Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

Leave it all behind.

Everywhere it seems that people are working on self-improvement; some work to transform their physique, some their spiritual health and others focus on their relationships.

Self-improvement is a powerful first step towards living with greater strength, yet we may be ready for a deeper and more complete transformation of ourselves.

Some fix their weight, yet their pain is still there. Others cut ties to those that drain them, yet their anxieties remain.

Transformation is all encompassing and requires us to get real about what ails us.

In the natural world, hosts of animals undergo a metamorphosis, changing all aspects of themselves in order to better adapt to their environment. Similarly, our own metamorphosis awaits.

What is it that no longer serves you?

Research has found that people are often stuck in self-defeating behaviors such as: putting ourselves last on our list of priorities, spending money we don’t have on things that are not a priority, drinking excessively to escape our thoughts and worries, overeating to cope with stress and a paralyzing worry about what others think of us.

Clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Daniel Siegel found that lasting personal transformation happens as we change those bad habits. Transforming our thoughts, our breathing and belief in ourselves promotes lasting change in our lives.

Dr. Siegel reminds us that, “the mind is like the ocean. And deep in the ocean, beneath the surface, it is calm and clear.”

When we start overeating and drinking to excess, we stop and ask why.

When we overspend, pick up that dreaded phone call instead of working out and continue to put ourselves last on our list of priorities, we use our thoughts to make an immediate shift.

Tell yourself to: put the item back, set down that phone and that taking care of yourself is not a luxury but a necessity.

Our thoughts hold the power to shift our lives. Like the depths of the magnificent ocean, inside ourselves is the calm, clear guidance for which we’ve been searching all along.

READ: Titus 2:4-5

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house...

Psalm 128:3

Eve was created to be Adam's helper. A married woman must aim to help, project, motivate, uplift and promote her husband.

It is very important for a wife to love her husband, otherwise it will be very difficult to perform the marital responsibilities of submission, sex etc. and generally, to do what God's Word teaches her to do as a Christian spouse. The Bible teaches clearly that wives should submit to their husbands. Christian wives will do well to obey this Scripture (1 Peter 3:1-3).

Every wife has a God-given duty to satisfy the sexual needs of her husband. Usually, the need to have sex is greater for a man than for a woman, and many wives find their husbands' persistent advances for sex a bother. A wife should know and understand that if she does not take care of her husband's sexual needs, she may push him to seek fulfilment elsewhere and this will lead to a lot of heartache and pain.

Food is also another thing, which is very important to a man. It is the duty of a wife to produce nice, tasty meals for her husband and the rest of the household. She must introduce a lot of variety in the food she prepares and be very innovative.

Finally, a good wife should provide nice, supportive company and friendship. She should chat with her husband when he is quiet, and encourage him when he is downhearted.

These simple acts help to strengthen the friendship and companionship in the marriage.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . .
—2 Timothy 3:16

The men who framed our Constitution knew they were writing the basic document for a government of free men; they recognized that men could live as free and independent beings only if each one knew and understood the law. They were to know their rights, their privileges, and their limitations. They were to stand as equals before the court of law, and few judges could be unfair; for the judge, too, was bound by the same law and required to try each case accordingly. . . . As the Constitution is the highest law of the land, so the Bible is the highest law of God. For it is in the Bible that God sets forth His spiritual laws. It is in the Bible that God makes His enduring promises. It is in the Bible that God reveals the plan of redemption for the human race.

Do you have questions about the Bible? Find answers.
Prayer for the day

Almighty God, each day our nation and we, the people, face so many crises. May each one of us seek wisdom through Your Word, the Bible.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Hebrews 12:6-7

There's a terrible misunderstanding among believers today about God's method of disciplining His children. They'll point to some kind of disaster—a tornado or a car accident—and say, "I guess God sent that catastrophe to teach us something."

No, He didn't! A loving God doesn't send death and destruction on His children to instruct them. He doesn't unleash His bad dog to bite us on the leg, so we'll learn to wear our boots!

How does He chastise His own? With His Word.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 says, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness, (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work" (The Amplified Bible).

If you'll look in 2 Corinthians 7, you'll see an example of this. There the Apostle Paul talks about a situation in the Corinthian church that needed correction. That church had gotten out of line and had to be disciplined.

