THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:3

When I find a good restaurant, I want to take people there. And not only do I want to take them there, but I want to let them in on the best thing to order.

I want them to discover what I have discovered. In the same way, when we come to know the blessings in the Lord, we want to share it with others.

Fellowship is more than just socializing. We may talk about all kinds of things when we come to church, but our primary purpose is to talk about the things of God.

When the Bible says the first-century believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship" (Acts 2:42), the word "fellowship" comes from the Greek word koinonia. It can be translated, "partnership," "communion," or "fellowship."

The idea being communicated is that the early Christians were being taught the Word of God, and they wanted to share it with others.

When you are walking with God, you will want to be with God's people. And if you are not walking with God, you probably won't want to be around God's people.

I have found that when you are in fellowship with God and getting into His Word, then you will want to share it with fellow Christians.

You will want to be around fellow believers. Fellowship is praying together. It is serving together. It is growing and aging together. These are the fibres of fellowship.

Fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers go together. The reason God has blessed you is to share your blessing with others.

Prayer: Lord, keep me in close fellowship with You and with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scriptural Reading: 1 John 1:1-4

THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

In the Bible, valleys symbolize periods of hardship and suffering. The Psalmist evokes a particularly dangerous and painful image by referring to "the valley of the shadow of death".

In the midst of a poem meant to provide comfort and assurance is a cold reminder that spiritual valleys are inevitable.

But if we read only of green pastures and quiet waters, we miss the heart of Psalm 23 and a core truth about the believer's life. The valley verse contains a promise not found among the lovely first lines.

In hardship, believers discover "Thou art with me". God's unwavering presence becomes most obvious to us when we are vulnerable.

And along with our experience of His assurance and comfort comes the understanding that the Lord goes with us daily—even into the depths of our despair.

When people do not recognize His constancy, they turn to other coping methods, such as going to bars for a so-called "Happy Hour" or burying themselves in work.

But filled with the knowledge that God holds us no matter how deep or wide our "valley" is, we can release fear and endure suffering. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus protects and guides His lambs through trials.

Even in these low places, we cannot be snatched from Him. His rod beats away predators trying to drag away one of the flock.

And His staff's crooked neck pulls a wandering sheep back from the cliff 's edge.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, that You are with me even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 23:1-6

Prayer for new week

 The Almighty God who created you will surely provide for all your needs in a timely manner. Your life will not lose value. Though some people have seen you to be cheap and downtrodden, but as from today they will count themselves privileged to have known you! God will give you the grace to forgive all those who have offended you. You will not delay your own blessings due to malice in Jesus Name.

 I pray that may the Lord do for you, what will shock your enemies, may God promote you above your contemporaries. May God fight your hidden battles and grant you victory in every areas of your life. 

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

Some Ways to Mend Trust in a Relationship

Many relationship struggle tremendously because trust in their marriage/relationship has been breached.

People want to know how what needs to occur to have the foundation of trust restored in their relationship. While I'll specifically be addressing this issue in the context of marriage, the principles apply to all relationships.

Before a couple can start restoring trust in their marriage, there needs to be an admission of wrongdoing by the offending spouse, a sincere request for forgiveness and granting of forgiveness by the offended mate. I've addressed those issue in my past blogs on giving forgiveness and two personal stories for forgiveness: Corrie ten Boom and the family of Ed Thomas.

Do you need to rebuild trust in your relationship? If so, there are a few things you need to know.

First, notice that the word "rebuild" implies that a relationship has been torn down and needs to be established once again. Something you said or didn't say, did or didn't do to your spouse, child, relative or friend has adversely impacted your relationship with them.

Second, trust is not something that anyone owes you.  Trust must be earned. That means that you need to provide something to the other person in order for them to trust you once again. It is not something you just do one time, but rather need to display them consistently, day in and day out, over a period of time.

Third, in order to trust you, the other person must have complete confidence that from this day forward:

1. You are who you say you are. Your spouse needs to know that you are genuine and authentic...that you are the real deal. Whether you are with your family, friends or coworkers, your spouse needs to see that you are the same person wherever you are and whoever you are with. They need to see you living a consistent life. Your spouse needs to know that you are rock solid, not a person whose personality or behavior is constantly shifting.

