Keep The Devil OUT!

It is the Lord’s doing that we are alive and well to see 2014. We didn’t have to do anything to see it. Left to the devil, we would all be dead, not celebrating another new year. But God in His mercies chose to keep us. And since He kept us, I’m confident He has a purpose for doing so

I watched a movie where there was a killer on the loose. When the authorities started closing in on him, he hibernated in a caravan and started shooting sporadically. Needless to say, he killed a policewoman in the line of duty as well as other civilians. The Police brought in his girlfriend to talk him out of his insanity. He refused to budge. Instead he responded with more shooting and this time, he shot a policeman in the arm. The authorities realized the case was beyond them and they brought in the SWAT team! SWAT team is no-nonsense and their role is to get results by every means possible. They moved in and with heavy equipment and a skilled marksman, the killer was dead in minutes. Job done! But there was carnage left behind. A policewoman’s family left in mourning. Other civilians badly injured. I was upset! I mean why didn’t they bring in the SWAT team earlier?? He was already a confirmed killer on the loose and it was obvious he would kill again given the chance. Oh boy!

This year, do not leave room to chance. Do not allow the enemy on the loose to floor you. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

Come on, you have the SWAT team on your side already! Don’t wait till the last minute to use the weapons of your warfare! Never allow the enemy to kill your dreams, your hopes, your joy, your faith. Keep your eyes single, in order words focused looking unto Jesus, the author (beginning) and finisher (ending) of our faith. This year is a wonderful year full of God’s great plans and He desires to give us the best. Don’t let the devil cheat you out of it.

You know he is like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour (1st Peter 5:8). Why should you be the prey he would devour?

Build up your most holy faith by praying in the spirit (Jude 1:20)

Activate the mercy of Christ by keeping yourself in the love of God - Jude 1:21 - Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (NKJV)

This year, you win!

Shalom.

Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10: finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (NKJV)

James 4:7 - Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (NKJV)

By Deby Okoh.

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

It is said that the future is an opportunity yet unmet, a path yet untravelled, a life yet unlived.

How our future will be lived depends on the priorities and purposes of our lives today. The direction we take right now determines where we will end up in the future.

We might be frightened by an uncertain future, but as Christians, we don't have to be afraid. We can welcome the New Year with an anticipation of what God will do in us and through us.

Our future as Christians is as bright as the promises of God. When the children of Israel were being held as captives in Babylon, God sent them a message of hope.

Many of them felt that God had forgotten about them or that His intentions toward them were bad. They were frightened about their future, and they cried out to God for deliverance.

So God raised up the prophet Jeremiah to speak to them. If you have ever felt as though you were forgotten by God, if you have ever felt that God was against you, or if you have ever been frightened about your future, then God's words to the Israelites apply to you as well: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart".

Enter the New Year with hope and positive expectations because God want to do great things with your life and for your life.

Prayer: Father, I enter the New Year with hope and expectations because I know You have prepared in advance great and mighty things for me to accomplish.

Scriptural Reading: Jeremiah 29:10-14

5 Ways For Couples To Enhance Intimacy

If you think expressing love physically alone means being intimate, you are in for a surprise. Intimacy literally means physical closeness, but in reality it is the connection of two souls. It revolves around emotional affection that can gradually lead to a more satisfying physical relationship. Read on to know how you can nurture true intimacy with your partner, and go beyond plain physical closeness.

1. Eye contact: It is said that eyes are the windows to our soul. The first step towards making a close connection is making an eye contact. When you passionately look into your partner’s eyes, it builds a loving relationship and develops more trust in the marriage. This paves the way for intimacy

2. Touch: Touching each other, hugging, cuddling, etc., whenever you can, creates a longing for each other. This also produces oxytocin hormone, often called the ‘love hormone’, which is responsible for the ‘being in love’ feeling. Your touch should convey your emotions to your partner. A simple act like holding hands while watching TV can also build a stronger and more intimate bond

3. Surprises: Surprises never fail to make anyone happy. Sending your wife flowers, calling your husband randomly to say “I love you”, planning a romantic drive, complimenting your partner in front of their friends, and similar gestures are the best to make your partner feel special. Breakfast in bed is a classic, and never fails to amaze. Such plans bring the two of you closer and unveil the true meaning of intimacy.

4. Weekend getaways: Withdrawal from the hustle bustle of the daily life in the company of your beloved is always one of the best ways to rekindle passion. When surrounded by nature, peace and quiet, all stresses and anxiety calm down, soothing the mind and bringing you closer

5. Letting go of negative emotions: Stress can dampen a passionate relationship quickly. Relieving stress and being more relaxed will help you both become more appreciative towards each other, triggering more and more positive and happy emotions. The closeness that results from this will be very fulfilling.

True love and a deeply felt intimacy is not difficult to achieve even beyond s*x. These tricks are possible for every couple to try and keep the flame burning.

