Don’t Turn Him Away

TEXT: MATTHEW 11:16-30

Key verse: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Most men are guilty of what social psychologists define as “projection,” that is, always seeing your faults in others, magnifying others’ faults and never looking inwards to locate your faults in yourself.

This is the context in which Christ spoke in our text. Immediately after appreciating John the Baptist and his ministry among the people, Jesus turned His attention to the response of the obstinate and unbelieving generation, which both John and Himself ministered unto.

Jesus condemned the attitude of the people. Since God’s will is for all men to be saved, He uses a variety of means and methods for the conversion and salvation of souls. The Jews of Jesus’ days refused every proposition offered by Him. No matter what He said or did, they took the opposite view. They were cynical and skeptical because He challenged their comfortable, secure and self-centered lives. They, therefore, criticised John the Baptist because he fasted and drank no wine. They disparaged Jesus because He ate and drank with publicans and sinners. The real objection to both men of course, was how their lives and ministries exposed the ignorance and hypocrisy of these religious people.

The ancient cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom were destroyed for their wickedness and sin. Jesus upbraided His own generation that if these ancient cities had seen His works, they would have repented in ashes and sackcloth. Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum saw Jesus’ mighty works yet did not believe. They would suffer even greater punishment than that of the wicked cities which did not see Jesus. In the same vein, nations and cities with churches on every corner will have no excuse on judgment day if they do not repent and believe. The Bible says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). And which individual will ever stand before God, justified for blatantly refusing to heed the entreaties to surrender to Christ, while here on earth?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Change your heavy load for Christ’s light burden.

Prayer For New Week

I decree and declare that every power that is delaying your progress shall be destroyed today in Jesus name. Arise & Shine, it's your season of manifestation. Though you have failed in the past, but as from today, God will make you a reference point for success in Jesus name!.

Whether the devil likes it or not, like Job the Lord will give you double for your trouble in Jesus Name! Your great dreams, aspirations n revelations will surely manifest. You will not live in the shadow of God's master-plan for your life In Jesus Name!

Even if you have made the worst mistake and missed the road to the top, Christ will cause all things to work for your good.  You will recover from all your loses in Jesus Name. 

Happy New Week and New Month Of April Ahead From Us Adenike Salako Blog's World.

SHE TOOK IT BY FORCE

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. Mark 5: 27

The traditions of this woman's society required a woman with an issue of blood to stay indoors because she was 'unclean'.

After waiting for twelve years and hiding in the shadows, she probably said to herself, 'enough is enough. I am tired of pain and shame.'

She set her own agenda for change and began a process that totally transformed her life. But her journey of change was not an easy one.

She had to overcome some stumbling blocks. Her journey started from behind the crowd.

She was behind but she was not deterred by her placement. She was confronted with a crowd of people who were all trying to get to the same Jesus she wanted to get to.

Although there were many in contention with her, she was not discouraged.

She came from behind and pressed through the rough and tumbling mob surrounding Jesus although she was feeble in strength. She did not make excuses nor gave herself any respite.

When she finally got to Jesus, she reached out and executed her agenda. She put her faith into action. She reached out and touched the hem of Jesus' garment. That is faith in action.

She overcame:

1. Long-term disappointment

2. Physical weakness

3. Personal embarrassment

4. Society's rejection

5. Physical barriers: the crowd of people

You can also reach out in faith and set a new agenda for your life if you press on without wavering.

Prayer: Help me Lord, to press through all obstacles until i have touched your power.

Scriptural Reading: Mark 5:21-43

When storms are raging all around you, He covers you!

I recently heard someone tell this very interesting story -

A young boy went to visit a friend and while he was there playing, a storm erupted. The boy couldn’t go home of course as he would be caught in the rain and he sat there waiting quietly. Minutes later, his father came round to walk him home. He brought a very big thick coat with which he covered his son. As they walked home, the boy was in engulfed in darkness and all he could see were his shoes. He had no idea where he was going, but walked with his father anyway. After some time they got to the house and the father removed the big coat. The young boy was safely home and he was dry!