Also, when you and your spouse got married, you promised to be there for each other "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health...till death us do part." You also committed to become "one flesh." That means the other person should be able to rely upon those promises—that you will not tear the marriage apart and that you will be there, as their husband or wife, no matter what happens.

2. You will always speak the truth. There are no such things as "little white lies" or "half truths." What you say is either true or it is not. Let me illustrate. If your wife asks you something simple like, "What have you been doing?" Don't just say, "Mowing the lawn." If you have also been watching television and checking emails, say so. Remember: Truth is the whole truth. To rebuild trust, speak truth in everything, big and small. Doing so will help build the other person's confidence in your trustworthiness.

Speaking truth also means not keeping secrets from your spouse. Whether it's a purchase you made, an addiction you have, an illness you're experiencing or where you've been, nothing should be kept from your spouse. A surprise party may be an exception! Sharing challenges, problems, and your emotions with your spouse may be difficult initially, but will help rebuild trust and ultimately intimacy in your relationship.

3. You will always do what you say you'll do. In simple terms, when you say you'll do something, the other person can check it off the list or take it to the bank. It's a done deal. If for some reason you are unable to do it, let the other person know immediately. Also the seeds of suspicion and distrust seem to germinate when the person working to rebuild the trust does unpredictable things. For example, if you are going to be unusually late coming home from work, tell your spouse and let him or her know why.

As you rebuild trust in your relationship, remember that one of the best things you can do is to ask the other person, "What can I do to earn your trust once again?" Then be sure to listen carefully and take action.source: charismamag.com

Devil Would Surely Flee if You Were Dangerously Awake

The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! (Romans 13:12, The Message)

A few years ago, in my quest to study the lioness, I read books and articles and watched DVDs, documentaries, and even YouTube clips in order to observe lionesses in different settings, stages, and interactions. One documentary followed the resettlement of two lionesses and one lion into a newly designated reserve in South Africa. After a particularly tense sequence, the narrator said something that got my attention: "There's nothing more dangerous than being in the presence of lions when they are fully awake."

The lioness is dangerous when she is fully awake.

What about us? What would happen if we were dangerous and fully awake?

Then and only then would we pose any threat to the darkness that holds so many around us captive.

As Romans 13:12 says, we must wake up, rise up, remember who we are, and confront the evil in this world with light. When you are awake to what God is doing, then you will know what you are to do. The time for lingering is over. It is time to be up and about. The alarm went off hours ago!

Far too many of us are discouraged, sedated, or sadly unaware of what's really going on in the world. Could this be because for far too long we have heard a tranquilizing, escapist gospel that motivates very few to save the lost?

We are not our own; we are God's. We're a holy people set apart for Him and His purposes. We are not some group of straggling, struggling, fatherless refugees who are overcome by sin and wondering if there is a God. We are the collective body of Christ, and as such we are destined for triumph, victory, and signs and wonders.

We are truly frightening to our enemy. He has done everything in his power to contain us. But God did not reveal Himself as limitless in order to limit us. Quite the contrary. He wants to put His heart within us.read here

How will you respond when you are fully, dangerously awake? Even now, what is stirring in your heart? Allow the Holy Spirit to awaken you to what He is doing. Only then will we walk in the purposes God has called us to.

Your fingers can reveal something about your personality?

Did you know that the length of your fingers can reveal something about your personality!?

Compare the length of the index finger and ring finger and see if it matches with some of your characteristics.

The image shows three types of finger lengths, marked A, B and C. Check your fingers and discover the meaning below.

A) They say that people in which the ring finger is longer than the index finger are very beautiful in appearance. They radiate with charm that others find irresistible. In addition, they are more aggressive and decisive and it is no problem for them to take a risk. The profession they usually have is: soldier, engineer, chess player and they are also successful in solving crosswords. Scientists have discovered that people with longer ring fingers earn more than people with shorter ring fingers.

B) People with shorter ring fingers than the index fingers have a great deal of self-confidence, they are full of them self and arrogant. They enjoy solitude and do not like to be disturbed in their free time. They are not the type of person who will take the first step when it comes to relationships, but they always accept and appreciate the attention they receive.

