Beauty & The Gospel MADE PERFECT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
EXCLUSIVE !
"Once we are awakened to that reality, God takes over all the way"
FAITH MARCK 12 SIMPLE WAYS TO WORSHIP KING JESUS EVERYDAY
EXCLUSIVE !
"A whole hearted conversation with"
naomi lynn ISSUE NO 3 VOL 2 APRIL 2019
stop arguing with satan!
WHO ARE WE CALLED T
ISSUE NO 2 VOL 2 MARCH 2019
PASTOR BONGANI GA
THE FAMILY BUSINESS BY:
12 MISTAKES CHURCH MEMBERS
WHO ARE WE CALLED TO BE BY:
ANGUS BUCHAN
MAKE
PASTOR BONGANI GAMA
VISION ROMANS 15:20-21 20 Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture], “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”
MISSION 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be [b]made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].
TABLE Â OF CONTENTS *CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE*
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?
EDITORS NOTE
KENDRA DUBLIN
THE FAMILY BUSINESS: BY UNCLE ANGUS
THE BATTLE IN YOUR MIND
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD PASTOR BONGANI GAMA
LOVE LETTER FROM KING JESUS
WHO ARE YOU CALLED TO BE: BY PASTOR BONGANI GAMA
#WORK YOUR DREAMS BY: KENDRA DUBLIN UNCLE ANGUS BUCHAN
EDITOR'S NOTE Your majesty COMPROMISING CHRISTIANS! Beloved you know, this subject has been on my mind but lately, I’ve noticed that Christians are compromising a lot to the point the world can no longer see the light in them. But then again, how can people see the light, let alone come to it when the one who’s the carrier is diming it by compromising. I think of this verse written by Apostle Paul in Romans 12:12 “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind”. You want to be called and known as a child Of God but do not want to do His Principles. Let us never ever forget that spiritual death happens one compromise a time! I recently heard something from someone who says they are a Christian. This lady spoke about how narrow-minded Christians are, because in some religions, they partake in their cultural activities and Christians do not want to practice their own cultures. That totally shocked me! Firstly, because Christianity is not a religion but a lifestyle. King Jesus said that we are the light and salt of this world (Matthew 5:14), so how can light and darkness meet and sit comfortably together. Secondly what shocked me is how she explained what Islam people do in the funeral ceremonies, how in their religion they have added their cultural practices and didn’t understand why we African Christians seem to have abandoned our cultural beliefs and have become too Biblical. As I type this, this scripture comes to mind and is pointed to something like this (Matthew 8:21-23) Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven. Thirdly what I noticed is that no one who managed to hear what she said answered her, because compromising starts by agreeing with such and it leads to implementation. Ask yourself what makes you different from the lost world? Who are you preaching with your lifestyle and your deeds as the saying says: “actions speak louder than words”, originally taken from the Word of God saying: “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of Power” We are living in the last days and cannot afford to be lukewarm and allow ourselves to be victims of 2 Timothy 3:1-9, because you want to be politically correct. This is the time we as Christians should live the Word of God undiluted, with no compromise and start fearing the Lord Jesus Christ because the King is coming back any second. I for one do not want to hear these words “DEPART FROM ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU”. Rather we fear the Lord than fear man (Proverbs 29:25). To see that this is a serious subject the Holy Spirit is addressing strongly in these times, especially regarding the Beauty&The Gospel, read the articles by our contributors Pastor Bongani Gama, Kendra Hamilton and M.K. If you happen to be a new reader, WELCOME ABOARD BELOVED. That’s it for now till month, you’re loved by Him and I.
EMPRESS_TEEKAY
Monthly Devotion I’ve come across books that were written in the 90’s by Radio Pulpit titled “Bread upon the waters”. They are books written so we could have a daily devotion. What’s so amazing about these books is the fact that till this day they are so informative and relevant more than ever. In this one is based on the book of 1 Timothy with the heading: THE LOVE OF MONEY! Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul did not say that money is a root of all kinds of evil. He said that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Money in itself is not good or bad but the love of money can lead to sin. Money can be used for good and for bad. William Barclay identified four dangers of money: 1. The desire for money is insatiable. A Roman saying it was that money is like sea water: instead of quenching thirst it makes it even worse, The more you have, the more you want. 2. The desire for money is based on an illusion. People think that money brings security. Money cannot bring. It cannot buy health or life. 3. The desire for money makes a person selfish. The person is driven by search for wealth and couldn’t care less whether his fellow –man loses out, as long as he gets more money. He is so fixated with himself that he is quite prepared to tramp all over others. 4. The desires for money eventually results in anxiety. The more you have, the more you can lose. Your risks become greater, there are more physical demands and your health can suffer. We need to beware of running after money. There are so many more profitable ways in which we can spend our time. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said: “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Prayer: Lord, I want to seek Your Kingdom with my whole heart.
EVISULCXE
1. Who is Naomi Vacaro personally and professionally and where are you from? I am first and foremost a WHOLEHEARTED follower of Jesus Christ! I grew up as a missionary kid in Outer Mongolia until moving to Lakeland, Florida at the age of 18. A few years later, I graduated with a degree in graphic design, launched my own wedding photography business, and finally mastered the art of dressing for Florida weather! I met my now husband in 2015, got married in 2017, and currently lives in a one room, studio apartment with our dog and cat. In early 2018 I felt led to create a Bible study tool called the Quiet Time Companion, along with an online community of women who would be dedicated to encouraging each other in their daily walk with Jesus. By September 2018, the Quiet Time Companion was available to order and Wholehearted had taken its first steps. Now I am beginning the transition of setting photography aside and focusing on the Wholehearted ministry full time.
2. Who does Naomi say, THE SON OF MAN is? The Son of Man is a biblical reference to Jesus Christ. Jesus uses this title in reference to Himself several times in the NT, implying naturally that He was fully human, while at the same time making a subtle reference to Daniel 7:13-14. If you read this passage, you’ll see that the title “Son of Man” refers to a highly exalted figure, who is given everlasting dominion over all people. So when Jesus uses this title for himself, He is making the case over and over again that He is the fulfillment of prophecy, fully God and fully man, destined to be the everlasting King. 3. When I say the name Jesus what comes to mind? As mentioned above, the name “Jesus” brings to mind the Son of God and Son of Man, the perfect Lamb who, out of loving obedience to the Father, was sacrificed on behalf of the sins of the world, and who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in glory! One day He will return to judge the living and the dead. Come Lord Jesus!
