Warn the People

TEXT: ISAIAH 6:9-13

Key verse: “And he said: Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not” (Isaiah 6:9).

Few things are as despairing as when there is a prior knowledge that one’s action will have little or no effect on the situation at hand. Not surprising, many people would avoid getting involved in what appears to be a waste of time.

Not so for Isaiah. He had just offered himself to run errands for the Lord. So, when he was handed a very strange message to convey to his people about their impending ruin, he had no choice. He received no assurance of great success, but that the people will defiantly ignore him and the word of God - their only means of reconciliation with God. Isaiah’s message was to foreshadow the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews of His time. They would neither recognise nor accept Him. Startled by this message, Isaiah wondered whether his labour was to be totally in vain. Not so, the Lord responded. A few would listen. They would serve to show that God’s mercy is available for those who turn away from their despicable ways.

 
Today’s Christians have the same task to preach the gospel. They should not become despondent because fewer people are accepting the good news. In Noah’s time, only eight people were saved from the deluge. Only four people escaped from Sodom and Gomorrah, while only three made it to safety.

Far from being despondent, we should encourage people not to wait until disaster strikes before turning to God. We should tell them that His mercy and love can avail for them if they show the willingness to amend their evil ways. Spreading the gospel is not only because of Christ’s command to all Christians, it is the only worthwhile activity with which the Lord expects us to occupy ourselves.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The greatest gift you can give is a timely warning

Inspirational: “Life Without Limbs” by Nick Vujicic

“Life Without Limbs” author and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic married fiance Kanae Miyahara in a romantic ceremony in California. The newlyweds are now honeymooning in Hawaii, where they have been spotted snapping pictures on the beach and enjoying cocktails and of course, Nick can handle the camera quite adeptly! Nick, 29, was born in Brisbane, Australia with Tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare condition resulting in the absence of limbs. The son of Pastor Boris and Dushka Vujicic, Nick and his parents were determined to not let his condition get in the way of leading a fulfilling and active life. As a boy, Nick gradually learned to do daily tasks that most of us take for granted.

He mastered writing with the two toes on his left foot using a special grip equipped to go on his big toe. In fact, the resolute Nick also learned to type, throw a ball, get himself water, answer the phone, and shave. He can even play the drums. After earning a double degree in Accounting and Financial Planning from Griffith University, Nick established himself as a motivational speaker by traveling around the world spreading inspiration through his non-profit organization LifeWithoutLimbs.com. Despite these accomplishments, Nick is more excited to talk about the new union in his life. “The greatest blessing I’ve ever received after life, salvation, and a relationship with God: introducing Nick and Kanae engaged!!!” he told his followers.   
See the video & photos below:

-by africanewspost.com & photos from Nick facebook fan-page.

Are You In The Number?

TEXT: NEHEMIAH 7:5,6
Key verse: “These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city“ (Nehemiah 7:6).

Recording and strict documentation of events, incidents and dates are integral parts of accountability. They are inevitable in human life. More often, accounts relating to births, deaths, admission, dismissals, debts and payments are kept. God keeps a record of names of every believer in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 20:15).

In our text, Nehemiah thought it fit to have an account of the people. He found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up at the first. He found written therein those who had come back from the captivity. He called the rulers and the people, that he might have an account of the present state of their families: the number, strength and where they were settled. Having revived the old register to get the new established, he then compared the present account with the old.

We dare not underestimate the fact that God in heaven keeps and updates His records concerning us. It is evident from Scripture (Revelation 20:11-15), that God has a book of life and other books of reckoning. A believer’s name is removed immediately the person sins against God (Exodus 32:33). At the Great White Throne Judgment, people would be judged by God out of those things which are written in the books, “according to their works”. Whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.

Are you in the number of those whose names are in the Book of Life? Is your name already blotted out from the Book because of sin? What account is God keeping concerning your deeds? You need to settle the matter now and get your name written or restored in the only Book that matters, ‘THE BOOK OF LIFE.’

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Those who take heed to their souls will be spared the tremor of hell-fire.

Alone in the jungle

During World War II, a soldier was separated from his unit on an island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock.

Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, please spare my life. Whatever will happen, I love you and trust you. Amen.”

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one.” Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave.”Ha” he thought. “What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humour.

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand, but then he heard the leader of the soldiers say, “you may as well ignore looking in this cave …if he had entered here this web would be broken!” So they left and he was delivered!

To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. “Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.

Your cave is crumbling today and you shall experience God’s Protection today.

God Still Speaks Loud and Clear

 I had an experience two days ago. I had an assignment for 8am and I needed to be out of my office to get it done. However, at the same, the cleaner was around to clean the office. I decided to remove the key to my office from the whole bunch and give it to the cleaner so that she can lock up my office when done and give the key to my colleague next door. As I was removing the key from the bunch, I had an impression in my spirit to leave my bunch of keys and retrieve it from my colleague when I get back. Although I clearly understood this as a main channel through which the Holy Spirit communicates with me, I discarded the thought because I reasoned it might not be too safe to leave the whole bunch, especially since it also contained keys to some other locks in the office. 

When I returned from my assignment, I picked my office key from my colleague and then in a flash, I remembered I didn't have my bunch of keys with me. How come? How did I go about it? Where could I have dropped it? I quickly scanned by brain and decided to retrace my steps, starting with the colleague that brought me back to my office. I asked him if I dropped my bunch of keys in his car and I got a 'no'. I went back to where I had gone for the assignment and looked round but no bunch of keys. I immediately concluded that I must have dropped it in the car that took me to where I went earlier. I went to the guy's office, he was not in. I called his number, it was switched off. I knew he was somewhere around and would soon return to his office so I decided to wait it out in the office next to mine.

I actually had access to my office (remember I removed the key to the door of my office from the bunch of keys) and I could have just gone in there instead of staying in another person's office but since my bag and laptop were locked somewhere else in the office, I must have subconsciously rationalised that there was nothing for me to do in the office and so, mentally locked myself out. Again, at some point, I had an impression in my spirit to go into my office, since I, at least, had the key to access it but for the second time, I discarded the thought.

Friends, I slept off and woke up in my colleague's office and still no sign of this guy who I thought had my bunch of keys in his car. I spent over four hours, mentally locked out of my office, waiting and getting irritable by the minute. At last, I was able to put a call through to this guy but alas, he informed me that my bunch of keys was nowhere in his car! What???? How is that even possible? I was too sure I had it figured out and I became perplexed! To cut it short, I now reasoned that it was possible to have forgotten the bunch of keys on my table all along. Hmmmm, I shouldn't tell you the merry-go-round process I still had to go through to access my office this time around (it will make the story more complex and longer than it should be) but I eventually did and right there, lying peacefully on my table, was my bunch of keys. I almost smacked myself!

Why did I tell this long story? In as much as I am a firm believer that all things work together for good, in as much as I convinced myself that it all happened for a reason best known to God, I learnt specifically that I probably also went through all that trouble and stress for disobeying the Holy Spirit. He spoke to me twice, I heard Him loud and clear, but did I listen? NO! Did I take heed? NO!

Two things quickly:
First, there's a category that needs to ask and answer these questions, "When the Holy Spirit speaks, do I listen? Do I take heed? Do I leave it only at the 'hearing' level or do I listen and demonstrate it through obedience? A lot of trials and troubles we would avoid if we take heed to the Spirit's promptings. A lot of negative consequences we would not have suffered if we would simply heed His instructions and prodding. Prophet Jonah remains a perfect example to learn from:

Jonah 1:1-4, 15 (CEV)
1 One day the [Lord] told Jonah, the son of Amittai, 2 to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, “The [Lord] has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!” 3 Instead, Jonah ran from the [Lord]. He went to the seaport of Joppa and found a ship that was going to Spain. So he paid his fare, then got on the ship and sailed away to escape. 4 But the [Lord] made a strong wind blow, and such a bad storm came up that the ship was about to be broken to pieces.......15, then they threw Jonah overboard, and the sea calmed down.

