• Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 25 août 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar.


    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)

    “They are truly wearing his cloak!”
    Jakov, a preacher of the gospel, once came to a village in Eastern Europe. There he met an elderly man named Cimmerman, who had suffered much injustice from religious people throughout his life. When Jakov wanted to tell him about his faith in Jesus, Cimmerman immediately interrupted him and recounted all the evil that these people had done in his town under the guise of their faith. After the old man finished speaking, Jakov said to him, “Imagine if I were to steal your cloak, put it on, and rob a bank. The police only see me fleeing from a distance but they catch hold of your cloak. They track you down as the owner and accuse you. What would you say?” “I would say it’s not true,” replied Cimmerman. “But the police have a strong argument,” Jakov retorted. “They will inevitably bring it up when accusing you, because they have your cloak!”
     The old man had nothing more to say about this story, and so he demanded the evangelist to leave his house. However, Jakov didn’t give up. He continued to visit him to testify to him about the love of Christ.
     One day, Cimmerman asked his visitor how a person becomes a Christian. Jakov explained to him that he must confess his sins and believe in Jesus, who gave His life to save us.
     Then the old man knelt down, bowed his head, and prayed for the first time. When he rose again, he embraced Jakov and said, “Thank you for coming into my life.” And pointing his finger to heaven, he added, “You are truly wearing His cloak, the cloak of Christ!”

    Today’s reading: Joshua 24:6-15 – 1 Corinthians 16:1-9
    Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 25 août 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) “They are truly wearing his cloak!” Jakov, a preacher of the gospel, once came to a village in Eastern Europe. There he met an elderly man named Cimmerman, who had suffered much injustice from religious people throughout his life. When Jakov wanted to tell him about his faith in Jesus, Cimmerman immediately interrupted him and recounted all the evil that these people had done in his town under the guise of their faith. After the old man finished speaking, Jakov said to him, “Imagine if I were to steal your cloak, put it on, and rob a bank. The police only see me fleeing from a distance but they catch hold of your cloak. They track you down as the owner and accuse you. What would you say?” “I would say it’s not true,” replied Cimmerman. “But the police have a strong argument,” Jakov retorted. “They will inevitably bring it up when accusing you, because they have your cloak!”  The old man had nothing more to say about this story, and so he demanded the evangelist to leave his house. However, Jakov didn’t give up. He continued to visit him to testify to him about the love of Christ.  One day, Cimmerman asked his visitor how a person becomes a Christian. Jakov explained to him that he must confess his sins and believe in Jesus, who gave His life to save us.  Then the old man knelt down, bowed his head, and prayed for the first time. When he rose again, he embraced Jakov and said, “Thank you for coming into my life.” And pointing his finger to heaven, he added, “You are truly wearing His cloak, the cloak of Christ!” Today’s reading: Joshua 24:6-15 – 1 Corinthians 16:1-9
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  • Day - 24 - Evening

    Theme: BUILDING A SAFE HOME: Creating a Marriage Where Love Respect and Peace Can Grow.

    Reflection
    Money can easily become a source of tension when couples stop seeing it as a shared responsibility.
    Today, take a quiet moment to remember that your spouse is not your financial opponent. You are partners, and the goal is not to prove who is right but to build a secure and responsible future together.
    Even when resources are limited, unity, honesty and wise planning can help protect peace in the home.

    God's Word
    "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour." — Ecclesiastes 4:9

    Heart Check
    Are we facing our financial challenges together, or are we allowing money to create distance between us?

    Prayer
    Heavenly Father, give us wisdom and discipline in managing the resources You have entrusted to us. Help us communicate honestly about money and make financial decisions together. Keep greed, secrecy and resentment far from our home. May our finances serve our marriage rather than divide it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

    Remember
    In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.


