Way to nourish your body's vital gland

Living Foods. They're foods that are alive raw (not cooked) and filled with life. They're also called raw foods or live foods.

You can plant them, pick them, sprout them or simply eat them. In each case you get life! That's because life comes from life. These foods are your "true north," your path home to health in a jungle of dietary havoc, contaminated food and abounding confusion about what and how to eat.

Good health is the result of consuming whole, unprocessed, clean food with a large percentage of that being raw and alive. These foods are chock-full of nutrients, water and fiber that flush away toxins, waste and "sludge" from our cells and intercellular fluids.

They help us prevent disease. They alkalize our bodies and help us restore our pH balance. And they give our cells vital light rays of energy to help them communicate more effectively.

Since your thyroid is a key gland that's tied to every other system in your body, it needs to work flawlessly. When it's out of balance, you're out of balance. If you have a number of the symptoms of low thyroid, chances are that you could benefit by working on your thyroid health by eating more living foods.

Some foods boost thyroid function, which makes them perfect for treating hypothyroidism, while others suppress thyroid function, which can help people with hyperthyroidism. And there are certain foods that are best avoided by anyone who is concerned about having a healthy thyroid gland and overall good health.

The following raw foods are among the most helpful for restoring thyroid balance whether you have an underactive or overactive thyroid:

• Fresh raw vegetable juices
• Low-sugar fruit, especially lemons, limes, cranberries and other berries, and green apples
• Raw nuts and seeds
• Seaweed for its rich iodine content (for hypothyroid)
• Chlorophyll-rich green juices such as watercress, collards, chard, kale, kohlrabi

Leaves, beet greens and parsley (vary the cruciferous greens with other non-cruciferous greens, such as lettuce, beet greens, watercress and spinach, if you have hypothyroidism)

source: charismamag.com

BEWARE OF WRONG MOTIVES

But Peter replied, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God." - Acts 8:20-21

In the book of Acts, we read about a man named Simon, who was a sorcerer, an occultist. He had a lot of people under his influence when the apostle Philip came along, preaching the gospel in Samaria.

As people were coming to faith and miracles were being performed, Simon realized that he had to change his racket.

So we read in Acts 8:13 that Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip everywhere and was astonished by the great miracles he saw.

When the apostles heard what was happening in Samaria, they sent Peter and John there. And so Simon approached the apostles and offered them money because he saw God's power working through them and wanted to buy it.

But Peter told him, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.

Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin" (Acts 8:20-23).

Simon showed by his actions that he never was a believer. Yes, he was baptized. (And if you are a Christian, you ought to be baptized.) But just because someone is baptized doesn't necessarily mean he or she is a Christian.

This shows us that people can be in a godly place, around godly people, and not have it affect them in the right way.

As it has been said, the same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. The grace of Jesus Christ, if it does not convert a person, plunges him or her into deeper darkness.

The purpose of our Christian call is not for grabbing material possessions but service to the Kingdom of God. So check your motives!

Prayer: Lord, create in me a clean heart.

Scriptural Reading: Acts 8:20-9-25

Prayer for new week

Your name will no longer be on the waiting list for miracles. It is your turn to gain the attention of

The Almighty God. God will relief you of every burden you have been carrying since time immemorial. The person who will help you will not give up on you in Jesus Name!

Anything you lay your hands on shall prosper. Everyone you meet shall favor you, cos this is your week of divine favor and visitation. The Lord shall revive you and everything about your life. Joy, peace and good health shall be yours and every member of your family in Jesus name. 

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

AVAILABILITY

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. - Isaiah 42:8

What kind of person does God seek to use? What qualifications is He looking for in someone? Is it a towering intellect?

Is it natural leadership ability? Could God ever use someone who is a bit shy by nature? Does this person have to be very talented or handsome or beautiful?

The answer to all of these questions is clearly no. It seems as though God goes out of His way sometimes to choose the most unexpected people to use.

If I had to choose one passage of Scripture that I think best summarizes my life as a Christian, it would be 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, where the apostle Paul wrote, "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.

And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world; things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God."

There is not a person who had less promise to achieve anything with his life than me. I was literally the last person picked for the team for whatever sport it was.

I never was academically strong. I always underwhelmed in most areas of my life. So when the Lord chose me to serve Him, it was very clear that it was His doing—not mine.

This is because God will not give His glory to another. As I have said before, God is not looking for ability as much as availability. Are you available to Him?

