A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL

MAY WE ALL HAVE A CHIRST FILLED 2009!!!!

I LOVE YOU.

You Are My Everything

Hey all, I know its been a while. I have been learning about myself and what Jesus really means to me and should mean to me. You know sometimes we encounter things and experience things to learn and boy have I learnt.

I have learnt that there is NO ONE who Loves us more than Jesus Christ. He will never, leave, forsake or hurt us. He loves us so much that he gave his life for us and that says a lot.

Question: Who do you know in your life would sacrifice EVERYTHING for you? Their riches, power, dignity, Deity, life?

Answer: Jesus!!!

Remember: Inside the will of God, there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success!!! You choose. Read Psalm 118:8

Below is a song from South African Gospel singer Johnathan Butler. This song is very special to me because I believe that this is how we should live and what Jesus should truly mean to all of us!!!! God Bless!!! I Love You All.

You’re my life Lord Jesus (2x)
You’re everything to me
You’re the sweetest song I sing
You are my everything

My hope
My song
My strength
My shield
In you I live and have my being

All I want is Jesus (2x)
Nothing in this world
Compares to what you’re worth
You are my everything

By Johnathan Butler

Please Help Me—I Have a Problem"

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner.'"1

Years ago when I was doing a counselor training course, one of the instructors made the statement, "Whatever bothers you is your problem!" "Hmmm," I thought to myself, "that's an interesting concept—never thought of that before."

At the time I was going through a rough situation personally and was in despair about it. During the course of the training, I explained to my counselor about my predicament and he said, "That must make you angry."

"No," I replied, "I'm just hurt." And he left me with the thought, "That must make you angry!"Shortly after that I went for a long walk, thinking about, "That must make you angry." Then the truth hit me like a bolt of lighting! "Whew," I admitted to myself, "I am angry—very angry!"I was never able to change the person whom I felt had rejected and hurt me so badly, but I was able to change me, and come to terms with my feelings (which I had learned to bury and deny at an early age), and resolve them.

It also helped me to deal with the anger I had towards my father from whom I had been estranged for many years and resolve that impaired relationship. Fortunately, I was able to do this a few months before he died.

My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. What others do to me may or may not be a problem, but how I react and feel is always my responsibility. However, to the degree that I overreact, that is always my problem.It is true; whatever bothers me is my problem.

This can be a hard pill to swallow, but until we accept this reality, we will continue to blame others for our feelings and possibly never resolve our hurts/anger or impaired relationships.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the people in my life whom you have used to confront me with truth and reality. They have been angels in disguise. Help me to always recognize them as such and use their insights to help me become a better, healthier, and more loving and accepting person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 18:13 (KJV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

God's Goal Is Not to Make Us Good

"We proclaim Him [Christ], admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete [mature] in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."1

We don't have to be good for goodness sake!In fact, being good may be our worst enemy. It was for the Pharisees! Their external goodness was a cover-up used to avoid facing what they were on the inside. Jesus did not approve of their external religiosity! In fact, he opposed it vehemently.

It can bring a great sense of freedom to realize that God isn't into rules, but rather relationships. And his goal isn't to make us good, but to make us whole; that is, to heal us from the inside out. The end result will be goodness but goodness that comes from a healed heart, and not from adhering to external rules and regulations dictated by legalism.

This is not an excuse to act out in sinful or destructive behaviors or to ignore God's laws which are for our protection. Never! As the Apostle Paul said, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means...."2

What it does mean is that I need to grow towards wholeness and maturity by recognizing my inner brokenness, my weaknesses, and my unresolved character issues and bring them not only to God, but also to a trusted friend and/or counselor for healing and recovery. As a general rule, we got damaged (emotionally) in damaging relationships and we get healed (emotionally) in healing relationships. As James said, "Therefore confess your sins [and faults] to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."3

Again, God's goal is not to make us good, but to make us whole. It's the heart that counts with him, not the externals. If all I have is external goodness, I am no better than the Pharisees. Realize too, that only to the degree that we are made whole will our lifestyle, our attitude, our actions, our behavior, and our relationships be "whole-some."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see my broken parts so I can bring them to you for healing. Confront me with my reality, make me whole, and lead me to the help that I need to do this. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Colossians 1:28–29 (NASB).
2. Romans 6:1 (NIV).
3. James 5:16 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Loving Your Enemies

"But I [Jesus] say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."1

Bob Lewis relates the story of a Christian woman "who owned two prize-winning chickens. One afternoon, the chickens worked their way out of her yard and into her neighbor's garden. The neighbor, known for his hot temper, captured both birds, wrung their necks and then threw their lifeless carcasses across the fence into the Christian's yard.

"The woman was understandably hurt and considered giving her neighbor a piece of her mind. Instead, she took the chickens home and prepared two chicken pot pies. Whereupon she took one to her neighbor and then apologized for not being more watchful of her chickens. The man was speechless. The chicken pot pie coupled with an apology filled him with such a sense of burning shame that his whole life began to change."Need I say more?

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I find it real easy to love those who are lovable but don't know how to love my enemies and those who would mistreat me. Please help me to grow in love so that I will always be 'as Christ' to everyone—friend or foe. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 5:44 (NKJV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Second Chances

"Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.'"1

I think most of us enjoy the story of "Jonah and the Whale (Great Fish)."

