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

When You See No Relief For Your Pain and Stress

I was just on Facebook and a friend had posted that people should have to pass drug tests in order to

receive welfare.

Then I sat down on the floor to fold underwear and was thinking about people doing drugs. (Us girls, we do tend to think on a round-about.) 

My thoughts went back a few months to April and May, when I would wake up in the night with intense grief and stress. (You could read more here about my goings on this last year.)

And how all of a sudden I had compassion for people who turn to alcohol when life gets hard.

Because sometimes your heart hurts so much it makes you feel wild and desperate for relief.

In those heart-pressing moments of grief I longed for anesthesia. But in reasoning through this, I concluded that followers of Christ do not anesthetize themselves.

We don't mask the pain.

When our hearts are at a level 10 on the pain scale, we scream out for comfort. We run to arms –to Someone.

How do you know God is real? many people ask.

I will answer –because on the blackest nights of my life I have had someone with me. I have found comfort in the tenderness, strength, and hope of the living God.

I've tried different treatments to escape pain in the past  like eating chocolate or going shopping. ("Retail therapy" my sister-in-law calls it.) I've tried putting in a chick flick to watch love and happiness. That's just the truth. But the chocolate gets swallowed. I shrink the new shirt I just bought in the dryer. The movie ends. All of these anesthetics wear off quickly, and then there is the stab of pain again.

But God's presence in suffering does not wear off. In fact, I am convinced that the Lord is a gifted artist in the way he comforts his people  surprising us individually with a balm of encouragement so intimate and well-timed that it feels like chocolate and a new shirt and a chick flick all at once.

It feels like being loved and cared for.

This is what waits for the raw heart that seeks God.

So I ask you  what pain/stress are you experiencing today, and are you trying to soothe it with anything inferior to the comfort God offers?

Christy Fitzwater 

CONFRONT AND SUPPORT

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Acts 15:37-39

Conflict in the workplace, in ministry, or even marriage is ‘,inevitable because you are working closely with one another.

God has wired each of us with different personalities that can view circumstances differently.

One person can see a situation and conclude something totally different from another.

There are times when conflicts just cannot be resolved. It doesn't mean that one person or the other is evil or sinful.

It just means that the difference of opinion or the personality clash has no solution.

We see an example of this in the relationship of Paul and Barnabas, two partners in Christian ministry who had a sharp disagreement regarding a young man named John Mark.

In Acts 15, we see that Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on a missionary journey. However, Paul refused.

John Mark had disappointed him once before and Paul didn't want to give him another chance. In the end, Paul and Barnabas agreed to disagree and to part company. Paul went one way; Barnabas and John Mark went another.

Sometimes, that's the only solution to a disagreement. There's a postscript to this story: In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul writes from his prison cell in Rome and tells Timothy, "Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry."

Sometime after the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, John Mark redeemed himself and became a valued partner in Paul's ministry.

Whenever there is disagreement, make sure to avoid personal attacks. This will allow you to disagree and still maintain your relationship.

Prayer: Ask the Lord for wisdom to handle conflicts.

Scriptural Reading: Acts 15:37-41

WHEN MARRIAGE GROWS OLD

It is the joy of every child seeing their old parents living in harmony, relating as if they just married yesterday. Marriage is always sweet at old age especially when the couples maintain the integrity and standard of marriage. Before marriage grows old as expected, many waters might have passed under the bridge. The time of sacrifices are uncountable, what of several sleepless night due to one’s spouse behavior, the time you will go on compulsory fasting when you cannot put something on the table for your children to eat, the rolling tears when the challenge seems unending, threat of intruder is also there, families and in-laws disagreements are not left out, disappointment and heartbroken will also show up, fear of unknown future etc. likewise, we have time of joy and happiness. The experiences of marriage before it grows old is not always smooth, but if you can open your mind, it is a school of life that worth passing through.
One of the best legacy parents can leave for their children is to live in harmony till old age. Therefore, make every effort to see that your marriage work out. It is demanding but you can put in your best.
If you can endure so many things now, you will be praised by everybody especially your children when the time comes. If you have never been appreciated or recognized by your spouse before, keep doing the good work, your testimonies will surely attract standing ovation and you will be called out with your shoulder raised high. You can think of so many things you are passing through now, all are to make up your testimonies when the time comes.
Marriage is a beautiful home of two souls that are joined together in love, with the crown of victory worn over troubles and trials, and voices blend with the loved ones.
Marriage may grow old, but the love in marriage never grows old.
May the GOD of Heaven makes your children great in life and be the great reward of your marriage. May He make you and your spouse live long to gray hair to witness the joy of marriage at old age.
By Ojo

Prayer for new week

This week our prayer is that you catch fish just like Jesus said to peter, May the Lord reward your labour with favour. You will not return empty. Receive a boat-sinking and net-breaking overflow divine favour in all that you do. 

God is breaking asunder every gates of wickedness, sickness, hardship, oppression and afflictions holding your life back. The Lord shall transform and restore your destiny, and move you forward to the original plan He have for you in Jesus mighty name. Enjoy your week! J

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

The 3 Passive Actions That Are Killing Marriages

"The heart of a man needs to be engaged; it needs to feel like it belongs and is understood."