Prayer: Lord, here I am, use me.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 42:6-9

Health: 15 Things Amazing Things You Didn’t Know Toothpaste Could Do

FOR BEAUTY:
Toothpaste contains many useful ingredients that can be soothing and healing to the skin. For this reason, you’ll be able to use toothpaste to help you with the following issues:

1. Pimples. Reduce redness and the size of your pimples with a dab of toothpaste. Let it sit overnight, then rinse away in the morning for a noticeable difference.

2. Brittle fingernails. Since our nails are made of the same enamel as teeth, toothpaste can do a lot to help them. Simply give your nails a good scrub with some toothpaste for cleaner, shinier, stronger nails. You’ll also get that dirt out from underneath them in no time!

3. Fly-away hair. A gel toothpaste is largely made with the same ingredients as basic hair gels, so you’ll be able to substitute easily here. Just use a little dab and apply like a hair gel when needed.

FIRST AID:
Beyond beauty care, you’ll also find helpful ways to use toothpaste in that first aid kit. Keep a small tube tucked inside your kit for these emergencies:

4. Bites, sores, and blisters. Apply toothpaste to areas of skin irritation to reduce itching, swelling, and irritation. Toothpaste will dry them up quickly and help them heal faster.

5. Burns. For minor burns with no open sores, a quick toothpaste application can give you instant relief. The cooling properties get to work right away, relieving that painful sting. In the long-term, toothpaste will keep the burn from becoming a painful, oozing blister.

6. Bruises. For large bruises that take forever to fade, use a little toothpaste and a wide-tooth comb. Apply the toothpaste and gently comb the bruise in one direction to break up the blood clotting beneath the skin. Toothpaste helps with circulation and fights off the inflammation.

FASHION:
Our clothing and accessories can also benefit from many of the ingredients found in the average tube of toothpaste. Give these a try:

7. Jewelry cleaner. Before you pay for someone else to clean it, rub toothpaste onto your silver jewelry and leave it overnight, the wipe it clean with a soft cloth. Give a light scrubbing to your diamonds to see them sparkle again, just be sure to rinse thoroughly. Avoid using toothpaste on pearls.

8. Show care. Scuffed or dirty shoes can look new again with a little toothpaste. Apply it directly to the dull, dirty, or scuffed parts of the shoe, scrub with a brush, and wipe them clean. Ta-da!

9. Clothing stains. Tough stains will disappear with a little toothpaste and some brisk scrubbing. Squeeze it right on the stain and rub until it disappears, then wash as normal. If using whitening toothpaste, be advised that this can have a bleaching effect on some colors and fabrics.

HOUSEHOLD:
Toothpaste can save you money around the house by helping with some very basic tasks:

10. Computer cleaner. Scrub away fingerprints from your keyboard with a white, baking soda-based toothpaste. Follow up with a damp cloth and your keys are good as new!

11. Iron cleaner. Take away the “crusties” from the bottom of your clothes iron with a quick toothpaste rinse. Just be sure to remove all the toothpaste before you start ironing again.

12. Baby bottles. To freshen up baby bottles and remove that sour-milk smell, put some toothpaste on your bottle scrubber and give them a quick wash. Always rinse them very well afterwards.

13. Piano keys. Like computer keys, piano keys get grubby with repeated use from the dirt, oil, and grime on our fingertips. Use a damp cloth and some toothpaste to rub down the keys, then wipe them clean with a dry cloth.

14. Crayon stains. Undo your kids’ damage to the walls with a damp cloth and some toothpaste. Rub it in gentle circles and watch the crayon fade away.

15. Odor removal. After cooking with “stinky” foods in the kitchen (fish, garlic, onions, etc.), getting the smell out of the skin is a challenge. Wash your hands thoroughly with water and toothpaste for a quick and easy remedy.

Health: What The Shape And Size Of Your Finger Nails Says About You

Throughout the centuries there were different ways that could supposedly determine someone’s personality by just one look.

These theories and beliefs often connect certain body parts with the characteristics of a person. Some presume that the size and the shape of the nails can determine the personality.
There is even science called phrenology dedicated to analysing the character features based on the measuring of the skull in the past and it was believed that the proximity of someone’s eyes is a sign of an artistic talent. The current trends are focused on the shape of the nails.
Initially, it started in Asia and since then, it also spread in the west. In principle, everything depends on you and how deeply you read, how much do You really believe in these things, because no matter how precise it is, it is still fun.
Here is the reading according to the photo above. Find your shape and number and read what kind of a personality are you.


nails-forms
1. Vertical long nail – mild temper, precise, creative. These people are generally getting on well with everyone.

