Gospel messages/articles, inspirational notes, Christian events/Christian music.
Tuesday 31 March 2015
This new month, God'll give you strength to achieve greater things.
Monday 30 March 2015
If You Will Obey
God's promises to us are similar. He promises that if we obey him, he will take good care of us. But if we chase after the gods of money, power, sex, pride, houses, cars or anything else instead of him, the good gifts from God will be pulled out of our hands.
These are not harsh conditions. We can't expect to double-cross our friends and expect to keep them. God proves himself to be our best possible friend. Let's not put anything in his place.
Wednesday 25 March 2015
Brave Because Of God
Consider the many believers throughout history who suffered but were still able to present Christ to many. Even Jesus himself had to suffer a miserable death on the cross. When others seem to be tearing us down, let's remember that God thinks highly of us.
Text: Daniel 10:18-20
Culled From The Holy Bible
Tuesday 24 March 2015
This May Be Your Chance
But Mordecai also challenged Esther. Perhaps this was the reason the Lord had placed her in the position of being a favored queen.
It took courage and boldness for Esther to approach the king without being invited. She was literally risking her life.
We, too, may have to risk all that is dear to us when we speak up for what is right. But, like Esther, we can be sure that the results of our efforts are in God's hands- even if it costs us our lives to do what is right.
When we trust God, things in our lives don't happen by accident. You may be in the place where you are "for a time like this".
Text Esther 4:8-17
Culled from The Holy Bible
Monday 23 March 2015
From Tragedy To Triumph
When we obey God's direction in our lives, the path ahead may look rough and rocky but we can be assured that, like Ruth, our obedience and loyalty will be rewarded by God some day and those around us will be blessed as well.
Text: Ruth 4:1-13
Culled from The Holy Bible
Photocredit:womenstoolbox
Friday 20 March 2015
Tell your Children
It is up to us to make sure that future generations know about God's miracles and his love for us. Whether or not we have children of our own, we should do all we can to get God's word into the hearts and minds of children.
We can share with them how God has worked in our lives. We can tell them what God can do in their lives, too. We can read the Bible to them or tell them some Bible stories. Most of all, we can love all children as God does.
Text: Exodus 10:1, 2
Culled from The Holy Bible
Photocredit: glcportland.org
Thursday 19 March 2015
A Profitable Shipwreck
The Governor of this island, Publius and his family were targets for God's saving message. So were many of the other people of this island. Paul was able to deliver the gospel to an entire island!
We experience disruptions in our plans, too. But don't be upset when plans are interrupted. God usually has a reason for the distraction. Let's keep our eyes open for these opportunities.
Text: Acts. 24:13 28:10
Culled from the Holy Bible
Wednesday 18 March 2015
Pope Francis writes to the Bishops of Nigeria
To the Bishops of Nigeria,
Dear Brother Bishops,
While we walk this Lenten journey towards the Resurrection of the Lord united with the whole Church, I wish to extend to you, dear Archbishops and Bishops of Nigeria, a fraternal greeting, which I extend to the beloved Christian communities entrusted to your pastoral care.
I would also like to share some thoughts with you on the current situation in your country. Nigeria, known as the "African giant", with its more than 160 million inhabitants, is set to play a primary role, not only in Africa but in the world at large.
In recent years, it has experienced robust growth in the economic sphere and has again reasserted itself on the world stage as an attractive market, on account of its natural resources as well as its commercial potential. It is now considered officially the single largest African economy.
It has also distinguished itself as a political player widely committed to the resolution of crisis situations in the continent. At the same time, your nation has had to confront considerable problems, among them new and violent forms of extremism and fundamentalism on ethnic, social and religious grounds.
Many Nigerians have been killed, wounded or mutilated, kidnapped and deprived of everything: their loved ones, their land, their means of subsistence, their dignity and their rights. Many have not been able to return to their homes.
Believers, both Christian and Muslim, have experienced a common tragic outcome, at the hands of people who claim to be religious, but who instead abuse religion, to make of it an ideology for their own distorted interests of exploitation and murder. I would like to assure you and all who suffer of my closeness.