EXCLUSIVE WITH NAOMI LYNN 4. You are the founder of a brand called “WHOLEHEARTED”. Share with the readers about what it is about and how did it come about and the importance of it? I am the founder of an online Christian ministry called Wholehearted. Wholehearted focuses on providing tools and education for women of faith who need discipleship in the areas of daily Bible study and prayer. Our passion-product is called the Quiet Time Companion, a journal for organizing and maintaining one's daily quiet time! We launched the product in September 2018 and have sold over 200 since then. There is nothing more important for a Christian in this life than to cultivate their relationship with and understanding of Jesus Christ!
We believe the importance of daily time with the Lord boils down to fruitfulness and lack-there-of, peace and discord, life and death. Our hope is for every woman who claims to be a Christian to break through to a place of spiritual maturity, daily discipline, and joyful intimacy with her Savior. 5. How did you personally start to get into wholehearted daily devotion with Jesus Christ and thus far what challenges have you faced and still are? I was taught from a young age that spending time with Jesus every day is an absolute MUST! My parents homeschooled me whiling I was growing up in Mongolia, and they also gave me an excellent example of everyday faithfulness to follow.
Initially I saw daily devotions as a chore, something to check off my list to please God and my parents. But then the Lord allowed my young heart to go through difficult trials, which resulted in a turning to Jesus for comfort and wisdom. Ever since those teenage years I have been doing a daily Quiet Time out of a thirst and love for Jesus. Another more recent challenge has been figuring out how to have a daily Quiet Time while married! I recently got married, and for the first several months it was difficult to find a place of solitude and motivation for my Quiet Time. However, with persistence and patience, that season has come and gone and I am once again back in a season of fruitful Quiet Time.
6. How would you elaborate reading the Holy Bible and Studying the Holy Bible with examples please? The Bible is God’s revealed Word and Will for us. Therefore, in order to know God and obey Him better, reading the Bible is nonnegotiable. We should also strive to study and meditate on Scripture, since there can be difficult sections to understand and apply to our faith. However, the Bible is a deep well of beauty and spiritual understanding, and the more we draw from it, the more it will quench our thirst and bring us closer to Jesus. Before someone becomes a Christian, the Bible is just a book of stories and rules to follow. But once our eyes have been opened to the Lordship of Jesus, we go to the Bible out of JOY and FREEDOM! We never study the Bible out of a religious desire to earn God’s favor. Jesus has already made us acceptable in the Father’s eyes! This is just another way that Christianity is so radically different from every other religion in the world, because it is not a religion at all. It is a Relationship with a God who FIRST loved US. 7. Most Christians face the challenge of being distracted especially wanting to have devotion with the Lord. What would you say causes that and how can one overcome that? It is normal to be distracted. We will all face the temptation to let our mind wander and forsake the spiritual discipline of a Quiet Time all together. This happens because we are human and are prone to wander, and also because we are at spiritual war with unseen rulers and kingdoms of this earth. (Eph 6:12) The Enemy of our faith wants to keep us from our Source of power and joy in any way possible.
The best way to overcome this tendency towards distraction is twofold: first, submit your weakness to God. Jesus tells us in Scripture that if we ask anything in His Name (according to His will and character) He will give it to us. (James 1:5, Matthew 7:7, John 14:14, etc.) Spending daily time with Jesus is certainly a desire that the Lord delights in! If you haven’t yet prayed for Him to help you in this area, then get started now. And the second strategy, is to simply do it like you would any other daily routine. How do you brush your teeth every day? You simply do it. We must treat our daily Quiet Time in the same way. Be gracious with yourself when you fail, and watch out for the ungodly motivations of guilt and shame. Instead, confess your weakness, thank the Lord for always being ready to meet you, and try again. 8. How and when did you start journaling when reading the Word of God? I started journaling when I was very young. Right now there are over 10 journals in my bookshelf, all filled with journal entries from the past several years. It has become a daily habit that I greatly enjoy. 9. Talking about journaling, to someone who has no clue what it means please explain and how can one start? Journaling can be as simple as writing about your day, how you feel, a certain event that happened, etc. The benefits of journaling include helping us remember the things God has done, explaining our feelings that would have otherwise remained buried, focusing our thoughts when we are distracted, and giving us an outlet for creative thinking.
10. Is it essential that every Christian journals when reading the Word of God? What are the benefits? I believe journaling while reading Scripture is beneficial, but not required. There are other ways to study that will work better for different personality types. Some people learn better by drawing, others by listening and meditating. Find the way you learn best and apply that method to your study of the Word. 11. Spending time with King Jesus everyday especially in His Word is vitally important for our well being. You often get the question where can one begin with studying the Bible? Share with us 5 tips on where one can begin and challenges one might face? 1. Create the time. Decide on WHEN you will have your Quiet Time and how long you would like it to take every day. Don’t worry if you need to start small, even 15 minutes is incredibly valuable! 2. Create the space. Choose a spot in your house or in your room to have your Quiet Time in. Try to avoid doing it in your bed, since that will disrupt your sleep habits. Find a spot that is quiet and peaceful. 3. Create the beauty. It is right and good to add beauty into your daily Quiet Time! Light a candle, make a cup of coffee, grab your favorite blanket, set a fresh bouquet of flowers next to you, and use your favorite highlighters and stickers. Do whatever you need to do to create beauty and enjoyment in this sacred time. 4. Create the plan. Choose a detailed plan for your Quiet Time. For example, my QT consists of journaling, reading a theological book, reading scripture, praying, and scripture memorization. Write down exactly what you expect yourself to do and read every day.
