Sleep! sleep!!

I've been attending vigil in church for some days now. Earlier this morning around 3am, I struggled to write today's devotion, it was a big battle between the desire to write and the need to sleep. Sleep had a landslide victory, lol. Just before drifting into snooze land, I was still asking my 24hr friend what he wants us to know today and the reply came, SLEEP. I grinned and thought, 'Because I'm sleepy?'. Immediately I searched the scripture mentally and came up with the portion that pertains to sleep. I remembered Bro Eutychus the sleeper, then allowed myself to sleep. 

Opening the scripture now, I learnt some things in this very short incidence. First, the brethren were gathered in the upper chamber, which we can take as advanced or matured discipleship. Anyone who was present there wasn't one whom they were just trying to convert. Paul came to preach to them before he continued on his journey. Therefore, here we have an involved Christian. Secondly, Paul preached to them for long. His preaching was termed long. 

Do you have people you are spiritually custodian over? Are you unnecessarily laborious in preaching, exhorting, encouraging, reprimanding, even praising? This story tells us not to overdo things, as we may have an opposite effect of what we desired or intended. Thirdly, there were many lights in the upper chamber, ordinarily, with that place so lit up, Bro Eutychus ought not to have found it easy to sleep and then if at all, not such deep sleep as he was reported of. When we complain of people who are supposedly Christians, attending sound Bible believing churches and yet behaving contrary to expectations, we see now that not only is it not a first, but a possibility, and also a stage in a process being managed by the devil to achieve a sinister goal. Also, how did he manage to fall into such deep sleep and no one noticed? It is not enough to just keep banging the bible, theories and laws, are you watching the overall effect on your audience? 

Do you see the weary, tired, hungry, needy? Do you try to wake them, attend to their needs? Imagine the height this brother fell from! The third floor! There is no security in your position, advancement in the kingdom. Anyone can fall asleep, move to deep sleep, and then fall from a great height! Do you see the process? Do you see it doesn't start from the fall? Do you now know why it is only when Christians fall that people discover what they've been up to? Do you see that you are mainly responsible to keep awake in Christ? There is only so much spiritual authority can do to help you stay awake. The onus remains with you to actually keep 'waking'. Now we see that before physical death, is spiritual death. All the time he was sleeping, he was spiritually dead only that people did not know because he was still present in the physical. He took the tumble that led to his physical death. As it is with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God used Paul to bring him back to life. 

Again, we learn that as long as Rapture hasn't taken place and there is still life in a person, God can still restore that person back to 'Life'. I end my scripture discovery with this nursery rhyme for us
Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping
Sister Angelina
Sister Angelina
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding ding dong
Ding ding dong. 
Even the rhyme does not ask 'Is she sleeping', it asks the sleeper the question. Keeping awake is your responsibility not that of your pastor.
Acts 20:7-12
Source: Oludunni

How to Talk to Your Son and Daughter About Pornography

Pornography is a powerful threat to our sons and daughters. It skews their view of sex, love, women

and relationships.

Obviously when many of us were younger, access to graphic sexual images was not as easy to come by as it is today. A magazine belonging to friend's dad or a movie on late-night cable TV was our most common exposure. Even in those seemingly more innocent days, there were things I saw at a friend's house at an early age that were confusing. Quite frankly, they were damaging.

It felt wrong, but, fearing I'd get in trouble, I never told my dad what I had seen. I wish I had. With a palpable feeling of guilt, I was left on my own to try and figure it out. My dad didn't have porn in our house, so naturally, he assumed I hadn't been exposed to it.

Things are so different now. Having the Internet on so many devices inside and outside the house means the barbarians are perpetually at the gate.

We can be more vigilant and protective about what our children see. However, we can sadly assume that our sons will be exposed to it at some point. Maybe the silver lining in that assumption is that they will not be left alone in processing it. The best way to fight it is to prepare them for pornography expose the ugly reality of it and its many dangers. It may be difficult, but here are 3 points on how to talk to your son about pornography:

1. A momentary thrill leading to dissatisfaction, emptiness and addiction. An explicit image is stimulating and causes a scientifically-proven chemical release in the brain. That is why we are drawn to it like to the ring in Lord of the Rings.

However, when the viewing is over, we are left empty, unsatisfied and full of guilt. Our conscience is telling us that something wrong has taken place. Sex is not wrong. Sex outside of the right context is wrong or, at the very least, not what it was made to be.