Every day I remember you in my prayers and I repeat here, for your encouragement and comfort, the consoling words of the Lord Jesus, which must always resound in our hearts: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (Jn 14:27). Peace – as you know so well – is not only the absence of conflict or the result of political compromise or fatalistic resignation.
Peace is for us a gift which comes from on high; it is Jesus Christ himself, the Prince of Peace, who has made of two peoples one (cf. Eph 2:14). And only the man or woman who treasures the peace of Christ as a guiding light and way of life can become a peacemaker (cf. Mt 5:9).
At the same time, peace is a daily endeavour, a courageous and authentic effort to favour reconciliation, to promote experiences of sharing, to extend bridges of dialogue, to serve the weakest and the excluded. In a word, peace consists in building up a "culture of encounter".
And so I wish here to express my heartfelt thanks to you, because in the midst of so many trials and sufferings the Church in Nigeria does not cease to witness to hospitality, mercy and forgiveness.
How can we fail to remember the priests, religious men and women, missionaries and catechists who, despite untold sacrifices, never abandoned their flock, but remained at their service as good and faithful heralds of the Gospel? To them, most particularly, I would like to express my solidarity, and to say: do not grow tired of doing what is right!
We give thanks to the Lord for them, as for so many men and women of every social, cultural and religious background, who with great willingness stand up in concrete ways to every form of violence, and whose efforts are directed at favouring a more secure and just future for all.
They offer us moving testimonies, which, as Pope Benedict XVI recalled at the end of the Synod for Africa, show "the power of the Spirit to transform the hearts of victims and their persecutors and thus to re-establish fraternity" (Africae Munus, 20).
Dear Brother Bishops, in perseverance and without becoming discouraged, go forward on the way of peace (cf. Lk 1:79).
Accompany the victims! Come to the aid of the poor! Teach the youth! Become promoters of a more just and fraternal society! I gladly impart to you my Apostolic Blessing, which I ask you to extend to priests, religious, missionaries, catechists, lay faithful and above all to those suffering members of the Body of Christ.
May the Resurrection of the Lord bring conversion, reconciliation and peace to all the people of Nigeria! I commend you to Mary, Queen of Africa, and I ask you also to pray for me.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Never Enough?
But time is not something that is waiting to be found. We will never find enough time to spend doing the things that bring us closer to God. Instead we must make time available.
We worry about balancing life's demands and where the next paycheck will come from. But God reminds us that there is no better investment of our lives than taking time today to serve and honour God.
Text Haggai 1:2-6
Culled from The Holy Bible
Tuesday 17 March 2015
Fashion Is A Harsh Mistress
If our focus turns from the living God to luxury we worship an idol. The things of this world will eventually pass away but God is eternal and unchanging.
Instead let's be beautiful in our heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last and God considers it very special.
Text: Isaiah 3:16-26
Culled from The Holy Bible
Photocredit: randomhouse.com.au
Monday 16 March 2015
Action, Not Just Words.
He ordered the idols destroyed, and that there should be no more worship of any god but the true God. Asa also repaired the Lord's altar at the temple in Jerusalem.
It is one thing to say we want to live our lives in a way that pleases God. It is quite another to get rid of the idols in our lives and begin restoring the things of God to their rightful place in our lives.
Fresh commitments are fine but we need to prove our words with our changed lives.
Text: 2Chronicles 15:1-19
Culled from The Holy Bible
Friday 13 March 2015
A day of darkness in Lekki | By: Pastor Bolaji Idowu
"Safety does not rest in our distance from the danger, but in our nearness to God." – Anon.
Nobody woke up that morning planning to die. Of those that died, yesterday was supposed to be a regular day where they go to work and come back home to their families, friends and loved ones. If they knew it was their last day, they would have done a lot of things differently: told their loved ones how they really felt, settled as many scores as they could and most importantly, they would have made right with their Maker.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed here on
earth, we only have today to make the most of our lives. Tragedies like this bring the reality of eternity to the fore of everyone's mind and pose the question: are you in right standing with your Maker? Being in right standing with your Maker doesn't mean you are perfect, it means you acknowledge and accept the finished works on Christ on the cross and are living a life of faith, a life that is pleasing to God. That's how you make the most of your today.
It is God's desire for you to have the guarantee of eternal bliss when you depart from the world. That's why He sent Jesus to bear the sins of the whole world upon Himself.