    Day - 24 - Evening Theme: BUILDING A SAFE HOME: Creating a Marriage Where Love Respect and Peace Can Grow. 🌙 Reflection Money can easily become a source of tension when couples stop seeing it as a shared responsibility. Today, take a quiet moment to remember that your spouse is not your financial opponent. You are partners, and the goal is not to prove who is right but to build a secure and responsible future together. Even when resources are limited, unity, honesty and wise planning can help protect peace in the home. 📖 God's Word "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour." — Ecclesiastes 4:9 🌙 Heart Check Are we facing our financial challenges together, or are we allowing money to create distance between us? 🙏 Prayer Heavenly Father, give us wisdom and discipline in managing the resources You have entrusted to us. Help us communicate honestly about money and make financial decisions together. Keep greed, secrecy and resentment far from our home. May our finances serve our marriage rather than divide it. In Jesus' name, Amen. Remember In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.
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  • ~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 235th day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 236th day of 2026, might I suggest to you that when life itself seems like a stormy sea, there remains an Anchor to steady your soul . . .==> "Let us hold on to the hope we say we have without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." [Hebrews 10:23]
    [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.]
    (For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz])
    https://youtube.com/watch?v=sCz5D-TY4NY&is=mYJ8TQeoau3kodeD
    ~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 235th day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 236th day of 2026, might I suggest to you that when life itself seems like a stormy sea, there remains an Anchor to steady your soul . . .==> "Let us hold on to the hope we say we have without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." [Hebrews 10:23] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.] (For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz]) https://youtube.com/watch?v=sCz5D-TY4NY&is=mYJ8TQeoau3kodeD
    - YouTube
    Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
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  • August 24
    “WHO GOD IS TO ME”
    THE ONE WHO WALKS WITH ME
    Isaiah 43:2 (LLV) —
    “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not consume you.”
    There are promises
    we might wish
    God had made.
    “You will never
    face deep water.”
    “You will never
    walk through fire.”
    “You will never
    experience anything
    that frightens you.”
    But God
    does not say
    those things.
    He says,
    “When you pass
    through the waters…”
    “When you pass
    through the rivers…”
    “When you walk
    through the fire…”
    Not if.
    When.
    Faith does not
    exempt us
    from difficult
    places.
    But neither
    does difficulty
    mean God
    has abandoned us.
    “I will
    be with you.”
    Perhaps those
    are the words
    we need most
    when the water
    begins to rise.
    God does not
    always stand
    on the distant shore
    and call,
    “Keep going.
    You'll make it.”
    He enters
    the water
    with us.
    When the river
    is stronger
    than we are,
    He is there.
    When circumstances
    feel overwhelming,
    He is there.
    When we find
    ourselves walking
    through something
    we never imagined
    we would face,
    He is there.
    And notice
    another important word:
    “through.”
    The water
    is not
    our destination.
    The river
    is not
    our home.
    The fire
    is not
    the end
    of our story.
    We pass
    through them.
    Sometimes
    God delivers us
    by removing
    the difficulty.
    Sometimes
    He delivers us
    by carrying us
    through it.
    And sometimes,
    only after
    we reach
    the other side,
    do we look back
    and realize
    how faithfully
    He was with us
    every step
    of the way.
    We may enter
    the water
    afraid.
    We may enter
    the fire
    wondering
    how we will
    possibly endure.
    But we never
    enter
    alone.
    The God
    who promised,
    “I will
    be with you,”
    does not leave
    when the road
    becomes difficult.
    That is precisely
    when His presence
    becomes
    most precious.
    A new beginning sometimes lies on the other side of deep water:
    I do not need a life without difficult passages; I need the assurance that God will walk through them with me.
    Reflection: Am I interpreting a difficult season as evidence that God has left me, or am I looking for His presence with me in the middle of it?
    Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You never promise from a distance. When I pass through deep waters, You are with me. When circumstances threaten to overwhelm me, You remain beside me. When I must walk through the fire, help me trust Your presence more than I fear the flames. Give me courage for today's passage and faith to remember that I am only passing through. In Jesus' name, Amen.
    August 24 🌿 “WHO GOD IS TO ME” THE ONE WHO WALKS WITH ME 📖 Isaiah 43:2 (LLV) — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not consume you.” There are promises we might wish God had made. “You will never face deep water.” “You will never walk through fire.” “You will never experience anything that frightens you.” But God does not say those things. He says, “When you pass through the waters…” “When you pass through the rivers…” “When you walk through the fire…” Not if. When. Faith does not exempt us from difficult places. But neither does difficulty mean God has abandoned us. “I will be with you.” Perhaps those are the words we need most when the water begins to rise. God does not always stand on the distant shore and call, “Keep going. You'll make it.” He enters the water with us. When the river is stronger than we are, He is there. When circumstances feel overwhelming, He is there. When we find ourselves walking through something we never imagined we would face, He is there. And notice another important word: “through.” The water is not our destination. The river is not our home. The fire is not the end of our story. We pass through them. Sometimes God delivers us by removing the difficulty. Sometimes He delivers us by carrying us through it. And sometimes, only after we reach the other side, do we look back and realize how faithfully He was with us every step of the way. We may enter the water afraid. We may enter the fire wondering how we will possibly endure. But we never enter alone. The God who promised, “I will be with you,” does not leave when the road becomes difficult. That is precisely when His presence becomes most precious. A new beginning sometimes lies on the other side of deep water: I do not need a life without difficult passages; I need the assurance that God will walk through them with me. Reflection: Am I interpreting a difficult season as evidence that God has left me, or am I looking for His presence with me in the middle of it? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You never promise from a distance. When I pass through deep waters, You are with me. When circumstances threaten to overwhelm me, You remain beside me. When I must walk through the fire, help me trust Your presence more than I fear the flames. Give me courage for today's passage and faith to remember that I am only passing through. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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  • Fear is a clever adversary.