Husbands are losing their marriages because they won't communicate. Wives are losing their marriages because they won't let their husbands communicate.

It's a vicious cycle that is killing marriages every day. It's part of a cycle that is creating passive and rejected men.

I've seen it first hand in multiple couples. Put them in a group of people and they'll talk a good talk, but put them in a room together, and the communication train derails almost immediately. He doesn't want to say anything to offend her, and she is waiting for him to say the wrong thing.

What happens next? He disengages and resorts to one of the following methods of passivity:

1. Sarcasm. Sarcasm used to be my second language. I would use it often as a way to get out of tough communication situations. I would use it just so I would have something to say in a conversation I wasn't comfortable in. It became one of the reasons for my near divorce early in marriage.

Sarcasm is typically an over-exaggeration of a comment or circumstance. It's a defensive method used to dodge the truth or accuse the other person, typically your wife. It can even come across as a joke. This is especially harmful in group situations. In order for a husband to feel better about himself and his personal issues, he may choose to make jokes about his wife to the other people around him. This builds him up and tears her down.

No marriage will last if sarcasm is one of the leading means of communication.

A great marriage will stay clear of sarcasm and seek to engage in meaningful discussions.

2. Silence. A silent man is a man causing a slow death to his marriage. Silence becomes the answer to a man's problem when he can't share his heart with his wife and be accepted. In other words, he can't freely share the issues on his heart without being torn down or disrespected by his wife.

How many times does it take for him to disengage? Not very many at all. In my personal experience in early marriage, it only took a few times for me to realize that it was easier to not tell my wife what was wrong than to actually tell her. The main reason this becomes an issue is because the wife thinks his issue is more about her than it is about him. Wives, please understand that if your husband has something to get off his heart, he needs you to listen and understand. You want him to be able to come to you.

No marriage will survive long with a silent husband.

A great marriage will allow for open and honest communication from both spouses.

3. Avoidance. Men who avoid interacting in their marriage are doing it for a reason. From long work hours to extra time spent with their friends, he is tired of spending time with his wife and will find any means to be away. These husbands need to rarely worry about sarcasm or silence, because they are always away.

Avoidance can be caused in many ways. I know men who work hard all day and then come home only to be drilled with things to do and a stressed wife. The mindset soon sets in that his hard work is not appreciated, and he can find appreciation elsewhere. This, of course, is one of the most dangerous forms of passivity in a marriage. Appreciation could be found by going to the local hangout, climbing the corporate ladder, or seeking respect from another woman.

No marriage will last when avoidance is the main goal.

A great marriage involves two people working and communicating together side by side. It involves trust.

How can you avoid becoming a passive husband and build a strong marriage? These two steps are not easy, but they are musts if you seek resolution:

First, if you fall into one of the three categories listed above, you need to invite Jesus into that situation. Get over your whole macho, "I'm a man, I don't need Jesus" delusion and honestly ask Jesus to enter that part of your life. Ask Him how to resolve your issue and how you can speak to your wife about it.

Second, after praying for some time, set a time to speak with your wife about the situation. Let her know that you've been honestly praying for some time about the issue and would like to discuss it with her. Lay out what you've been praying about and what's on your heart. Allow for some back and forth and then pray together at the end. Invite God into that situation, or situations if she adds her side of the story, and work on it each day from that time forward.

It's worth it, and you can do it.

Are you being passive in your marriage? Share your struggles in the comments section so that others can help. What are some ways you fight being a passive husband?

Manturity

ENTERTAIN NO FEAR

May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us. 1 Kings 8:57

It is sad that even though there are many strong assurances in the Bible of God's abiding presence, angelic protection, and divine provision, too many of us still worry ourselves with many things.

Instead of affirming God's promises for our lives, we choose to meditate on all the evil that Satan could bring upon us.

How often have we missed God's blessing because we are so full of fear that there is no room for faith to appropriate God's promises?

Some of us wake up in the morning and set the wheels of worry rolling. Instead of setting our minds on the goodness of the Lord and what He will do for us, we cripple ourselves with fear and worry.

We make our burdens heavier and more unbearable with negative speculations and "what ifs". It is amazing the things we worry about: "Will my car make it to work? Will I get sick? Will I get fired?

Will I have an accident? Will I make it home again safely? Will my home be here when I come back? What about the children, my spouse?

On and on we go as we poison our souls and squeeze God out of the equations of our lives.

Just as faith will release the power of God to fulfill our desires, fear will activate the forces of evil to turn your worries into reality.

If you dwell on all the negative "what ifs", your worries will drive you into a state of panic. In that state of panic, you will begin seeing your fears come true.

You worry that you are going to get ill. The worry causes your stress level to rise, which in turn, brings on all kinds of physical symptoms that will eventually make you ill.

Today, make a choice to start a faith-filled life that is focused on the promises of God for your life.

Prayer: I reject the spirit of fear and embrace the spirit of faith.

Scriptural Reading: 1. Kings 8:54-61