DIVINE PROVISION

Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. - Matthew 14:19

God is able to provide for us even when the resources around us are limited and inadequate. He is not limited by our limitations.

Jesus had a crowd of over five thousand people to feed and all He had in His hand were five loaves of bread and two fish.

Consider the sheer size of the crowd in front of Him and the tiny food supply in His hands. Anybody faced with such disproportionate factors of demand and supply would just give up.

But not Jesus. He sees possibility when everything else appears impossible. Let's see how He responded to this need:

• He took the fish and loaves. He did not despise the little resource in His hands.

• He looked up to heaven. Jesus knew where His source of blessing was. It was not in the resources around Him but in the power of God above.

• He blessed the bread. God is a God of increase. When we lift up our hands to Him in faith, He releases the blessing of increase over what we have.

• He broke the bread. When we start using what we have by breaking it, the power of God quickens it and creates an increase.

• He gave the bread. When we use what we have and give it wholeheartedly in service to God, it multiplies in value.

Prayer: Lord, help me to look up to You when the resources around me are limited.

Scriptural Reading: Matthew 14:13-21

Relationship: 7 signs your husband is happily married

Every wife wants her husband to find joy in their marriage. Here are 7 signs that indicate your honey is a happily married man.

• 1. Kisses

  He greets you with a kiss when he comes home from work. It's not a run-of-the-mill, quick, peck-on-the-cheek kind of kiss. No. It's a body-hugging, lips-to-lips kind of kiss. The lingering type that lets you know — without a doubt — he's glad to be home with you once again. A sure sign he's happily married.

• 2. Contacts

  When he goes away on business, he contacts you every day and lets you know he misses you. A husband who is happily married genuinely misses his wife when he's away. He wants to be with you. He can't wait to get home to you. He says endearing things on the phone when he calls. And he means every word of it. He is 100% faithful to you always. And you know it.

• 3. "I love you's"

  He tells you he loves you. He says it every day. And you say it back. It never gets old. He's not like the husband whose wife complained after several years of marriage, "You don't tell me you love me;" and who replied, "I told you when we were married, and if it ever changes, I'll let you know." That's not how a devoted, happily married man operates. He will tell you he loves you because he wants you to know it daily. He loves saying it because he feels it deeply. And he knows it matters to you to hear the words.

• 4. Helping hand

  He helps around the house. He wants to lighten your load and do his share, even more than his share when you're not feeling well. He's a willing partner in the business of making your home an inviting place to be. And he teaches your children to do the same. He gets it that raising the kids isn't just your job; it's his too, one he's willing to share because he loves you and them. In other words, he's an active participant in making home life happy for his family.

• 5. Compliments

  He compliments you. He looks at you and sees what you are doing. He's paying attention. You catch him eyeing you at different times. He can't help it. He's smitten with you. He never tires of looking at you. He thinks you're beautiful, no matter what changes your body may have gone through. He doesn't see the flaws that you see. He's blinded by love.

• 6. Comforting

  He holds you when you cry. When heartache and disappointment cause your tears to flow, he's there for you. He tries his best to understand what you're going through. He's not always perfect at it, but he tries to comfort you during your hard times. If you are wise, you will welcome his comforting.

• 7. Open-heart sharing

  He shares his dreams and sorrows with you. It's not as easy for him to do this as it is for you. He needs to know he can tell you these things without you falling apart, and that you will keep his confidence. When he's willing to open up his heart and tell you his plans and hopes for his career, he knows you will listen and care. He knows you are his personal cheerleader. He also knows his love for you is deep enough that you will understand and want to know about his disappointments. A happily married man can confidently do this.

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY

When you eat the labour of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. - Psalm 128:2

Happy life does not just appear out of the blue. It must be deliberately pursued. These guidelines can help you live a happier life.

Pursue contentment. Ask God to help you be content with your money, your health, and other situations in your life.

Realize that true contentment doesn't depend on external circumstances, but on internal peace that only God can give.

Take out the pressure of unnecessary competition and rivalry from your life. Don't allow what someone else has to keep you from enjoying what you have. Enjoy what you have.

Don't feel guilty about enjoying the blessings God gives you. Understand that living in deprivation and need doesn't somehow make you a more seriously spiritual person.

Remember that God Himself is joyful and intends you to fully enjoy the gifts He gives you. Go ahead and have fun pursuing your interests, knowing that as long as you don't engage in anything harmful and sinful, you can enjoy your pursuits.

Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Recognize that you'll enjoy life much more if you're in your best possible physical, mental, and spiritual health than if you neglect one or more of these areas.

Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and exercise, constantly seek to learn something new, and stay close to God through Christ. Give generously.

While enjoying what the Lord has blessed you with, give a thought for those who need help. Don't wait until it's convenient for you to help others.

