Tag Archives: Christ

The good news

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THE GOOD NEWS

What is The Good News?

The Good News is that God came to earth as human being (Our
Lord Jesus Christ), paid for our sin, and wants us to live with him in
Paradise.

Why is this Good News? God is offering us freedom, peace,
hope, and eternal life instead of judgement and death.

“This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His
sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture
says, ‘It is through faith that a
righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17).

That really is The
Good News!

May Our God The
Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Marriage; The grand design

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MARRIAGE

THE GRAND DESIGN!

But I would have you
know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the
man; and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3).

Is marriage a blessing or a curse? I’m sure the response
you’d get for this question would be as varied as the number of people you ask.
Even though the opinions of men differ; the Word of God is consistent: “Whose findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
and obtaineth favour of The Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). Why then do some
marriages become our excuse for skipping church services?

I often wonder why some people live as though marriage is a
curse. I found that some people who used to be very committed in their local
church suddenly become spiritually inert as soon as they are married. Should
your marriage be your license for spiritual complacency? No! That’s not the
grand design.

Your marriage shouldn’t create a chasm between you and God
nor should it impair your fellowship with Him. Rather, it should draw you
closer to Him. As a believer, it’s expected that you marry a fellow believer,
who loves The Lord as you do. For this reason, there should be greater impact
in the Kingdom of God (Deuteronomy 32:30) through your union. I Corinthians
11:3 says that the head of every man is Christ. Therefore, the man must be
subject to the Lordship of the Word of God, just as his wife is subject to him.
So, together they will fulfil the God-given vision and ministry for their family.

As the anointing of The Holy Spirit comes upon the man,
it’ll flow down to his wife and the children, until it begins to influence
their environment and a whole new generation is imparted with the power of God.
This is the grand design.

The Lord testified of Abraham in Genesis 18:19; “For I know him (Abraham), that he will
command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way
of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham
that which he hath spoken of him.”
Can the Lord trust you in the same way?
It’s time for a self-appraisal and to make necessary changes in your
marriage and family, so the Lord may bring upon you that which He has spoken.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You for granting me light and understanding of Your plans for my
marriage. I submit to the authority of Your Word, so Your anointing may come
upon every member of my household, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

 

 

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I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengthens Me (Philippians 4:13)

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I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS ME
(Philippians 4:13)

“Christ” in our
opening Scripture doesn’t refer to the Man Jesus; it means “The Anointed One and His Anointing”. It refers to the supernatural
empowerment Jesus received when the Holy Spirit came upon Him, which made Him
the Christ. You received the same Holy Spirit when you were born again. Thus
the same anointing that made Jesus The
Christ and gave Him the ability to do the impossible is at work in us. Apostle
Paul understood this truth, and by the Spirit said, “I can do all things
through Christ which strengthens me.”

Like Apostle Paul, we ought to make this our constant
confession; The ability of The Holy Spirit has been granted to us to achieve
supernatural exploits in life. The Bible says, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of GOD” (2 Corinthians 3:5). The word
“sufficiency” in the verse of scripture means “ability”. The Spirit of God is
letting us know that we’ve been endued with God’s supernatural ability.
Therefore, look beyond what your physical ability can do.

Never let your confidence rest in your intellect or in your
physical ability because there’s a divine energy available to us. That energy
is the power of The Holy Spirit which we must recognize and put to work in our
lives every day. With us, nothing is impossible. Cultivate the “I can do
mentality” and be possibility- conscious.

For example, if you’re a student, never admit that something
you’ve read is too difficult for you to understand. Rather, tell yourself, “I
have the ability of God in me; I can do all things through Christ which
strengthens me. I have the ability to comprehend everything I read and pass my
examinations with flying colours.”