Jonah was commissioned by God to go to Nineveh and warn the people that if they didn't repent of their wicked, sinful ways, God would destroy them. Jonah didn't like these people and didn't want God to save them, so he boarded a ship and went off in the opposite direction. But God sent a great storm "to shake Jonah up."

However, all aboard the ship were terrified for their lives. When Jonah admitted he was the cause of the storm, the sailors threw him overboard.But God in his mercy sent a big fish to swallow Jonah.

Had God not done this, without a doubt Jonah would have drowned. On the third day, Jonah repented and God caused the great fish to vomit him up on a beach. After Jonah repented and God rescued him, God commissioned him a second time.

Having worked in the area of recovery for a number of years, and specifically in the area of divorce and grief recovery over the past decade, I have seen too many individuals rush into a second marriage without resolving the issues that caused their first marriage to fail—and then see their second marriage and, for some, their third marriage fail.

What many fail to realize is that, in all of life (not just marriage), what we fail to resolve we are destined to repeat … repeat … repeat … until we get it right! The good news is that no matter how many times we fail, God in his mercy and infinite patience will give us a second, third, fourth, fifth, ad infinitum opportunity to get things right.

However, once we get it right, we don't have to go through the same failure again! This is why I encourage divorcees (and others who have failed in other situations) to resolve the issues in their life that caused their marriage or situation to fail so they won't have to go through the same terrible experience.

God wants us to recover, heal and become whole so we won't keep hurting ourselves—and others. Like Jonah, God will keep giving us as many opportunities as we need so we will get it right. That means quitting the blame game, admitting and facing our personal problems, and getting into recovery.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to admit every failure in my life and help me to see the causes behind these failures, and lead me to the help I need to resolve these issues and recover so I can move on with my life in more creative and wholesome ways. Please help me to use every one of my failures as an opportunity to grow and become a better, healthier, more God-honoring person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Jonah 3:1-2 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

The Power of Gossip

"A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."1

Alan Boone tells the humorous story how, at the end of their first date, a young man takes his favorite girl home. Emboldened by the night, he decides to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leans with his hand against the wall and, smiling, he says to her:

"Darling, how about a goodnight kiss?"
Horrified, she replies, "Are you mad? My parents will see us!"
"Oh come on! Who's gonna see us at this hour?"
"No, please. Can you imagine if we get caught?"
"Oh come on, there's nobody around, they're all sleeping!"
"No way. It's just too risky!"
"Oh please, please, I like you so much!"
"No, no, and no. I like you too, but I just can't!"
"Oh yes you can. Please?"
"NO, no. I just can't.""Pleeeeease?"

Out of the blue, the porch light goes on, and the girl's sister shows up in her pajamas, hair disheveled. In a sleepy voice the sister says: "Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss. Or I can do it. Or if need be, he'll come down himself and do it. But for crying out loud tell him to take his hand off the intercom button!"2

Ooops ... Some time ago after teaching a class, I was sharing personally with a friend and my microphone was still turned on! Very embarrassing!

What can be even more devastating and disappointing is when you have shared in confidence something very personal with someone that you trusted, only to find that they have shared it with someone else, and that someone shared it with someone else, and so on. Trust has been broken and you feel betrayed.

How easy it is to gossip. We can do it in numerous ways besides verbal assaults on a person's character. When someone's name is mentioned, all we have to do is say, "Oh, HIM!" in a negative tone of voice—or even give a dirty look at the mention of a person's name.

As another has said, "Most of us would never steal a man's transportation, but think nothing of stealing his reputation."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to guard my tongue, and always ignore and never pass on harmful gossip. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 11:13 (NIV).
2. Alan Smith, Boone, NC. www.TFTD-online.com.

Credit: Daily Encounter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday to me, Happy birthday dear ME, Happy birthday to ME!!!!!

An Obedient Heart!!!

Morning all. Sometimes I find myself wondering why I am here. You know we can really let the cares of this passing world take over our lives and take our eyes off what is important.

What is important is living the life Jehovah God placed us here to live. He made us for himself and for his habitation. He deposited things in our lives to be beneficial to others and to give God all the honour and glory.

How many of us can honestly say that we are living within the will of God? I know that if I answer this question right now it would be in the negative. Yep!

Part of the problem is that I am never satisfied with my circumstances. I always think that there is something better out there for me and that God will want me to be happy … Blah! Blah! Blah! You know what I mean, the usual things we say to convince ourselves that our rebellion against God is not really rebellion.

I went to church yesterday morning and our Pastor was saying certain things that pertained to me and I was praying to Heavenly Father yesterday about my situation (which I created myself) and I asked him “Lord, why am I so disobedient?” No matter how much he shows me He loves me and how much I am worth to Him, I always, ALWAYS do something to mess up, be it doing something I am not to do or not doing something I am to do.

Therefore, this morning I was praying again this morning and all I asked Him was for a “Heart to obey Him”. That is all I want is an obedient heart, not to deny him. I also told Him “Lord I am not going to stop bothering you until you give me that new heart”.