"THERE IS NO MAGICAL POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BUT RATHER, IN JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF" - NAOMI LYNN
5. Create the flexibility. Things aren’t always going to go the right way. Be ready to be interrupted through no failure of your own! Sometimes we need to let go of our expectations with grace. When these moments happen, simply offer them up to God and try again. If your Quiet Time is “ruined” that day by outside circumstances, again, give it to God and try again the next day. 12. Misconceptions people have with reading the Holy Bible that you have noticed? I have noticed that people have a few misconceptions about scripture. First, they tend to stay away from the Old Testament, not realizing how the Old and New Testament connect and support each other. Second, they tend to avoid difficult passages that go against cultural. 13. You’ve recently created and finished a free, 7 day challenge all about studying the Word of God successfully with Amy Hornbuckle. How did your collaboration come about and the impact it’s had on the participators? I knew when I first met Amy that I would love to partner with her ministry! She is passionate about discipling others towards Jesus, and it was a privilege to work with her on Bible Study Boot Camp. We hope to offer this every year, and already have many ideas for how to improve and grow this course for our next run. We got excellent feedback from those who participated, along with great advice for our to improve our methods. We can’t wait for next year’s Bible Study Boot Camp! trends. The danger of this habit cannot be overemphasized. And finally, I have noticed that people often treat the Word flippantly. They do not see it as the sacred Word of God, but rather as “advice” or “suggestions” for a happy life. We should all beware of these misconceptions in our own lives and strive against them.
14. Still on the topic of the 7 day Bible study challenge, you chose to study the Book of Philippians. Why is particular Book? Philippians is a great book to go through if you are new to Bible study. Philippians is relatively short, but packed full of Gospel truth! Other books could have been equally excellent choices, and next year we may venture away from Philippians. We will see what the Lord wills! 15. When can we expect the next Bible Study? I am currently working on our next 7 day challenge which will focus specifically on Prayer. You can expect to see this launch in May of this year! 16. On your site you have a section where one can order the quiet time companion, tell us more about that? The Quiet Time Companion was designed by myself along with the help of a group of Jesus-loving gals who love staying organized and consistent with their daily quiet time! It contains several sections for everything from sermon notes to prayer lists to scheduling out church activities. It is also designed to last a whole year! We hope the QTC will help many women keep their Quiet Times consistent, organized, and motivated. 17. You share stories of how women of faith developed the habit of a daily quiet time. Which story has impacted with you the most? It is hard to pick a favorite! I am always impacted by the honesty of women who struggle with having their daily Quiet Time, yet continue to power through by faith. This fight is something we can all relate to! 18. Can a family participate in whole hearted bible study? Absolutely! Everyone can participate. Though we suggest that a family should be led by a father and/or mother to better suit the assignments for their children. Some of the study requirements are too difficult for young children without the help of their parents. One day we hope to create tools and education specifically for kids!
19. Would you say wholehearted is a legacy you would love to leave to your children? I would absolutely love that! However, we will have to wait and see what the Lord wills for Wholehearted. Ultimately, this belongs to Him and not to me. =) 20. Is whole hearted quiet time your way of ministry? Yes. I often say it is 100% ministry and 100% business! I strive to steward Wholehearted well in both aspects for the glory of God. Apart from Wholehearted, my life is filled with personal ministry and discipleship, something I believe we are all called to as followers of Jesus! 21. If Jesus were to visit you for one day, what would you say to Him and how would you spend the rest of the day with Him? I would sit at His feet all day long. Who even knows if I would be able to speak! I have the tendency to cry whenever His presence is near, so I am sure the first several hours would be spent weeping out of love and thankfulness upon His feet. I cannot wait for my faith to be made sight! 22. There is power in the name of Jesus Christ, share with someone who doesn’t seem to grasp that exactly? There is no magical power in the name of Jesus, but rather, in Jesus Christ Himself. As Christians we pray in the name of Jesus because it is only through Him that we can have access to the Father. He is our great High Priest, the Mediator on our behalf. For example, imagine you are going to meet someone of great importance. The only way you can get a meeting is by name-dropping someone else who is close to the one you seek a meeting with. Because they know and trust the person you mentioned, they are then willing to have a meeting with you. This is just an earthly example of our heavenly reality in Christ. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are trusting in the finished work of the risen Lord!
23. When people hear the name Naomi Vacaro. What do you want them to know? Simply that she loved God and she loved others! 24. Advice to Christians? Commit. Make your entire life revolve around Jesus, the Gospel, and making disciples for the Kingdom. Anything less than this is dangerously lukewarm. 25. How can people get in touch with you and access all that you do? You can visit www.naomilynn.com, as well as my Instagram accounts, @wholeheartedquiettime and @naomilynnvacaro! We keep all our audience up to date using these platforms.
25. Last words and plans for 2019? Here at Wholehearted we are currently working to create a new cover and an improved design for an upcoming relaunch of the Quiet Time Companion! We also have other products being designed as we speak, as well as a Website launch on the way. Wholehearted will also be publishing blogs written by women of faith around the United States on a weekly basis, as well as offering online courses of discipleship. We can't wait to see all that God will do this year!
Monthly Devotion THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Read 2 Timothy 4:1-5 This section emphasizes Paul’s earnestness as he writes to Timothy. This earnestness is because the time is running out. Like Timothy we, too, must bear in mind’s Christ’s return and spread the gospel of the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ as quickly and effectively as possible. Although there will always be those who are not interested in the Scriptures, we must not become discouraged. Our task is continue to patiently proclaim the Word at every opportunity. We are much closer to the Second Coming than Timothy was, therefore, this earnest message is probably even more applicable today. There are so many people in so many countries who have never heard of Jesus Christ, the Saviour. In our own country some have not heard the gospel and others choose not to respond to God’s Word. Are we really doing enough to spread the Word? The world would not be in such a critical situation if the church had been more faithful in proclaiming the Word to all people. We are not pointing a finger at others because you and I are the church! We need to earnestly heed the call and proclaim the gospel with renewed enthusiasm.
Prayer: Lord, help me to proclaim Your Word with new zeal and enthusiasm.