If a project or an assignment is given to you in your place
of work, no matter how difficult it may look, don’t say it can’t be done. Never
say something is impossible; we have the ability of God in us, therefore we can
do all things.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
thank You for Your power that works in me mightily. I declare like Apostle Paul
that I can do all things through Your anointing that’s at work in me. Thank You
for helping me build an “I can do mentality”, and because I’m conscious of Your
divine energy that’s at work in me, I know that nothing will ever be impossible
for me to accomplish, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

 

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Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go

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TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will
not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)

Sometimes we find committed Christians whose children grow
up as unbelievers. You might then want to ask “Who is to blame?” Really, you
can’t always blame such children because it’s the responsibility of parents to
train up their kids in the way of the Lord, for that’s what the Bible says. So
when you see a child that’s not walking on the path of righteousness, chances
are that child hasn’t been trained to choose and walk in that path of life.

If you’re a parent, you ought to have a vision for your
children, especially while they’re still young. Don’t wait till they’re grown –
up before you teach them what to do and how to live. Train them to do what’s
right from their formative years, and when they grow up they’ll continue in
that path.

We talk a lot about Solomon and his wisdom. But it was his
father (David) who trained him to follow the right path in life. David was wise
to guide his son the way he did. When you study the books of Proverbs and
Ecclesiastes, you’ll discover that Solomon hearkened to his father’s counsel.
When God appeared to Solomon and asked what he wanted, he knew exactly what to
ask for since he had been trained aright. His father David taught him to choose
wisdom and esteem it above riches (Proverbs 4:1-5)

There are parents who say, “I try not to impose anything on
my children. I let them make their decisions by themselves.” That’s not what
the Bible teaches; the role of parents transcends just feeding, clothing and
sheltering their children. Parents are to shield their children and wards from
the vices that pervade today’s world, and guide them along the path that’s just
and right.

Don’t forget that our choices in life are influenced by the
information we have. Therefore, when children are not exposed to Holy Spirit –
inspired information, they’ll pick up whatever information they find in the
world and make choices based on them. Don’t allow your child grow up in
foolishness; train him with the Word of God and as he grows up, he’ll not
depart from it.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that Your Word will grow mightily and prevail in the life of every child
born into the body of Christ. I ask that you grant the parents the wisdom they
require to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,
such that they’ll be influenced by Your Word and established upon the truth of
the Gospel, in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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God loves you more than you can imagine

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GOD LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE

But God, who is rich
in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ….(Ephesians 2:4-5).

God’s love for us is beyond what our natural mind can
fathom. He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. He proved His love for
us by sending His only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross.
Thus we ought to live a joyous and fulfilled life all the time, knowing that
our Heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love. We’re the cynosure of
His eyes – the object of His unconditional and irrevocable love.

Nothing can separate us from the love of our Heavenly
Father; even when we do something wrong, He doesn’t withdraw His love from us.
The Bible says He loved us even while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), much
more now that you and I are born again and have the become the apples of His
eyes.

When you understand and appreciate the Father’s love for
you, you’ll realize that it’s impossible for you to pray and not be heard for
the Father delights to hear your voice always and grant you your heart’s
desires. He wants our joy to be full! That’s why He’ll never cease to bless us
and satisfy us with all good things.

I want you to acknowledge today that the Lord loves you more
than you can possibly imagine; He loves you as though you’re the only one on
earth! He loves us more than we love ourselves, and He’s more desirous and
passionate about our success and prosperity than we could ever be. He wants us
to know that nothing – absolutely nothing can separate us from the greatest
love of all with which He had loved us (1 John 3:1)

This is the reason we ought to love the LORD and serve Him
with wholehearted devotion, because He first loved us ( 1 John 4:19). We’re His
number one priority. That’s why He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. He’s with
us at all times to ensure we are successful and victorious in every area of our
lives. His love for us is immeasurable; far beyond what you can imagine.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m so glad to be the object of Your deep love and affection! I thank You for
loving me with such great and everlasting love! Your love for me is indeed
higher than the highest mountains, and deeper than the ocean. I rest and
rejoice in this love today and all the days of my life, in Jesus Christ Name,
Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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God’s Wisdom

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GOD’S  WISDOM

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

A certain man came back home from work one day and announced
to his family, “I’m tendering my resignation.”