How did Paul do it? Not by asking God to send an earthquake to shake them up! He did it by writing them a letter. He wrote them a word of reproof that hurt so badly they would have preferred being beaten with a stick. It cut deep into their spirits and brought them to repentance.

Your heavenly Father loves you and because He does, He will chasten you. But He'll do it with spiritual, not fleshly tools. He'll use the spirit-power in His Word to chasten unbelief and purify your spirit in such a way that you'll come out strong, not weak and condemned.

So quit bowing down to disasters and start subjecting yourself instead to the Word of God. Yield to the Word. Let it correct you and trim away the flesh and the lusts that lead you astray. Remember, the sword of the Spirit is two-edged—one side is for Satan and the other side is for you. Let God use it to keep you in line!


Scripture Reading:

2 Corinthians 7

Job 5:19

19. He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

My word for you this week is that, the Lord that did not leave you on the sixth occasion will not leave you on the seventh occasion.

What is that situation that seem to high and the mountain that look insurmountable? I want you to know that you serve a God who is more than enough.

He is not an irresponsible father. If He knew you (Jeremiah 1:5) before you were formed in you mother's womb, then He has made provision before you came out fro your mother's womb.

He is an amazing God, the number of His children is the number of His breast and so none of His children starves.

I pray that before the end of this week, the number of your challenges shall be the number of your testimonies in Jesus name.
#7dg #thoughtsofourfathers #cozablood #cozaglobal

I found this conversation so shocking and at the same time amazing and please it is not formed to get your attention... was chatting on the phone with my 7 year old nephew this morning and I asked what he'd be eating thinking he's young and won't observe the 7DG... he said Uncle Tunde I'm fasting. I was so shocked. So I said remember to pray and ask for something from God, I thought I was going to hear bicycle, scooter like the other kids but he said God should give me a new car... isn't he wonderful... aren't we bless in Coza, are we not a blessed family? Is Joel 2:28 not evident in this dispensation? I bless God almighty for channeling my footstep and that of my family to COZA... I celebrate my Father #biodunfatoyinbo and Mother @bnbladies for always feeding us with the best and also celebrate our the leaders in our childcare department who constantly load these kids with the word of God.. God bless you all.
#cozaglobal #7dg2017 #biodunfatoyinbo #bnbladies #cozakids #blessedkids#pastorflow #bukola_ogunsola #george omoraro #cutedeedee

Memorise: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Psalm 91:5
Read: Psalm 91:5-7 (KJV)
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Bible in one year: 1st Samuel 6-7, Lamentation 2:14-3:6, Hymn: Sing hymn 2
MESSAGE:
Besides being a God of wonders who does wonders, God can also turn you into a wonder. A young man gave a profound testimony during one of our monthly Holy Ghost Services some years ago. He testified that during a prior Holy Ghost Service, the Lord instructed me to inform the congregants that the clothes they wore to that programme had just been anointed and had therefore been special. Unknown to him, some hired killers had been sent to kill him. Coincidentally, on the day marked for his assassination, he was wearing the very clothes that had been anointed during the Holy Ghost Service. As he passed by the assassins on this fateful day, he heard them say, “This is the fellow”, and immediately, they opened fire on him. Six bullets passed through the front of his clothes and came out at the back, but nothing touched him. He brought the clothes he wore and showed us the bullet holes in front and at the back. He said he could not explain how that could happen without affecting his body. Indeed, there is a God who can turn someone into a wonder! [Friday June 30, 2017] As people looked at him, they saw someone who by all standards should have been dead, but who was alive because God miraculously protected him from weapons of destruction. This season, God will turn you into a wonder! He will miraculously protect you from every weapon of death formed against you.


Moreover, God can perform wonders through you! He can turn you into an instrument that performs wonders. For instance, on one ordinary day, Peter and John were going along the way when they encountered a lame man who asked for alms, but God used them to heal him (Acts 3:1-11). This same man who had sat at a gate of the temple for years suddenly rose up, began to walk, leap and praise God. Open Heavens 30 June 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye- Wonderful protection. He became a wonder to everyone who knew him, and the duo that God used to perform the miracle also stood out as wonders. Acts 3:11 says,

“And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”


Beloved, God wants you to be a wonder. He also wants to use you to perform wonders. Are you ready to cooperate with Him? Can you pay the price to become a conduit for sings and wonders to flow through? How concerned are you about God’s Kingdom? How consecrated are you? Are you prepared to give it all it takes?