 

10 Effective Homemade Remedies To Give you A Glowing Skin

If you think diamonds are a girl’s best friend, think again! Nothing is more cherished than a clear complexion and fresh skin. But sometimes problems such as pigmentation disorders can leave you with uneven and patchy skin. There are many treatments available in the market to tackle this problem. But, before you opt for any chemical treatments, let us tell you about simple remedies to get a salon-like fairness at home.

Causes of skin pigmentation:

Skin pigmentation is basically discoloration of skin that can lead to an uneven skin tone. There are varieties of causes behind skin pigmentation. Skin pigmentation can be genetic predisposition. Other causes for it can be over exposure to sun, stress, acne scars, fluctuating hormonal levels, or environmental elements such as pollution.

What you must do!

Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Apply a sunscreen every day, with minimum SPF of 30.

Reapply the sunscreen every three hours if you are out in the open.

Follow a strict night care regime and use a cream containing acids such as tretinoin or kojic.

10 Effective homemade remedies to get a glowing skin:

1. Mix some carrot pulp with multani mitti (fuller’s earth) to make a thick paste. Crush a vitamin C tablet and add it to the mixture. Apply it evenly on your face, keep it for twenty minutes before you wash it off. Repeat this every week.

2. Take 4 teaspoons of milk powder and mix it with hydrogen peroxide into a paste. Add glycerine and apply this mixture on the pigmented areas. Leave this for 15-20 minutes and rinse off with cold water. Hydrogen peroxide and glycerine are easily available at a local chemist shops.

3. Peel a potato and add a few drops of water on its surface, and then rub it on your skin to reduce pigmentation marks. Potato juice helps in lightening pigmentation marks on skin.

4. Mix powdered oatmeal and yoghurt with a few drops of lemon and tomato juice. Apply it on the affected areas once a week to see visible results.

5. Mix basil leaves and lemon juice together and apply it on the affected areas to treat the pigmentation marks.

6. Scrub your body with sugar mixed in olive oil. Scrub until the sugar melts completely. You can use this on your hands, legs, neck and other affected parts of your body.

7. Mix 1 teaspoon each of lemon juice, honey and almond oil. Massage your face with it for fifteen minutes to get a naturally glowing skin.

8. Adequate water intake helps to removes toxins from the body thus freeing you of all skin related problems.

9. Mix raw papaya with raw milk and massage it on your face for ten minutes. This mix is an effective cure for blemishes on face.

10. Washing your face with buttermilk helps in reducing dark spots.

Try these simple home remedies to tackle skin pigmentation related disorders. Regular skin care, a balanced and healthy diet, and a few skin care precautions on your part will help you to maintain a natural glow on your skin.

Prayer for the New week

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter: "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said: "No, Dad. You hold my hand." "What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father. "There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."........... OUR PRAYER IS SIMPLE In whatever bridge of life u maybe crossing, may the Almighty God hold your hand and never let u down in Jesus name.

May your doors of success be always open to you. May you see opportunities where other people see troubles. May the Lord's presence never hide from u. May He grant all the desires of your heart. Because of you, your family is blessed. You will always stand & not fall. Abundant wealth and good health shall be your portion now and always in Jesus name.

I decree and declare a new level of success, promotion, and prosperity over your work, your business, your finances, your relationship and family. Your heavens will be open and hindrances shall give way. You shall excel in all good things, at all times, with all people, and under every circumstance. In whatever you do, situations will bow down before you; systems, ordinances, institutions, policies and legislature will adjust for you to have your desired breakthroughs. Go forth and possess your possessions in Jesus mighty name.’ (Amen)

Happy new week from us ASB-World.

'A Must Read'

Your Mother carried you inside of her womb for nine whole months, she felt sick for months with nausea, then she watched her feet swell and her skin stretch and tear. She struggled to climb stairs, she got breathless quickly and even a simple task like putting her shoes on was a huge struggle for her. She suffered many sleepless nights while you kicked and squirmed inside of her and while you demanded that she scoffed junk at 3am, she then went through EXCRUCIATING PAIN to bring you into this world.

She became your nurse, your chef, your maid, your chauffeur, your biggest fan, your teacher, your agony aunt and your best friend. She's struggled for you, cried over you, fought for you, put herself second for you, hoped the best for you and has driven herself insane with worry for you but never has she asked for anything in return because she loves you and did it all on love alone! Most of us take our Mums for granted but there are people who have lost or have never even seen theirs. If you have a loving Mother who did all of this for you, you are very lucky, never devalue her worth because one day, you'll wish you hadn't! What are you still waiting for?.... say I LOVE U MUM!!

Some 10 Things Your Feet Say About Your Health

What can your toes tell you? The nurse just took your temperature, checked your blood pressure, and even made you step on the scale (with that heavy sweater on, no less). And as she hands you the paper gown, she gives her final directive: "You can leave your socks on."