C) Persons in which the length of the ring finger and index finger are the same are peace loving, and feel uncomfortable when they find themselves in a conflict. They are well organized and try to get along with everybody. They are characterized by the fact that they tend to be faithful in a relationship, full of tenderness and caring toward their partners. read it here

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. - Acts 4:13

In the book of Acts, we find some amazing stories of genuine, obedient followers of Jesus Christ, real, live Christians.

These were people who knew what it was to walk with Jesus—people who, before they even spoke a single word, had that certain perception about them, people who, because of their godly lifestyles, had in effect earned the right to preach the gospel because there was evidence in their lives. And it was said of them that they had been with Jesus.

Now that was not meant as a compliment, by the way. The statement wasn't even made by Christians. It was made by the authorities who had observed these Christ-followers.

This reminds us that God can use ordinary people. Most often we put the apostles on pedestals. We see them as one-dimensional characters. Yet the events of Acts took place over a 30-year period of time, so not every day had miracles.

Not every day had visions. Not every day had supernatural phenomenon. The first-century believers just went about their business from day to day.

Every day as Christians, we are out and about, doing our thing. Are people able to tell that we have been with Jesus?

Is there evidence to confirm it? Or, as it has been said, if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

It doesn't matter how many Bibles you own or how many Christian bumper stickers you have on your car.

The evidence I am talking about are results in your life - a change of character. This is what we see in the lives of the first-century Christians. They walked with God, and it showed in the way they lived.

Prayer: Lord, draw me closer and change my life.

Scriptural Reading: Acts 4:1-21

Are You Speaking Life or Death?

And by death I don’t neccesarily mean a physical death. It could be a death of a relationship, a career, a goal etc.

Are you a “Negative Nancy” or a “Positive Polly” ?

Being positive is a choice you make every day from the moment you wake up.  Some people are so negative, they don’t even recognize a blessing when it’s presented to them. 

You either look at your circumstance as an opportunity for growth or way to damnation.  You either accept defeat as your destiny or see it as a learning curve and make it your foundation to start over.

You either see your roadblock as a stumbling block or a stepping stone.  It all depends on how you view it. read here

The choices you make from the time you start the day shape your day and your life ultimately.

If you declare every day that surely goodness and mercy follows you all the days of your life, eventually you will start to look for life’s little blessings because that’s what you are expecting.

If you declare every day that you are worthless, you amount to nothing and you are a waste of space, then eventually you start to believe yourself. The same works in the reverse. If you declare victory, you are more than enough, and you have a unique gift to share with the world, eventually you will start to believe this also. 

For things happen twice, first in our minds and second in reality.

Things may not always go our way.  Disasters, heartbreaks, losses, and accidents happen.  They are inevitably parts of our lives.  But they are not the totality of life.  They do not define your destiny.  They don’t mean you are living a cursed life.  You can always learn from them and with God’s help, turn things around.  

You either speak life or death according to the words you speak, the beliefs you declare, and the things you do. 

So, Are You Speaking Life or Death?

Your Feet are a reflection of your personality

The shape of a foot can reveal a person's characteristic traits and even provide information about his/her state of mind and health.

In terms of shape, there are four different types of feet that determine the way we are. Let's see what this is all about. 

1:THE SQUARE FOOT . This refers to a foot with a slightly obtuse, in which the length of the toes, including the first or big toe, is almost the same, giving rise to a form similar to that of a rectangle.It is also called 'Giselle' or 'Peasant Foot' and is characteristic of those who like to ponder and relentlessly examine every decision, always weighing up the positive and negative aspects.In this case, it refers to individuals who never go with the flow and always decide based on a set of principles, therefore being very practical in their choices. These people are reliable and secure, who always finish what they set out to do.

2: FLAME FOOT. Also called "Fire Foot" or 'Greek Foot', it is characterized by the presence of a narrower second toe (long toe) than the rest of the toes, which protrudes from the toe axis. The fingers are spread apart and create a shape that is similar to that of a triangle. Someone who possesses feet such as this is an active, sporting and creative individual, who loves movement and is characterized by a strong enthusiasm.This person can also encourage and motivate those around him/her. On the other hand, this individual is also very impulsive, which can occasionally lead to excessive stress for himself/herself and those around him/her.

