Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us . . .
—1 Thessalonians 5:9,10

Look at Christ’s death. In one biography of the great American, Daniel Webster, 863 pages deal with his career and just five pages are devoted to his death. In Hay’s life of Abraham Lincoln there are 5,000 pages but only 25 are devoted to the dramatic story of his assassination and death. In most biographies the deaths of the subjects are mere incidents at the close of the books. But when we come to the four “biographies” of Jesus, the four Gospels, we are confronted with a strange fact. One-third of Matthew is given to a description of the death of Christ. One-third of Mark, one-fourth of Luke, and one-half of John are given to His death. All these pages are devoted to the last 24 hours of His life. The death of Jesus Christ is a significant fact in human history, because Jesus Christ came for the express purpose of dying for sinners. When He left heaven, He knew He was going to the cross.

READ: Genesis 14:18-24; 15:1-6

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase...

Proverbs 3:9

Do you have power? Money? A husband? A wife? Cars? A position? You must remember that these things are from the Lord. Abraham knew that secret. He knew that he had to acknowledge God for his success in life so he gave tithes. He gave a significant chunk of his money to the Lord.

I want you to notice a great blessing that came to Abraham after he paid his tithes. God was stirred to give more blessings to Abraham.

This was the first time that God specifically told Abraham that he was going to have his own special child which would not be his servant's child. Abraham had everything in the world but he didn't have a child. God knows what you don't have. He knows where your need is greatest. He gave Abraham what he could not buy with money.

Please read your Bible and see for yourself whether what I am saying is true or not. In Genesis 14 Abraham paid his tithes and then in Genesis 15 in the very next few verses, God told him that he was going to have his miracle. God blesses those who pay tithes. Miracles are for those who obey the principles of God's Word.

God gave you the job you have. The first fruit is for the Lord. Paying a tithe is not something that you must be reminded of. The fact that you are alive must remind you to pay tithes. When you give tithes to God, you become more spiritual. It makes you more committed. When your treasure is in the house of the Lord, you become interested in the church.

Galatians 3:5

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?...

Imagine that you are at a healing service. An alcoholic walks into the church reeking of alcohol. He sits behind the pianist, a nice elderly lady who has been serving in the church for 50 years. Both of them are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The healing power of God is present. In an instant, the alcoholic, who has never been in church before, gets healed. The pianist does not.

Most people, on hearing stories like this, would get upset and confused. They might ask, “Shouldn’t God heal this nice, old lady who has been serving Him faithfully all these years, and not that debauched drunkard?” You see, many people still believe that God heals only the deserving.

But that is not how God works. God looks at faith, not works. His power is made manifest in those who trust His goodness instead of their good behavior. So if we go back to the above example, God wants to heal both the alcoholic and the nice elderly pianist. All they need to do is to receive by grace, or unmerited favor, through faith.

You see, we cannot earn the blessings of God. We receive them by believing God’s love and grace toward us. If we receive the greatest blessing—salvation—by simply believing that Jesus did it all for us and not by working for it, what makes us think that the other lesser blessings can be obtained by our works?

So if my daughter Jessica falls sick, I don’t go to the Father and say, “Father, heal my daughter because I am Pastor Joseph Prince and I preach healing to the people.” No, I go to Him by the blood of Jesus and say, “Father, I thank You that 2,000 years ago, Jesus bore Jessica’s sickness in His body. On that basis alone and by Your grace, I pronounce her healed in Jesus’ name.”

When you simply believe that you receive your blessings based on Jesus’ finished work and by His grace alone, you will receive your blessings!

Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
—Acts 17:11

One of my much-published writer friends taught a series of classes at a writers’ conference on beginning writing. He wanted to reach people who felt God had called them to write and show them how to get their articles and books published.

At the beginning, he asked the attendees how long they had been writing and if they had ever been published. Two women, who sat in the front row, said they had both been writing for almost twelve years, but had not yet published anything.

At the end of the first lecture, my friend overheard one of the women say to the other, “Oh, we know all of that. We don’t need to come back to this class.”

They may have already known the things he was teaching, but there was no evidence they had applied what they knew. He also commented that the most eager students in the classroom were those who had already begun to publish. They wanted to learn and improve. Only people who are humble enough to continue learning will ever succeed.

That incident makes me think of an event in the book of Acts. The apostles Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica, and the people tried to kill them, so believers helped them flee. From there, they went to the city of Berea. Luke records that the people there were fair in their thinking. They received the message “with all readiness,” or, as I like to say, they had ready minds.

That means those were people who were open to God—they were willing to hear what God said, no matter whether it was good news or bad.

If I asked any group of Christians, “Are you ready-minded?” they would immediately say that they were. That’s what we assume being a Christian means—ready, open, willing to hear God, and to be obedient to what He says.

For many people, being ready-minded means that they are ready and open if the message is what they want to hear. If it’s not what they want to hear, they don’t try to kill the messengers like the Thessalonians, but they say, “Oh, we know all of that,” and stop listening.

What does it really mean to be ready-minded? It means being willing to turn away from every lie and deception that Satan offers. It means being willing to say, “I was wrong.” It means that instead of listening only for what we want to hear, we listen for what we need to hear.

To be ready-minded means we discern the source of the voice. We love to hear words that make us feel good and encourage us, but we don’t like words that make us aware of our shortcomings. In Satan’s battle for our minds, one of his tricks is to convince us that a message isn’t important or that we already know it. He may even say that the message is not correct, and by doing so, he prevents us from hearing what we really need in order to gain our own freedom.

For example, a pastor preached a sermon against gossip one day. He aimed his message at one woman—who delighted in telling people tales about others. What she didn’t know, she allowed her imagination to fill in. At the end of the service, she said to the pastor, “That was an excellent message. A lot of people in this church need to hear that.”

The pastor said she wasn’t being sarcastic or hypocritical. She simply didn’t get the message. She didn’t have that ready mind—the mind that was open to receive a message of grace and help from God. It never occurred to her that she needed the message. To have a ready mind is not always easy. In fact, the more seriously the Holy Spirit wants to deal with us, the more Satan tries to convince us that we already “know all that” or it’s not something we need to hear.

Lord Jesus, please give me a ready mind. Enable me to hear You clearly and easily. Enable me to say, “Yes, Lord,” no matter what Your Spirit has to say to me. I want to have a ready mind that pleases You in everything. I ask this in Your name. Amen.