CONTRIBUTOR
THE FAMILY BUSINESS We are so honored to share this beautiful article written by Uncle Angus Buchan . A Born Again spirit filled servant of the Gospel. Thanking you once again Angus for sharing this article with us . He is an Author, Farmer, Husband, Father and Grandfather. THE FAMILY BUSINESS! Farming is a family business. We need to engage the whole family in all our agricultural ventures. The Bible says in Mark 8:36 (NKJV), “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul (Family)?” King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, says in Ecclesiastes that he worked to make a fortune, only to leave it to someone who is going to totally misuse it and cause
He was a tremendous asset to me, and he is farming successfully in
immeasurable harm. We need to involve our
the family business today. My younger son is a better horseman
wives and children. You may be reading this
than I ever was, because I taught him to ride a horse before he
article saying that your children are too
could walk. The most important factor is to spend time together.
young, and they don’t understand. You will be
We often hear that quality time is better than quantity time. I
very surprised. The dining room table is a
believe one cannot work without the other, we need quantity and
great place to talk about the day’s affairs;
quality time. There is no better time to implement this than when
about rain, about drought, about the economic recession, about the political challenges, about animals that have died and also about all the good times, about good prices, the bountiful crops and what is happening with the cattle and horses etc. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” A family that prays together stays together. You may not be able to attend all the school functions and sports events with your
the children are young. When I was actively farming, my wife was my biggest confidant and advisor. When we arrived on our farm, the farm had no house, no water, no electricity, but it had the most beautiful soils that I have seen in my life. As a young woman, Jill was certain that this piece of the land was our farm. She was not concerned about a fancy house. She realised that without good soil, we would never make it. By the grace of God, we are still here today. Involve your family in every aspect of your business and your life. This is God’s plan for the family. As you grow older, you will find your children will be an incredible asset to you. Four of my five children are farming today, I believe this is because of God’s grace and because we involved them from the beginning.
children, because of your work situation and the distance you live, but one thing you can do, is spend time with your children every day. My eldest son was nine years old when he learnt to drive a tractor.
Angus Buchan
BY: PASTOR MM ZULU
12 mistakes church members do
1. It’s to be in the church where you disagree with their teachings yet you still go there every Sunday. You will come out hurt most of the time because you go to the place where you don’t believe in what they teach. 2. It’s to be under a pastor whom you don’t trust, you undermine and don’t believe in him. You cannot grow spiritually if your heart has issues with your pastor. 3. Being a member that is not committed, you come to church when you have nothing to do yet when something has happens to you, you want everybody to jump to attend you. 4. Being non supportive to other members when they go through challenges but expect support when you go through tough times. 5. You expect other church members to love you, yet you don’t show love to them and are busy complaining that there is no love in this church. Give /sow love you will reap love. Nobody is told that he / she must wait for others to love them but we are told to love one another. 6. You claim that you have been saved for a long time yet your life doesn’t show any sign of spiritual maturity. 7. You claim that you have been a member of the church when it started yet your life does not show nor does it reflect what has been taught to you over the years. 8. You think because you been in the church for long time it qualifies you to be in the leadership yet you have not caught the vision of the church. 9. It’s to be in the church where you complain about everything and yet you don’t even pray for your church.
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10. You complain about the slow progress of the church yet you are not contributing anything to bring progress in the house. 11. It’s to be in church where you love the Pastor but you disregard First lady. This has potential to affect the church big time. 12. When given a platform at church instead of speaking the language of the house, you come with your foreign teachings that are not in line with the teachings of this house.
CONTRIBUTOR
#workyourdreams @godsperspectiveforme What is your biggest component of fear? Is it fear of failure, fear of success, or fear of the unknown? Anxiety of failure and success boils down to doubt of what has not been produced. That’s a faith issue. Would you all agree?
If faith is confidence in what you hope for and assurance of what is unseen, why are you so caught up in what your eyes lay upon? We are spiritual beings on a physical earth. None of what we examine is the basis of faith because we can see it. We are so entangled in the world around us that we don’t realize everything about us is supernatural. We serve a God that is the Beginning and End. If God is the Beginning and End, in and out of time, how can His plans for you fail? I’m asking a lot of questions, but I really want you to ponder on each one.
Why was Moses so quick to forget what he learned? Maybe it’s because he was gone for 40 years, but it doesn’t matter. God had already allowed him to be trained in leadership for His will.
We see the opposite in the lives of Mary and Noah. Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, goes to Mary to tell her about Jesus whom she would bear. She asked Gabriel, “How will this be since I’m a virgin?” He replies, “The Holy spirit will come upon you and the Most-High will overshadow you.” After his comment she says, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your Word to me be fulfilled.” Wow! What if we could utter those same words to God when He gives us an assignment. Mary didn’t know exactly how her life would go, but she knew God was going to take care of her and her people. Noah does the same thing. When God tells him, he will build an ark for his
Too often we act like Abram and Sarai because we don’t see the results we want in the time we want. God established time, so it’s in His hands. We have no right trying to put God on our schedules, nor will He act upon it. Too often we are like Moses making excuses for why we are inadequate in doing God’s work. Acts 7:22 states, “Moses
family to be saved from a corrupt world, he did exactly as he was commanded. He couldn’t have explained what would happen the moment God shut the door behind him. He couldn’t explain an ark, especially since a boat of this statue had never been built before this time. He was led by his faith in God.
was educated in all wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech.”
CONTRIBUTOR
I was trying to understand my client profile for my business
She must lean on God and have faith that He will keep His
a few months ago. I called my cousin who wants to start a
promises in all aspects of her life. Why would God give you
business and began asked her multiple questions. I
a talent that He won’t prosper, cultivate, and make
inquired, “Why are you so afraid of going to the next level
perfect? Why would He give you talent that is not
in your life?” She told me,“I don’t know. A fear of the
attached to your purpose? Why would He give you a
unknown.” The moment it came out of her mouth I said,
mission that He won’t complete?
“What is unknown? What do you want to know?” She replied,“If I will accomplish my goals, understanding God’s
What are the talents and gifts that God has given you?
will and how to go about those things.” I asked her again,
Don’t run away from it, work it! #WorkYourDreams. Your
“So, what is unknown?”
dreams are visions that God has given you to do His will on earth. Stop making excuses for what God has given you.
When she didn’t answer I told her, “Who do you know that
Stop fearing the unknown because God is in the unknown,
has started a business? Who do you know that can make a
which is known to Him. Lean on God and continue to
website? Who do you know that’s a graphic artist? And
develop a relationship with Him to grow your faith. Then
ultimately who is your Savior? She replied with, “You’re
watch how your moves become more fluent with His
right!” She was beginning to see everything she needed or
words.
wanted was at the click of a button, on the tip of her tongue, and in God’s hands.
As always, be blessed and stay sunny on the inside.
Everything I rattled off I knew she had that resource. I told her you have people who are close to you that are business owners. I was only six months into my career, but that’s six months of knowledge. We continued to go back and forth, but she had to realize her thinking had to change.