2. Wide nails – sincere, without absurdities, short tempered, theoreticians. These people always speak the truth, no matter what and they often give advices to other people.

3 and 4. Round or egg shaped – These people are relaxed, unique, positive and reasonable. They live with their own rhythm and they do not allow small things to destroy their lives, which means they have many long-term friends.

5. Square shape – They are leaders, strong, skillful and brave. Tey are often very serious and people see them as leaders, but they also have a soft side which is reserved only for their close ones.



6 and 7. Triangle or invert nails – smart, perfectionists, innovative, original. It is possible that these people are geniouses and think faster than the others. Usually other people are fascinated by them.

8. Almond shape – True, sincere, friendly, beautiful. These people are very kind although they are standing firmly on the ground when that is necessary, people enjoy their company and love te way they solve problems. source: beextrahealthynow

9. Sword shape – inspirative, productive, visionaries, focused. They are focused on longterm aims and see the “wider picture”, they influence people by reqarding and their positive way.

what do you think now, free free to comment.....

Life is hard work

Grace is available but if God planned for all to just have everything without doing anything, He would be unjust....

That means that He will just take the people who claim that they love and believe in Him and put them in a separate country ...where all that they need to do is just wake up and have everything without doing nothing.

Life is hard work.
It's not for the weak minded. It's not for the faint hearted .Being a born again Christian does not exclude us from the common challenges that come to man. God expects us to stand up and face them like men! Like supernatural men! people who carry something extra!

I read through the scripture in Isaiah
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2 ESV)

We love to quote this scripture, maybe if we actually read through carefully, we can understand that the provision of God is that of sustainence through these difficult situations.

Waters mean it's a huge depth and large volume.its big enough top physically drown you. God didn't say that you will bypass the water , neither did He say that a boat will carry you sisters....when you PASS THROUGH....YOU WILL ACTUALLY PASS , BUT IT'S THROUGH not when you sink in....

When you WALK THROUGH THE FIRE...walking in fire means that the heat and the flames are there...or else it won't be a fire! See that again, it's THROUGH!!!!! It will be very hot.

God has told us in these scriptures that He knew that these things are designed to destroy, but for is the power to destroy has been taken off of them....it's like putting a lion in a zoo after the sharp strong teeth have been removed, it's roaring , but it's pangs are gone.

You can't afford to be feeble...NOW, DON'T PANIC

What exactly would make God say something repeatedly?

Why does He lay emphasis on a particular thing again and again.

“Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them. No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” (Joshua 1:2, 5-9 NET)

God says
Be strong and brave
Be strong and brave
Don't be afraid, Don't panic!

I was wondering what God saw or planned..... This is my conclusion...

Strong....that means something will challenge your strength
Be brave.....that means that something will questions your boldness and your reserve
Don't be afraid...that means something will try and make your knees go weak with fear.
Don't panic....that means that something will hope to get you running helter-skelter in confusion.

This day,

We need to remember these.....

The pangs are already taken care of
There is no running away from what is ahead.
We know the result before the exams....God says we are going through. That means the minute we started was the minute the end became nearer.
Whilst you are going through , DONT PANIC, BE BRAVE,
Again, DONT PANIC, BE BRAVE. BE STRONG AND BRAVE....

The only thing standing between you and your testimony is you agreeing that YOU REALLY DONT HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE... God has got your back and your front, even your sides....

At least, God said it repeatedly, just to get your attention.....He knows that the situation will look scary, yet, He says ....DONT GET SCARED......breathe in and out and say it slowly.......ITS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT....I have God working in me and brining me out of this seemingly scary situation. I don't fret and I don't panic, Halleluyah.
I forge ahead, I get results, I refuse to be a weakling.

By sis Bola.

PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Enoch walked with God. Genesis 5:24

The true test of a person's spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the daily grind of everyday life when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening.

In the 1600s, there was a monk named Brother Lawrence who was a dishwasher in his monastery.

He made a profound discovery that is true for every believer in the workplace today.

"For me the time of activity does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling together, calling for as many different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as when upon my knees at the blessed Sacrament."

