Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
—James 1:27

I went to church for thirty years without ever hearing one sermon on my biblical responsibility to care for orphans, widows, the poor, and the oppressed. I was shocked when I finally realized how much of the Bible is about helping other people. I spent most of my Christian life thinking the Bible was about how God could help me. It’s no wonder I was unhappy.

The key to happiness isn’t only in being loved; it is also in having someone to love. If you really want to be happy, find somebody to love. If you want to put a smile on God’s face, then find a person who is hurting and help them.

Be determined to help someone. Be creative! Lead a revolt against living in a religious rut where you go to church and go home and go back to church, but you’re not really helping anybody. Don’t just sit in church pews and sing hymns. Get involved in helping people who are hurting.

Remember the words of Jesus:

“I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’

“Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:42-45 NKJV)

Trust in Him: Are you ministering to Jesus? Jesus said ministering to others ministers to Him. Trust His life on earth to be an example of how you should live your life—going about doing good for others in need.

Memorise: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

Read: Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

READ: Luke 6:47-49
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:
Luke 6:48

Rich people build houses because they are pragmatic. You may plan to live in a mansion way up on a hill. But you may not be able to practically build your dream house. You need to be realistic and do what you can do for now . Step by step you will rise on the property ladder. Life is such that you do not have what you really want. Those who wait for the “ideal” never enter into the “real”.

You will never have the money that you really need. Most people will never really be able to employ a contractor. Many people will have to fight the problems of life and build a house at the same time. If you are waiting for a good time when everything is okay and money is flowing you may never build anything. Nehemiah had to fight and build at the same time.

Rich people build houses because they have the humility to build slowly like the man who built on a rock: Luke 6:48. Obviously , building on sand would be much quicker than building on a rock. In fact, it would take a long time to build a foundation on a rock. Proper construction takes a long time. You must be prepared to spend a long time building your house. You must not expect things to be completed in a short time.

There is a type of man who simply wants to rent a house now. He does not want to roll up his sleeves and build anything. He wants to look successful and accomplished today. Looking successful, accomplished and settled costs people true prosperity . The price of looking successful and accomplished quickly is often the price of a house.

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

When we think of God, we think of the most powerful and richest being in the whole universe. But do you know that our Lord Jesus was actually born into a poor family? We know this from the offering His mother Mary brought to the temple after Jesus was born, according to the Law for purification. (Luke 2:22–24) She brought a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons, which was the only type of offering the poor could afford. (Leviticus 12:2, 8)

But with Jesus in their lives, Mary and her husband Joseph didn’t remain poor. Wise men came to Jesus with treasures—“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus’ presence brought gold, frankincense and myrrh—two of the most expensive spices—to His family. The wise men must have come with quite an entourage for the Bible records how all Jerusalem was fearful when the wise men came to the city. (Matthew 2:3) Can you imagine the amount of gold, frankincense and myrrh which accompanied that entourage, and which was given to Jesus’ parents?

My friend, the moment you are born again, you have Jesus in your life. And when you have Him in your life, get ready for His abundant supply to come your way! But don’t look for the blessings, look to Jesus—He is the power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18) The presence of the Son of the living God in your life attracts good things. Because of His grace toward us, Jesus, though He was rich, was made poor at the cross for your sake so that “you through His poverty might become rich”.

Beloved, when you have Jesus in your life and when you know that He has paid the price for your abundance, you can boldly declare, “Jesus was made poor at the cross for my sake so that through His poverty, I am made rich in all things!”

Stick to your resolve this year.

Resolving to make a few improvements in life?

The new year is a perfect time to commit to making the changes that have been weighing heavy on your mind.



However, most will abandon their resolutions. Studies suggest only around 8% of those who make resolutions actually keep them.

Why are resolution completion rates so low?


Perhaps it’s the nature of the resolutions that are being made that are setting their success up for failure.

In order to increase our likelihood of sticking to our intentions, here are some of the most popular resolutions and a few tips on how we might re-frame them for success.
1. Saving Money.



Stress over saving money is the main cause of tension in relationships so it makes sense that saving money would rank as a popular resolution.

In order to accomplish this, many will resolve to cut spending on things they see as unnecessary or choose cheaper options when spending, but that sort of deprivation can backfire because of the extra time and stress of looking for the a bargain that might not exist or because savings just aren’t being set aside correctly.

Do This Instead: In order to save money, it’s best to remove the temptation of spending it in the first place.

Open up a savings account to receive part of your income via direct deposit or opt into an automated savings account that will roll over the unused cents from your purchases and deposit them accordingly.

If you can’t see the money, you can’t spend the money.
2. Losing Weight.



Each year, losing weight tops the list of most popular New Year’s resolutions.

Many will join a gym or buy a new piece of athletic equipment in order to reach their goal, but the majority will end up quitting by mid-February.

Do This Instead: Instead of drastically adding a new behavior to your schedule, increase a pre-existing one gradually.

Start by increasing your daily intake of water to half a gallon a day. Not only will it help to keep you full, it will replace sugary alternatives and is the cornerstone of weight loss.

Gradually ramping up the amount you walk will also provide some activity without failure looming over your head.
3. Finding Love.



The holidays can be a hard time to go through without someone to love so it is not surprising that finding love is a popular resolution.

Enrollment in online dating sites is highest right after the first of the year but the pressure to find that special someone could result in dating desperation that takes your love life nowhere.

Do This Instead: Prioritize your relationships with friends and family and resolve to spend more time in social settings.

Places like church, social clubs, or the neighborhood café can offer fun and the opportunity to meet new people without the pressures of dating.