“I am the Lord’s servant. May your Word to me be fulfilled.” Wow! What if we could utter those same words to God when He gives us an assignment." ~KENDRA HAMILTON
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? (PART 1) WRITTEN BY: M.K
Do you know who you are???
The presence of God is forever visible in our daily walks with Him. God’s promises are so powerful that they will nigh to Him and reciprocate His love for us. The Bible is full of His promises and they are for us forever and ever. The Word is made to be of no effect by the devil who twists every word the Lord speaks. This is the jealous being who lost everything he had in heaven because of pride and discontentment. He had the best and was perfect Ez 28:1219 but he wanted more and really wished to be God Himself. He is now fighting tooth and nail to make sure that people do not get to inherit what God has prepared for them. How evil!!!
The Word of God is written for us to know about where we stand with Him. The best and most perfect has been prepared for. This we will get only when we do His will and be the children He wants us to be. If you are able to read, then stand up and ask the Holy Spirit to teach and interpret His Word. Open the Bible and read. How are you going to hear God when it is closed? God is everywhere you are. Psalms 139:110 simple states that you are loved and seen by the King of heaven. He is with you always. He will always find you and you cannot hide from His eyes. You are the apple of God’s eye Zechariah 2:18. Whoever tries to touch you or tamper with you, they touch God’s pupils as you are the one He’s looking at always. WOW!!!!!
TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR SAY THIS FOLLOWING PRAYER
Monthly Devotion WAIT UPON THE LORD! Read 1 Samuel 13:1-9 God’s time is not our time. We always want to rush the Lord. When we pray, we expect an immediate answer – today! You’ve heard the saying: “Lord, give me patience but, please, hurry up!” Saul was also in a hurry. Samuel was to come bringing the required offerings but, when he did not arrive within the time he had set, Saul made the offerings himself. That was contrary to God’s command as He had said that only the priest was to bring the offerings. Saul’s offerings was an act of impatience and disobedience. He did not wait upon the Lord. Many Christians today are so guilty of being too hasty. We want to try and solve our own problems. Instead of trusting the Master to lead and guide us as we go our own way, often with catastrophic results! We need to learn to wait upon the Lord. He has a time for everything, a solution to all our problems. Don’t be such a hurry! Sometimes the Lord tests our faith and makes us wait a long time for His answer or intervention. But we can know that He will find a solution. Prayer: Thank you, Lord that we can trust Your perfect timing. Help us to be patient as we wait on You.
D. As Christians scriptures are the basis of our lives 2 Timothy 3:16 -17 “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” 1. When God wants to teach us about Himself and let us know how He operates He does it through the Bible 2. When People are not in the right path and people doing wrong things, He uses the Bible to correct and bring us to the path He chose for us 3. When all hope is lost, and we feel like giving up His Word gives us comfort 2 Corinthians 1: 3 He is the God of all Comfort and His Word is comfort for His People 4. When People lose direction His word (Bible) gives direction so His word is all
WHO ARE WE CALLED TO BE? by: Pastor Bongani Gama I. Introduction A. How can we be sure of someone’s nationality? 1. When wanting to verify the identity of someone where do we go? 2. For us to know that someone is a representative of something how do we tell? B. I remember my older brother told me that during his stay at D.R. Congo he had to produce his passport every minute he meets the police 1. They had to see the proof of his identity and where he is really coming from 2. The proof was his passport 3. So that small book was important to make the cops believe that indeed he was South African, and he did not enter the country illegally C. Today people disregard the book that makes us who we really are in actual fact without the Bible we have no identity. 1. When people have a problem and then you quote scriptures to them they say yeah but let us be practical and stop quoting verse for everything 2. People think they can be Christians without the guidance of the Bible 3. Some only say that the Bible is just a guide and it has no bearing on how people carry and live their lives
II. The Israelites A. In Egypt, they had nothing that can actually show that they are chosen people of God, so they lived like they are not identified as people of God 1. In Exodus 12,13,20,21 God gives them festivals and laws to keep after He takes them out of Egypt so they must not lose their identity and they must remember what He has done for them. 2. We see the whole book of Deuteronomy talks about the written law and how it is important to keep the law of God, so that people might identify them with God and it was important for a king of the nation to know all the laws written in the book Deuteronomy 17:18 3. When Joshua was taking leadership from Moses, he was told about the book of the law and how it was important for his new role Joshua 1:8 “he was not to depart form it as long as he meditates upon it a) He had to know that God will always be with Him as long as He did all that He instructed him and the people b) The commands were written down for then to refer to them at all times Deuteronomy 6:17 “you shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God and His statutes which He commanded you” c) As longs as he knows what God commands, he will not be lost Joshua 1:7 “only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the commands that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may Prosper wherever you go”
d) Joshua was not supposed to add and to subtract from the commands of the Lord Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it …. c. f Revelation 22:18 e) If the people did not heed the and follow the law of God, they will stand to be cursed Deuteronomy 27:26 “cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them and all the People shall say amen” 4. The book of the law was important for the Israelites for it made them who they are, and it gave them perspective in life of how God wants them to live. a) God gave them a condition that if they obey His commands they shall be established as his people, they will be people for Him they will be set apart from the rest. Because His commands will remind them of who God is and who they are to Him Deuteronomy 28:9 “The Lord will establish you as His holy People to Himself ,just as He sworn to you ,if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways” b) They lost direction and fell into a trap of doing things that God hates King Josiah realised that when they found the book of the law and he tore his clothes 2 Kings 22:8-20 c) King Josiah resorted to restoring God ‘s kingdom after the book of the law was found 2 Kings 23:1-27 B. Their identity and integrity highly depended on God and He made it easy for them to access all what He expects from as His Children Deuteronomy 6:1-9 a) The commands were to rule and give them guidance on daily living in land they were going to possess v1 b) These commands were to be passed on to the next generation not as tradition of man but as the word of God that is essential for His people v2 ,7 c) They had to be a way of life and they had to know them by heart so that it will remind them to do right for God v 8,9 d) They had identity through these commandments III. The Church when it began A. Ephesians 2:20 says that Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets and Christ is the cornerstone 1. The word is the basis of the Church cause the Word that Peter spoke and confessed when he said Christ was the son of the living God Matthew 16:18. This became evident when Peter preached the sermon that began the whole establishment he went to the Word.