This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood.
1 Corinthians 11:25, The Amplified Bible

New Covenant. It's a familiar phrase to most of us. But do we really know what it means?

No we don't. Because if we did, every one of us would be faith a giant. Instead of struggling, "trying" to believe the promises of God, we'd be like Abraham: "Strong in faith...fully persuaded that, what [God] had promised, he was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20-21).

That's the kind of confidence that welled up in Abraham when God cut the covenant with him. It was an inferior covenant to ours, made with the blood of animals. Yet it transformed a doubting Abraham into the very father of faith. Why? Because, Abraham understood the significance of it.

He knew that entering into the covenant of blood meant you were totally and forever giving yourself away to someone else. Once you did it, nothing would ever be exclusively yours again. All that you were, all that you had or ever would have became the equal property of your covenant partner.

During the covenant ceremony in Abraham's day, the partners exchanged coats, each one giving their authority to the other. They exchanged weapons as a way of saying, "Your enemies are now my enemies. I'll fight your fights as if they were my own." They walked through the blood of slain animals, pronouncing their loyalty to one another, even to the death.

When God made covenant with him, Abraham knew there was no longer any room for doubt. God had proven how intensely He desired to be God to him. He'd given him everything He had and bound Himself to Abraham in a relationship that could not be dissolved. Abraham comprehended the gravity of a covenant agreement. It convinced him once and for all that God's promises could be trusted. It became an anchor to his soul.

Do you want to be a faith giant like Father Abraham? Then dig in to the covenant you have with God. Study it out in the Word. Let the Holy Spirit show you what really happened when Jesus became the sacrifice that ratified your covenant with God. Let Him show you what it meant when He gave you His Name (John 16:23), His authority (Matthew 28:18-20), His armor and weapons (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Once you realize what Jesus actually meant when He said, "This is the New Covenant established in My blood," your life will never be the same again.


Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 10:1-23

The woman behind Luna Juice Bar embodies her unique name – Summer Shine – but that wasn’t always the case.

(Photo: Luna Juice Bar)

The woman behind Luna Juice Bar embodies her unique name – Summer Shine – but that wasn’t always the case.

A few years ago, Shine was homeless in New Orleans with a husband about to leave her, a son who wouldn’t take her calls, and a mother who was planning her funeral. The path to become her shining self again, and a successful business owner has been years in the making and included a painful, dark relapse.



But today, Shine’s juice bar employs fifteen people and grosses over $30,000 per month serving delicious juices and smoothies at locations in and around Waco, Texas. Shine got back on her feet with the help of Center for Peace, a Victoria, Texas-based social enterprise that helps women rebuild their lives. After nine months of sobriety, Shine and her husband, Ronnie, reconciled and began to pursue their long time dream of starting a juicing business.


#Repost @lovelyenterprises ・・・ Did you know that you can pick up fresh, cold-pressed Luna Juice in our Lovely shop? We carry their four Signature juices-Beetlejuice, Liquid Sunshine, Green Goodies and Hangover Cure! #shoplocal #drinklocal #socialenterprise #waco

A post shared by Luna Juice Bar (@lunajuicebar) on Mar 24, 2017 at 10:29am PDT



They approached the business volunteers at the Center for Peace, a social enterprise of Perpetual Help Home in Victoria, TX for a micro-loan to launch Luna Juice Bar – and received it.

“We’re the most risky population of people you could hand a check to,” Shine told the Waco Tribune last year. “The crazy thing is, I took that $5,000 and I spent it on exactly what I said I’d spend it on. I didn’t buy crack or go back to New Orleans.”

Shine paid off the micro-loan ahead of time, then pitched to Center for Peace – and a few other potential investors – for an equity investment to expand Luna Juice Bar.


What a beautiful day! Come see us at the Silos and #getalljuicedup #wacotown

A post shared by Luna Juice Bar (@lunajuicebar) on Jan 20, 2017 at 9:12am PST



The pitch was successful: Luna Juice Bar secured a $40,000 investment with each of four investors owning 5% of the company. People one step away from incarceration and addiction don’t appear to be the most likely group of entrepreneurs. But Cheryl Miller, leader of Center for Peace, and her team see every person as created in God’s image and talented in unique ways, recognizing that some women are entrepreneurs at heart.

Shine says Luna Juice Bar played a “huge role” in her recovery. The first six to nine months are the hardest and most vital to recovery, Shine says. Resurrecting a business idea she has had since 1998 gave her purpose, with her faith in Christ strengthening every step of her journey.

The success of Luna Juice Bar, and the impact it has had on Shine’s life, highlight the opportunity we all have to serve others by helping them achieve their dream.

Memorise: He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Psalm 72:8

Read: Psalm 72:4-9 (King James Version)

4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.


5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.


6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.


7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.


8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.


9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.




Bible in one year: 37-38, Jeremiah 4:19-31, Hymn: Sing hymn 4
MESSAGE:
Beyond fruitfulness, part of the first mandates of God to mankind is to subdue and have dominion over all creatures He has made. Genesis 1:28says,




“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”




To dominate is to be in charge or to take control. If God did not want you to take charge, He would not have mandated you to dominate. By the time God stepped into the appalling slavery situation of the Israelites, Pharaoh, who was once in control, became the one begging for help (Exodus 12:30-32). He even asked Moses to pray for him. In that situation where you have been the underdog, God is turning things around and putting you in charge in Jesus’ Name. It is now time for you to suppress your oppressors and tormentors, and to subdue under your feet those who had earlier taken you captive. I command the tables to turn for your good today in Jesus’ Name!



Meanwhile, it is good to know that since God has once turned around the situation of the oppressed, He can do it again. Even if nobody has ever had dominion before in your family, it will start with you. Fear not! In Joshua 10:12-14, while fighting the Amorites, the sun was about to set when Joshua interrupted it. The problem is that most of us from the enemy rather than confront him. David did not run away from the lion, the bear or even Goliath. Rather, he confronted and fought against them all. In January of a particular year, I went to preach in Denver, Colorado. At that time it was very cold, and I don’t like it cold. Maybe that is partly why God made me a Nigerian. I prefer the Nigerian weather. On receiving the invitation, I asked my Daddy if I should go, and He said yes. I asked Him, “What are we going to do about the cold?” God then assured me that He would go with me. From the first day I arrived until the day I left, people were wearing T-shirt because summer replaced winter. To know that this was not just a coincidence, within two hours after my plane took off at 5pm, more than 10cm of snow fell. You too can tap into God’s mandate to dominate situations and circumstances around you from today. You will dominate sin, your passions, your body and your finances from today in Jesus’ Name.