“Why?” they all asked in shock and disbelief. The fellow was
just about to be given a major promotion in the multinational corporation where
he worked, and now he said he was leaving. “Why?” everyone wondered! “I have to
resign because I was praying and The Lord told me to” he replied.

Of course he went ahead to resign and not long afterwards
the hitherto conglomerate from which he resigned went bankrupt and folded up. Following
the wealth of experience he had garnered over time, he established his own
company and started doing very well, and he’s still doing extremely well till
date.

Notice that the man didn’t leave his former company because
it appeared the organization was going down, for at the time, everything seemed
okay with the company. He left because he knew the heart of God concerning the
company. Knowing the heart of God concerning a matter is wisdom.

Wisdom is not putting two and two together to make four;
that’s the wisdom of this world which isn’t bad, but it’s not good enough. True
wisdom, which is God’s wisdom, teaches that sometimes, what you may consider
the ideal may not necessarily be God’s choice. True wisdom is knowing and doing
the Will of Our Father in love.

This is where being a student of the Bible, and a man or
woman of prayer comes in. By studying God’s Word, you become acquainted with
the character of Our Heavenly Father; you receive insight into His Will for
your life, for His Word is His Will expressed. Through prayer, your Spirit is
conditioned in such a way that you operate in God’s frequency; you’re sync with
Him and hence able to receive His thoughts and follow the guidance of His
Spirit.

Spend time in prayer and the study of the scriptures, and
you’ll find yourself functioning always in wisdom – the wisdom of God. Remember,
you have the mind of Christ, which means you can know the heart of Our Heavenly
Father concerning any situation.

CONFESSION

The Wisdom of God
guides me in the way that I should go. I only act and go in the direction that
the Spirit leads because that’s the path of success! My heart is open today, to
receive divine instructions that’ll guide me in the path of my prosperity and
destiny in Christ Jesus Name! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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Finding Hope In God And In Christ Jesus

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FINDING HOPE IN GOD AND IN CHRIST JESUS

Why are you cast down, O my soul?…..Hope in God, for I shall yet
praise Him. (Psalm 42:5)

A study conducted by researchers at the university of
Minnesota found that almost 15 percent of American teenagers felt it was
“highly likely” that they would die before their 35th birthday.
Those with this pessimistic outlook were more likely to engage in reckless
behaviour. Dr. Iris Borrowsky, author of the study published in Pediatrics magazine, said: “These youth
may take risk because they feel hopeless and figure that not much is at stake.”

No one is immune to feelings of despair. The Psalms express
repeated pleas for help when life seems dark. “Why are you in despair, O my
soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall
again praise Him for the help of His presence” (Ps. 42:5 NASB). In a defiant
step of faith, the psalmist tells himself not to forget about God, who will
never forsake him.

Curtis Almquist has written: “Hope is fuelled by the presence
of God…..[It] is also fuelled by the future of God in our lives.” We can say
with the psalmist, “I shall yet praise Him” (vs. 5).

No follower of Christ should feel reluctant to seek counsel
for depression. Nor should feel that faith and prayer are too simplistic to
help. There is always hope in God!- —–David McCasland.

My sheep I know, they are My own,

I leave them not in trials alone;

I will be with them to the end,

Their Hope, their Joy, their dearest Friend.——-Anon

Hope for the
Christian is a certainty — because its basis is Christ Jesus!

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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We are more than conquerors

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No Greater LoveWE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS

Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37)

To many people, the verse of the Scripture above simply
means that no matter what they face, they’ll conquer, but that’s a little blind
to the true meaning. To be “more than a conqueror” means that you’ve passed
conquering – you’ve grown past the level of conquering, because you conquered a
long time ago. You’re now living in the victory of Christ Jesus!

As a child of God, you don’t have to struggle or try to
overcome because you already overcame; you’ve won! Jesus said “Cheer up, I have
overcome the world” (John 16:33). When He overcame the world, you overcame the
world, for you were in Him. When He defeated satan and the cohorts of hell, you
were in Him, thus you defeated the devil and all his demons. Now that you’re
born again, you’re born into a life of victory. Don’t allow the circumstances
of life try to make you condescend to the level of trying to overcome anything;
you’re more than a conqueror. Let this be your way of thinking.