Anyway, I was listening to a CD about 7 youths who Jesus carried to hell to show them the suffering of lost souls sent there. One of the youths sited Proverbs 27:20 and I did some research and came upon http://www.letgodbetrue.come/ and the interpretation of this Proverb below.

God Bless and I Love you all.

Proverbs 27:20 - Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

There is always room for one more fool to live a painful and dysfunctional life and die a miserable death! Hell and destruction are never full! Therefore, fools are always lusting after the evil things that will ruin their lives! The eyes of man are never satisfied! Fools rush to their own hurt and loss every day! There is always room for one more! Go on in, fool!

There is no limit to loveless marriages, foolish children, lonely hearts, underemployed sluggards, early deaths, starving dreamers, and other problems. You can join them, reader! Prisons have few vacancies, because another fool shows up to fill the house of pain. Divorce Court never closes, because one more fool chose to marry for lust instead of faith or chose to divorce for feelings instead of facts. A.A. always takes new members, for there is one more lush unwilling to drink water. Hell and destruction are never full.

Fools are hilarious! They always want, wish, and lust for something to make them happy - which they never find! They think a man, a woman, a child, a house, an amount of money, a car, a boat, affection from another fool, marriage, an event, a promotion, or something else will make them happy! But they never find it, no matter how hard and long they look! They are doomed to misery, for they have got on a treadmill to nowhere!

They are never content with what they have, even if it is much; for they imagine there is something more exciting out there to make them happy. So they live frustrated and lonely lives, searching for Nirvana, and then they die and wake up in hell! What a miserable existence! Hell and destruction are never full! A fool's eyes are never satisfied!

Hell and destruction are a miserable and painful life and an unnecessary death (23:13-14). The lake of fire is never full either! It always has a little more room! But the lesson here is about painful lives. You too can destroy your marriage, fail with your children, or live with a lonely and frustrated soul. You too can turn your life into hell and destruction. The grave never says, "Enough" (30:15-16), so fools find new ways to lie and die miserably. No matter how many bodies are cast into the ground each day, there is room for more!

The eyes of man are never satisfied, because man craves anything other than God. There is no end to the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life (I Jn 2:15-17). Every foolish man thinks a little more of this or that will make him happy. He cannot relax; he dreams of something better; he needs another event to bring him a taste of excitement. He refuses to accept his present circumstances, for he thinks himself too good for them! He thinks in the near future he will discover something to bring peace and joy.

Give a woman a good husband: she wants a different man. Give him a good job: he wants to work for himself. Give her a warm home and children: she wants something to do. Give him a good income: he wants more. Give her a good body: she wants it better. The problem is not improvement; the problem is out-of-control priorities leading to sin. Why do men with beautiful wives divorce more often than those with average wives? Why are women that could be content with the Lord always frustrated and looking for more?

The strange woman - by her sins of fornication and adultery - takes men down to death and hell (2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; Eccl 7:26). But there is always room for one more fool to use the cover of darkness to go near her house to taste her deceitful offerings (7:6-10). He sees her beauty and hears her flattery and is sure he has found the treasure of pleasure. Foolish men are not satisfied with their wives, so the punishing ruin of adultery always has room for one more fool to be accepted into its downward spiral to destruction.

Adam and Eve were not satisfied in Paradise, and it cost them everything. He that loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, which is vanity and vexation of spirit (Eccl 5:10). Covetousness is idolatry and a great evil, which leads to constant frustration and unhappiness (Eph 5:5). Men's hearts always want something else or something more, and this evil fretting against God and lust for new things will take them down to destruction.

Godliness with contentment is great gain (I Tim 6:6). But fools cannot learn the lesson! They hear it, but they cannot learn it. For they have convinced themselves - deceived themselves - that there is something else that will excite and fulfill their little souls. But the blessed God will never let you find anything positive outside Him, so those who get their eyes and hearts attached to the things of this life are doomed to misery!

Fool! Are you discontent, frustrated, and suffering misery and pain in your life? It is your fault! You have chosen your own lusts over the things of God and heaven. You protect your pet sins; you resent correction by your teachers; and you intend to do things your way. If you will make the blessed God your everlasting portion, you can always be content and filled with joy (Ps 16:11; 73:25-26).

If you choose wisdom, you can find life and escape death (13:14; 14:27). There is also room for one more saint!

Credit: Let God Be True.

Stand Up and Be Counted

Good morning to all of you my beautiful brothers and sisters in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am sorry that I am not around much to minister to you but as I said in an earlier thread I am really busy and many things are happening all at once in my life. However, one thing remains consistent, that is My Love for Christ Jesus and his Love for us.

I am leaving you with an article written by the Daily Encounter and I hope that it blesses you in a mighty way. Until we meet again - may the Good Lord Bless and Keep You. I Love you all.

"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was in the wrong."1

On more than one occasion Jesus confronted the Pharisees in no uncertain terms for their hypocritical behavior, as did the Apostle Paul to Peter in the above Scripture verse.

So when is it right for us to confront others and when do we need to keep silent?

How do we know when we are reacting in proportion to what has happened or if we are overreacting?

When someone attacks us personally, when do we turn the other cheek?

Or when we see wrong in society, business, or politics, should we speak out or should we look the other way and say nothing?