Prayer Point

Memorise: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalm 2:4

Read Daniel 6:10-17 (King James Version)

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.


11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.


12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.


13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.


14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.


15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.


16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.


17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.








Bible in one year: Exodus 26:27, Jeremiah 1, Hymn: Sing hymn 4
MESSAGE:
The Lord of hosts never loses a war. If He gives up a battle, it is because He wants to use that medium to win a war. Our God is always full of surprises. When Daniel’s enemies were plotting against him, God knew about it but He kept quiet. By the time Daniel fell into their trap and was thrown into the lion’s den, God did nothing about it. After the entrance to the lion’s den was shut behind Daniel, everyone thought he was finished. By the following morning however, God sprang some surprises on them all. The fellow they thought was dead and digested in the bellies of the lions came out alive. You are coming out from wherever the enemies placed you – alive, stronger, richer and better! All the mischief makers who thought Daniel’s case was closed received a rude shock: his case was reopened, and what they thought was in their favour turned against them. That case that was decided against you in your office or in your extended family shall be revisited in Jesus’ Name! What they thought was closed shall suddenly be reopened. The Lord will spring surprises on your enemies this season! In addition, the table turned for Daniel’s enemies. Not only were they now to become food for the lions, so also were their family members. This season, all those plotting against you shall be completely wiped out! None of them shall escape in Jesus’ Name!


Another surprise God sprang on the enemies of Daniel was that, by the reason of Daniel’s miraculous deliverance from their lion’s den, the God of Daniel became officially recognised and feared all over the kingdom as the true and living God. In Daniel 6:26, the king said,


“I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.”


Beyond this, after the coast was clear, Daniel prospered in the kingdom. He remained relevant in the corridors of power in successive governments and was recognised as a man that could not be ignored. 24 March 2017 Open Heavens 2017 download reopening closed cases.


Daniel 6:28 says,


“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”


If you are prepared to pay the utmost price for the Kingdom of God, you can be sure you will receive divine compensation beyond your imagination. How are you living today? Can you take a stand for the Lord in righteousness and refuse to compromise with sin?

He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed—and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1, The Amplified Bible

Some people have the mistaken idea that when the direction of the Holy Spirit comes to them, they can just ignore it for a while if they want to and then obey Him later in their own good time. They think to themselves, I know what I'm doing is wrong. I know my lifestyle isn't right, but I'm just going to do it a while longer. Then I'll get things straightened out with the Lord.

Let me warn you, that is an extremely dangerous thing to do. Because God says that when you refuse His guidance, your heart grows hard. It's not that God's grace doesn't extend to you anymore. It's not that He wouldn't forgive you if you turned to Him. It's just that sin will callous your heart to the point where you can't hear Him calling.

That's what happened to the children of Israel. God would tell them what to do and they wouldn't do it. When He was trying to bring them into the Promised Land and He told them to go in and possess it, they flatly refused.

Of course, they thought they had good reasons for refusing. They were so full of fear and unbelief that they actually thought if they did what God said, they'd be destroyed. But, you know, it doesn't matter how good your reasons are for disobeying God. That disobedience will still cost you. It will still harden your heart.

The children of Israel ignored God's leading so often that He finally just sent them into the wilderness. They were so stiff-necked, He couldn't lead them into the blessings He'd planned for them, and He had to just let them wander around until all but two of them had died. He had to raise up a whole new generation of softer-hearted people before He could take them into the land.

Take a lesson from that and don't play around with sin. When God tells you what you need to do, don't put Him off thinking it will be easier to do it later. It won't be. It will be harder!

When the Spirit of God comes to correct you, follow His instructions—and follow them quickly. Keep your heart tender. Obey the Lord!


Scripture Reading:

Nehemiah 9:6-37

If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.
— Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I don't have to tell you that the world is full of problems. Hunger, disease, poverty, the oppression of women, and the exploitation of children are taking place in every country on earth right this minute. Heartbreaking stories are unfolding while you and I drink our morning coffee. I’ve seen so much of the world's anguish in my ministry travels, and it is truly overwhelming. I have also committed to do whatever I can do to relieve suffering and make the world a better place in any way I can. I challenge you today to do the same.

You may be thinking, Joyce, what I can do won't even make a dent in the problems we have in the world. I know how you feel, because I once felt the same way. But if we all think that way, nobody will do anything and nothing will change. Although our individual efforts may not solve the problems, together we can make a major difference. God won't hold us accountable for what we could not do, but He will hold us accountable for the things we could have done.

I realize that you can't do everything; I don't question that at all. You must say no to some things or your life will be filled with stress. I think the question each of us must answer is, "What am I doing to make someone else's life better?" And perhaps a better question is, "What have I done today to make someone else's life better?"

Nothing good ever happens accidentally. If we want to make the world a better place, each of us must say: Change begins with me!

Loving Others Today: Go ahead and say it: "Change begins with me!"

Luke 15:31

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

Faith is believing that we have a good God, and that He protects and provides for those who trust in Him. Remember the parable of the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11–32) Jesus shared it to illustrate how good our heavenly Father is. The wayward son had squandered his father’s inheritance before he decided to go home to ask his father to make him a hired servant.

But before he could reach home, his father saw him from afar, ran toward him and embraced him. And instead of making him a hired servant, the father turned to his servants and said, “Bring out the best robe! Get a ring and sandals for my son! Let’s kill the fatted calf and celebrate!”

Now, when the older son returned from work and heard about the celebration, he became angry and refused to enter the house. When his father came out to ask him what was wrong, the older son complained, “Look, I’ve served you all these years. Yet, you never gave me a calf to celebrate with my friends. But as soon as this prodigal son of yours comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!”

Notice what his father told him: “Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. We should celebrate because your brother was dead but is alive again. He was lost but is now found.”

Can you see how the older brother perceived his father? He saw his father as a hard and stingy man. He believed that he had to work to get something good from his father. He didn’t realize that he already had an inheritance! He could have killed the fatted calf any time for a celebration!

