OBEDIENCE IS WISDOM

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. Psalm 111:10

Education is a high priority in any society that wants to advance. Education should be sought after by every believer in Jesus Christ to better understand God's ways.

However, education that is not mixed with faith and obedience will result in apostasy.

In the early Hebraic church, wisdom was gained by obedience. Hebrews learned that wisdom was gained by knowing and doing the will of God and that it often did not line up with logic.

However, as the church became impacted by the Greek culture through the influence of scholars like Socrates and Aristotle, knowledge-based systems became more influential in the way education was taught and applied.

Greeks believed that the way to gain knowledge was based on reason and analysis. When Joshua walked around the city of Jericho seven times blowing his trumpets, he was exhibiting a 
Hebraic model of decision-making - pure obedience.

Logic and reason played no part in this decision. When Elisha instructed the army general to go wash in a lake in order to be healed of leprosy, it confronted his intellect. This was Hebraic thought rooted in obedience.

The Church has moved into a more knowledge-based and programmatic system of operation over the centuries, rather than obedience-based methods that are motivated by a heart fully devoted to following God.

We've replaced obedience with reason and logic. Ultimately, God desires us to take the Hebraic approach when making decisions. He wants us to make decisions based on our heart's desire to follow Him.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to teach you wisdom in your inner being.

Scriptural Reading: Psalms 111:1-10

How To Protect Your Child From Bad Dreams

Your child needs to know what to do when he has nightmares or bad dreams. I taught my daughters and

grandsons that whenever they had a bad dream or fear came into their heart, they should sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so . . . ”

You can teach them to say, “In the name of Jesus, I will not be afraid!” and “Jesus is my Lord.” But more importantly, we must become aware of the television programming, video games, and all other forms of entertainment available to children today. An enormous amount of children’s TV programs and electronic games are either overtly or subtly inundated with witchcraft, magic, and spells. Today there seems to be an obsession among our young people for everything that has to do with vampires, wizards, zombies, and the occult.

Many parents become numb and passive, telling themselves that as long as they go to church on Sunday, their children will know the difference and will be all right. We rationalize that the child is wise enough or old enough to know that what he is watching is not real but fantasy.

This belief system is very erroneous. Young children become conditioned at a very young age. They are gullible and believe everything they see and hear. Even if you tell them, “Don’t be afraid; that spider is not real—it’s a robot and will never harm you,” when the spirit of fear makes entry into the child’s heart, nothing you say will make a difference. The child will always feel fear grip his heart and cause it to palpitate within every time he sees a spider, whether real or in a movie.

If a child has constant nightmares, I suggest you leave a tape recorder on all night in his room with praise and worship music at a very low volume. Praise music has a tremendous effect on the atmosphere. Evil spirits dislike praise and worship music.

Find out if there is anything evil your child plays with, such as toys or games, videos, movies, or music. Anything with demonic content has the ability to attract the influence of demons.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. —Psalm 4:8, amp

-By IrisDelgado

The God's Majesty and Glory

TEXT: PSALM 19:1-6

Key verse: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1).

God has not left anyone in doubt as to the revelation of Himself. The inspired writer invites us to look up at the vast sky and behold the mighty sun that adorns the day with its magnificent light, the beautiful moon and the innumerable stars that litter and glitter in the expansive night sky! The sun in the day, in its unalterable course and constancy utters undeniable words, assuring all that the Almighty God sits in the heavenly Control Tower, engineering its motion. The moon and the stars that enter into their bedchambers during the day and show forth their light in the night from time immemorial can never be the handiwork of chance. How could chance have been so ordered and so constant?

“There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:3). When the sun, like a bridegroom, comes out of its chamber, its magnificent glory setting the vast sky aglow; which language could be more comprehensible to the creatures of God? The blue sea hears it and rejoices. The birds hear it and sing, their clasped wings are spread and they swiftly roam the sky. The game in the woods awake to its splendour to seek after their daily portion. At the rising of the sun, man, the crown of God’s creation, wakes up to his daily toil. We all hear the distinct speech of the sun when it rings its closing bell at the dusk of the day. When it withdraws into its chamber, we too seek repose on our beds! The glittering stars and the moon take their turn. The oscillating swing of life’s pendulum day-night, day-night, day-night... continues unabated.