You’re not a victim but a victor. You won ever before there
was any battle. This is why 1 Timothy 6:12 referred to the fight of faith as a good fight.
You were declared winner ever before the fight! Become conscious of who you are
in Christ. You’re a victor in Christ Jesus. It’s no longer possible for you to
fail or be defeated in life, for the Greater One lives in you. He has made you
more than a conqueror.

CONFESSION

I’m a victor in
Christ Jesus. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I can
never fail or be defeated in life. My victory is assured in every circumstance
or situation I face! I’ve overcome the world and its systems. I’ve overcome
sickness, disease, death and the devil. I’m more than a conqueror.

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

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Exercise Your Freedom Of Thought, Conscience And Faith

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EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE AND FAITH!

And he began to speak
boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took
him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly (Acts
18:26).

As a believer in Christ Jesus you have a right to boldly
declare your faith at every given opportunity without reservations. You must
never be shy or intimidated to publicly proclaim the Name of Jesus Christ.

On October 1st for example, the country’s
Independence Day anniversary was celebrated in various public places across the
country. At the different venues, they probably had religious men come forward
to pray for the country. But when a Christian minister is invited to pray at
such events, it’s an opportunity for him to testify of Christ to his state and
indeed the whole nation by praying in the Name of Jesus Christ. There had been
some however who had such an opportunity but wouldn’t pray in the Name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, so as not to offend “other” religions. How sad!

God gave you His Spirit to live in you and embolden you, so
you’ll never be timid or intimidated to proclaim Jesus Christ openly. Acts 1:8
says “But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth.”  That’s how Jesus’
disciples, who were once timid, became firebrand ministers of the Gospel; they
received the Holy Spirit.

If you’re asked to pray or speak anywhere as a Christian,
don’t be ashamed to speak in His Name. Remember the Words of Jesus: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me
and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall The
Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the Holy
Angels” (Mark 8:38).

We are blessed to be in a country where even the
constitution entitles us to the freedom of thought, conscience and faith,
including the freedom to manifest and propagate our faith or belief in worship,
teaching, practice and observance. We therefore have no excuse not to preach
the Gospel with all fervency like we should. Start exercising your God-given
freedom to preach the Gospel today!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,
thank You for the freedom I enjoy, not only as a citizen of your glorious
Kingdom, but also of this great nation of Yours Nigeria. I exercise my freedom
of thought, conscience, and faith today without reservations, knowing that
whosoever the Son has made free is free indeed, in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper
Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name,
Amen!

 

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Discipline and The Child

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Discipline and the Child
By Deaconess Dolapo Layode

The word “discipline” refers to training  which is both instructive and corrective. The word of God shows us very clearly  that training is targeted towards achieving preset goals and objectives.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us “Train up a child in the way He should go”. The expected  outcome of any training exercise must be clear from the onset.

The responsibility for having a clear  understanding of the expected results of training and discipline lies primarily  with the parents. As Christian parents, it’s important to realize that it is  your responsibility to raise godly children who will grow in the ways of the  kingdom. The Word of God speaks expressly of the uniqueness and peculiarities  of the Christian. (1 Peter 2: 9)  Child  training and discipline therefore should have one primary objective; the growth  and development of a child in the way of the word of God.

The Lord Jesus speaking to us in John 15:  19 tells us “…..we are not of this world”, but we live in this world, thus we  are exposed to the influences of the world. The influences include the senses  and the wisdom of this world therefore as Christian parents, we have the  responsibility of guiding our children to look away from the society and look  unto the way of God’s Word.

Children  Must Know the Word of God

Children in their earlier years learn more  by observation and mimicking rather than from instructions given to them. As  parents, our lives and lifestyles have the primary influence on the lives of  our kids.  Our children learn more from  our actions than from our words, our lives are the first point of contact they  have with the kingdom of God.