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and in ‘darkness’? Does it sometimes feel as if there is a storm raging all around you? Do you realise that that time when it is dark is actually because God throws His covering around you to protect you from the storm so you won’t get wet? And then He safely leads you home, hallelujah!!! It may look dark right now, you may not know where you are going but trust that God holds your hand and is safely leading you to the place of your destiny. He is shielding you from what is worse and all you can see is what is bad? Hmmm, if only God can open our eyes to see, we will be thankful all the time!

Psalm 91:4 - He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. NIV

Psalm 107:29 - He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

Isaiah 4: 5-6 - Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[ will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Isaiah 25:4 - You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall

Have a blessed weekend.

By sis Deby

Today: Happy Mother’s day

Love is blind because "MY MOTHER STARTED LOVING ME BEFORE SEEING MY FACE"

"I BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"...Because I'VE BEEN LOVING MY MOTHER SINCE I OPENED MY EYES....

Happy Mother’s day to all Mothers, Moms, Mama, Iya, Waiting-Mothers in the World from us Adenike Salako Blog’s World.

Make-Homemade-Corn-Dogs

Why This Recipe Works: To re-create this crowd favorite at home, we made a light batter with flour, cornmeal, buttermilk, and eggs. Coating the skewered hot dogs in flour before batter-dipping ensures the batter adheres to the hot dogs. To make coating the hot dogs easy, we transfer the batter to a tall drinking glass for even, hassle free dunking.

MAKES 8 CORN DOGS

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
8 hot dogs
3 quarts peanut or vegetable oil

Preparations:

1. Set wire rack inside rimmed baking sheet. Whisk cornmeal, 1 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and cayenne together in bowl. Whisk in buttermilk and eggs until incorporated. Place remaining 1/2 cup flour in shallow dish. Dredge hot dogs in flour and shake to remove excess. Thread hot dogs lengthwise onto eight 8-inch skewers.

2. Add oil to large Dutch oven until it measures about 2 inches deep and heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Stir batter to recombine, then transfer half of batter to tall drinking glass. Working with one at a time, submerge hot dog in glass and twirl to coat with batter. Allow excess batter to drip back into glass and place corn dog in hot oil. Repeat immediately with 3 more hot dogs. Fry corn dogs, turning occasionally, until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Return oil to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining batter and hot dogs. 

Source:yahoo.com

Walk Not By Sight

TEXT: GENESIS 12:10-20

Key verse: “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee” (Genesis 12:13).

A close walk with God can be sometimes tortuous, particularly when embarked upon carnally. It is only by surrendering to God, to direct every step and approve all plans that the believer is assured of eventual victory.

Abram had been asked by God to leave his kindred in Haran for Canaan. On getting to Canaan, he discovered that the land was plagued with famine. His immediate reaction was to go to Egypt where he felt the situation was less grim, without first enquiring from who instructed him to proceed to Canaan, irrespective of the terrible situation there. Abram thus left God’s divine plan for myopic self-management.

The plight of Abram is comparable to the situation of some believers today. There are those who resort to self-pity and self-management in times of adversity. Ironically, it is in times of difficulties that believers ought to demonstrate the glory of God through faith in Christ. The Bible says that the just can only live by faith and not by sight or any other sensory perception. Sadly, many there are today who live by sight.

Believers owe it an abiding duty to sanctify God before all men. Being called by the name of the Lord, imposes clear responsibility and sobriety always. In these days of global economic recession, people are continually moving from place to place in search of greener pastures. Curiously, believers who ought to lift up their eyes unto the hill all the time, sometimes look away from God unto those problems. It ought not to be so. It was bad enough that Abram migrated to Egypt outside God’s will. It was worse that on getting to Egypt, he had to lie to protect his life. In times like these, we need to check up the promises of God in the Bible for daily provisions and believe that He will supply all our needs.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The fear of the Lord is wisdom, but the fear of man ensnares.