When people attacked Jesus and accused him falsely, he remained totally non defensive and said nothing because he had nothing to hide. On the other hand, when people misused the house of God and used people for their own ends, or tried to hide their hypocrisy behind a facade of religious piety, or loved their man–made legalistic rules more than they loved people, Jesus spoke out against them in no uncertain terms.

The bottom line is our motive. Jesus always did what he did because he loved God and he loved people. He attacked evil and wrong head on because it was destructive to those whom God loves—us.

Furthermore, Jesus always spoke with authority but was never authoritarian, rigid, controlling or manipulative because he always acted out of pure motives and had no hidden agenda. What we need to do if we are going to make an impact in our world is, first of all, to acknowledge our own shortcomings and with God's help, work to overcome these.

Second, we need to love the things God loves and hate the things he hates and speak out against the things God hates as Jesus did. We need to be angry with these too. We simply cannot love righteousness without hating unrighteousness.

Remember that meekness is not weakness, and also the words of Edmund Burke who said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

"Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the insight to discern that which is right and that which is wrong, and give me the courage to stand up and be counted, speak out against and confront the wrong, but always in a loving and Christ–like manner. And help me always to be willing to do my part to bring about change. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Galatians 2:11 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Sand and Stone

Hey Morning guys. I know its been a while but I went on vacation and just got back and you know how it is when you come off vacation your desk at work is swamped.

Anyway I experienced some heavy stuff over the past three weeks but time will not permit me to speak on it just yet since I have a meeting I must run into.

However, be rest assured that I was thinking of you all the time. How much you guys mean to both me and God.

So anyway below is something I got from my friend Larry and I hope its a blessing to you as it has been to me. Until we meet again, may the good Lord bless and keep you.

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT.

DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT;

AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT,

BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE'.

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,

WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE !

AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY ST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE '.

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM,

'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED:

'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE I T DOWN IN SAND,

WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,

WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT.'

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

On Barking Dogs and Sleeping Lions

The follwing message was taken from the Daily Encounter, I hope that it will be a blessing to you as it has been to me. God Bless and I Love You!!!

"Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise ... the weak things of the world to shame the strong ... the lowly things of the world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."1

Irving is credited with having made the remark that "a barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion."

Another way of saying the same thing is that "the race is not always to the swift but to those who keep on running."

One of the encouraging aspects about God is that you don't have to be an expert or anything out of the ordinary for him to use you. God uses people just like you and me.

Consider, for example, the men Jesus chose to be his disciples: a couple of fishermen, a despised tax gatherer, a thief, and so on.

Jesus himself didn't attend college or seminary (or the equivalent in his day) but chose as his profession to be a carpenter as was his father, Joseph.

For God to use us, we just need to be available and faithful to his calling, and get adequately trained so we can do the best we can in our service to the Lord. While the disciples weren't qualified to be disciples when Jesus called them, they spent the next three years being trained by the Master Teacher Par Excellence—the Lord himself.

Remember, it's better to be a barking dog than a sleeping lion. What a difference we Christians would make in our family and all our relationships, in our church, and in the world in which we live if we would all pray the following prayer at the beginning of every day:

"Dear God, I'm available. Please make me usable and use me today to be as Christ to my family, to someone in need, and in some way to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."1.

1 Corinthians 1:26–28 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Be thankful!!

If you think you are unhappy, look at them!!!

If you think your salary is low, how about her?

If you think you don't have many friends...

If you think study is a burden, how about her?

When you feel like giving up, think of this man.

If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much as he does?

If you complain about your transport system, how about them?

If your society is unfair to you, how about her?

Enjoy life how it is and as it comes

Christians

Christians
by Maya Angelou

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first... to find her."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'"
I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as Pretty does...

but beautiful is just plain beautiful!

When It's all been said and done

Good day to all of you my brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.

At last Sunday morning service our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ used his Oracle our Pastor to ask us three questions and for us to truly examine our hearts and answer truthfully.

Question 1:

Jesus asked – Do you love me more than your best friend?

My answer – I paused, thought about my best-friend (my husband), then I said: "Yes Lord I do love you more than my best friend”.

I must confess I really had to think about that which should not be, I felt disappointed in myself because he deserves so much more.

Question 2:

Jesus asked – Why are you serving me?

My answer – The first answer that popped into my head – “Because I have no choice”

This time I felt ashamed since I knew that I should not just serve Him because He is the only way to life everlasting but because I must have a great desire in my heart to bring my end to completion (i.e.) live for him and let his will be done in my life for the edifying of the church, learn and be strong and pass on all that I have learnt to faithful men and women who would then pass it on to other faithful for His honour and glory.

Question 3:

Jesus asked – What does serving me mean to you if you are following friends?

My answer: “Lord what?”

I can just imagine how Peter felt in John 21 (after Jesus’ resurrection) when the Lord Jesus asked Him – Do you love me three times. Do you love me more than them (Peter’s close friends, six of the other 11 disciples).

I can just imagine how Peter felt when the Lord Jesus told him to feed his lambs, feed his sheep and told him how his final days on the earth will be if he chose to truly follow him.

Although Peter knew that he would become blind, crucified and suffer many other trials once he chose to follow Christ, he did – Because he loved Him.