You see, he found no urgency for retreats, because in the common task he met the same God to love and worship as he did in the stillness of his closet. It is this kind of life that Jesus desires for each one of us.

Enoch was also a man that practiced the presence of God. The Bible does not give a detailed account of his life. All we know about him is that "He walked with God."

In fact, it says in Genesis 5:22 that Enoch walked with God 300 years! Wow! That is faithfulness! What does it mean to practice the presence of God daily?

It means we are constantly talking to our Heavenly Father about the issues in our day. It means praying about things as they come up.

It means stopping at a red light and praying for the person God brings to mind. It means singing a song in your car while you are sitting in traffic. That is practicing the presence of God.

Prayer Point: Thank the Lord for His ever abiding presence.

Scriptural Reading: Genesis 5:18-24

Prayer for new week

May God's eyes of mercy shine upon you, May God send you help from the four corners of the World, May God deliver you from every evil plan of the enemies and answer all your prayers in Jesus name. Joseph was a prisoner in Egypt, but a day came when God made him to become a Prime Minister in the same Egypt.

This same God can still do it for you, When God opens your book of remembrance, all your sorrows will turn into laughter, all your days of mourning will turn into dancing, those who mock you, will come  and celebrate with you, those who look down on you, will look up to you, those who say "who are you"? Will come and say "how are you to you"? in Jesus name.

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

Chou’s Vinegar Chicken

Ingredients 8-10 chicken drumsticks
4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
¼ bottle of dry white wine
1 heaping tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp heavy cream (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions1. Take your chicken out of the fridge to bring it to room temp. Pat your chicken with paper towels to remove excess moisture and sprinkle all the drumsticks with a little bit of salt.

2. Put some paper towels on a plate and set near your stovetop.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil in a pan over high heat, until butter has fully melted and oil is very hot.

4. Once the oil is nice and hot, add the chicken and cook until the skin is crispy and the color is golden brown (but don’t let the meat cook through yet). Add the full garlic cloves towards the end of browning.

5. Move the browned chicken to your plate with paper towels.

6. Pour 1/3 cup of vinegar and deglaze the pan (translation: take a wooden spoon and scrape the bottom of the pan so you remove all the yummy crispy bits).

7. Wait 5 minutes until vinegar is reduced and then put the chicken back in.

8. In a bowl, combine the quarter bottle of white wine, the tomato paste, and Dijon mustard.

9. Pour the wine mixture on top of the chicken. Reduce heat to low/medium and cook for about 30 minutes or until chicken meat is cooked through. Turn the chicken after 10-15 minutes to make sure the chicken is coated and cooking evenly.

10. About 2 minutes before your remove the chicken from the heat, you can add in the cream and mix in well.

11. Add salt and pepper to taste. Move the chicken to a serving platter, pour all the yummy sauce and garlic all over the chicken, and serve. source: yahoo.com

Do you look like Him?

A young man impregnated a young girl. When the girl pointed out to the parents that he was responsible, he denied it. He swore heaven and earth that he had nothing to do with her. She had to bear the shame of that pregnancy alone. It was tough. It wasn't easy. Her father disowned her, saying he couldn't be the father to a girl who not only sleeps around, but has no clue who impregnated her. Her mother took up the responsibility of taking care of her. Nine months later, she had a bouncing baby boy. The entire neighbourhood was in shock. For as you looked at the face of the beautiful baby boy, you would find yourself staring into the face of the young man who had denied the pregnancy. There was absolutely no controversy - that young man was the father!

Who do you look like? Who is your father? If I look into your spirit man, can I say absolutely without controversy that God is your father? When I look at your character, can I say you act just like your Father does? These days there are a lot of people who say they are Christians, walk about speaking 'christianese', do and act like they are second in command to the Holy Spirit but have absolutely no regard for the One they call Father - By their fruit you shall know them (Matthew 7:16-20) They have taken God's grace for granted.

I'm not talking about those who love and fear God but fall occasionally - we are all a work in progress. But if you live life simply because you think 'grace' covers you, and your name is permanently in the Book of Life, yet have no regard for God, then you are not the child of the Father. If your character depicts acts of the devil, yet you are quick to lift up holy hands in church on Sunday, then you are not the child of the Father. If I can only see signs of you being a Christian on Sundays, or behind your phone/computer keyboard, then you are not the child of the Father.