Throughout the scriptures, we will observe  that God always instructed His people to plan their lives around the house of  God.  The same applies to us today. In  training our kids, we must show them that we hold the word of God in ultimate  regard. We should do the word of God in all things and at all times.

Our  Convictions Must be Clear

Our convictions and belief system must be  clear in the minds of our children; we must communicate these to them very  early in their lives. They must know that we are non-conformist to this world  and its ways of doing things (Romans 12:1-2). They must know that majority is  not always right and that because an idea is widely accepted does not make it  right; rather they ought to live their lives in the light of God’s Word. This  is very important as our kids begin to interact with the world in school where  they are confronted with negative talking, wrong music, and wrong books etc. As  Christian parents we should be non-apologetic about what we believe and be  dogged in raising our kids to live the Christ– life in its fullness here on  earth, applying corrective measures (punishment) to ensure that our children  are set on the path they must follow.

Training your child in the  way of our kingdom is the best gift any parent can give a child and God has  given you the ability to do this. He depends on you to raise godly kids that  will hurl back the kingdom of darkness and cause the knowledge of the glory of  God to cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.

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Jesus Loves You And He Understands Your Pains And Sorrows! The Lord Is Gracious And Full Of Compassion. Psalm 145:8

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Jesus loves you and He understands your pains and sorrows!

The Lord Is Gracious And Full Of Compassion. Psalm 145:8

I have a friend who was working in his home office one evening, trying to get some necessary paperwork done. His little girl, who was about 4 years old at the time, was playing around his desk, puttering about, moving objects here and there, pulling out drawers, and making a good deal of noise.

My friend endured the distraction with stoic patience until the child slammed a drawer on one of her fingers and screamed in pain. Reacting in exasperation he shouted, “That’s it!” as he escorted her out of the room and shut the door.

Later, her mother found her weeping in her bedroom and tried to comfort her. “Does your finger still hurt?” she asked. “No,” the little girl sniffled. “Then why are you crying?” her mother asked. “Cause,” she whimpered, “When I pinched my finger, Papa didn’t say, “Sorry!’”

Sometimes that’s all we need, isn’t it? Someone who cares and who will respond with kindness and compassion, someone who will say, “Sorry!” or “I love you!” We have One name Jesus who does that for us.

Jesus loves us, understands our pains and sorrows, and gave Himself for us (Eph. 5:2). Now we are to “Walk in love” and imitate Him. –David Roper

Knowing God – what comfort there,

Drawn by His eternal care;

Love from God- what joy we share,

Drawn into His mercies rare. – Branon

God’s whisper of comfort quiets the noise of our trials!

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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The Secret Things Belongs To The Lord Our God

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WHY ME!

The secret things belong to the Lord Our God (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Recently I read Psalm 131, one of my favorite Psalms. In the past, I viewd it as an encouragement to understand that mystery is one of the hallmarks of God’s character. It challenged me to let my mind be at rest, since I am unable to understand all that God is doing in His universe.

But then I saw another side of David’s calm spirit: I am unable to understand all that God is doing in me, and it is impossible to try .

David draw a comparison between a weaned child that no longer fret for what it once demanded, and a soul that has learned the same lesson. It is a call to learn humility, patient, endurance, and contentment in all my circumstances-whatever they are-though I do not understand God’s reasons. Divine logic is beyond the grasp of my mind.

I ask, “Why this affliction? Why this anguish?” The Father answers, “Hush, child. You wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you. Just trust me!”

So, I turn from contemplating David’s example to ask myself: Can I, in my circumstances, “hope in The Lord?” (vs 3). Can I wait in faith and patience without fretting and without questioning God’s wisdom? Can I trust Him while He works in me His good, acceptable, and perfect Will? –David Roper

It may not be for me to see

The meaning and the mystery

Of all that God has planned for me

Till “afterward!”

In a world of mystery, it’s a comfort to know The God Who knows all things!

