing our loyalties to be of one mind.
to be together and in agreement.
to be like-minded, having the same love, one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2
Imitating Christ's Humility
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose

(0211) 15 July 2007

Avoid foolish questions

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than

in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance and
incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance

Questions upon

points wherein Scripture is silent;
mysteries which belong to God alone;
prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and
mere modes of observing human ceremonials,

are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the apostle's precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.

Titus 3:9
Avoid foolish questions.

(0210) 14 July 2007

HIS consolation

God is our comforter, sustainer, and Lord. Only his gracious presence and tender blessings can bring relief and comfort to our restless and discouraged souls. So let us turn to him, honestly confessing both our sins and our sorrows. Let us ask him to take our anxiety away and restore to us the passion, the joy, and the confidence of our salvation.

Let us ask God to minister to us through His Holy Spirit. We need His comfort and peace. Let us ask for His presence and His grace.

Psalm 94 : 19
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

(0209) 13 July 2007

One in spirit

Let us ask God
to help all of us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility to help us count each other better than ourselves.
to help us to look out for the interests of each other, not just our own.
to let our attitude be the same as was in Christ Jesus, who made himself nothing and obeyed Him, our Father, even in the matter of dying.
to help us humbly and obediently to exalt Jesus

Philippians 2:3-11
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(0208) 12 July 2007

Knowledge of God

‘Knowledge of God’ means knowledge that has been revealed directly to our heart by the Spirit of God. It is revelation knowledge .The lack of this kind of knowledge has caused more faith failures than anything else I know. That is because most Christians believe the Word with their minds, but they have not meditated on it enough. If they had, that Word would absolutely revolutionize their lives.
If you need something from God, determine right now that you are going to do. Determine that you are going to meditate the Word until you get a revelation. Keep that Word before you until you receive a revelation of Jesus as your healer or your deliverer or your financier--whatever you need Him to be. Do not settle for a shallow mental understanding of Him. Get a deep revelation and His grace will be multiplied to you!

2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

(0207) 11 July 2007

Finish His work

Do you have grand dreams for God’s glory ?

What incredible ideas can you imagine requesting that God would bring to realization? What are your hope of heaven with God?
Are you ready for some down to earth truth straight from the Marvel of heaven?

God’s power is at work in us to do His glorious will and finish His eternal purposes. So let us not set our sights too low and expect too little. Live for His glory and expect to see it at work in our life.

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(0206) 10 July 2007

Fear and trembling

We must ask God
to help us to obey His Word, not only in the presence of other followers of Christ but even more when they are absent, when there's no one there but ourselves.

to be with us as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, lest we should ever think that we have earned it. After all, it is God, who is at work within us, both causing us to do His good purpose and to purpose His good deeds.

Philippians 2:12-13
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.

(0205) 9 July 2007

Do not be afraid

How can we be certain in what happens today?
What is our guarantee for tomorrow?
Where do we gather excitement about eternity?
The Lord is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal Lord. The worst that man can do is to send me home to my Lord.

Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

(0204) 8 July 2007

Focusing on God

Why is it difficult
to fix our thoughts on God,
to being aware of God,
to willfully put our thoughts on God
to draw our thoughts back to Him as often as they wander.

We may enjoy the things around us that spoke of God’s majesty and the beauty that God created. We are also thankful for the opportunity to enjoy time with our loved ones. Yet our thoughts are not singularly set on God.

It was not until the way become very difficult that our attention became focused on God. As our focus had narrowed in, no energy was spent on wandering thoughts, but instead God completely filled our mind. God alone was the centre, the point of convergence of all our reflection.

Let us ask God to use times of intense experience to teach me how fully and acutely we can be aware of His presence.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith

(0203) 7 July 2007

Love

God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

To make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving, we pray for God to grow the love.

Let us ask God

to use us to help be an example of love to those around us.
to pour His love into our hearts through His Spirit
to channel that love out of our life to others.
to help the loving spirit in our congregation grow more and more,
not just to each other, but also to those around us who are not part of His Kingdom family.

1 Thessalonians 3:12
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

(0202) 6 July 2007

The transfigured life

What do you understand of salvation of your soul ?

The experience of salvation means that

in your actual life things are really altered,
you no longer look at things as you used to;
your desires are new,
old things have lost their power.

If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the alteration evident in your actual life and reasoning, and when the crisis comes you are the most amazed person on earth at the wonderful difference there is in you. There is no possibility of imagining that you did it. It is this complete and amazing alteration that is the evidence that you are a saved soul.

The salvation that is worked out in me by the Holy Ghost releases me entirely, and as long as I walk in the light as God is in the light, He sees nothing to censure because His life is working out in every particular, not to my consciousness, but deeper than my consciousness.

2 Corinthians 5:17
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(0201) 5 July 2007

Tested faith

Faith that is not tested may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain small so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against you.
Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.

All of us will have trials enough without seeking them. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise Him for that degree of holy confidence where you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.

1 Peter 1:7
The trial of your faith.

(0200) 4 July 2007

Judging others

It is so easy to judge others.
We have no right to judge others when
we do not know their struggles.
we do not know their situation.
we do not know their hearts.

When we are judgmental, we put up a barrier between others and ourselves. We often spread that judgmental feeling to others in gossip. Our stubbornness to only view them with a judgmental spirit erects a barrier, an obstacle, which can cause them to become discouraged and fall.

Let us ask God to help us be more patient with the failures of others, just as He is patient with ours. Let us ask God to forgive us for not being more of an encouragement to those who are weak and struggling. Let us ask God to forgive us for being a hindrance to others.

Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

(0199) 3 July 2007

Spiritual resources

God is our resource for everything,

God helps our make full use of His spiritual resources given to us.
He helps us to destroy evil through
the power of His word,
the power of His Holy Spirit.

He helps us be prayer warriors, for it is through prayer that He empowers His soldiers. God helps us to stand
by right belief,
by right thinking,
by right living,
by right praying.

Ephesians 6:17-18
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

(0198) 02 July 2007

Prayer

Christians must pray much more frequently to God.

Jesus has sent his church into the world on the same errand upon which he himself came, and this mission includes intercession.

The door of grace is always open for our petitions, and our prayers will always be answered.

Most churches conduct regular prayer meetings all the days in the year, and we are never be without a special subject for supplication.

the sick and the poor,
the afflicted and the wavering
those who seek the conversion of relatives,
the reclaiming of back-sliders,
the salvation of the depraved

Luke 18:1
Men ought always to pray.

(0197) 1 July 2007