Like the father in the parable, God has already given you an inheritance in Christ. Don’t fail to enjoy it by doubting God’s goodness or by believing that you must work for it. See your Father’s heart of love and goodness toward you, and celebrate your inheritance today!

READ: Deuteronomy 28:45-48
For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

Psalm 72:12

Poverty is a curse because the Word of God puts poverty in the category of a curse.

I am aware that some people take vows of poverty. I respect them for their great sacrifice to the Lord. However, I can see clearly that when God cursed the Israelites, poverty was one of the frustrations to expect. All the curses of Deuteronomy 28 lead to poverty. However, in Deuteronomy 28:48, you see it a bit more explicitly: "God shall set thee up in hunger, thirst, nakedness and in want."

Poverty leads to a lack of education. Hosea 4:6 says that people perish for lack of knowledge. An entire nation perishes when there is a lack of the knowledge of the arts, science, medicine, law, etc. Poverty is a curse because it is a vicious cycle. Poverty brings about an inability to be educated. The lack of education leads to more poverty. The wealthy remain in their riches, and the poverty of the poor deepens.

Poverty causes poor health and disease. The life expectancy for rich countries is much higher than that for poor countries. There is a significant difference between the figures of these two groups countries. This difference is very much related to the state of wealth.

Poverty is also a curse because it causes people to get drunk. Many poor people drink to forget about their insurmountable problems (Proverbs 31:7).

But the good news is this: God is the helper of the poor!

But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God.
—John 1:12 (TLB)

Who can describe or measure the love of God? God is love. But the fact that God is love does not mean that everything is sweet, beautiful, and happy, and that God’s love could not possibly allow punishment for sin. God’s holiness demands that all sin be punished, but God’s love provided a plan of redemption and salvation for sinful man. God’s love provided the cross of Jesus Christ by which man can have forgiveness and cleansing. It was the love of God that sent Jesus Christ to the cross.

No matter what sin you have committed, no matter how black, dirty, shameful, or terrible it may be, God loves you. Yet this love of God that is immeasurable, unmistakable, and unending, this love of God that reaches to wherever a man is, can be entirely rejected. God will not force Himself upon anyone against his will. It is your part to believe. It is your part to receive. Nobody else can do it for you.

No need to guilt trip.

There’s a never ending list of needs that parents must meet to ensure their child grows to be a happy and well adjusted adult. No parent is perfect and mistakes are bound to be made, but some mistakes have harsher results than others.

For example, recent research has found that high levels of guilt experienced in childhood results in a greater likelihood of psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and OCD later in life.

This study’s findings raise the question, What’s the source of this guilt? and the data shows it’s originating from their parents.

Parents mistakenly use guilt-inducing tactics as a motivator to encourage or deter certain behaviors in their children. Kids whose parents' use these tactics often internalize the feelings of anxiety and depression that guilt causes. Lack of resolution can cause greater problems to manifest in adulthood if these issues are ignored.



In order to avoid contributing unnecessary guilt, parents must use healthier and more flexible ways to appeal to their children and still get the results they are looking for.

The first step in letting go of the guilt is letting go of perfection. Clinical psychologist Dr Jodi Stoner, Ph.D, believes parents today are obsessed with being "perfect."

The pressure of being perfect drives parents to use practices that offer short term resolution while not addressing the real issue, usually at the detriment of their child. Instead, consider giving yourself a break and accepting that it’s effort and intentions that are more important than perfect results.



Having a clear plan for discipline will also cut the guilt. Children react poorly when they don’t know what to expect when being disciplined. If punishments vary drastically and are noticeably unfair, kids will assume the worst when punished. This uncertainty creates anxiety but it can be avoided with fair discipline and clear communication.

Allowing yourself as a parent to take a break provides the time you need to re-evaluate your approach with a clear head instead of parenting while feeling upset, frustrated, or angry.

You should also understand that not all behavior warrants a response. As a parent, we have to pick our battles sometimes by dropping smaller issues so bigger ones don’t evolve from nothing.



Parenting is as much a joy as it is a challenge but if we work to parent from a place of positivity, we can have all the happiness of raising children with none of the guilt.

Keep thyself pure.
—1 Timothy 5:22

The Pharisees were not happy men. They had furrowed brows, nervous tension, frustration. They were full of resentments, bitterness, prejudices, and hatreds. Why? Simply because they had lost sight of God’s conception of the pure in heart. They thought that as long as they kept the letter of the law that was enough. But this was not God’s plan. This did not produce purity of heart. This did not bring about happiness of soul. Jesus taught that God looks deeper than the outside actions of an individual. He searches and ponders the heart. God judges not so much the outside as He does the inside. He looks to the motives, thoughts, and intents of your heart.

READ: Ruth 2:1-18

And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven...
Ephesians 6:9

It has been noted that the greatest motivation for people in workplaces, is not money per se. A sense of self-worth and achievement is the highest motivation for workers. If someone does not feel important and appreciated, he often begins to look elsewhere. It is the duty of the head of the organisation (church or business) to make everyone feel important and appreciated. This is one of the most important ways to be loyal to the people who work under you.

The head of the organisation often wants his subordinates to appreciate him and honour him. However, this appreciation and honour must begin from the head. If you have a head who is uncaring, you will have a hard time. I would advise you to find the environment and leader under whom you can flourish. Move away peacefully and do not say bad things on your way out! Close every door gently! You may need to come back through that door one day.

One day, a young pastor said to his senior pastor, "I think the main reason why I am loyal to you is because you are a very loyal senior minister. You are very loyal to me." He added, "I feel that you have my welfare at heart. I feel that you want me to prosper. I sense that you want me to go as far as I possibly can. Because of this, I naturally find myself being loyal to you."

This young pastor was unknowingly expounding on a great principle of loyalty. Loyalty emanates from the head. Loyalty breeds more loyalty!

Esther 9:22…rest from their enemies…sorrow to joy…mourning to a holiday…

Today, many Jews still celebrate the feast of Purim. The name Purim is derived from “the lot” which a Gentile, Haman, cast concerning the fate of the Jews when they were in Persia under King Ahasuerus.