Again I ask - when I look at you, will I see the face of God, the Father? Do you look like Him?

John 5: 19 (NKJV) Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. By sister Deby

TRUST IN THE LORD

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

God always requires total trust in Him alone for our victories in life. Throughout Scripture we are cautioned not to place our trust in the strength of horses, other men or our own abilities.

David's decision to take a census was a failure to keep his trust totally upon the Lord. David's purpose in counting his population was to assess his military strength, much like the second census taken under Moses.

David found 800,000 men eligible for military service in Israel and 500,000 men in Judah, more than double the previous head count.

David's commander evidently recognized the grave error that his king was about to make. "But Joab replied, 'May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"

This census displeased the Lord. David was falling into the temptation of trusting in the size of his army rather than in the Lord.

God punished David and reduced his forces by bringing a plague that killed 70,000 men. How do we do this in our lives today?

We trust the government, our connections, our bank accounts, our skills, and the security of our workplace.

When we begin placing our faith in these things instead of the provider of these things, we get into trouble with God.

What a lesson this is for each of us. We must look up only to God as the source of our provision. He is our Father, and our help comes from Him alone.

Prayer: Praise the Father for being the unfailing source of all you will ever need.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Chronicles 21:1-10

When Life Hits You Hard: 5 Things To Remember and 5 Verses to Live By

Just when I think everything is going perfect in my life, life threw me another curveball. My outgoing, outspoken and loving 54-year-old mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer – stage 3A. Worst news I’ve ever received in my entire life.

Now I do not know what you are dealing with right now. It may be job loss, divorce, a serious illness, a death of a loved-one. Nobody is immune to life’s trials and adversities. We all will experience them, only at varying degrees.

These situations can cause us to be confused, afraid, depressed, anxious and even angry. All these feelings are completely normal. We are humans, we are imperfect and we are flawed. But after recognizing all our emotions, we have to come to terms with our situation. We’ve got to face our problems head on.

Here are five things to remember while you are faced with an insurmountable circumstance.

1. You have access to a 24/7 hotline to heaven.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

When you feel so down and weary, talk to God. Talking helps. He understands and He cares. He feels your pain and all your emotions. Pour out your heart to him and you’ll find your mind is renewed after spending quality time in prayer.

2. God is always with you.

“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

Circumstances like these can shake your world and throw everything out of order. You may find that some things are out of your control and that causes a tremendous fear in your heart. Do not be afraid. The future may be unknown and uncertain, but you must remember that whatever happens, God will never leave you nor forsake you.

3. The difficult times sometimes have to happen so that God can accomplish His purpose for you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

There is a quote that says “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.”. I believe that to be true. You may have lost a job. Your relationships may have failed. Some things happen in order to mold us into the person God wants us to be. It may be hard to comprehend but we can take comfort knowing God never makes mistakes and He knows what is best for us.

4. You are stronger than you even think.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

Do not let the negative thoughts rule your mind. Focus on the positive and try to find the silver lining in every situation. You can rise above all this. You just have to find your light and not let the darkness thwart it.

5. Giving up is never an option.

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

Your situation may seem hopeless. It may seem like it is the end. There will be days that it will feel like it is. But God is your ever present help in time of need. You can trust Him to give you the grace and strength to make it through any trial.

Sometimes we see how big our problems are and we forget how big our God is.

Tough times are inevitable. And more often than not, our circumstances are beyond our control.

But the good news is: We can control how we react to the situation we are in.

And the great news is: Our God is an Omniscient and Omnipotent God who has total control of everything.

So take heart, child of God.

Why is the child in hands of the beggar always sleeping?

This is an article I came across months ago. We are not sure of the author, however, we’ve checked the authenticity of this with our followers in Bangkok and Cambodia. Surprisingly, this seems to be true, and their request, is only to offer beggars food and water – not money. Any help you can give in terms of their needs are just fine. But make sure you do not hand over big bills, that will keep the begging industry going. You should be wise enough to know whom to help and how to help. Make your decision based on the situation and knowing it well enough.

.

“Near the metro station, sits a woman of uncertain age. Her hair is confused and dirty, her head bowed in grief.

The woman sits on the dirty floor and next to her lies a bag. Into that bag, people throw money. In the woman’s hands, asleep, is a two year old baby. He is in a dirty hat and dirty clothes

“Madonna with baby” – numerous passers-by will donate money. The people of our kind – we always feel sorry for those less fortunate. We are ready to give unfortunate people our last shirt, the last penny out of our pocket and never think another issue. Helping, seems like a “Good job done.”