It made me take a step back and look at my walk and sensitized me to the fact that many of us truly don’t comprehend what it truly means to Love Jesus.

How many of us will die for him once it brings honour and glory to Him?

How many of us will take the extra time and effort to feed his lambs (young Christians) and be patient with them the way Jesus has and still is patient with us?

How many of us would serve Him if it means loosing the things and those we love and treasure?

For many of us will be called upon to loose, suffer and die for Him, which would we choose? Would we love life and loose it? Or would we hate our life and live?

This morning (like every morning) my husband turned on praise and worship for us to commune with and praise Elohim whilst getting ready for work. Then I heard a song from Don Moen, which truly crystallized what was said on Sunday, and it really stuck in my spirit, it ached my heart. I must share this food with you.

God Bless and I Love you all.

When it’s all been said and done:

When it's all been said and done

There is just one thing that matters

Did I do my best to live for truth?

Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done

All my treasures will mean nothing

Only what I have done For love's rewards

Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great

That you look beyond our weakness

That you found purest gold in miry clay

Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise

Here on earth and in heaven after

For you've joined me at my true home

When it's all been said and done

You're my life when life is gone...


By Don Moen
Album: Thank You Lord

Joy in the Morning ... After the Mourning

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."1

Letters such as the following are par for the course in the work that I do:"My fiancée called off our wedding. How can I fill the hollow ache inside me?""My wife left me for another man. How can I even begin to think about the future?"

"After 30 years together, my husband has died. What meaning is there in life for me now?"True, it's easy to believe the principle in today's Bible verse when we don't need it! But for heart-broken people it can seem that "joy in the morning" is a far way off.

The reality is that disappointment, heartache, grief, and sorrow come to all of us at some time or another. Sooner or later we are all going to lose an opportunity, our job, our investment portfolio, or a loved one.

And, as the poet said: "When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

And the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When funds are low and debts are high,

You have to smile but you want to cry.

"It takes time to work through and resolve our grief (and we need supporting friends to help us do this). But when we do, we can come out a more understanding and caring person ... and better able to support others who are going through sad times.

And, in time, joy in the morning will replace our mourning!For whatever encouragement it may be, try to remember that no matter how disappointed you are feeling or how much you are hurting right now, know that every heartache and loss has within it the seeds of opportunity. Hidden within each disappointment is a pearl of great price, which, when found, will dwarf your problem.

The greatest success stories are written by people who, against seemingly overwhelming and often insurmountable odds, have accepted their trials and turned them into opportunities for personal growth and stepping stones on their pathway to success.With God's help you and I can do the same. Trust him and choose friends who will empower you to do so.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in every disappointment, heartache, sorrow, and trial I experience, help me to always keep trusting my life to you and, in the process, will you please make something beautiful out of my life. Please do this for your glory, and thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

God Speaks

Good morning my brothers and sisters, this is the day that the Lord has made, we will be glad and rejoice in it. I know it has been a while but I have been busy, however one thing remains the same is my Love and Fear for the Lord and my Love for You.

I am constantly in a battle with myself. Sometimes I know when the heavenly father is speaking to me through his Holy Spirit and then sometimes I am not sure. My husband always tells me “By now you should know when the Lord is speaking to you”.

The funny thing is when I am being admonished, I know. Yeah I am still a little disobedient to Heavenly Father but I am improving daily and by His grace, I will learn to submit fully under his mighty hands and allow the Potter to shape me into the vessel of honour he wants me to be.

Therefore, my problem is when God speaks to me in that still, quiet voice. I know its him sometimes, and then sometimes I wonder if it is just me speaking to myself. You know the Lord Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Therefore, this also tells me that I need to spend more personal time with Him to truly get to know his voice.

On the other hand you must also be able to distinguish when your thoughts are yours and when it is a result of demonic manipulation or influence. When a thought pops up in your mind and your first response is to shun it or it repulses you immediately, usually that is not your thought but your mind is being demonically influenced. So the next time this happens weigh it carefully. Do not leave room for the devil to manipulate, pull down that imagination in the name of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

I am positive that many of you also wonder about when God is speaking to you and when it is yourself. Well below is an article from The Daily Encounter on the topic and I hope that it is a blessing to you as it has been for me. God Bless!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight [or direct your paths]."1

A Daily Encounter reader asks, "How can I know when God is speaking to me, or when it is just my own thoughts? I often joke that God needs to throw a brick and hit me upside the head with a note attached!" I can understand how this person feels and feel confident that many other readers struggle with the same question.

I once had a man tell me that God told him that he was to work for me. I did not buy his message. And I wasn't struck down by lightning when I wouldn't give him a job!

When I was a deacon in a former church, this same man and another deacon, when important matters were to be discussed, claimed that God had told them the way it was to be. This could have been the end of any further discussion, for who can argue against God? But my answer to these people where it affects me is that "God hasn't told me yet, so can we discuss the matter further?" These people didn't like me very much!God has never spoken to me in an audible voice but apparently he does to some people.

I believe at least on one occasion God has "spoken" to me in a vivid dream. What we need to be certain of is to test the message to see if it is from God or from myself or any other source. How do we do this?