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal

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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:20)

Jason Bohn was a college student when he made a hole-in-one golf shot that won him a million dollars.while others may have squandered that money, Bohn had a plan. Wanting to be a pro golfer, he used the money as a living-and-training fund to improve his golf skills. the cash became an investment in his future – an investment that paid off when Bohn won the PGA Tour‘s 2005 B.C Open. Bohn’s decision to invest in the future instead of living for the moment was a wise one indeed.

In a sense, that is what Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to do. We have been entrusted with resources-time, ability, opportunity-and we decide how to use them. Our challenge is to see those resources as an opportunity to invest long-term. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven”, is how Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ puts it in Matthew 6:20. Those protected tresures cannot be destroyed nor taken away, The Master assures us.

Think of your resources: talent, time, knowledge. These are temporal and limited. but if you invest them with an eye towards eternity, these temporary things can have enduring impact. What is your focus? Now or eternity? Invest in the future. It will not only have an eternal impact, but it will also change the way you view life each day. – Bill Crowder

Whatever is done in love for Christ

Will one day have Heaven’s reward;

Today let’s do what we can for Him,

Our loving Savior and Lord –Hess

The richest people on earth are those who invest their lives in Heaven

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Teach Us To Number Our Days That We May Gain A Heart Of Wisdom (Psalm 90:12) Grandfather’s Clock

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TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF
WISDOM (PSALM 90:12)

GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK

In 1876, Henry Clay Work wrote the song “My Grandfather’s
Clock.” The song describes a grandfather’s clock that faithfully ticks its way
through its owner’s life. Childhood, adulthood, and old age are all viewed in
relationship to his beloved timepiece. The refrain says:

Ninety years without
slumbering,

Tick, tock, tick,
tock,

His life’s seconds
numbering,

Tick, tock, tick,
tock,

But it stopped, short,

Never to go again,

When the old man died.

The relentless ticking of the clock reminds us that our time
on earth is limited. Despite the joys and pains of life, time always marches
on. For the believer, our time on earth is an opportunity for gaining wisdom.
The psalmist writes, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

One way of numbering our days is to ask ourselves these
kinds of questions: How can I become more like Christ? Am I reading the Bible
regularly? Am I devoting time to prayer? Am I meeting together with other
believers? The way we answer these questions is an indicator of the progress
we’re making in gaining wisdom and becoming more like Christ Jesus.

No matter the phase of life – childhood, youth, middle age,
or our senior years – life always afford us opportunities to grow in faith and
wisdom. Numbering our days is the wise response to life’s inevitable progress.

How are you progressing on your journey? – Dennis Fisher

Don’t spend your time
– invest it!

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

 

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I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord (2 Kings 22:8) Find the book

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I HAVE FOUND
THE BOOK OF THE LAW IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD (2 KINGS 22:8). FIND THE BOOK!

One Sunday
at the church where I pastor, I invited three children to find several scrolls
with Bible verses written on them that I had hidden in our worship centre. I
told them that once they found them and read the words aloud, I would give them
a prize. You should have seen those kids! They ran, moved chairs, and looked
under plants and in purses (with permission). Their search for the scroll was
intense, but exciting. Their diligent search and subsequent discovery of the
scrolls led to joy in the children, affirmation from our congregation, and a
renewed sense of the importance of God’s Word.

In 2 kings
22-23, we read how King Josiah and the people of Judah rediscovered the joy and
importance of God’s Word. During the repairing of the temple, Hilkiah the high
priest found the Book of the Law. It must have been lost or hidden during the
reign of Manasseh. The when the scroll was read to King Josiah, he listened and
responded to it (vv. 10-11). He sought further understanding of it (vv.12-20),
and he led the people to renew their commitment to its importance in their
lives (23:1-4).

Many today
have unprecedented access to God’s Word. Let’s renew our commitment to “find” it
every day and by our lives show its prominence. – Marvin Williams

O Book divine, supreme, sublime

Entire, eternal, holy, true;

Sufficient for all men and time-

We pledge our faith to thee anew

To know Christ, The Living Word, is
to love the Bible, the written Word.

May God Almighty Our Heavenly Father
prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend them from all their enemies in Jesus
Christ Name, Amen!