When it comes to your health, that could be a big mistake. A change in your feet--whether on the skin, nails, or even how they feel--can be the first sign of a potentially serious problem that, if caught early, could save your life. "Our feet are the first parts to be affected by nerve issues because they're the farthest from our hearts and spine," explains Carolyn McAloon, DPM, a Bay Area podiatrist and president of the California Podiatric Medication Association. Even more reason to never ignore feet: They're easily compromised when our bodies feel threatened, since we send blood to the internal organs and the brain before the extremities.

Here, we reveal what could be lurking behind your most common foot concerns. If you see something familiar on the list, it's best to get it checked by your doc or podiatrist before attempting any treatment.

1. Hairless feet and toes
What it might mean: Serious circulation problems
Sure, it's a pain during sandal season, but hair on your toes is a good thing. Sudden baldness can be a sign that your feet aren't getting enough blood flow to sustain hair growth. Expect your doctor to check for a pulse in your feet, which is another indication that your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your feet, says Dr. McAloon. (Feet aren't your only cue to poor circulation.

2. Frequent foot cramping
What it might mean: Dehydration and nutritional deficiencies
Randomly occurring cramps are about as generic as foot problems get. They can be as serious as circulation and nerve issues, or as harmless as a nutritional deficiency. If you're exercising, be sure to drink plenty of water, since dehydration often leads to muscle cramping. You might also try upping your intake of potassium, magnesium, and calcium (with your doctor's go-ahead, of course), since their deficiencies make cramps more common. "For relief, soak feet in a warm foot bath and stretch your toes toward your nose, not pointing down," says Dr. McAloon. If the cramps don't let up, see your doctor for testing to rule out circulation issues or nerve damage.

3. A sore that won't heal
What it might mean: Diabetes or skin cancer
Stubborn sores are red flags for diabetes. Uncontrolled glucose levels in the blood can lead to nerve damage all the way down in your feet, which means any cut, sore, or scrape can come and go without you ever feeling it. And if it gets infected, the most serious cases may call for amputation.
A non-healing wound can also be a sign of skin cancer, says Dr. McAloon. Melanoma can pop up anywhere on your body--even in between your toes--so be sure to include your feet in your regular skin checks

4. Perpetually cold feet
What it might mean: Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the most common cause of feet that just can't get warm. And if you're over 40, you could be living with a sluggish thyroid without even knowing it. Unfortunately, cold feet are the least of your problems--hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss, fatigue, unexplained weight gain, and depression. Get your feet feeling toasty again by heading to your doc for a simple blood test, and you'll start warming up shortly after starting the daily medication.

5. Suddenly enlarged big toe
What it might mean: Gout or other inflammatory issue
"The sudden onset of a red, hot, swollen, and painful joint requires immediate medical attention," says Dr. McAloon. Typical causes include gout, inflammatory arthritis, infection, or trauma.

6. Numbness
What it might mean: Peripheral neuropathy or a pinched nerve
Numbness in both feet is known as peripheral neuropathy, caused most commonly by diabetes, chronic alcoholism, or a side effect of chemotherapy. If you're experiencing neuroma, or numbness in only one foot, it could be due to a pinched nerve in the foot, ankle or back. That's most likely caused by years of wearing tight shoes (we mean you, stiletto devotees.)

7. Bunions
What it might mean: Inherited faulty foot structure
If you thought your bunions were caused exclusively by a closet full of gorgeous (yet restrictive and often painful) shoes, you can stop blaming the boutique. Bunions are actually a sign of a flawed foot structure that's often inherited and merely aggravated by inappropriate shoes. "The first foot bone drives toward the middle of the body, and you see the bump," explains Dr. McAloon. It can be painful and unsightly, but the only way to really correct it is with surgery.

8. Heel pain
What it might mean: Plantar fasciitis
You can't mistake it--that sharp pain in the bottom of the heel when you get out of bed or stand up from a chair. It's a strain of the ligament that supports you arch. And whether you did it by wearing too-tight shoes, walking in flip-flops, or wearing worn-out workout sneakers, the longer you let it go, the longer it takes to heal. Your podiatrist will probably tell you to ease up on your workout at first, rethink your footwear, and adopt a good stretching routine.

9. Flaky, itchy, or peeling skin
What it might mean: Fungal infection
Even if you're never donned an athletic jersey in your life, you could still be walking around with athlete's foot--the euphemistic term for a fungal infection. The most common cause of itchiness and peeling, it can be treated by applying anti-fungal cream and keeping your feet as cool and dry as possible during the day. If you're fungus-free, you might be dealing with eczema or psoriasis--both to be determined by your podiatrist through a skin sample.

10. Yellow toenails
What it might mean: Fungus or pedicure overload
Seeing yellow when you look down? Don't freak out--especially if you've been wearing nail polish for months on end without a break. "Yellowness can also happen naturally with age," says Dr. McAloon. If it's accompanied by brittleness or flaking, it's most likely you have a fungal infection like athlete's foot.

Source: shine.yahoo.com