He threw the offer open to as many people as are willing to believe and receive Him into their hearts.
Like the scripture says "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If ANYONE hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
This offer of salvation is valid for all tribes, races and social classes. There is no one so good that they have no need for Christ and there is no one so bad that God's grace cannot restore.
Many people wonder if there really is a God in heaven and if He is, why He allows bad things happen. God has given us the free will to either choose or reject Him. Being a merciful God, He keeps giving each and every one of us one more chance.
According to the scriptures, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
It is safe to trust in this God Who never runs out of second chances for us. Today may be your last chance to make things right with Him. Don't leave it till tomorrow. If you haven't already accepted Christ into your heart, there is no better time than now to do it. If you have but you are not consistent in the faith, there is no better time to start being consistent than now.
The scripture says "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this is the judgment"
There is light and hope for everyone who accepts and believes in Jesus, hope in this life and in the life to come.
Jesus said "The thief comes but to steal, to kill and to destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it
more abundantly"
The abundant life Jesus promised covers all aspects of our lives. The presence of Jesus in our lives brings peace, hope
and joy. His Word and Spirit are able to change your perspective of life and you begin to enjoy life in a way you never imagined possible. This abundant life Jesus promised is still valid for all who will trust in Him.
You have the assurance that no matter what, you and God are on the winning team. May the God of all comfort provide comfort to those who lost oved ones in that tragedy and all who mourn.
May the light of His Love bring healing and warmth into all of our lives.
By Pastor Bolaji Idowu
Senior Pastor,
Harvesters International Christian Centre
Follow @pastorbolaji on Twitter
Thursday 12 March 2015
A Life of Praise
On the other hand, praise is a gift that is freely given in adoration of the awesome God. It demands a reverent attitude of the body, a focused mind, an energetic emotion from the heart and a submissive spirit.
Our songs and words are sent out with no expectation of getting something in return. Praise is an expression of unconditional love.
Text: Psalm 108:1
Culled from The Holy Bible
Wednesday 11 March 2015
The Bottom Line
After a long search, the writer comes to the conclusion that created beings can't create truth. God is the only real Creator and we do well to think the thoughts he teaches us.
We can find happiness in applying God's truths to the various areas of responsibility we are given. Because of our deep respect for God, we find joy in obeying him.
Culled from The Holy Bible
Tuesday 10 March 2015
Different from the world
Our Spirit-driven lifestyles and the way we treat people set an example for others. Our unspoken message won't draw attention to us; it reflects God's message to his people.
In this verse we see that despite the position of Israel as the chosen nation of God, their neighbours thought they were just like every other nation.
They did not see anything special about the Isrealites. Do your co-workers, friends or schoolmates know that you are a Christian? Don't be afraid to share your beliefs with those around you.
Text: Ezekiel 25:8
Culled from The Holy Bible
Monday 9 March 2015
Good Parents Are A Great Treasure
Parents make the biggest difference in the way their children grow up. They can guide their children to know and love Jesus.
They can establish a firm foundation of faith that will prepare their children for choices they'll have to make later in life. Godly mothers and fathers are the best teachers of faith for children.
Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-7
Culled from The Holy Bible
Thursday 5 March 2015
Complain, Complain, Complain!
Incredible as it may seem, they also forgot about the many miracles the Lord had already performed to help them during their travels.
How easily we, too, become discouraged when life does not go our way. We often overlook the many good things God provides for us.
God did not tolerate grumbling from the Israelites and he does not want us to waste our time complaining either. Instead, we should be thankful for the way God is taking care of us, day by day.
Text: Numbers 11:1-35
Culled from The Holy Bible
Photo Credit: dumblittleman.com
Tuesday 3 March 2015
We Can All Do Something
Those who knew how to sew and weave clothe were glad to use their talents for the LORD's sacred tent. Skilled craftsmen made beautiful objects of art. Other people used their talents to sculpt and to carve items from wood.
Similarly, each of us has been given special gifts, talents and abilities. We are responsible for using them in a way that honours God.
Whether you are a business person, a doctor, an accountant, a factory worker or an artist, your work can help further the work of God going on all around you.
Text: Exodus 35:30, 36:7
Culled from The Holy Bible