Haman, the villain in this story in the book of Esther, hated the Jews and sought to exterminate them. He got King Ahasuerus to allow him to issue a decree to annihilate all the Jews in one day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar. But God used Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai, both Jews, to turn the tables on Haman and save the Jews.

Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai! Then, the king allowed Queen Esther and Mordecai to issue a counter-decree to allow all the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies in one day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar!

So instead of the Jews being exterminated on that fateful day, their enemies were destroyed! God turned an evil day for the Jews into good days. He turned their mourning into rejoicing and gave them victory over their enemies.

My friend, God can do the same for you today. He only wants you to remain in your position of rest in Christ. You see, because of Jesus’ finished work at the cross, you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, far above every principality, and evil assault the devil can throw at you. (Ephesians 2:6) Just as Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, and refused to stand up and bow to Haman, let’s not “bow” to the devil by being persuaded to move from our position of rest in Christ. Don’t allow him to get you worried, frantic and doing things to save yourself.

Queen Esther was also in a position of rest before Haman was executed. (Esther 7) She was seated on a couch as Haman pleaded with her for his life. While doing so, he accidentally fell over the couch where the queen was. The king, thinking that Haman was assaulting his queen, sent him to the gallows!

Beloved, remain at rest in Christ’s finished work, and He will turn your evil day into days of rejoicing and feasting!

Memorise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new. 2ndCorinthians 5:17

Read: Deuteronomy 28:11-13 (King James Version)

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us.

- Ephesians 2:14

One day while I was praying, the Holy Spirit showed me that my life had become a bridge for others to pass over and find their place in God. For many years, I erected only walls in my life; but now where there were walls, there are bridges instead. All the difficult and unfair things that have happened to me have been turned into highways over which others can pass to find the same liberty that I have found. I have learned to build bridges instead of walls.

In Hebrews 5:9 Jesus is referred to as "the Author and Source of eternal salvation." He pioneered a pathway to God for us. He became a highway for us to pass over. It is as though He faced a giant forest and went in ahead of us so that when we came along we could drive right through it without having to fight all the elements and the density of the forest. He sacrificed Himself for us; and now that we are benefiting from His sacrifice, He is giving us a chance to sacrifice for others so they can reap the same benefits we enjoy.

Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy of obtaining the prize that was set before Him. I like to remind myself of that fact when the way seems hard. I tell myself, Keep pressing on, Joyce. There is joy ahead.

Make a decision to tear down your walls and build bridges. There are many, many people who are lost in their messes and need someone to go before them and show them the way. Why not be that person for them? Walls or bridges? The choice is yours.

And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Mark 16:17-18

I used to get upset over people I'd lay hands on who wouldn't get well. I was praying one day and seeking God about it when He spoke to my spirit and said, Healing always comes.

I remember I said, "What do You mean, Healing always comes? Not everyone gets healed."

I didn't say they all received it, He answered. Then He spoke very sternly to me. I do My part. And I said they would recover!

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. He said they would recover. He never lies. So if He said they would recover, then that means healing always comes. It's not God who's holding back. It's the receivers who aren't receiving.

Since then, I've never had any trouble laying hands on people and believing for them to be healed. Whether they walk away well or not, I just keep standing in faith for them. In fact, I know if that fellow who went away still sick ever lines his faith up with God and me—I don't care if it's five years from now—he'll be healed.

If you've laid hands on someone who didn't receive his healing, don't cut off the flow of God's power by withdrawing your faith. Stand fast. Keep believing that healing always comes and somewhere down the line that poor sick fellow may just decide to stand up and agree with you!


Scripture Reading:

Mark 10:46-52

A little hope a day keeps the doctor away.

Dr. Orison Swett Marden once said, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.”

Those words are being reinforced by recent findings by psychologists and medical doctors about the positive health effects of having a little hope.

For example, one study found that those who reported feeling hopeless were more likely to have major health issues including premature death. Hope created by success in school and the workplace also improves health due to higher levels of happiness.

Knowing the good of maintaining high levels of hope for our well being serves as proper encouragement to take actionable steps to increase hope. Here are some ways to get your daily dose of hope.
1. Practice Self Kindness.



Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy.

When our negative inner monologue gets going, it can strip us of our self worth. If we don’t feel that we’re worth good things, then we can’t help manifest goodness in our lives.

Instead, take 10 minutes out of each day to list all the great things about yourself as a reminder of all of your worth and potential still left untapped.
2. Nix the News.



As important as it is to stay informed of current events, sometimes all that information can get overwhelming. Stepping away from the temptation of constantly staying connected can give a much needed break from bad news.

Without that overload of information, you’ll free up your thinking power for a more hopeful focus. Allow yourself to daydream instead and imagine the sort of world you would like to see this one become someday.
3. Make a Difference.



Giving back can be incredibly rewarding but it also offers us a chance for an additional dose of hope.

Consider sparing some time for a cause you find worthy and personally appealing. Volunteering, fundraising, or offering resources will all be greatly appreciated by those you help and are all extremely fulfilling.

The time you spend giving will instill a sense of optimistic purpose in you along with the feeling that you can help change the world.
4. Look For A Laugh.



Laughing not only feels good, but it is good for you!

Researchers have learned that “hopefulness increased significantly after watching the humor video" shown to patients.

Opt for watching your favorite comedy when hope is feeling a little low or spend some time with friends or loved ones who are always good for a giggle. Belly laughs won’t be the only benefit you get out of it!

When you start feeling like you’re suffering from a hope deficiency, take a daily dose for a revitalized sense of optimism and happiness. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

. . . But when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed; whether it was taken up by day or by night, they journeyed.

—Numbers 9:21

Thankfully, our enjoyment in life is not based on always having enjoyable circumstances. It is an attitude of the heart, a decision to enjoy everything because all things—even little, seemingly insignificant things—have a part in the overall “big picture” of life.

Life is a journey. Everything in it is a process. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. All aspects of life are always developing. Life is motion. Without movement, advancement, and progression, there is no life. In other words, as long as you and I are alive, we are always going to be going somewhere.

If you have not been enjoying the journey of your life, it is time to start. If you have been enjoying your life, then thank God and look for ways to enjoy it even more.

Prayer of Thanks: I thank You, Father, that my life is a journey. I’m not going to stay stuck in a difficult or trying situation forever—You are taking me through it. Help me to experience Your joy regardless of my surroundings. Help me to enjoy my life today!