The quickest way to deal with those feelings is to try and get another thrill, but when we return to porn, it gives a diminishing return of enjoyment. In the end, we need more to experience less, resulting in addiction and chains. In other words, it is a road to an addictive prison cell. Don't be enticed down this road; choose the path that is life-giving.

2. Living in isolated fantasy versus living in connected reality. A full life is found in relationships and shared experiences. Those things are built in reality, not fantasy. Porn is about entering a fantasy world. The more time we spend in that world, the more we become isolated.

In essence, our soul becomes intertwined with something that isn't real. There's no connection, just loneliness exacerbated by guilt. When we fill our lives with nothing, we are left with nothing. Porn doesn't provide anything; it takes everything. Strong men of character are ones that are firmly founded in reality and relationships. Live in the real world.

3. An example of diminished, one-dimensional sex. One of the biggest and most dangerous of all lies is that porn stars know how to have the best sex. Great sex is experienced when two people know one another in emotional and physical intimacy. True intimacy and knowledge of one another comes in commitment.

When women know we are committed, we create an environment where they feel safe to share their whole selves with us. It's a multidimensional connection, like a high wattage of electricity. Porn turns sex into mere physical acts. It is one-dimensional sex and will always fall short of what it could be.

In fact, it even falls short physically. We are all uniquely made. Personalities and bodies respond differently. Sex for a committed couple that continues to grow closer in love and knowledge of one another will continually get more passionate. It's like becoming an expert at playing an instrument.

A guitar is held and played much differently than a violin. The best sex is between a committed couple who has learned well how the other desires to be loved. Glorified actors who are actually deeply degraded and hurting people will never be able to come close to sex that good.

Sound off: What age do you think it is appropriate to talk to a boy about pornography?

Huddle up with your kids and ask, "Is there anything you've ever seen that was confusing that you would like me to explain?"
Source: charismamag.com

SERVE YOUR WAY TO THE TOP

For who is greater, he who sits at the tables, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet, I among you as the One who serves. - Luke 22: 27

Service is at the heart of every call of God. God does not call us to be bosses; He calls us to do His will by serving the people He places in our care.

When we serve, we allow God to use what He has given us to touch other people's life.

The problem is, many of us have a negative, stereotypical image of what a servant is. We equate service with slavery and servitude.

We think the role of the servant is degrading and something that puts us down instead of it being something that lifts us up.

We associate servants with low achievers. As a result, when the Bible calls us to service, we immediately see it as a call to take a step downwards instead of a step upwards.

The reality is that to go up, we must go down. Before a tree shoots up, it has to go down with its roots.Without deep roots, a tree cannot go high enough and still remain standing.

A high -rise building must have deep foundations in order to go up high. The depth determines the heights. That is what service is all about.

When we serve, we build the foundation for the heights that God has called us to.

Until we are ready to serve in humility, we cannot reach out to the high calling of God for our lives.

Many of us may never be able to reach the high calling of God for our lives because we are not ready to really serve with humility.

Prayer: Teach me O Lord, not to despise any service that You call me to offer

Scriptural Reading: Luke 22:24-30.

Prayer for new week

The seed of greatness in you shall begin to yield mighty increase for you in Jesus name. God will give you a miracle that will serve as reference to your reassurance in the supernatural for the rest of your life in Jesus name.

You will receive God's wonders without number, treasure without measure, pleasure without pressure, progress without protest, favour without labour in Jesus name. God has made you the light of the world. Nothing will stop your influence in Jesus name. It's a new season in your life. A time defined by the miraculous. Be expectant. God is about to visit you in Jesus name. 

Happy New Week from us ASB-World. 

4 Ways Parents Discourage Their Kids

Most parents want to encourage their kids and motivate them to be the best they can be. But in

attempting to do so, well-meaning parents sometimes end up discouraging their kids instead.

Here are 4 ways you can discourage your child:

1. You offer too much help. So, your child wants to learn how to rollerblade. You wisely bundle him up in a helmet and pads and walk with him outside. At that point, he wants to try on his own. But you start shouting suggestions, walking along beside him and instinctively reach for him every time he falters. To you, this is just safety 101. To him, it's you showing that you don't think he can do it on his own.

The same thing can happen when your child is working on a paper for school, trying a new hairstyle, or learning a new skill. You see all of the ways to make their task easier and more efficient and you tell them all of your ideas. Unfortunately, your offer of help sends the message that you don't believe in them. Your child will either say something like, "I can do it myself!" Or, they'll give in to your suggestions, do it your way and miss an opportunity to grow.