First, God's message will always be in harmony with his Word, the Bible, and never in opposition to it. I recall hearing one speaker talking about a phenomenon happening in his church saying that it must be a new work of God because it isn't in the Bible! This can be a very misleading path to follow.

Second, when God is speaking to us or leading us, there is a quiet conviction and a sense of inner peace. As his Word says, "Let the peace of God rule in your heart" (Colossians 3:15). When I don't have this inner peace, I have learned the hard way not to act on what I think I should do. In younger days, if what I thought was God speaking to me, I would have been willing to stand on my head in public. But I learned that there is a vast difference between what God is saying (a conviction) and what is my own compulsion. With a conviction there is a sense of freedom and peace. But where the "little voice inside my head" keeps saying, "You have to do this! You have to do this! You have to do this!" and it is distressing me, I can be certain that it is a compulsion and not from God.

Third, God often "speaks to us" or leads us through our circumstances. Speaking personally, as I look back over the years, I can see how God has consistently led me through various and sundry circumstances and as the hymn–writer said, "Jesus led me all the way."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I commit my way to you and trust you with all my heart, you always lead me in the way that I should go. Please help me to learn how to discern when the "voice" I hear is from you or from myself or another source. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Should Christians Ever Divorce? Part I I

"Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife" [or husband].1

Whether we agree with it or not, divorce happens. Some have done all in their power to save their marriage but failed to do so. Then there are those who go into marriage with no sense of responsibility or commitment to make their relationship work.

Today we are speaking about the former, not the latter whose divorce could rarely, if ever, be justified. Unfortunately, some Christians today still see divorced people as second–rate citizens and many churches (and/or fellow Christians) do not accept them fully. As the old saying goes, the church is the only army who shoots its wounded!

Today's church as a whole is very much for families; that is, married families. This in light of the fact that more than half the adults 24 years and older, at least in the U.S., are single! The single world is thus a vast mission field that many, if not most, churches and Christians pretty much close a blind eye to.

The good news is that God doesn't reject divorcees who acknowledge their failure and ask him for his help and forgiveness. Think of the woman at the well who had had several husbands and was not married to the man she was now living with! Did Jesus reject her? No. In fact he used her to take the gospel to the people in her town! We probably would have given her the "left foot of fellowship."

Think, too, of the woman caught in the act of adultery! Did Jesus reject her? No, he didn't. And while he didn't condone her behavior, he loved and accepted her and helped to free her from her sinful lifestyle.

Certainly divorce should ever only be the last step after every honest attempt has been made to save the marriage. But unless both partners are committed to personal honesty, facing the truth about their contribution to the conflict, and are willing to grow, change and work on their own recovery, it is hopeless.

In my experience, I have witnessed that in most failed relationships too many people play the blame–game and as long as they blame the other person for their problems, without facing what they have contributed to the breakup, there is no resolution and there is no hope for resolving the conflict. The reality is that we are as sick—or as healthy—as the people we are attracted to.

God's Word also reminds us to live, if possible, peaceably with all people,2 which is implying that it isn't always possible to do this. And that it is better to live in the corner of the housetop than in a wide house with a quarrelsome partner.3

When we think about what God has to say about divorce, let's not forget the many other Scriptures that apply to relationships.

Another thing I urge divorcees is to see their failed marriage as God's wakeup call for them to face and work through their character issues/weaknesses to ensure that they won't make the same mistake again, for what we don't resolve, we are destined to repeat. And God will allow us to keep repeating our mistakes until we get it! But once we learn what we need to learn, we don't need to keep learning the hard way. What God wants for all of us is to be made whole, for only to the degree that we are made whole will our lifestyle, attitude, behavior, actions and relationships be whole–some.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be open and honest in my relationships—with you and with all the important people in my life; help me to face and resolve my character weaknesses, and to be 'as Christ' to others so I will be protected against divorce and other failed relationships. Thank you God for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

NOTE: Be sure to read my article, "Living Again After Divorce" at: http://tinyurl.com/9g92u

1. Proverbs 21:9 (NIV).

2. Romans 12:18.

3. Proverbs 25:24.

Credit: Daily Encounter

Should Christians Ever Divorce, Part I

"'For I hate divorce,' says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'and him who covers his garment with wrong,' says the LORD of hosts. 'So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'"1

A question that arises from time to time asked by Daily Encounter readers has to do with divorce: Should a Christian ever get divorced?I've worked in the area of Divorce and Grief Recovery for the past decade or more, so I have regular contact with people struggling with this issue. For most, it is an extremely painful experience, and terribly disillusioning especially for Christians who sincerely want to do the Lord's will.

I know one man who right now is going through divorce. I believe he has done everything in his power to save his marriage. He has been in counseling for many months working on his side of the marital conflict but, sad to say, his wife has refused to continue in counseling and emphatically declares that her husband is the one who needs to change.

There are many wives who are in a similar situation.

So what should these people do? Should they stay in a toxic, destructive relationship? And what should or can they do when and if their partner files for divorce? Some fight the divorce but for many they have no choice!

True, God hates divorce and he does so because it is so hurtful to those whom he loves. Most divorcees hate divorce too. But let us remember that God also hates everything else that is harmful to his children.