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Beloved, let us love one another: For love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love

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BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR LOVE IS OF GOD; AND
EVERYONE THAT LOVES IS BORN OF GOD, AND KNOWS GOD. HE THAT LOVES NOT KNOWS NOT
GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE (1 JAMES 4:7-8)

The Lord Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”
and He insisted on a respond each time (John 21:15-17). Though Jesus knew Peter
loved Him, He wanted him to say it. In Matthew 17:5, God the Father, spoke from
heaven of His love for Jesus. You see, God doesn’t only love, He talks it too.

Some people find it difficult to say, “I love you.” Some
parents find it difficult to say to their children, “I love you.” “My kids know
I love them”, they’ll say. If you ask them how they came about that conclusion,
their response may be, “I feed, house and educate them; so they ought to know I
love them.”

Well, that’s not good enough. Convicts in prisons are fed,
housed and even clothed and it’s not that the government loves them; rather,
it’s out of their responsibility. “I love you” is part of the love-language in
the Kingdom of God. Therefore, as God’s child, you must train yourself not only
to demonstrate love through your actions; but also speak its language.

When Christ fills your life, it will become easy for you to
talk love. The Bible tells us that God sent Jesus because He loved you and not
that you were very nice and kind (Romans 5:8). You’re a product of love. When
you begin to think this way, you’ll see others through the eyes of love; you’ll
see them the way God sees them, as valuable and priceless. You’ll also learn to
say, “l love you” not out of weakness, but out of the understanding that love
is the greatest power in the universe. Make up your mind to speak the language
of love always. Even if you were treated badly or spoken to in an
uncomplimentary way, refuse to respond with harsh or bitter words. Remember
that “……the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). You are
a love-child of a love-God, therefore, let your words be full of love.

CONFESSION

The love of God has been deposited in my heart by the Holy
Ghost, and I walk in love every day of my life. I refuse to walk in malice,
anger and bitterness. I am a love-child of a love-God. Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

Thank You Daddy for Our nations Nigeria and Israel! In Jesus Mighty
Name, Amen!

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Be Bold To Act Your Faith, For God Has Not Given Us The Spirit Of Fear; But Of Power, And Of Love, And Of Sound Mind

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BE BOLD TO ACT YOUR FAITH, FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE
SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND (2 TIMOTHY 1:7)

I’m always so inspired each time I study the accounts of
certain characters in the Bible who displayed outstanding boldness and courage
in the face of fierce oppositions. David, for one, as a young lad, fearlessly
challenged and defeated Goliath, who according to the Bible terrified the whole
of Israel, including Saul the king (1 Samuel 17:4-11). How come David was able
to defeat Goliath? He certainly wasn’t the only one that knew about God’s
covenant with Israel, but he was bold to act his faith, on the basis of that
covenant.

It’s not enough that you know and believe what God has said
about you in His Word, you must consciously take action, on the basis of that
knowledge! You must be bold to act your faith! Faith is action added to the
Word of God that you have heard and believed. If there’s no action, then
there’s no faith, for faith without corresponding action is dead (James 2:26).
The Christian life is a participation in divinity, and to be able to experience
this to the full, you must be bold to act your faith! You must recognize and
take advantage of the dynamic ability of the spirit that’s at work in you.

The Apostle Peter understood this and boldly commanded a man
that was lame from birth to rise up and walk: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). And when it
looked as though the man wasn’t going to respond, Peter, the Bible says, “took him by the right hand, and lifted him
up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping
up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and
leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:7-8).

The Bible says, “The
righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1); there’s a supernatural power
at work in your life that produces divine courage. So like Peter, be bold to
act your faith today! Be bold to address satan and negative circumstances in
the Name Of Jesus Christ and expect a change.

CONFESSION

My Heavenly Father has not given me the spirit of fear but
of power, love and of a sound mind; therefore I’m bold today to act my faith; I
function with the ability of the Spirit today for the Spirit of God is working
in my life, causing me to have divine courage and confidence, in the Name of
Jesus Christ. Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

Thank You Daddy for Our nations Nigeria and Israel! In Jesus Mighty
Name, Amen!