2. You compare them to others. Sure, you're just trying to motivate them by pointing out the successes, or failures, of others. "Josh, I noticed that Caden stands with his feet a little further apart when he's batting. You should try it too." Or, "Sophia, your sister had that project when she was in second grade. Let me find her old project for you to review."

Again, your intentions are noble, but by comparing your child to someone else, you're telling them that they are not good enough.

3. You always expect more. There is a time and place for everything. But when your child tells you they got a B on a really hard test, it is not the time to say, "That's great. Do you think you can make an A next time?"

Our children want us to praise them for their hard work and success without always looking for how to make them perform even better. So if your son tells you his coach thinks he's really coming along with his football training, don't jump in and suggest ways he can do even better. Let your child bask in the praise, minus any ideas for improvement you might have.

4. You minimize their victories. This can happen in a couple of ways. First, you just don't realize what a big deal it is to them so you offer half-hearted comments. To prevent this from happening, really tune in. If your child is soft-spoken, you might need to really listen to see if something is important to him. If it is, lavish him with praise.

The other way parents minimize their children's victories is by being too busy or distracted to fully join the celebration. This one can be tough. You've just walked in the door when your daughter wants to show you her 10-page project with a million details. As much as you want to put her on hold, give her the praise she's craving.

source: charismamag.com

The Holy Spirit: The Very Essence Of Christ

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16-17).

In our lives as Christians, the most important thing for us is our fellowship with the Holy Spirit. If you saw Jesus right now, I’m sure you’d embrace Him, bow to Him or fall at His feet in worship; I mean you’d express your love for Him in the best way possible. Well, you might as well do the same for the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus and He’s in you, and with you, every day.
We don’t have anything less than what the disciples had when they were with Jesus in Bible days. Not only do we have the presence of God with us, we have Him in us, in the Holy Spirit. Until and unless that becomes a present-hour consciousness in you, your Christianity would be no more than a religion.
Recognize the Holy Spirit, not only as a real Person, but also as the very essence of the Christ. Without the Holy Spirit, there’d have been no Christ; Jesus wouldn’t be all that He was; everything you love about Jesus wouldn’t be there. The revelation of God; the expression of His nature, love, character and grace that you find in Jesus is all revealed to you through the Holy Spirit. Everything you love or admire in Jesus is in the Holy Spirit.
Today, the Lord Jesus is in heaven, but the Holy Spirit is with us on earth. The beautiful thing about it is we can have Him (the Holy Spirit) with us anywhere, everywhere, all the time. The disciples didn’t have this privilege before the death of Jesus; they couldn’t "take Jesus home" in them. But when the Holy Spirit came, He took the place of the ascended Christ. Now, we don’t miss Jesus, because the Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus real to us. He’s the reason you can believe the Word of God.
It’s so important that you recognize the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life. Knowing Him and walking with Him is the key to the successful and supernatural life in Christ.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for the immeasurable blessing of having the Holy Spirit live in me. I acknowledge His presence, and take advantage of His awesome ministry in my life, as He guides me in wisdom, to do your perfect will, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study:John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Acts 10:38
: Hebrews 3 Jeremiah 38-40
: 1 Peter 2:1-12 Ezekiel 34

REMEDY FOR DEPRESSION

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. -Isaiah 61:2-3

A 1988 article in Psychology Today reported on an experiment involving 1700 women under stress.

The women participated in various projects that involved helping other people. Within 30 days, 85 per cent of the women reported that they had been relieved of stress symptoms that included "stress -related disorders such as headaches, voice loss and even pain accompanying lupus and multiple sclerosis ".

Many people could save a lot of money on therapy and antidepressants if they would just take time to serve others. The best way to go beyond our pain is to get outside of it.

When we refocus our attention on the needs of others when we ourselves are in turmoil, it allows the burden of our circumstance to be removed from us.

The more you focus on your own problems, the more likely you are to become depressed.

Isaiah understood a principle that is still valid today. If you find yourself depressed because of a circumstance in your life, begin to praise the Lord in spite of your own circumstances.

Look around you and find a need you can meet. Reach out and solve someone else problem. Then you will see the spirit of heaviness begin to be lifted.

Prayer: Ask the Lord for grace to help carry others burden and fulfill His law of love.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 61:1-7