2. The Word is the basis of the lives that we live so that is why we need to quote scriptures before we lose our identity B. Acts 11:26 the followers of Christ were called Christians at Antioch 1. This was a divine call 2. Secondly people called them that because of the teachings and rules and regulations that they consistently followed that gave them an identity within their community 3. They were consistent in how they followed the Word of God, they adhered and they complied with Word, so they were worthy of the name “Christians” because they had integrity among those who were not believing and they respected them Hebrews 3:8
IV. In closing, who are we to be called if we disregard the Book that makes us who we are A. A people with no God B. A people with no direction C. A people with no identity D. The Bible is the book that distinguishes us from the world, and the world that is lost so if we do not refer to it as often as we can what are we doing and why are we still doing this? E. God gave us the only thing that we can actually know how He wants us to be saved and live righteously and yet we ignore it F. As much as we need the little book/card that can fit in to our pocket to prove our identity, we need the Bible to prove and to tell the world we are God’s chosen generation His Holy priesthood G. 1 Peter 2: 9 “But you are a chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, a People for God ‘s own Possession …… H. People who are affiliated with the Lord are deeply rooted in His word 2 Timothy 3:16. .
SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH
1 I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds. 2 I will rejoice and exult in you; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
PSALMS 9:1-2
The Battle in Your MIND
• Resource by: Rick Warren
Two Ways to Guard Our Minds Philippians 4:6–8 gives us two ways to guard our minds from garbage: conversational prayer and concentrated focusing: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. How do you know when you have the peace that “surpasses all understanding”? When you give up trying to understand fully why God does what he does and simply trust him. This peace “will guard your hearts and your minds.” The first way you guard your heart and mind is “in everything” to pray. Then Paul says to think about “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.” Notice that he says to pray about everything. If you were to pray as much as you worry, you would have a lot less to worry about. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. This kind of prayer is like a running conversation — which means we are not on our knees. We don’t close our eyes. I have trained myself to do this. I talk to God all the time. I’m talking to him while I’m writing to you. You can develop a two-track mind.
The average person can speak about 150 words per minute, but the average mind can understand about 350 words per minute — that is a 200-word per minute boredom factor. So you can certainly talk to God and talk to somebody else at the same time. So pray about everything. Maintain a running conversation. Second, Paul says that we should fix our thoughts. “Think about these things.” How do you do that? By concentrated focusing. This is one of the keys to overcoming temptation: don’t merely resist it; replace it. Whatever you merely resist persists. The more you hit a nail, the harder you drive it into the wood. And when people say I don’t want to think about this, what are they doing? They are thinking about it! And whatever gets your focus gets you. James tells us that “sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (James 1:15). So don’t merely resist it. When I was a little kid, and I knew my mother had baked cookies, I would go up to the edge of the kitchen counter, and she would say, “Now, Ricky, don’t eat those cookies.” I would say, “I’m not, Mom. I’m just looking.” I’m looking. I don’t want it. I don’t want it. And then I would grab it and eat it. Don’t just resist; replace. Change the channel. Refocus. In the words of Thomas Chalmers, it is “the expulsive power of a new affection” that turns your mind away from the things that the Devil wants you to focus on to the things that God wants you to focus on. Guard your mind from garbage is the second key. 3) Never Let Up on Learning The third thing to learn and teach to others in this battle for the mind is to never let up on learning. Become a lifelong learner. Love knowledge. Love wisdom. Learn to love the act of learning. The word disciple means “learner.” You cannot be a disciple of Christ without being a learner. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden [by the way, that sounds like a felt need!], and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me” (Matthew 11:28–29). What do you do when you take on a yoke? You share a burden with another animal. You lighten a load. And Jesus wants us to learn from him. “God expects not only faithfulness but also fruitfulness.” Many people act as though their education ended at their last graduation. I have met some pastors who have not cracked a book since seminary. They have never studied anything else. They have never taken another class since finishing school. Are you kidding me? To be a disciple means to be a learner. All leaders must first be disciples.
So leaders must first be learners. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. Growing churches require growing pastors. The moment you stop growing, your church stops growing. You can learn from anybody if you just know the right questions. The Bible says, “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5 KJV). In other words, you can learn from anybody if you just learn to draw out his or her knowledge. And how do you do it? You draw it out by asking questions. We all know things that others don’t, and others know things of which we are ignorant. That’s why the Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). Humility Needed But if you are going to really learn, you need one quality in particular: humility. Why does God resist the proud and give grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5)? Because the humble are teachable. I would rather admit that I don’t know it all than to pretend that I know it all and not learn. You can learn from anybody. I learn from churches larger than Saddleback. I learn from churches smaller than Saddleback. I learn from guys older than me and from guys younger. I learn from people who don’t like me. I learn from critics. I learn from people who totally misunderstand me. You can learn from anybody. Learning from your enemies is a way to be smarter than your enemies, because if your enemies learn only from themselves, but you learn from them, then you will know more than they do — what they know plus what you know! Proverbs 18:15 (icb) says, “The mind of a smart person is eager to get knowledge [that’s a mark of intelligence!], and the wise person listens to learn more.” We need to be eager to learn and willing to listen. Learn this old cliché: “God gave us two ears and one mouth,” so we should listen twice as much as we speak. Proverbs 10:14 says, “Wise men store up knowledge” (NIV). In Scripture, knowledge is the only thing we are supposed to store up. Jesus says we are not to store up money. Don’t store up treasure. Don’t store up material possessions where moth and rust decay. But store up knowledge because knowledge is far more important than money. You can always get more money, but knowledge is something you are going to take with you to heaven. You will leave all your material wealth behind, but a wealth of knowledge goes with you.