Jonah thought he had it figured out. As far as he was concerned, 'Ninevians' had no right to God's pardon and what was God thinking trying to save them anyway??? I can imagine Jonah rationalizing the situation and saying, "I, Jonah will not be a part of this unthinkable rescue mission!" Imagine, he went sailing away, trying to get away from God, so that God will not repeat that message to him. He figured by the time he returned, God would have changed His mind-----yeah, right! But don't we sometimes behave like Jonah? Thinking we know what a situation is supposed to look/be like and as such ignore what the Holy Spirit is telling us concerning the situation? Don't we ignore His promptings/prodding and rationalize the situation, thinking we have it all figured out?

Second, another category needs to ask and answer, "Do I even hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks? Do I recognise His voice? Can I discern His voice from other voices? Do I have the knowledge and understanding of the pattern and manner with which He communicates to me? Have I ever heard Him speak to me directly?" It is dangerous to hear Him and not listen or take heed, but it is much more disastrous not to be able to hear Him at all or not to discern His voice. For clear instructions and directions, if we will not make terrible, painful, and costly mistakes, it is expedient to be able to discern the voice of His majesty. The Bible says "Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 (NLT). It is important to settle down, find out, and understand His manner of communication with us as individuals. Having established this, it is only wise to go ahead and take heed to what He ever so loudly and clearly says to us. May we receive grace today in Jesus' name and May the Lord help us to always listen to His promptings, no matter how difficult it seems.

Shalom! By Ayotunde

My First Kiss:) (Mother & Child)

It was something I didn't expect...

Oh, I had no idea what it really was..

A Kiss!!!

I had no definition for it...

I was naive to this physical display of love...

Infact, speaking its words was next to impossible,

when I tried, I spoke something gibberish.

So, even if I wanted to be kissed, how would I ask?

But, I didn't have to...

She wrapped her hands around me, held me close,

looked into my eyes with so much love and kissed me!

I felt something I'd never felt before...

A sensation, a feeling, a …....phew!!

My legs went numb for a second, and I began to feel

tingles...

I grinned from ear to ear and felt quite shy...

I felt a cool warmth on my cheek as air bruised the lip-

gloss she left creasing my chubby cheek after the

kiss...

I smiled as I looked at the beautiful face of the woman

that birthed me; my mother...

My mum gave me my first kiss, when I was barely a

week old...

My mother, my mum...

The little boy in her arms meant a lot to her, and he'll

always be...

Who else could give him his first kiss...

But her..

My mum!If your mum did the same thing to you smile and thank God for your MOTHER.

-By  Johnson

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Waffles, for Breakfast

Sure, you could make another batch of chocolate chip pancakes for brunch-but round food is so yesterday. You know what’s hip? Eating square. Square waffles, that is. The tidy shape is a cubist’s dream, while the waffles’ tiny indentations create glorious puddles of melted butter and warm syrup-indulgence at its finest (and that’s the whole reason we eat brunch, right?). But maybe you’re thinking, “Yeah, yeah, waffles. Where’s the chocolate?” Oh, we’ll give you chocolate. In fact, this waffle recipe has chocolate in its very bones, or, er, batter-both from cocoa powder as well as shards of a bittersweet bar. Buttermilk brings a slight tang, while olive oil offers fruity richness (make sure to choose an oil that’s mild-flavored, not peppery-it’s still morning, after all). Brooklyn chocolatiers, the Mast Brothers, who created this recipe, call it “The most decadent breakfast ever.” We think it’s the coolest breakfast ever, too.

DARK CHOCOLATE WAFFLES
serves 6
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 large eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate (at least 70% cacao), finely chopped Nonstick vegetable oil spray
Unsalted butter and warm pure maple syrup (for serving)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 250°. Whisk flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add egg yolks, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Blend with a fork, then gradually incorporate dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Working in 2 batches, fold egg whites into batter just until combined. Fold in chocolate. Heat a waffle iron until very hot; lightly coat with nonstick spray. Working in batches, cook waffles until cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil, and keep warm in oven until ready to serve. Serve waffles with butter and syrup. DO AHEAD: Batter with egg whites can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.

Source:  yahoo.com