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by his goodness].

—2 Corinthians 5:21

I cannot think of anything more awesome than being a friend of God. There is nothing I would rather hear God say than, "Joyce Meyer is My friend." I do not want Him to say, "Joyce Meyer—knows all the prayer principles; she can quote dozens of Bible verses; she sounds very eloquent when she prays; but she really doesn't know Me at all and we are not really friends." I want to know that God thinks of me as His friend, and I believe you long for Him to think of you that way, too. Through Jesus Christ, we have a right to be comfortable with God, to hear His voice, and to go boldly to the throne of grace to get the help we need in plenty of time to meet our needs and the needs of others (see Hebrews 4:16).

One of the best things you can ever do is to develop your friendship with God. Jesus has made you righteous through the blood He shed at the cross, so there is no reason you cannot approach God as boldly and as naturally as you would your best friend on Earth. Remember, friendship with God takes an investment of time and energy to develop. But also remember that as your friendship deepens, your ability to hear God's voice increases. A growing, vibrant, increasingly intimate friendship with God will naturally lead to increasingly effective communication with Him.

Real love is built on a rock.

If only loving someone was as easy as it seems in the movies.

Yet, real love takes work. A love that goes the distance, is possible when we first know ourselves and love ourselves.

It’s true that if you are not complete as a person, marriage will not help you. Looking to someone else to complete us is misguided.

A lasting relationship can exist when we are ready to do the emotional heavy lifting within ourselves.

Whether you are currently in a relationship, or hopeful about the future, remember these 3 tips for creating a love that lasts the test of time:
1. Know thyself.

A partner that comes to their relationship whole, with everything to offer, knows themselves. When we know ourselves, recognizing our patterns and triggers, we navigate our relationship with more grace and patience. Psychologists have found that knowing ourselves leads to greater self control, tolerance, understanding of others, vitality and pleasure, which all serve to strengthen your union.
2. Set up clear expectations.

Being a supportive partner starts with knowing your limits and expectations. When we are upfront with our partners about our expectations regarding family, friends, finances, etc. all of our cards are on the table. If this did not happen at the beginning, reset those expectations now.
3. Start with joy.

We can make it last forever by always finding ways to share joyful experiences with each other. Life hits us with so many challenges; it’s commonplace to vent to our partners, not even realizing the burden placed on their shoulders. The world is rough enough. At home, and when you are spending time together, always make sharing joy a top priority.

Indeed, lasting love is a moving sea between the shores of two souls. Only when that connection is honored and cultivated will we experience the type of love that lasts a lifetime.

Luke 2:40

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The verse says that the grace of God was upon Jesus. The Bible also says that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20) And when you put the two together, you may find yourself asking, “If the grace of God was upon Jesus, does it mean that He sinned?”

No, Jesus did not sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So there must be another explanation as to why God’s grace was upon Jesus. There must be another explanation as to why someone can abound in God’s grace even when he has not sinned.

Let’s look at the word “grace” when it is first mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 6:8 says that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”. Noah’s name means “rest”. So the verse is telling us that rest found grace. In other words, when you rest, you find grace!

So grace was upon Jesus because His life was a life of rest and trust in His Father. He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself. He can do only what He sees His Father doing.” (John 5:19)

Likewise, grace comes upon you when you rest and trust God. If you have a wayward child, stop nagging at him and trust God to handle the problem. Say, “Jesus, I commit this boy into Your hands. I cannot control him. You can.” If you have a persistent pain in your body, bring it to the Lord. Say, “Jesus, I hand all my worries about this pain to You. You work on the pain.”

“Pastor Prince, what if nothing happens?”

Honestly, if after you have given the matter to Jesus and nothing happens, what can you do? If Jesus Himself can’t do anything about it, do you think you can? But praise God, once the problem is handed over to Jesus, He can and will do a perfect work of taking care of it for you!

So live a life of rest. Have this attitude and tell the Lord, “I can do nothing of myself. I just rest in You Lord and I trust You.” Beloved, what you will see is the grace of God upon you in every situation of your life!