Suggestions for Growing in Knowledge One of the ways you can store up knowledge is to start a family library — a godly family library — and leave it as a legacy to the next generation. In my family, four generations back gave their library to three generations back, who gave it to two generations back — my dad — who gave it to me. I began collecting books when I was sixteen years old. For many years, I read a book a day. Today I have over twenty thousand volumes in my library. As a teenager I heard, “The impact on your life will be largely from the people you meet and the books you read.” So I decided to get very intentional about both of those — whom I would meet and what I would read. And when you begin to build a library of godly, Christian books, you are leaving a legacy for the next generation. Twice in the book of Proverbs we are told to “store up my commands within you” (Proverbs 2:1; 7:1 NIV). If you are going into eternity, you are going to take that with you. If you’re serious about growing in knowledge and growing in your mind, here’s the approach I suggest: ~Read 25 percent of your books from the first fifteen hundred years of church history. So many people act like nothing happened between the times of Paul and Luther. God was at work all that time, and we are dismissing the God of the church to think that he was not having his Word faithfully taught during those times. ~Read 25 percent from the last five hundred years, since the Reformation. ~Read 25 percent from the last one hundred years. ~Read only 25 percent from contemporary authors of the last ten years. A lot of people know all the contemporary books and none of the classics. Jesus did not just begin building his church in the year 2000. He has been working in and through his body for two millennia, and you can save yourself a lot of time if you will avail yourself of the whole tradition. It is wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. It is also easier! It saves a lot of time and saves us from making the mistakes of others.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE :)
FEATURE
A LOVE LETTER FROM KING JESUS TO HIS BRIDE (part 2) SISTER CLAIRE
Your participation in carnal preoccupations with cooking,
My brides, I am not saying this to condemn you. I am
sewing, decorating, buying, selling, having this and that.
answering your prayers, this is what I require of you.
Oh, those idols are detestable to Me when I find that kind
This is why you have such a hard time seeing and hearing Me.
of clutter in the heart. I want to run the other way. And
Work on this and I will bless you with visitations and
when I see that a soul prefers that to my company, well My
consolations, I promise you. I love you all dearly and tenderly. I
heart collapses in sadness. Oh, how could you prefer these
am coming for you, prepare yourselves. Well, after that word,
worthless idols to Me, how could you?
you’re probably thinking what’s left for me to watch? Well,
I’m not talking about when you fall into a mood or are
watch children’s movies (that aren’t atheistic) nature movies,
deeply hurt, disappointed and you head for the Hagen-
documentaries as long as there is no obnoxious content and
daas and a movie. Although keep the movie pure. I’m
also simple cartoons.
talking about making a conscious decision to forego time
You could also get much headier with intellectual programs,
with Me for useless things. That’s why I get so disappointed
interviews. Also, the music you listen to be very careful what
with you when you follow rabbit trails on the internet. What
your putting in your Spirit because whatever it is, it lingers in
a waste of time, these are willful sins you do not recognize
your mind and soul, playing over and over again. I wish you
because when you are done surfing the net you feel
could see what circular music does to your spirit, you would
conviction. “You know you shouldn’t have wasted all that
run away and hide, My Brides in everything and anything
time”, your heart sinks a little knowing you’ve disappointed
practice the Spirit of discernment.
Me. Not only have you wasted time, you’ve also filled your mind
JUST DON’T WALK AWAY CLUTTERED, SEEK ME EARNESTLY
with unnecessary cares, then you speak them out to others
AND YOU SHALL FIND ME. I AM COMING BACK VERY SOON,
and pass them around, so you not only affect yourself but
LET ME NOT FIND YOU CONSUMED BY THE THINGS OF THIS
others as well giving them a bad example.
TEMPORARY WORLD.
Monthly Devotion NO ROOM FOR SIN! Read 1 John 2:1, 2 This letter is a loving reminder from a caring pastor to avoid sin at all costs. Sin should have no place in the believer. The follower of Jesus Christ should hate sin with all his being. If you have a careless attitude towards sin it indicates that you have not understood the great sacrifice that was paid on behalf. How can you take for granted what Jesus has done on the cross and not care how often or seriously you offend the Father of Heaven? However, having said all this, it remains a fact of life that we all, everyday, do things that are sinful. We sin either in the things we do or in the things we leave undone. It may be a temper that needs controlling, it may be a tongue that is swift to gossip, it may be a mind that tends to frequent doubt, it may be an attitude of pride, but whatever your particular failure, maybe this passage offers a warning and a hope. The warning is that you should not ignore this sin, nor think it unimportant. It is very easy, having been forgiven, to regard sin as nothing. But there is hope here. Hope of forgiveness, for Jesus, who died, is now our Advocate, pleading our case before the Father. And the case that Jesus presents at this heavenly court is that He Himself is the sacrifice that makes peace between us and the Father. Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your atoning sacrifice that ensures peace between me and the Almighty God.
Christian
BLOGGING 101
BY : EMPRESS TEEKAY
Who are you personally and professionally and where are you from? My name is Mary Akinwa, I am a Nigerian and a graduate of English Language so it’s safe to call me a grammarian…lol. Professionally, I work as a Contact Center Supervisor. How and when did you become Born Again? Oh I became born again about 13 years ago, 28th September, 2006 to be precise. It was on a cold night in a boarding school and I just decided I was done playing games with my salvation. I needed to get it right with God once and for all. How and when did you get into blogging? And why Christian Blogging? I would say I started blogging in year 2015 but I honestly wasn’t serious with it. I didn’t know what blogging really entailed, I just knew I wanted to write stuff and google gave a wonderful platform through BlogSpot. So, I just got myself a spot on BlogSpot and started to write. Why Christian Blogging? When I started to write I just wanted to write whatever came into my head and my mind and trust me most of those stuff were God related stuff. So even when I thought I wanted to be funny and all or even diversify, I still found myself writing about God. Fast forward to 2017, I got a leading from God to go into Christian writing (I’m not so comfortable with the word blogger, cause maybe I am more of a writer than a blogger). So 2017 kick-started what is today, Christian Lifestyle Blog. What is blogging? Blogging in my opinion is getting to write, especially on a selfhosted website or some other websites say word press for example, and then getting people to read your articles. There isn’t really any blogging without readers.