I walked past the beggar for a month. I did not give any money, as I knew that this is a gang-operated scam, and that money collected by the beggar, will be given to whoever controls beggars in the area. Those people own numerous luxury properties and cars. The beggar also gets something, of course, “A bottle of vodka in the evening and a döner kebab.” A month later, walking past the beggar, a shock suddenly hit me….
I’m standing at a busy crossing, staring at the baby. He is dressed, as always, in a dirty track suit. I realized that it seemed “wrong”, finding a child in a dirty underground station from morning to evening. The baby was always asleep. He never sobbed or screamed, he always slept, burying his face in the knee of a woman who was his MUM.

Do any of you, dear readers, have children? Remember how often they slept at the age of 1, 2 or 3 years old? An hour, two, maximum three (and never consecutive). An afternoon nap, and there was always movement. For the whole month, every day I walked to the underground station, I never saw the child awake! I looked at the tiny little man, with his face buried in the knee of his mother, then at the beggar, and my suspicion was gradually formed. “Why does he sleep all the time?” I asked, staring at the baby.

The beggar pretended not to hear me. She lowered her eyes and hid her face in the collar of her shabby jacket. I repeated the question. The woman again looked up. She looked somewhere behind my back, tired with utter irritation. Her look was similar to the creatures from a different planet.

“F *** off,” her lips murmured.

“Why is he asleep?!” I almost cried.

Behind me, someone put their hand on my shoulder. I looked back. An old man was looking at me disapprovingly:

“What do you want from her? Can’t you see how hard she’s got it in her life? Eh?”

He took some coins from his pocket and threw them in the beggar’s bag. source 

The beggar made a cross by waving her hand, portraying the face of humility and universal grief. The guy removed his hand from my shoulder and strolled out of the underground station. I bet, at home, he will tell how he defended poor, distraught woman from a soulless man in a tube station.

Next day, I called a friend. He was a funny man with eyes like olives. His nationality – Romanian. He only managed to complete three and a half years of education. His lack of education did not prevent him from moving around the City streets in expensive foreign cars and live in a “small” house with a countless number of windows and balconies. From my friend, I managed to find out that the beggar is part of a business. Despite the genuine appearance, it is clearly organized. It is supervised by organized crime rings. The children used are “rented” from families of alcoholics, or simply stolen.

I needed to get the answer to my question – Why is the baby always sleeping? And I received it. My friend explained it to me, casually and with a calm voice that twisted me in shock, just like he was talking about weather report: “They are on heroin, or vodka.”

I was dumbfounded. “Who is on heroin or vodka?!”

He answered, “The Child, so he doesn’t scream. The women will be sitting whole day with him, imagine how he might get bored?

In order to make the baby slept the whole day, it pumped up with vodka or drugs. Of course, children’s bodies are not able to cope with such a shock. And children often die. The most terrible thing – sometimes children die during the “working day”. And imaginary mother must hold another dead child on her hands until the evening. These are the rules. And the by passers-by will throw some money in the bag, and believe that they are moral. Helping the mother alone.”

The next day, I was walking near the same underground station. I built up journalistic confidence and was ready for a serious conversation. But the conversation didn’t work out. Instead, it turned out the following way … the woman was sitting on the floor and in her hands she was holding a different child. I asked her a question about the documents of the child, and, most importantly, where was the child from yesterday. She simply ignored me. My questions were not ignored by passers-by though. I was told that I was out of my mind, questioning a poor beggar with a child. Eventually, I was escorted out of the station in disgrace. The one thing that remained was to call the police. When the police arrived, the beggar with the baby had disappeared. I stood with a full sense of “trying to fight windmills.”

When you see in the subway, or on the street, women with children, begging, think before your hand them your money. Think about it, that if it wasn’t for your hundreds of thousands of handouts, the business like this would have died. The business would die and not the children, pumped full of vodka or drugs. Do not look at the sleeping child with affection… See horror… Since you are reading this article, you know now why the child is sleeping in beggars hands.

P.S.
If you copy this article on your wall or just click “Share”, your friends will read it too.
And when you decide again to open your wallet to throw a coin to a beggar with a sleeping child,
remember that this charity could cost another child’s life.”

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?