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Our victory in Christ Jesus(Part 2)

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OUR VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS! (PART 2)

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)

As a Christian, you’re born into the life of victory. The
Bible says “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world….” (1 John
5:4). God expects you to experience victory everyday   as far
as He is concerned, there is no challenge big enough and no demon powerful
enough to stop you from walking in victory! He has brought you into the
victorious life. The only thing you need do is to walk in the light of that
victory.

Live with the consciousness that you’re a victor in Christ
Jesus; have the mindset of a victor. The Bible lets us know that we are
partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). In other words, you have God’s
nature of success and victory; you’re indomitable in this life. Have this
consciousness. Let it become your meditation today, that you’re an overcomer
and a victor in Christ Jesus!

When God looks at you, He doesn’t see someone in need of
deliverance or help. He sees someone who is more than a conqueror! He sees a
victor in Christ Jesus. You’ve been called into the victorious, walk in the
light of your victory over the world, the devil and the circumstance of life!

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me forth into a
life of continuous victory! I refuse to be subjected to the crippling
principles of the world, because I walk in the light of my victory today and
everyday, in the Mighty Name of The Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Thank You Daddy for Our nations Nigeria and Israel! In Jesus Mighty
Name, Amen!

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

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Be determined! Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him

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BE DETERMINED! BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUST IN THE LORD,
WHOSE CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM

It takes courage to be led by God. It’s not easy to “break
the mould” and rise above the limits others place on you. When you do, you’ll
face disapproval. Jesus did! When the folks He grew up around said, “isn’t this
the carpenter’s son?…(Matthew 13:55NIV), they were really saying “He should
stay in His place!” when they tell you that, don’t listen…..each of us will
give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12NIV). In the final audit you’ll
discover that not only is it wrong to be judgmental of others, it’s also wrong
to permit their opinions to control you. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him”. To follow God’s leading you must have
confidence that He loves you in spite of your shortcomings; He has a definite
plan for your life; you are capable of hearing from Him for yourself; and
whatever He asks of you, He will enable you to do. Once you’ve heard from God,
be resolute! Things worth having never come easy. If you find yourself
weakening, ask God for determination and He will impart it to you through His
Spirit. If you find yourself being in double minded, go back and ask yourself
what God told you in the beginning-then stick with it. Don’t go in a different
direction because of worry, discouragement or the sentiments of others. Remind
yourself that you have what it takes to succeed in whatever God has called you
to do. If you’ve made Jesus Christ, the Lord of your life, His determination
lives in you-because He lives in you, Amen!

May The Good Lord Save Nigeria
And Israel From All Their Enemies And Prosper Them Beyond Their Imagination, In
Jesus Christ Mighty Name We Pray, Amen!

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Trust and obey God! Please put God in the picture

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 TRUST AND OBEY GOD! PUT GOD IN THE PICTURE.

There’s the story of a man driving a convertible on a mountain road, who took an unexpected turn too quickly and went right over the edge. As his car fell, he managed to grab on to a tree sprouting from the cliff face as his car dropped a thousand feet to the canyon floor.

“Help!” he screamed. “Can anyone hear me?” An echo was the only response.

“God, can you hear me?” he cried.

Suddenly the clouds rolled together and a voice like thunder said, “Yes, I can hear you.”

“Will you help me?”

“Yes, I will help you! Do you believe in me?”

“Yes, I believe in You!”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes, yes, I trust you. Please hurry”.

“If you trust me, then let go of the tree,” thundered the voice.

After a long silence, the man cried, “Can anyone else hear me?”

If you want to embrace faith, you must let God into your life. No one else is worthy of our absolute and unconditional trust. Theologian F.B. Meyer said, “Unbelief puts our circumstances”. Who wouldn’t like to have the Creator of the Universe helping them? James, one of the fathers of the 1st century church advised, “Come near God and He will come near to you”.

John Maxwell

www.tbn.org

May God bless Nigeria and Israel and save them from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Mighty Name we pray, Amen!

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