    When we think of fear, the first things that come to mind are old, decrepit Victorian mansions or abandoned houses fueled by stories of stories of swinging chandeliers or doors that creak open on their own.

    Or we might think of less dramatic fears: heights or flying or small spaces.

    Unless you’re suffering from one of these or other phobias—or ghosts—it is rather easy to simply discard fear as something other people experience.

    But fear is not so simple.

    Most often, it sneaks into mind and festers and builds like a bacteria that, if untreated, to infection, sepsis, and even death.

    You can try preventative measures to keep it at bay, but bacteria can still get in. And you never know until you’re infected until the symptoms appear.

    This is the primary modus operandi of fear.
    It sneaks in, debilitates, and even paralyzes.
    Ultimately, it renders its victim completely helpless.

    This came to light during an unrelated discussion with my wife.

    We have been trying to put the finishing touches on my next manuscript, which frankly has been simmering on the backburner over the last several due to life distractions. Currently, it is coming down to fact-checking and formatting endnotes.
    It is especially nerve-racking because, unlike my previous book, we chose to self-publish this one. We have to get it right. It is all on us.

    It’s been difficult to release the manuscript. We’re haunted by the questions: is there more that can be done? Is the subject even all that relevant anymore? What am I missing?

    We check and recheck every detail.

    We don’t want to let go and send it into a very cruel world.

    We both recognized this paralysis after hearing ourselves begin everything with the phrase: “I’m afraid…”

    This realization suddenly made this year make sense.

    I have felt a bit off most of the year. I have become more subdued, resigned, troubled. I thought I was hiding it okay until a former (and very discerning) student came up to me recently and asked, “Mr. H., are you sad?”

    That simple, innocent question shook me into an awareness. I don’t necessarily think I am depressed, but something is not right.

    Since then, between that question and this recent epiphany with my wife, I realized that fear has crept into my life and is now controlling my psyche.

    The first part of 2026 has been difficult. Now, I won’t pretend that it was somehow more difficult than others. But it has been tough. The remainder of 2026 has been trying to recover from it.

    Last March, within days of the door slamming shut on my wife’s 25-year career, I lost my mom. In a way, I lost her over the last several years as she sank into dementia, but last March her battle ended.

    Add this to standard stresses associated with a second semester in a high school, which in and of itself is enough to deplete my tanks. Now I have to tap into mental and emotional resources that don’t exist.

    Fast forward to the present and I can see how God was with us in the storm. He gave me mental and emotionally resources, I never knew existed. He took care of us despite a huge income drop and being uninsured for a couple of month. Further, I know that my mom is now thinking more clearly than I could ever dream.

    God gets the glory.

    However, the enemy used a different tactic to paralyze me. Out of these hardship, fear crept in. And now I realize I am infected with it.
    Watching my mom sink into the darkness of dementia, I have become afraid that one day I might suffer from that myself. I am afraid of losing my mind.

    Unfortunately, once fear has a foothold, it doesn’t stop there. Fear escalated from fearing dementia to fearing getting old in general.

    I am only a few months away from leaving behind my fifties forever. I began to fear getting old.
    I fear my body slowing down. Simple things become a little harder. My back, my knees, and feet start to hurt a little more. I have a little more trouble hearing someone in a noisy room. I am doing that weird thing with my glasses when transitioning between reading close up and at a distance. It takes longer to get over a cold. Last July, I turned an ankle in Colorado that still aches today. The thought of not driving because driving in the winter or at night just isn’t worth the risk. I don’t want to give up the things that require the energy I had when I was young. How many summer road trips do I have left? What happens when I can no longer match the energy of a classroom of high school students?

    Fear takes that into a whole new direction. I really don’t want to stop teaching. I love the classroom. I love the cycle of the school calendar. But what happens when my body can’t keep up? Can my filters remain strong enough to keep me from saying something mean or stupid? Will I become tiresome, or in the way? Can I keep my teaching style and not turn into a grumpy old stooge? Worse yet, what happens when I become irrelevant?

    I have found myself somewhat paralyzed by this fear.

    And it has dragged me down.

    It has made me “look sad.”

    All of this came together with the recent discussion with my wife.

    Fear has overtaken me. It has taken control of me.

    But is it too late?

    Thankfully, no.