These inanimate sojourners in the heavens above tell of the reality, presence and power of God, a supremely intelligent Creator who controls the course of nature. The heavens declare the glory of God and the entire firmament shows His handiwork. God is alive! “Be wise now therefore... be instructed... serve the Lord with fear, kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way...” (Psalm 2:10-12).

Thought for the day: This rhythmic heartbeat of man speaks assuredly that God is alive.

 

Universal Language of Love

It is estimated that more than $18 billion was spent on Valentine’s Day cards, roses, candy and gifts in 2013. This year the highly commercialized Valentine’s season is in full swing. Seductive roses and heart-shaped boxes line shopping aisles while jewelry commercials and promises of romance and love blanket television sets.

Love is the universal language understood by all. All humanity longs to find true acceptance for who they are as a person even when their bent is not mainstream, popular, politically correct or as varied as the candies made by Russell Stover. The one language that is never foreign or misunderstood is love, and it often is best spoken without any words.

Love is communicated and shown with actions of respect, acceptance, kindness and tolerance. Yet, this true example of love is lacking in our world today. Tolerance is both the most “in fashion” word of the day and the most hated. It is loved and despised by us all – even if we don’t choose to admit it. We stand for it when it benefits us and shoot at it when it is not.

We want to put a silencer on any barrel that is firing a different bullet than our preferred caliber. Yet isolating others with differing perspectives than our own only shrinks our ability for education and growth.

Few of us would admit to being intolerant and there is no other moniker we would more hate to be given. However, the guilt is obvious and on display in every facet of our culture. Politics, sports, television and religion have a window shop of such concrete-minded poster boys.

By definition the meaning of intolerance is defined as the inability to accept others views, convictions or opinions because they oppose your own. However, many who are the most outspoken about tolerance of others are the ones speaking with a forked tongue. They want others opinion’s heard as long as they are rowing in the same boat. When there is a different stance the fault line is often exposed and verbal volcanoes erupt.

Just recently we saw how the Olympic games become a battlefield of intolerance as the Russian government seeks to muzzle the LGTB community from having a voice. Gag policies never cultivate understanding or peace in any relationships whether personal or corporate. Silencing others or trying to get a louder bullhorn is never a bridge to peace. Sadly, protests may be looming at the singular worldwide sporting event designed as a congregation of world unity. And while like everyone, the LGTB community deserves a platform, so do those on the other side of the coin.

Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty is a classic case. He became embroiled in a firestorm after comments in a recent media interview. Regardless of his opinions he should have the right to state them and drive a stake in the ground without being marginalized as an intolerant redneck.

Cannot understanding and compassion be learned from both camps without putting a stereotypical label on either as a sinner, saint or psycho? If the last 10 years of traveling the world have taught me anything it’s the need to release my pious attitude and embrace those with whom I don’t share much real estate. I have often learned the most from those I understand the least.

I have a family member who I love dearly who has a different sexual orientation from me. Our relationship has enabled me to grow in understanding and taught me how to relate to her community of friends. This person’s influence has taught me more about compassion and patience than probably any other relationship I’ve ever had.

This week I spent time with a person whose beliefs about God were the antithesis of my own. One hour later we shook hands and planned our next meeting. We are scheduled for lunch tomorrow. In our meeting, there was no jockeying for position of higher ground but an approach to understand beliefs neither of us had ever possessed. By conversation’s end, we were both forced to examine what we believed and why we believed it.

One of the strongest evidences of character and personal impact is the relationship one has with his fellow man. Maybe the recognition that I am not always right is the best process of growth and can equip me to listen to others whose opinions or convictions I may not like. Agreement and surrender are not mandatory but compassion, respect and openness must be.

By JayLowder

It's Payback Time

 I went on my usual trip to Abuja Nigeria, and stayed at my usual hotel. Everything seemed fine that night until I heard a light rap on my door the following morning. I looked at the time – it was 5:13am! I quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the door, which by that time was being opened! I shouted immediately, “who is that?” and pushed the door back. There were 2 guys and they immediately shut the door and stammered “Sorry ma. We thought the room was empty. It was a mistake”. Mistake??????!!!!!! Who makes such mistake at 5am in the morning?! Boy, was I glad for once that I’m a light sleeper. But quickly Psalms 127 verse 1 comes to mind, light sleeper or not!

"Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain"

As soon as it was bright enough and I was ready to leave for my meeting, I went downstairs to the reception to lay my case and ’make some noise’. The front desk staff could only apologise and they reiterated the “room check” story. I wasn’t satisfied in the least, coupled with the fact that I was already grumpy and cranky since I found it difficult to get back to sleep after the misdeed. But as I was running late for my meeting, I had to leave.

Later that morning, I remembered I had the Manager’s number (remember it’s my usual hotel?) and pronto, I called her. She was appalled and ashamed at the same time. She couldn’t believe such ‘mistake’ happened at her hotel. She was so apologetic and assured me she would deal with the situation. I insisted I was moving out that evening when I returned cos no way I would be able to sleep in that room without imagining someone breaking in!

When I returned to the hotel that evening, I asked to see her immediately. She apologised again and again, telling me they had fished out the culprits and given them queries. So I asked “What, then, is my compensation?” You know what? She gave me a room upgrade to an executive room and 50% off my bill! Boy, was I ecstatic!!!!! Of course I slept like a baby that night…*ROTFL*

However, I learnt a few things from this incident…

- Psalm 127:1 - God surely protects us, regardless of what the devil plans/
- Matthew 13:25 When men slept, the enemy came to sow tares. Even in your ‘rest’ period, do not rest or be too deep asleep. The enemy could capitalise on that and try a break-in.
- When some things happen to disturb your routine in life, feel free to complain about it but not to everyone! You need to go to the appropriate channel who can do something about it! Get it? Go to God with your complaints!
- Always insist on not just getting things resolved, but getting compensation!!! I could have left with the many apologies that day but I didn’t. I got something better. Why? Cos I dared to insist!

Have you lost your job? Don’t just ask God for another job, ask Him for a better one than you lost!

Health issues? Don’t just ask for healing, ask for wholeness!

Whatever it is, God is merciful to restore and compensate. You get the picture now? It’s biblical!

Proverbs 6:30-31
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

Joel 2:25
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm -
my great army that I sent among you

By sis Deby

A Just and Loving God

TEXT: PSALM 18:20-28

Key verse: “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright” (Psalm 18:25).

Every man, at his best, is an outcrop of God’s benevolence and mercy. Were it not for the undeserved and unmerited acts of God’s mercy, humanity would have remained in the bowels of sin and death!

The injunction in this Psalm presents a timeless pattern for the contemporary man caught in the web of life’s adversities. David was to write this song after God had given him victory over his enemies, particularly Saul. David was a man much endeared to God. It was his delight to obey God in all things. The few times he fell foul of God’s laws, he repented deeply and spontaneously. It was like him to place God’s laws sorely before his face, so that he might not sin against his Creator. He had ample chances to deal ruthlessly and decisively against his foes, especially Saul. In a way, he would have been justified. He had done nothing to Saul to warrant his being hunted by the backslidden king. But David avoided every available opportunity to destroy Saul. Had he done so, he would have breached God’s commandment that says, ‘touch not my anointed’, for Saul, in spite of his backslidden state, was indeed God’s anointed. Furthermore, David would have resorted to self-management and repudiated God’s promise of rescuing the weak.

The credentials of David before God were his mercy, uprightness, righteousness and cleanness of hands. 

“Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness ...” It is what a man sows that he will reap. David was merciful to his archenemy. God likewise showed mercy to him.

The measure of what we mete out to others, foe or friend, is the measure God will recompense us with. If we are unmerciful, unrighteous and froward, we will not be privileged to enjoy God’s intervention in our hour of need. The scripture enjoins us to love our enemies and bless them that curse us. We are to repay evil with good, pray for those who persecute and despitefully use us. Uprightness, righteousness and mercy will bring us into favour with God, for He loveth righteousness and judgment.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Only a heart made perfect can love perfectly!

FRIDAY FASHION: CLASSY ASO EBI STYLES!!!

When it comes to wearing gorgeous traditional attires, some people know the nitty gritty of how well to go about it, how to combine the colors, gorgeous accessories that will complement the amazing attire and how to especially tie the ‘Gele’. Enjoy and have fun…. See photos below----