3:THE COMMON FOOT. Also known as the 'Roman Foot', this is characteristic of someone with a 

balanced and well-proportioned body shape and it is typical of someone who has an extrovert and sociable nature. The owner is always ready to learn new things and to engage in innovative intellectual experiences. This is a distinguishing feature of travellers, which is why it is sometimes called the "foot of air". This is to say that the owner has light feet, with toes and big toe in proportion to each other so that the feet are aerodynamic.He who owns this foot loves to discover new cultures, always enhancing and enriching his own. In this case, excessive safety can become an issue as the owner turns to excessive pride or eccentricity in his behaviour. source: 2unitrending.info

4: STRETCHED FOOT. With an elongated, tight shape, this foot features toes that are fused together and a big toe that tapers toward the top. This foot has a rather delicate and subtle shape, denoting dreamer and an idealist spirit. The "Water Foot" or 'Egyptian Foot' belongs to those who cherish their private life and are full of hidden aspects, without feeling the urge to look reality in the face. We are dealing with someone who often changes mood, rebelling to everyday life and denoting certain impulsiveness.

Even the shape and size of the toes and fingernails reveals that there are other sides of their  character that are not available for us to explore at first sight. For example, those with small feet love life and like to have a very hectic job, while larger feet are characteristic of those with the greatest desire to succeed in new ventures. Crooked fingers are a sign of surrender, long ones denote ambition, and a very large big toe symbolizes a high degree of rationality. The feet can also provide insight into the health of an individual with the help of reflexology. Massaging some portions of the foot creates nerve stimulations that are transmitted directly to the brain and cause a state of well-being. This can also relieve pain for those who complain of discomfort in the abdomen, especially in the stomach and intestine regions. It may even help you find out if you have a predisposition to developing lung cancer by detecting the presence of nicotine in your toenails. A clear sign that this may be happening, and which smokers should be weary of, is when the nails begin to turn yellow.

THE WORD OF GOD

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A man took his wife to see the doctor, and as he was sitting in the waiting room, he saw the doctor come rushing out, asking if someone had a screwdriver.

He returned to the exam room with the screwdriver, but a few minutes later, he came running out again and asked for a pair of pliers. The man was getting concerned at this point.

Moments later, the doctor came out and asked if anyone had a hammer. Unable to stand it any longer, the husband said, "Doctor, what is going on in there? What is wrong with my wife?" "I don't know," the doctor replied. "I can't get my medical bag open."

When it comes to our Bibles, the same is true for a lot of us. We haven't even opened them. This is why I think it is very important to bring your Bible to church.

It is also why I don't put verses up on the screen at the church where I pastor. I don't have a problem with that in principle, but I don't want people looking at a screen; I want people looking at their Bibles.

I want their Bibles to be used. It seems bizarre to me when I see people going to church without a Bible, and when I see preachers who don't preach the Bible.

It does matter what God's Word has to say. So it is important to read your Bible. It has been said that a Bible that is falling apart is usually an indication of a life that isn't. So I like to see worn-out Bibles.

The devil will do everything He can to keep us away from the Word of God. So let's read our Bibles.

Prayer: Lord, may Your Word be my delight all the days of my life.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Faith to grab the blessing, then strength to endure the burden

With every blessing, there is a burden, and with every burden, there is a blessing coming. If you have the faith to grab the blessing, you must have the strength to endure the burden. The more you are afflicted, the more you grow, they meant it for evil, but God meant it for your good. Many who get the blessings without the burden don't appreciate what they have. When you have to bear a burden, you are grateful and humble when you receive the blessing. Are you a Burden-bearer? "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." (Psalm 119:71)
by T.D Jakes.

Video of the day by Newsboys: God's Not Dead, Jesus is ALIVE

Let love explode and bring the dead to life

A love so bold to see a revolution somehow

Let love explode and bring the dead to life

A love so bold to bring a revolution somehow

Now I'm lost in Your freedom

In this world I'll overcome

[2x]

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion

Roaring, He's roaring, roaring like a lion

Let hope arise and make the darkness hide

My faith is dead I need resurrection somehow

Now I'm lost in Your freedom

In this world I'll overcome

[2x]

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion

Roaring, He's roaring, roaring like a lion

He's roaring, He's roaring

[3x]

Let heaven roar

And fire fall

Come shake the ground

With the sound

Of revival

[4x]

My God's not dead

He's surely alive

He's living on the inside

Roaring like a lion

He's roaring, He's roaring, He's roaring like a lion [2x]

EASTER BRINGS HOPE

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." - John 11:25

For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.

Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross.

They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.

They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of His close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35).

Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die.

But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.

But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25).

Death is not the end for a believer. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that death is the beginning of glory for those who have put their faith in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for destroying the power of death over me.

Scriptural Reading: John 11:17-27

Video of the day by Kari jobe, O the blood

Verse 1

O the blood

Crimson love

Price of life's demand

Shameful sin

Placed on him

The hope of every man

Chorus

O the blood of jesus washes me

O the blood of jesus shed for me

What a sacrifice that saved my life

Yes the blood it is my victory

Verse 2

Savior son

Holy one

Slain so i can live

See the lamb

The great i am

Who takes away my sin

Bridge

O the blood of the lamb

O the blood of the lamb

O the blood of the lamb

The precious blood of the lamb

What a sacrifice

That saved my life

Yes the blood it is my victory

Verse 3

O what love

No greater love

Grace how can it be

That in my sin

Yes even then

He shed his blood for me.

Happy Good-Friday from us here ASB-World,Thank you Jesus for your BLOOD.

FINISHED!

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. - John 19:30

The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was significant and so was His death.

The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfil, He summed it up with a single word: "finished."

In the original Greek, it was a common word. Jesus probably used it after He finished a project that He and Joseph might have been working on together in the carpentry shop.

Jesus might have turned to Joseph and said, "Finished. Now let's go have lunch." It is finished. Mission accomplished. It is done.
So what was finished? Finished and completed were the horrendous sufferings of Christ.

Never again would He experience pain at the hands of wicked men. Never again would He have to bear the sins of the world. Never again would He, even for a moment, be forsaken of God. That was completed. That was taken care of.

Also finished was Satan's stronghold on humanity. Jesus came to deal a decisive blow against the devil and his demons at the cross of Calvary.

Hebrews 2:14 says. "Only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death."

This means that you no longer have to be under the power of sin. Because of Jesus' accomplishment at the cross, finished was the stronghold of Satan on humanity.

And lastly, finished was our salvation. It is completed. It is done. All of our sins were transferred to Jesus when He hung on the cross.

His righteousness was transferred to our account. So Jesus cried out the words, "It is finished!" It was God's deliberate and well-thought-out plan. It is finished-so rejoice!

Prayer: Lord, let Your finished work of redemption manifest in me.

Scriptural Reading: John 19:28-30

Happy New Month of April

Happy New Month of April, this new month will bring new change to our situations. All is well in this new month, stay clam and fresh in this month.....

Happy new month of April from us all Adenike Salako Blog's World :)

ASB-World: Congratulations to Nigeria President elect Gen Buhari

Congratulations to the new Nigeria President elect Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, we ASB-World pray that God Almighty will grant you wisdom and knowledge  to direct the country right. Congratulations once again.

HEAVEN

The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 

- 2 Peter 3:9

Heaven is not for good people; it is for forgiven people. Case in point: the thief on the cross. He was a murderer, most likely, but he was forgiven. And anyone can be forgiven if they will turn to Christ. And just as heaven is a real place, hell is real too. We can't deny it.

The Bible teaches on it many, many times. C. S. Lewis said, "There are only two kinds of people in the end: Those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, `Thy will be done.' All who are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice, there could be no hell."

So let's get over the notion that God is so cruel in sending people to hell. God poured out His wrath on His own dear Son so we wouldn't have to go to hell.

The last thing God wants is for anyone to perish. But if we are bound and determined to reject His offer of forgiveness, then it is really on us. So we can't change the script, and we can't rewrite the story.

As R. Albert Mohler, Jr wrote, "We have no right to determine which 'story' of the gospel we prefer or think is most compelling. We must deal with the gospel that we received from Christ and the Apostles, the faith once for all delivered to the church."

Heaven and hell are very real places - do you believe that?