Memorise: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

 1st Timothy 4:2Read: Romans 9:1, 1st Timothy 1:16-20 (KJV)

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

“You have to love God more! You must have more passion for God!” You have probably heard this type of preaching and may have even tried your best to love God, only to fail miserably.

But what is the true definition of love? Let the Bible define it for us: “…this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” Yes, it is not about our love for Him, but His love for us!

“Pastor Prince, the Bible says that you must love God with all your heart, soul and strength!”

Yes, that is true according to the law (Deuteronomy 6:5), and even Jesus taught that as the great commandment when He walked on earth. (Matthew 22:37) But that was before He died on the cross. At the cross, He became the very fulfillment of this law for us when He loved us with all His heart, soul and strength, by laying down His body and life on the cross for us.

Today, we are no longer under the law but under grace. And grace tells us that God loves us, not that we love God. Yet, we will love Him when we see how much He loves us. The Bible says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) That’s how much He loves us!

Beloved, God has seen you trying your best to love Him. And because He loves you, He wants you to sit down and be still, and let Him love you instead. He wants to love you with all that He is and all that He has. He loves you unconditionally regardless of who you are or what you have done because His love is not dependent on you but on Himself. He will never stop loving you.

So let God love you today. Don’t worry about loving Him. The more of His love you receive, the more you will fall in love with Him!

Another great tip for singles willing to wait for the best mate.

This is another way of saying, know your non-negotiables and stick to them. If you go to the mall to buy a dress, you will be there all day if you don’t have an idea of the kind of dress you’re looking for, the color, and the price range, But if you know in advance, your search will go much faster. Know what you’re looking for in a mate, and you can eliminate very quickly unqualified candidates. Psychologist Neil Clark Warren says, know your “must haves” and you “can’t stands.”

While you’re single, you should have a list. What are the absolute essentials you are looking for in a mate? What is your value system? What do you believe you are called to do and what kind of mate would complement that calling? What are the things you cannot tolerate? If you must marry someone gainfully employed and you meet someone without a job (and he’s not looking for one and hasn’t worked in years), you don’t need to go past a conversation. Case closed.

Your “can’t stand” list may include someone who is verbally abusive, lazy, or who has children. The list is different for each person. God allows us to have preferences. After all, we all like different foods, cars, and clothing. That’s OK. God likes diversity, but you need to know what you are about before you meet someone. What is it you can’t live with? A dirty man? Someone who is jealous, or who uses profanity? Some women don’t mind if the man is unemployed, as long as he’s good looking and wants her. Whatever works for you.

The more you know your qualifications and expectations before you meet someone, the easier it will be to discern if this person is for you. Think about it. We use this procedure in other areas of our lives. When we decide to become homeowners, we go through a process of elimination: Do I want a condo, townhouse, or single family home? Do I want to live in the city or suburbs? Which neighborhood? What can I afford? Do I want a new house or an older one? Is a garage mandatory?

If all these questions and others are decided beforehand, the search will be more productive. You can tell the realtor exactly what you’re looking for. You would be upset if you told the agent you are interested only in single-family homes in a certain community at a certain price, yet every day she calls you up about a condo in an undesirable neighborhood. You would probably get another agent because the person is not respecting your decision making and instead is trying to steer you in a direction you do not want to go.

But how many of us say we know what we want in a man, but we aren’t willing to wait for it? We takeany man who comes by, even if he’s not what we’ve been praying for. We are just thrilled to have a man, any man! We need to be more discriminating and determined to wait for what God wants to give us. We usually live with regrets when we don’t.

READ: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

Proverbs 24:3

Many people think that it takes wealth and riches to build a house. From experience, I know that it takes wisdom and not money to build. People who are able to rally their resources together and use them wisely often become builders. What you build will testify of your leadership. Decide to build something for God in your lifetime.

Leadership qualities make a pastor acquire a church building for his church. A wise manager would acquire properties for his company. I can assure you that it takes the strength of leadership to build a nation. Weak leaders cannot build anything! A husband who builds a house for his wife and children is a true leader. Leadership is manifest by the presence of buildings.

Western countries have well developed infrastructure revealing the kind of leadership they have enjoyed. African countries that have been ruled by illiterate dictators and vampire-style despots, have very little infrastructure. Truly , buildings and development are signs of good leadership.

Solomon was a wise leader. Consider what he said: I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them...

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

Nehemiah, one of the great leaders of the Bible, motivated the people of God to rise up and build. His famous sermon was simple - arise and build!

So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.
—Ephesians 6:13 (TLB)

Daniel and his companions were tempted to forsake their godly heritage, but they refused. They even faced a fiery furnace rather than compromise. God honored their faith and mightily used them. Moses was surrounded by the luxury and godlessness of the Egyptian court, but cast in his lot with his own people. Lot lived in Sodom and saw the obscenities of that doomed city. God saved him out of it because he trusted in Him. Every one of our Lord’s apostles sealed their faith with their lives. Since then, history has been replete with the lives of men who have put God and His way of life above all else.

And be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:5

Most believers don't know anything about true humility. If you tell them they're the righteousness of God, they'll fight to keep from believing it. You can give them scripture references to prove it, and they'll still argue.

"Oh no," they'll say, "I'm not righteous. I'm just an old sinner saved by grace." They're making a sincere attempt to be humble. But they're sincerely wrong. They're so afraid of being exalted by pride that they've let Satan trick them into falling right into it.

Let me show you what I mean. According to 1 Peter 5:5-6, to be truly humble is to submit to God. That means when God says something, you believe it no matter how foreign to your "religious" thinking it may be. When He says you've been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you say that too. In fact, you wouldn't dare say anything else because to do so would be to dare to disagree with God. And, when you get right down to it, that's the ultimate form of pride, isn't it?

Don't let Satan keep you groveling in the dust of false humility. Agree with God. Find out what His Word says about you, then be bold enough to say it yourself. Banish pride by submitting to His truth. Clothe yourself in true humility. It's sure to look good on you.


Scripture Reading:

1 Peter 5:5-11

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust . . .
—Psalm 18:2

The trouble with our modern thinking is that we have a conception that God is a haphazard God with no set rules of life and salvation. Ask the astronomer if God is a haphazard God. He will tell you that every star moves with precision in its celestial path. Ask the scientist if God is a haphazard God. He will tell you that His formulas and equations are fixed, and that to ignore the laws of science would be a fool’s folly. If the laws in the material realm are so fixed and exact, is it reasonable that God could afford to be haphazard in the spiritual realm, where eternal destinies of souls are at stake? Just as God has equations and rules in the material realm, God has equations and rules in the spiritual.

Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:3

Times of hardness are inevitable. You need to know that. It's true that we've been redeemed from the curse, and there's nothing Satan can do to reverse that, but he is going to challenge you on it.

So don't be surprised when things get tough. Times will come when you have to stand strictly by faith, when you'll have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when you can't feel it or see it happening around you. There will be times when everything looks terrible. That's when you must endure hardness as a good soldier.

So many people hear the word of faith about healing or prosperity and they think, Hey! I'm going to try that. Then when the hard times come, they give up and cave in.

Let me warn you, living by faith is not something you try. It's a lifestyle. You do it when it's hard. You do it when it's easy. You do it all the time because you're not doing it just to get in on the benefits. You're doing it because you know that faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).

Things may get a little rough at times, but let me assure you, you'll always come out on top if you endure hardness as a good soldier. If you refuse to faint and fall away, you will have the victory. The only defeated Christian is the one who quits!


Scripture Reading:

Numbers 14:1-24

READ: Exodus 34:1-9

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

Set a regular time when you meet God. It is very important that you set a regular time for your quiet time. Life is such that important things are often overlooked. If you do not schedule a constant period for a quiet time, I assure you that you will leave it out. The best time for a quiet time is first thing in the morning.

Notice that Moses had his quiet time in the morning.

A quiet time is an intimate time between you and your God. It is a private moment that you must cherish. You will notice that Moses could not have his quiet time in the presence of others. A quiet time is a time when you are alone with God. You cannot develop a personal relationship with someone unless you are alone with the person. It must be possible to withdraw yourself from the company of others so that you can be alone with God.

During your quiet time, it is helpful to create an atmosphere that is conducive for fellowship with God. You can do this by playing good worship music in the background. If you do not have any such music you can worship the Lord yourself. As you worship the Lord, the presence of the Lord will fill your room. God inhabits praises. There is an atmosphere in which God's presence thrives.

If you can afford it, you must create for yourself a private place in your home where you go to pray and meet with God.

Matthew 25:29

‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

Have you come across people who have little, yet even that little is taken away from them? On the other hand, there are those who already have much, yet they receive even more.

Jesus said, “To everyone who has, more will be given. From him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t go on to say what it is we have. He simply says, “But to everyone who has.”

Jesus is talking about a firm belief in God’s Word that gives one the courage to say, “I have it!” If you say that you have it, you have it, and more will be given to you. But if you say that you don’t have it, when you actually do because God has freely given us all things (Romans 8:32), then even what you have will be taken away—not by God but by the devil! The devil does not want you to walk in God’s blessings. So when you say that you don’t have it, he can rob you of your blessings because he has your agreement!

When you need something, God says that you are to ask of Him. And when you ask, believe that you receive it. (Mark 11:24) Say you already have it even if you don’t see it in the physical realm yet, and one day, you will see it!

God is not saying, “Oh come on, pretend that you see it. And if you pretend long enough, you will have it.” This is not a game! God is telling us to call forth those things which don’t exist as though they do. (Romans 4:17)

Today, we are talking about the haves and have-nots in the church. If you believe that it is yours, you will have it. You will see yourself possessing it and enjoying it, and more will be given to you. But if you say, “Well, I don’t feel it and I’m not sure if it will come,” in essence, you are saying that you don’t have it when you actually do. Then, even what you have will be taken away. So say you have it today!

Never give up.

Many people look back at their time in high school as the best years of their lives. It should be a time for fun, friends, and for discovering who you are.

While teenage life holds so much potential, for Liyjon DeSilva, his teenage years only offered uncertainty.

Orphaned at the age five, Liyjon spent his childhood passed between different relatives until he was eventually turned away and left with no other option. As a homeless teen, it could have been easy for Liyjon to slip into the convenient vices of crime and drugs, but he wanted more for himself.



Instead of falling into a life of crime, Liyjon threw himself into his academics, going to class during the day and spending his nights sleeping in public parks. “I have a chance, why not just keep going?”Liyjon shared and it was that thought which kept him going during his most challenging times.

He spent 3 years living this way, making the best out of his dismal situation, before educators at his school noticed and reached out a helping hand.

Liyjon’s principle and several teachers became involved in assuring his well being, setting Liyjon up with housing and assistance. The adults in his life stepped up in order to give him support and guidance, the kind Liyjon had been lacking without a family for so long.




That extra push gave was a great motivator that helped focus Liyjon’s studies. At the age of 20, Liyjon graduated in the top 5% of his class. Not only that, he also received a full scholarship to Carleton College thanks to his hard work and a nomination for the Posse Scholarship.



We can never allow the circumstances we find ourselves in to define the direction of our lives. If we do, we may never achieve our true destinies. Like Liyjon, we have to work towards our better selves no matter the struggles we face.

The optimism and boundless potential Liyjon missed out on as a teenager now fills up the future he worked so hard for. And that future looks brighter than ever.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS FOR THIS WEEK!!!

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith . . .

—Ephesians 3:17

Experts have told us that society is sick. Their solutions have treated human frailty with infusions of low-income housing, welfare payments, integrated education, and psychological conditioning. But we are learning that this is not the total answer. The world does need changing, society needs changing, the nation needs changing, but we never will change it until we ourselves are changed. And we never will change until we look into the mirror of our own soul and face with candor what we are inside. Then freely acknowledge that there is a defect in human nature, a built-in waywardness that comes from man’s natural rebellion against God. I am not preaching now, just trying to give you an understanding of what makes you tick. But I also expect to show you that, in the end, you can find your answers only in a personal relationship with God.

Memorise: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28

Read: Genesis 1:26-30 (KJV)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.


28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.


29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.


30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.