When you feel comfortable, you are more yourself and more ready to meet the one of your dreams.

Don’t allow the harsh statistics to discourage you from making plans to improve your life in the new year. Resolving to resolve the right way can be your first resolution of 2017.

With long life will I satisfy [you], and show [you] my salvation.
Psalm 91:16

Did you know that it's not God's will for you or anyone to die young? His will for you is to live the full number of your days. You ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you are not satisfied, live awhile longer! The Bible says that when Abraham died, he died at a good old age, full of years. That's the way it ought to be with all of us.

Some believers don't realize that and they've gotten themselves in a mess. When they get sick, instead of just believing for healing, they start wondering if it's God's will for them to die. Maybe He's ready to call me home, they think.

Don't ever entertain thoughts like that. If God has His way, He won't call you home until you're good and ready to come. The Apostle Paul understood that. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he said, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Paul didn't die until he and Jesus were ready for him to go.

Regardless of your age, if the devil is telling you God isn't going to heal you because it's time for you to go home, he is lying to you. God promises in Psalm 91:16 that if you are living under the shadow of the Most High, He will satisfy you with long life. (That means that you are abiding in Him as Jesus taught in John 15.)

If you're not satisfied that you have finished your course yet on this earth, it's not time for you to die. So ignore the devil and keep right on living. Resist sickness and disease in the Name of Jesus. Stand on God's promise!

Then, when you're ready to go on to heaven, go! But go satisfied, healed and ready! Go in victory shouting the words of that old joy-filled song—"Heaven is near and I can't stay here. Goodbye world, goodbye."


Scripture Reading:

Deuteronomy 34

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
—Romans 5:8

Have you ever wondered if you are good enough for God to love you? Unfortunately, many people believe God loves them only as long as they don’t make mistakes.

Perhaps it was this outlook that caused the psalmist to ask, What is man that You are mindful of him? (Psalm 8:4). Yet the Bible tells us we are God’s creation, the work of His hands, and He loves each one of us unconditionally.

Let’s face it: Jesus didn’t die for you because you were great and wonderful; He died for you because He loves you. God loves you, and He wants you to believe it and receive His love all the time—even when you make mistakes.

Power Thought: God’s love for me is unconditional.

Memorise: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Read: John 10:25-29 (KJV)

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.


27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:


28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.


29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.




Bible in one year: Leviticus 17:19, Psalms 129-130
MESSAGE
The Bible in several passages referred to God as the good Shepherd, but in the book of John 10:14, Jesus boldly declared, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Also inJohn 10:27, God says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. The Lord is omniscient, He is all knowing, nothing is hidden from His sight, and He therefore has a very good knowledge of the identity of all human beings. Furthermore, 2ndTimothy 2:19 says:


“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”


Every Christian is hereby encouraged to depart from all forms of immorality in order to benefit from the heavenly package reserved for true children of God. 22 December 2016 open heavens.


Because God paid for the salvation of humanity with His Son’s Blood, Christians in the world are precious to Him. Hence, the Lord will always keep His obedient children from partaking in the judgement of sinners. An example of this is recorded in 1st Kings 14:7-16. Jeroboam was a very wicked king. He did not only sin, but caused so many to sin with him. When God pronounced judgment on him, his entire family faced extinction. He had many sons who all perished with him, but Abijah was spared because he towed the path of righteousness. When judgment is determined against families, yours will be spared in Jesus’ name. When cities and communities are to face disasters and destruction, you will be spared.


If you love to do God’s will all the time and diligently obey His voice, He will keep you from judgment. When He brought plagues of Egypt, in the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived, there was no trace of the plaques (Exodus 8:21-23). God separated His own from those who were not His. 2nd Timothy 2:19 says no matter what people claim, God knows His people. Are you one of God’s sheep? It is not enough to claim to be a child of God; does God know you as His bona- fide son or daughter? If you are not sure, check your life and be reconciled to God today. Open Heavens Thursday 22 December 2016:- He Knows His sheep. If you are recognized by God, there is a hiding place reserved for you in Christ where you will not be a casualty in time of judgment. Like the psalmist, you shall only see and hear of those who are causalities but you shall never be touched (Psalms 91:7-8). Once again, are you among the faithful few?

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

People of the world feel helpless as the systems of the world go up and down. They turn on the television and they hear, “This war will plunge the world into a recession.” They open the newspapers and they read that “Unemployment is at an all-time high”.

Beloved, God does not want you to feel helpless because you are not of the world. (John 17:16) You are of God and therefore need not be subject to the world’s systems. Whatever the world’s situation is, fear not because “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.

Notice that Philippians 4:19 says that “God shall supply all your need”. It does not say that God may supply some of your needs. It also says that God will do it “according to His riches”. It is not out of His riches. If a millionaire gives you a hundred dollars, it is out of his riches. But if he gives to you according to his riches, it means that he is lining up his millions for you!

Lastly, the verse says that God does it “according to His riches in glory”. It is not according to the riches of your company or how well the economy is doing. No, it is according to God’s riches in glory!

So how do you stop yourself from feeling helpless in uncertain times? The same way I stopped myself from getting seasick when I was on board a navy ship for the first time during my National Service stint. A senior naval officer had advised me, “Don’t look at the waves around you. Look at the horizon far away. Look at that stable, stationary line and you will feel better.” When I fixed my eyes on that unshakable, unwavering line, even though the ship bobbed up and down in the rough sea, I did not feel so seasick anymore.

My friend, don’t look at your circumstances or the bad things that are happening in the world because you will get “earth-sick”. Instead, look at the unshakable, eternal Word of God. Your heart will become stable and you will see your God supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!