@christianlifestyleblog
What inspires your posts and what preparation goes into it? My inspiration is definitely the Holy Spirit. I mean, He just pops ideas in my head and gives me thoughts on what to write. A whole lot goes into every post I make on the blog. I know it isn’t just any kind of blog, it is a blog that should inspire people and make them want to know God more. From having to design templates to getting the perfect picture for the blog as well as stringing together words on the blog; it’s a whole work! What do you want people to learn from your blogs? Through my writings and posts I want people to know that God is real and that He can speak to us even in the midst of our everyday duties. Posts on the blog are basically drawn from real-life experiences through which God teaches us lessons. Other Interests? I love to sing and teach children God’s word. I could also be a reader, especially when I am really in the mood to devour books…lol. What is the secret to authentic, thought provoking blogging? Two things I will say: Inspiration which builds your content and Creativity which sells your content. Those two things are very important if your posts will attract readers. What makes you different from other Christian bloggers? Different? I wouldn’t really see myself as been different from other Christian bloggers because I believe all we want to do is spread the gospel. Our styles and approaches may be the difference though. Where would you like to see your blog in the next 2 years? It is my desire that Christian Lifestyle Blog would have achieved a wider reach in audience and that more lives would have been blessed by posts from the blog. Who is King Jesus to you? Jesus is the reason I am alive. He is my everything Advice on how to start Christian blogging? The first step to starting a Christian Blog is being saved. Christian blogging isn’t just like any other type of blogging. You must know and believe in the One who you are writing about. It is also important to get platforms were you can write and share your posts. Personally, I share my posts on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. I also have a website, so if you can afford one, by all means do. Because it is Christian doesn’t mean it has to be boring! Misconception people have about Christian blogging? In my opinion I would say unlike other types of blogging, Christian blogging isn’t really about the funds you can make from blogging. A lot of people think that because you are a Christian blogger you are making so much money out of it. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying if you make money out of it then it is wrong (We have bills to pay of course). What I am saying is that the sole desire of a Christian blogger or writer should be to share the GOOD NEWS of Christ with as many as those who come across the blog. A lot of people also think that because it is a Christian blog, it definitely must be boring, that is definitely not the case! I understand that a Christian blog will most likely not appeal to a lot of people at first sight; it doesn’t however mean Christian blogs are boring. Last words to the Beauty&TheGospel reader? To everyone who is opportune to read this I just want you to know that Jesus Christ loves you unconditionally and His desire is to grow a relationship with you. We all are what we are by the grace of God, it is therefore very important that you do not abuse that Grace. King Jesus loves you, so do I!
IT WAS THE HAND OF GOD YOU KNOW SO MANY TIMES AS CHRISTIANS, WAIT LET ME SAY AS HUMAN BEINGS WE FACE ENCOUNTERS THAT CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY JESUS. THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS ONCE SOLVED, MAKE YOU SIT AND BE IN AWE OF HOW A HUMAN COULD HAVE NEVER SURVIVED THAT. IN EVERYDAY LIFE WE GET TO SEE THE HAND OF GOD BY MERELY BEING ALIVE , WE GET TO EXPERIENCE WHAT AN AWESOME GOD WE SERVE . IN EVERY ISSUE WE FEATURE A STORY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN EVERY WAY. IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOD CAN DO , THIS IS ONE TRUE EXAMPLE . THIS STORY IS BY: TSHIDI MOLOI. YOU CAN ALSO SHARE YOURS WITH US AT: BEAUTYANDTHEGOSPEL@GMAIL.COM.
It was on a Wednesday afternoon when after work I
At one point I needed a sharp tool and didn’t know
was walking home. I was singing “Alikho igama elinje”
where I was going to get it from and He reminded me
(there is no other Name like this). I then switched to
of a broken umbrella that I had kept inside the house. I
meditating on the Name of Jesus, thinking on how
took it and broke the wires and took one to use in the
powerful His name is. A Name that saves, delivers,
bath. At the end, He told me how to put the pipes back.
heals and sets us free. I reached home, opened the gate
When I opened the tap, the water was coming out
and proceeded to the door.
quicker than before the problem started.
As I went past the window of one of the bathrooms, the
When I saw that, I started to worship and thank God. All
Holy Spirit said to me: “put your bag inside and come
the while I thought I needed to hire a plumber to fix
back to these pipes”.
the problem. I didn’t realize that I always had A
This pipe problem started in 2018. The bath somehow
plumber; I just never consulted Him. All I needed to do
got blocked and water was not coming out. I also had a
was to listen to Him and follow His instructions. What
problem with the geyser and two gentlemen came and
an awesome God we serve.
fixed it. I asked if they could also help with the blocked bath. They managed to fix it, but even though the
For King Jesus is God alone, there is no other! ISAIAH
water came out it was coming out slowly and not as
46:9. Thank you Jesus!!!
fast as it should. As a result the blockage happened
again. After putting my bag inside the house I went back outside. The Holy Spirit then directed me on where I should start pulling the pipes from the wall. I became a bit worried thinking if I dismantle the pipes I will not know how to put them back, where each pipe should go. But Him being so faithful, guided me every step to the point where He told me which tool I should use to push and pull out the dirt that was stuck inside the pipes.
OF
WORDS
WISDOM
.
Monthly Devotion COMING JUDGEMENT! Read Jude 14, 15 The modern church is overrun with false teachers of the kind Jude describes in this letter. Many have taken it in hand to challenge these people, some more successfully than others. Some show the error of their doctrine, others the error of their lives. Some are gracious hoping to win over the false teacher and have him/her repent and come to salvation. Others speak very harshly against them and show as little love to them as these false teachers show to their followers. But, says Jude, there is day coming when these people will get their just deserts. When Christ returns He will come with His Holy angels to gather up those who have rebelled against Him and cast them into hell. Jude quotes an ancient tradition that Enoch made this prophecy. This was then, a prophecy as old as time, yet it is ignored by these scoundrels in their desire after prestige and power and wealth. Notice the four-fold ‘ungodly’ that is used to describe these people. Jude cannot stress enough the danger of following false teaching that comes from such. How can we be sure that we escape the fate of these people? By sticking to the old ways. Beware of ‘new’ doctrines that these teachers bring forth from their dreaming minds. Study the Bible, know your Bible so as not to be led astray.
Prayer: Lord , help me to understand what You have written to me in the Bible.
ANNOUNCEMENT s s e pr e m u s E s e i s m i s h . t t i e r e , o e p r o m e h th le .I nd c y a n i i e t d r H e ga a d a s is a y ee a e n s k n t u zi a Tee all yo ll sain . g e a l m a s ab e l n i h o wa a T g v . n a s i l s r l i to y Ca r u b a i l tr sa n o o n c o s free
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