Bible in one year: Genesis 42-43, Isaiah 55, Hymn: Sing hymn 10
MESSAGE:



God’s voice is so powerful that it can bring about abundant increase. When He speaks in a situation of lack and acute shortage, whatever is responsible for that anomaly is arrested and there is bountiful provision. An example of this can be seen in the lives of the children of Israel. In Genesis 46:26-27, we read that all the people that Israel brought with him into Egypt including Joseph and his family were 70. However, when they were leaving Egypt, the men alone were numbered at 600,000 (Exodus 12:37). In fact, the Israelites’ rate of multiplication in Egypt was so raid that it became a source of worry to the Egyptians (Exodus 1:7-10). Sometimes, we think that such miracles can only occur in Bible times. By the grace of God, in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, we have seen God’s faithfulness demonstrated in the area of multiplication. In 1952, the Church started with about 12 people. By the time I became the general overseer in 1981, we had only 40 parishes including the headquarters. The convention we had in 1980 had a little over 600 people in attendance, yet we thought that was quite large. Today, through the grace of the Almighty God, this same Church has spread to over 174 nations of the world! Why? It is simply because there is a God who can speak from Heaven to make something little increase abundantly. This shall be your portion today in Jesus’ Name!


A blessing summons all the forces in heaven, on earth and underneath the earth to help an individual to succeed. To bless someone, you have to open your mouth to declare it. When God blesses you, all the angels of God will assist you, and even demons will fight one another to clear the way for you. In Genesis 48:8-20, Joseph, while visiting his father Jacob with his two sons, carefully guided his father to rest his right hand on the head of the elder son, Manasseh, and to rest his left hand on Ephraim the younger. At this time, Jacob was old and sick, and could no longer see. When Jacob crossed his hands over the two boys, Joseph protested but Jacob insisted, saying the younger will be greater than the elder, and then he blessed them. Within a short period of time, the younger son had become 10 times more blessed than his elder brother (Deuteronomy 33:17). This is what the declaration of a divine blessing can do in the life of a person. Ask God to declare His blessings on you. You can also seek the declaration of blessings from a father that is connected to God.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:21

There's a dimension of living you can only experience when you make a decision to please the Father in every activity of your life. In that dimension, Jesus becomes real to you and manifests Himself to you.

Just after the turn of the 20th century, God poured out His Spirit and started a revival on Azusa Street. It was an awesome time, a time when people's entire lives were turned inside out. Everything else in their world seemed to lose importance. Supernatural things were happening. God was manifesting Himself in their presence.

The people involved in that revival soon began to be known to the world as "holiness" people. They got that title because they were so obviously different from everyone else. They would let go of anything they thought didn't please God. They were so caught up in the power of the spiritual realm, they lost interest in natural things.

Few believers today even know what "holiness" means. Even fewer understand the outpouring of God that comes to those who dare to step into it.

Holiness simply means "separated to God." It's what you do with your life day by day. It's ordering your conduct according to the Word of God and the promptings of the Spirit. Holiness is the habit of being one mind with God, of turning away from the ways of the world and living instead in agreement with Him. Holiness doesn't happen to anyone by accident. It requires a decision of the will. Make that decision today.

Love God with all your heart by keeping His commandments. He'll show His love to you by manifesting Himself to you in powerful new ways. He'll pour Himself out on you just like He did on those believers at Azusa Street—and revival will truly begin in you.


Scripture Reading:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Don't let the fear of rejection keep you out of the game.

We have all heard the success stories of Oprah, Bill Gates, JK Rowling, Michael Jordan, Madonna and a host of other celebrities or public figures who have sold millions over the last few years. It is a given that each one of these individuals all have success in common but did you know they also share one other common denominator?

Rejection.

- Oprah was fired from her job in television.

- Bill Gates was rejected by IBM.

- JK Rowling was denied by several book publishers.

- Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team and Madonna was rejected by a movie producer.

How you handle rejection has the power to determine your destiny. Each one of these individuals could have chosen to live in defeat after their rejections; however, they chose to do what very few people do. They chose to keep going because they realized that if the worst had already happen, only the best was yet to come.

Want to learn how you can turn your rejection into a life changing experience?

Here are 5 ways you can use rejection to propel you to your destiny:

Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

We are no longer under the old covenant. We are now under the new covenant. And in this new covenant, God says that He will do three things for us:

Lead us—“I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10) These are the laws of faith, love and liberty to guide you in everything you do. It is a spontaneous, dynamic, active and intimate way to be led by God.

Work miracles for us—“I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Hebrews 8:10) The phrase “I will be their God” denotes a miracle-working God. So if you are sick and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for healing! If you are poor and God says, “I will be your God,” get ready for His supply!

Cause us to know Him effortlessly—“… all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11) The Greek word for “know” here is eido. It means to know intuitively without effort. This means that you will know God easily.

Do you want to experience all these blessings in your life today?

“Of course, Pastor Prince, I want to be led by God. I want Him to work miracles in my life. I want to know Him intimately without straining or striving.”

Then, you need to know the clause that makes it all happen: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” The words “no more” in the Greek carry a strong double-negative sense. So God is saying, “I will never, by no means, remember your sins!”

Beloved, the more you believe this in your heart, the more you will see those blessings fulfilled in your life. When you realize how much God has forgiven you and remembers your sins no more, you will know Him, His ways and His will for you intimately and intuitively without effort.

So believe in your heart today the clause on which all these blessings hinge, and get ready for miracles and hopes fulfilled in the days ahead!

READ: Ruth 1:1-22

…It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband…
Ruth 2:11

The Bible admonishes a spouse to honour his/her parents or parent figures and you must do the same (Ephesians 6:3).

Your in-laws are like adopted parents to you. You must try to love them unconditionally as we are admonished to do in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, even when you think they don't like you.

Do not complain about your spouse to your parents. Do not allow your parents to develop a habit of saying bad things about your spouse to you directly or indirectly. You are one. Let love cover the multitude of your partner's faults and seek pastoral counsel when you need help (Proverbs 10:12).

Know that your in-laws can do unacceptable things just like your parents. The difference is that you may not be able to tell your in-law your real sentiments without stirring up trouble; so learn to overlook certain things. Be yourself with your inlaws as far as you are not offensive.

Try not to discriminate between parents as to upkeep. Recognize the reality that not all sets of parents have the same needs, so do not try to make their needs identical. For example, one parent may need remittances but the other may need to be given gifts on birthdays and other special occasions. Usually, the woman may prompt the husband on care for the home. He should provide these needs with love (1 Timothy 5:8).

Your in-laws can pronounce a blessing on you depending on how you treat them. Ruth received an additional blessing.