Decide to give whenever God leads you to, trusting that God will give you joy in return.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to wisely manage my life so that I can live a happy and contented life.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 128:1-6

Prayer for the new week

The mighty hands of God's protection shall cover you and every member of your family, God will

give you beauty for ashes in Jesus name.Those who think they've pushed you away from favour will soon realize that they have actually pushed you into the fulfillment of your destiny.I pray that all your lost glories shall be restored in Jesus name and you will never know sorrow again. So shall it be for you and every member of your family in Jesus name.

Happy new week and haven fun from us ASB'S World.

Pls do like our fan-page on facebook and visit your friend also.

YOU ARE REIGNING WITH CHRIST?

Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:5-6

Knowing what God has made us in Christ Jesus empowers us to fully claim and occupy our rightful positions. Christ partook of our human nature so that we can also partake of His divine nature and positions.

He lives His life 'together' with us. Through His life, death and resurrection, God has:

• Made us alive. God is a life-giver. He makes our spirits alert and responsive to His Holy Spirit. Because we are alive to Him, we can hear the voice of God and experience His presence. We are no longer dead in sins but alive to righteousness.

• Raised us up. God is a lifter. He found us knocked down and out on the sidewalk of life and reached out to us.

His grace raises us from the deepest depths of sin, shame and defeat. Because He has raised us, we can walk tall and live confidently.

• Made us sit. We are seated where Christ is seated, at the right hand of the Father. To sit where Christ is seated is to benefit from the favour and authority that the Father has made available to Christ. We have the ear of the Father when we pray.

We are seated in a seat that is far above principalities and powers of evil.

Prayer: Thank You Father, for the new position of favour You have set me in through Christ.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

GET UP AND MOVE ON

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7

God has put dreams and desires in each person's heart. He has given each one of us a hunger for things that are spiritual as well as things that make our lives useful. Those are the dreams that we run in the race of faith to attain to.

In the race of faith, you run to win. And you run to finish the race. It's not enough simply to start. We have to finish the race, too. So if you have stumbled out of the race that the Lord has set before you, get up and get back on track. There is a race to run and a prize to be won.

The main character in the film “Chariots of Fire” fell in this important race. He was hurt and discouraged. But he got up again and continued to run.

He finished the race and he won it. Even when you stumble, even when you fall, you can still get up and run. You can still win. God still believes in you.

You may have stumbled. You may have fallen in the race of life. Or maybe you have been discouraged by harsh criticisms around you; or something has happened to set you back. It's not too late to get up and start running again. The Holy Spirit is there to help you.

You will never be truly happy until you have pursued both your spiritual and self-actualizing dreams.

So when you fall by the wayside while pursuing your dreams, allow the Lord to lift you up again and inspire you for success. Whatever the Lord starts with you, He is able also to finish it. Run in His power.

Prayer: Lord, I know that You have planted dreams and goals in me; Help me to pursue them with Your strength.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

You don't need a lot You just need you

I noticed that when God speaks to me, He does it when i am alone. When i am away from distraction. When i am just with myself, alone.

Then i started to wonder at scientists of old. Most of these men spent a lot of time in isolation, trying , failing and eventually succeeding. Once they succeed, we hear the news.

Most of the people who make great impact in life were loners! The difference in the world today....most of us don't like isolation. We love the attention of the crowd , we desire it a long way before we deserve it.
At times, when we see someone who is alone, it seems like that is a sign that they are of no value or that God is not with them.
Let me give you an example.....In most churches today, there are matured sisters who live alone and are waiting for the God's choice of a husband. People look at them with pity. At times, people even think that they are single because God does not love them as much as He loves the married ladies!!!!!!

There is something about loneliness, it can either make you or break you. You can either look at yourself and think you are a failure because there is none else around or you can look in yourself and discover what those who left you were unable to see.

1 ki.19.4-15.nlt
Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, lord ,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” He replied again, “I have zealously served the lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” Then the lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.

The story in the bible is that of a man who was on a mission. A prophet who had a clear message from God. After killing the prophets of Baal, a little threat scared him and he panicked and forced himself into a SOLITARY STATE...
Tired out, he started to feel lonely.
He may have started to associate the company of many men and women of God as the yardstick for success. He was worried that he will die just like others.....He looked at himself with pity and it wasn't long before he started suggesting suicide to God, as a way out of his state.

Are you lonely today.....?
I should ask....ARE YOU ALONE? If YES, wait.....find out why you are alone!
If God put you there, its because you need to learn something crucially needed for the journey ahead.
If God didn't, trace back your steps and find out if you are there because you are scared of what awaits you out there.
Before you start to seek the crowd, ask, DO I HAVE A LESSON TO LEARN FROM THIS PHASE?

Gods mercies are great....He refreshed the prophet and provided energy needed, then asked him to retrace his steps....
DON'T RUSH TO THE CROWD....They are not a yardstick for success. The journey ahead of you is personal. Even if your co-travellers are all dead, your destiny is in no way tied to them.

CROWD HAS NEVER BEEN GOD'S STANDARD FOR SUCCESS

sis bola.