Prayer: Thank You Lord, that because of my faith in You, my destination is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Peter 3:1-10

The Reason You Have An Apple-Shaped (Or Pear-Shaped) Body

If you’ve ever read a women’s magazine, you’re familiar with the concept of “apple” versus “pear” body shapes. They’re the two most common presentations of the human body — in the first case, fat gathers around the midsection, in the latter, fat accumulates around the hips, thighs, and rear.

Now, researchers from Duke University have pinpointed a gene, called Plexin D1, which determines the body type you’ll have with a great deal more certainty than any magazine quiz ever could.

Now, for those who think that your body shape is only a barometer of the style of jeans you choose, or if you should opt for the A-line vs. the empire waist wedding dress, take heed: Your body shape has everything to do with your health. 

An apple shaped body, which has greater fat accumulation in the belly, carries with it the risk of heart disease. Fat concentration in the midsection is also thought to induce inflammation and trigger metabolic diseases including high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. 

A pear body shape, on the other hand, is considered to be pretty healthy. This shape accumulates fat in the hips and thighs, which is associated with increased fertility and a decreased risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes. 

Now let’s get back to that study.

All humans have the Plexin D1 gene. But to simplify their research, the Duke researchers chose to study the gene’s effects in zebrafish. Since the fish are transparent, you can actually see where the fat cells are accumulating to easily determine their body shape. John F. Rawls, PhD, and an associate professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke, and James E. Minchin, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in Rawls’ lab, engineered zebrafish without the Plexin D1 gene, and compared them with normal zebrafish who carried the gene. 

The fish without the Plexin D1 gene had less visceral fat tissue than their “apple-shaped” counterparts with the gene. Visceral fat is the type of fat that causes an apple-shaped body. It lies deep within the midsection, wedged between organs including the heart, liver, intestine, and lungs. From there, the tissue emits hormones and other chemicals that cause inflammation, triggering high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

Instead, these “pear shaped” fish displayed more subcutaneous fat, which is the type of fat that sits beneath the skin of the hips, thighs, and rear of pear-shaped individuals. This type of fat tissue decreases insulin resistance in humans — which protects us from getting diabetes. 

So should we all try to get rid of our Plexin D1 gene? Not so fast. Michin tells Yahoo Health, that while “to have such an extreme effect is surprising,” it’s important to remember that their research also involved an extreme amount of genetic manipulation, wholly eliminating the Plexin D1 gene in the mutant zebrafish in a way that is unlikely to ever occur in real life. 

All humans carry the Plexin D1 gene, but we express the gene in different ways. “Body fat distribution is a complex trait that is governed by interactions between multiple genes, says Michin. “We expect that more subtle regulation of Plexin D1 in human populations is likely to occur.”

Despite the clear health implications of body fat distribution, little is known about the genetics of body shape. A large international study that appeared in Nature in February began to fill in this gap by looking for genes associated with waist-to-hip ratio. The researchers found some association with Plexin D1 in their study. read here

In the future, this information could lead to understanding how to genetically manipulate our body types — and, more importantly, improve our health in the process.  

CALLED TO DO THEIR PART

All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

We also find in the book of Acts of the Apostles three vital ingredients in the way that God worked.

It was the Spirit of God working through the Word of God in the hearts of the people of God.

On the Day of Pentecost, there were only 120 believers gathered at the time the Holy Spirit was poured out. Their world was as bad as ours and, in some ways, maybe worse. They lived under the jurisdiction of the godless Roman Empire.

Immorality was rampant. In cities like Corinth, prostitutes openly walked the streets. The religious establishment was corrupt.

Idolatry and spiritism and demon worship were openly practiced. 

Everywhere the first-century Christians went, they were ridiculed, opposed, persecuted, and physically assaulted for their beliefs.

Yet within 30 years, the original 120 believers and their converts changed a good part of the world.

Also, they did this without a lot of the things that we lean on today. They didn't have magnificent mega church buildings or modern technology at their disposal.

The apostle John did not have a television show. Thomas did not have a Facebook page. Peter never Tweeted. Yet somehow, they were able to impact their world for the better. So what was their secret?

Every Christian believed they were called to do their part. And I think that is still the secret today. You have a part to play. I have a part to play.

So we need to ask ourselves, what is my place in the church? If we start thinking that way, it will make a huge difference.

Prayer: Lord, show me my place in the body of Christ and help me play my role in the church.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:21-30