This includes covering up wrong, gossip, lying, cheating, dishonesty, jealousy, pride, legalism, and destructive, abusive or hateful relationships, and hypocritical relationships that put on a good show in public but behind closed doors are anything but loving and kind. Unfortunately, some who "preach that God hates divorce" to those going through it are blind to the fact that God hates their judgmental attitude just as much as he hates divorce.

To be continued ...

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me not to be judgmental of those going through divorce, but rather help me to see my shortcomings, failures and sins and with your help, overcome these. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Malachi 2:16 (NASB).

Credit: Daily Enounter

Lessons from Rabbits

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."1

Scientists were studying the impact of a high-cholesterol diet on heart disease. To measure this effect, they fed a group of genetically similar rabbits the same high-cholesterol diet. To their amazement, half the rabbits developed heart troubles, while the others were normal, with no noticeable heart disease.

This outcome was not explainable, so they bought new rabbits and repeated the study. At the end of two weeks, they obtained the same results. Something was wrong with the research design, but they could not determine the unaccountable variable.

Eventually, they discovered that during the evening the assistant who fed and cared for the rabbits took the rabbits out of their cages and cuddled them and petted them while she changed their bedding and food. However, because she was short, she could not reach the rabbits on the top shelf, so they were simply fed and changed without being picked up. Sure enough, after two weeks, the rabbits on the top row all had heart disease, while the rabbits on the bottom row were healthy. The environment and diet were exactly the same. The only variable was expressed love through touching.2

I'm not suggesting that we ignore a healthy diet. Not at all! But every one of us also needs a healthy diet of love and affection if we are to be and stay healthy.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be so filled with your love that I will always be loving and affectionate towards my loved ones and also (with discretion) to all the people you bring into my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Romans 12:9–10 (NIV).

2. By Marvin Wray in "Wit and Wisdom."

Credit: Daily Encounter

The Fruit of Discipline

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."1

"A peach tree stands in our back yard," wrote K. Marshall Strom. "Unpruned, the tree grew big and leafy. It was loaded with peaches, although the fruit was disappointingly small and tasteless.

"The year my husband, Larry, was out of work, he went to work on the tree. When I came home from school one day and saw how far back he had pruned it, I stared in shock. 'You've killed it,' I cried. 'Now we won't have any peaches at all.'"

I was wrong. That spring the pruned branches burst forth with a beautiful blanketing of pink blossoms. Some little green peaches replaced the blossoms. 'Leave them alone,' I begged. Larry ignored me and thinned the fruit."By the end of summer the branches were so heavily laden with fruit they had to be propped up. And the peaches—how large, sweet and juicy they were! There was no denying it: the tree was far better off from the painful cutting it endured."2

I like to constantly emphasize that God's goal is not to make us good but to make us whole. The result will be that genuine goodness will be the outcome of being made whole. But to be made whole usually takes a lot of "pruning" (discipline) by God.

Speaking personally, the only time I ever take a look at myself and break through some defense I have been using to hide some sin or fault, is when I am hurting bad enough. I mean, who wants to change when everything is going great. Not me! I may not like the "pruning" process but I certainly appreciate the result ... fruit!

So, if you are going through a rough time right now, ask God to help you see if there is some lesson he is teaching you, some issue he is wanting you to deal with, or some change he sees you need to make.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that your goal is to make me whole. Please help me to accept and submit to your pruning and discipline and, because of them, please make me a better, more whole person. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV).

2. Cited on KneEmail, http://www.oakhillcoc.org/

Credit: Daily Encounter

LOOK UP

By Charles R. Swindoll

Read 1 Kings 19:10--21

Thanks to God's kind and gentle dealing, Elijah crawled out of the cave. "He departed from there." God graciously nurtured him through rest and refreshment, gave him some wise counsel, and made him feel significant again. Talk about compassion!


Then God allowed Elijah to pass his mantle to Elisha, his successor. But God did more than that, abundantly more. For Elisha "arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him." God not only gave Elijah a successor; He also raised up a close, personal friend---someone who loved Elijah and understood him well enough to help and encourage him.

God has not designed us to live like hermits in a cave. He has designed us to live in friendship, fellowship, and community with others. That's why the church, the body of Christ, is so very important, for it is there that we are drawn together in love and mutual encouragement. We're meant to be a part of one another's lives. Otherwise, we pull back, focusing on ourselves---thinking how hard we have it or how unfair others are.


Elijah reminds us to look up:

Let's look up after the Lord graciously delivers us from depression. Let's look up when He allows us rest and refreshment following an exhausting schedule that has taken its toll on us. Let's look up and thank Him when He gently and patiently speaks to us from His Word after we've climbed out of a pit of self-pity. Let's look up and praise Him when He faithfully provides the companionship and affirmation of a friend who understands and encourages us. Let's look up and acknowledge the Giver more than the gift.


Let's say, "Thank You, Lord, for telling us all about Elijah," who is an unforgettable example that there is nowhere to look but up.

Building for Eternity

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."1

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter."This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us.

We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized it, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It's the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to live with eternity's values in view and to build a life that will not only be rewarding for me but, more importantly, bring glory to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name. Amen."

1. Colossians 3:23 (NASB).
2. Author Unknown.

Credit: Daily Encounter

When your hut's on fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.

He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

Hope and Endurance

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."1

You may have read the story about the "piano teacher who was affectionately known as Herman. One night at a university concert, a distinguished piano player suddenly became ill while performing an extremely difficult piece. No sooner had the artist retired from the stage when Herman rose from his seat in the audience, walked on stage, sat down at the piano and with great mastery completed the performance.

"Later that evening, at a party, one of the students asked Herman how he was able to perform such a demanding piece so beautifully without notice and with no rehearsal. He replied, 'In 1939, when I was a budding young concert pianist, I was arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp. Putting it mildly, the future looked bleak. But I knew that in order to keep the flicker of hope alive that I might someday play again, I needed to practice every day. I began by fingering a piece from my repertoire on my bare board bed late one night.

The next night I added a second piece and soon I was running through my entire repertoire. I did this every night for five years. It so happens that the piece I played tonight at the concert hall was part of that repertoire. That constant practice is what kept my hope alive. Everyday I renewed my hope that I would one day be able to play my music again on a real piano, and in freedom.'"

I'm sure that some of our readers at this time are facing great hardships and may even be in peril for their life. The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to experience great hardships, shipwreck, whippings, and being thrown into prison for his faith. He was the one who wrote today's Scripture verse encouraging the Christians in Rome (who, if they weren't going through persecution at the time, would soon be) to find encouragement and hope in the Word of God. May you and I do the same.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in times of hardship, despair and suffering, please help me to keep practicing my faith every day, putting my trust entirely in you. And please bring me through triumphantly to the last day when I will see you face to face and know you as you are. Grant that this hope and the encouragement from your Word will keep me enduring to the end. Gratefully, in Jesus' name. Amen."

1. Romans 15:4 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Little Sins

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."1

In their book, Living a Power-Filled Life, Bill Tucker with Pat Maxwell talk about a four-hundred-year-old tree that crashed to the forest floor.

Over the centuries it had been struck by lightning fourteen times, braved great windstorms, and even defied an earthquake. In the end, however, it was killed by little beetles. Boring under the bark, they chewed away its mighty fibers until the giant of the forest lay broken on the ground.

How true it is, it's the little things in life, which at the time seem harmless, but when you put them all together, they can cause great devastation.

''As another has said, "Many a marital grave has been dug by a lot of little digs." And as the ditty puts it:It's the little things that bother us and put us on the rack, you can sit upon a mountain but you can't sit on a tack! But the biggest danger of all is found in our so-called "little sins."

Eventually they will catch up with us and inch by silent inch will drive us farther and farther away from God. And as Edmund Burke said, "By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation."

Sins—large or small—are a spiritual cancer and unless we get the cancer, the cancer will get us. As God's word says, "Be sure your sin will find you out."2

The good news is that God also says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."3

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, your Word warns us about the dangers of sin. Please help me to see and admit to my sins, confess them to you, and receive your forgiveness. And help me to resolve and overcome any habitual sin I may have in my life. Gratefully, in Jesus' name. Amen."

1. Song of Solomon 2:15 (NIV).

2. Numbers 32:23.

3. 1 John 1:9.

Credit: Daily Encounter

God's 26 Guards

Here is a message that will bring you chills.Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said,

“I'll pray for them later?’On the other hand, has anyone ever called you and said,'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?'Read the following story that was sent to me and It may change the way that you may think about prayer and The way you pray. The Lord will bless you.

A missionary on furlough told this true story while Visiting his home church in Michigan

“While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point.

On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital.Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord.I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident.Two weeks later, I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines.

He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. However, just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.

At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite.The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all counted them.It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.'At this point in the sermon, One of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet, interrupted the missionary, and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.

The missionary told the congregation the date and the man who interrupted told him this story: 'On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong; I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you.

Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?' The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary was not concerned with who they were, He was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how The Spirit If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.As you know, if we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God once again.As the above true story clearly illustrates,

'With God all things are possible'.More importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.Give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles. He works in your own daily life.

Who says God does not move on the earth today? Do not tell GOD how Big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your GOD is!

Don't Forget to Pray

"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord."1

After the days of Moses when the armies of Israel, led by Joshua, were conquering the Promised Land marked out for them by God, the surrounding kings and nations were understandably terrified. This was because God was with the Israelites giving them great victories wherever they went.

However, the men of Gibeon, a nearby country, resorted to trickery and outsmarted Joshua. They sent a delegation to Joshua with the appearance of having come from a distant land so they could deceive Joshua into making a treaty with them. Their donkeys carried worn-out sacks and old wine skins that were cracked and had been mended. They wore old clothes, and worn and patched sandals, and the bread they carried with them was dry and moldy.

Their ruse worked. Joshua signed a treaty with them and only afterwards discovered they were a neighboring people among those countries God had told Joshua to destroy because of their wickedness. They had to live with the consequences as a result.Joshua's mistake was that he made this treaty without praying and inquiring of the Lord! An extremely valuable lesson for all of us to learn!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for including this story in your Word, the Bible, as a graphic reminder for me to seek your guidance and direction for every aspect of my life, so that I will continuously live in harmony with your perfect will. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Joshua 9:14 (NIV).

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