    The most used phrase in the entirety of scripture is: “do not be afraid.”

    However, one important observation that seems to be overlooked is that that phrase is almost always spoken from the supernatural point of view: God to human, Jesus to human, heavenly messenger to human.

    From a broader, heavenly perspective to a limited, natural one.

    “Do not be afraid.”

    I have thought about this constantly since that epiphany I had with my wife.

    I should not—must not—live in fear. Not as a child of the King.

    But how do you switch fear off? It is not as simple as a light switch.

    Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

    The enemy’s game plan is to always whisper thoughts into our head that will trigger fear.

    We have to be on guard always. When we get the sense of fear, we must be deliberate and take that thought captive and replace it with truth: “My God is bigger”; “He is my protector and comforter”; “This thought is not coming from him”.

    Fear does not sit on the throne, God does. Fear, by definition, is limited, God is infinite. Fear is merely a tool, God is the creator of everything, including us who are made in gis image. Only God can break through the paralysis fear brings and can heal us.

    Does that mean those things I fear will never happen? No. They likely will. But however the upcoming years pan out, he is with you, with me.

    And whatever the future brings, God is God. And he is good.
    Fear is a clever adversary. When we think of fear, the first things that come to mind are old, decrepit Victorian mansions or abandoned houses fueled by stories of stories of swinging chandeliers or doors that creak open on their own. Or we might think of less dramatic fears: heights or flying or small spaces. Unless you’re suffering from one of these or other phobias—or ghosts—it is rather easy to simply discard fear as something other people experience. But fear is not so simple. Most often, it sneaks into mind and festers and builds like a bacteria that, if untreated, to infection, sepsis, and even death. You can try preventative measures to keep it at bay, but bacteria can still get in. And you never know until you’re infected until the symptoms appear. This is the primary modus operandi of fear. It sneaks in, debilitates, and even paralyzes. Ultimately, it renders its victim completely helpless. This came to light during an unrelated discussion with my wife. We have been trying to put the finishing touches on my next manuscript, which frankly has been simmering on the backburner over the last several due to life distractions. Currently, it is coming down to fact-checking and formatting endnotes. It is especially nerve-racking because, unlike my previous book, we chose to self-publish this one. We have to get it right. It is all on us. It’s been difficult to release the manuscript. We’re haunted by the questions: is there more that can be done? Is the subject even all that relevant anymore? What am I missing? We check and recheck every detail. We don’t want to let go and send it into a very cruel world. We both recognized this paralysis after hearing ourselves begin everything with the phrase: “I’m afraid…” This realization suddenly made this year make sense. I have felt a bit off most of the year. I have become more subdued, resigned, troubled. I thought I was hiding it okay until a former (and very discerning) student came up to me recently and asked, “Mr. H., are you sad?” That simple, innocent question shook me into an awareness. I don’t necessarily think I am depressed, but something is not right. Since then, between that question and this recent epiphany with my wife, I realized that fear has crept into my life and is now controlling my psyche. The first part of 2026 has been difficult. Now, I won’t pretend that it was somehow more difficult than others. But it has been tough. The remainder of 2026 has been trying to recover from it. Last March, within days of the door slamming shut on my wife’s 25-year career, I lost my mom. In a way, I lost her over the last several years as she sank into dementia, but last March her battle ended. Add this to standard stresses associated with a second semester in a high school, which in and of itself is enough to deplete my tanks. Now I have to tap into mental and emotional resources that don’t exist. Fast forward to the present and I can see how God was with us in the storm. He gave me mental and emotionally resources, I never knew existed. He took care of us despite a huge income drop and being uninsured for a couple of month. Further, I know that my mom is now thinking more clearly than I could ever dream. God gets the glory. However, the enemy used a different tactic to paralyze me. Out of these hardship, fear crept in. And now I realize I am infected with it. Watching my mom sink into the darkness of dementia, I have become afraid that one day I might suffer from that myself. I am afraid of losing my mind. Unfortunately, once fear has a foothold, it doesn’t stop there. Fear escalated from fearing dementia to fearing getting old in general. I am only a few months away from leaving behind my fifties forever. I began to fear getting old. I fear my body slowing down. Simple things become a little harder. My back, my knees, and feet start to hurt a little more. I have a little more trouble hearing someone in a noisy room. I am doing that weird thing with my glasses when transitioning between reading close up and at a distance. It takes longer to get over a cold. Last July, I turned an ankle in Colorado that still aches today. The thought of not driving because driving in the winter or at night just isn’t worth the risk. I don’t want to give up the things that require the energy I had when I was young. How many summer road trips do I have left? What happens when I can no longer match the energy of a classroom of high school students? Fear takes that into a whole new direction. I really don’t want to stop teaching. I love the classroom. I love the cycle of the school calendar. But what happens when my body can’t keep up? Can my filters remain strong enough to keep me from saying something mean or stupid? Will I become tiresome, or in the way? Can I keep my teaching style and not turn into a grumpy old stooge? Worse yet, what happens when I become irrelevant? I have found myself somewhat paralyzed by this fear. And it has dragged me down. It has made me “look sad.” All of this came together with the recent discussion with my wife. Fear has overtaken me. It has taken control of me. But is it too late? Thankfully, no. The most used phrase in the entirety of scripture is: “do not be afraid.” However, one important observation that seems to be overlooked is that that phrase is almost always spoken from the supernatural point of view: God to human, Jesus to human, heavenly messenger to human. From a broader, heavenly perspective to a limited, natural one. “Do not be afraid.” I have thought about this constantly since that epiphany I had with my wife. I should not—must not—live in fear. Not as a child of the King. But how do you switch fear off? It is not as simple as a light switch. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” The enemy’s game plan is to always whisper thoughts into our head that will trigger fear. We have to be on guard always. When we get the sense of fear, we must be deliberate and take that thought captive and replace it with truth: “My God is bigger”; “He is my protector and comforter”; “This thought is not coming from him”. Fear does not sit on the throne, God does. Fear, by definition, is limited, God is infinite. Fear is merely a tool, God is the creator of everything, including us who are made in gis image. Only God can break through the paralysis fear brings and can heal us. Does that mean those things I fear will never happen? No. They likely will. But however the upcoming years pan out, he is with you, with me. And whatever the future brings, God is God. And he is good.
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  • DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
    Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him!

    Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV)
    “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

    Thought Of The Day...
    There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus.
    Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus.
    They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results.
    They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had.
    They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said:
    “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
    — Acts 19:13 (KJV)
    Notice their language.
    They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.”
    They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
    Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony.
    And that raises a serious question for every believer:
    Do you know Jesus for yourself?
    It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus.
    It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus.
    It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him.
    Christianity was never intended to be secondhand.
    You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony.
    Eventually, you must know Him for yourself.
    Paul could say:
    “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…”
    — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)
    Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.”
    “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?”
    These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts.
    The evil spirit responded:
    “Jesus I know.”
    There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus.
    The demons knew exactly who He was.
    During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried:
    “I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
    — Mark 1:24 (KJV)
    James gives us another sobering reminder:
    “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
    — James 2:19 (KJV)
    Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him.
    But then the spirit said something else:
    “Paul I know.”
    Why was Paul recognized?
    Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus.
    Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus.
    Then came the devastating question:
    “BUT WHO ARE YE?”
    In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using?
    The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase.
    There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is.
    Jesus declared:
    “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
    — Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
    His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom.
    We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives.
    DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON?
    Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer.
    He is the Son of God.
    “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
    — Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
    He is the Savior.
    “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
    — Luke 19:10 (KJV)
    He is the Way to the Father.
    “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
    — John 14:6 (KJV)
    He is the Resurrection and the Life.
    “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
    — John 11:25 (KJV)
    He is Lord.
    “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
    — Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
    The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?”
    The question is:
    Have you trusted Him?
    Have you surrendered to Him?
    Are you following Him?
    Are you walking with Him?
    Does your life belong to Him?
    YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING
    The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing.
    But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique.
    You can imitate someone's preaching style.
    You can imitate someone's prayer language.
    You can imitate someone's worship.
    You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures.
    But you cannot imitate their relationship with God.
    Jesus said:
    “Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.”
    — John 15:4–5 (KJV)
    Our strength comes from abiding in Christ.
    The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him.
    The seven sons discovered this painfully.
    The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.”
    They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.”
    There is a warning here:
    Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ.
    YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS
    Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus.
    Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God.
    Who are you when there is no microphone?
    Who are you when there is no congregation?
    Who are you when nobody sees you praying?
    Who are you when temptation comes?
    Who are you when life becomes difficult?
    Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith?
    Jesus said:
    “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
    — John 8:31 (KJV)
    Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ.
    KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES
    Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is.
    Know Him now.
    Know Him in prayer.
    Know Him through His Word.
    Know Him in worship.
    Know Him through obedience.
    Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from.
    David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared.
    Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den.
    The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it.
    Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered.
    And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus.
    You need to be able to declare:
    I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
    Job said:
    “For I know that my redeemer liveth…”
    — Job 19:25 (KJV)
    There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough.
    You need your own history with God.
    You need memories of prayers He answered.
    You need moments when His Word carried you.
    You need times when you experienced His grace.
    You need the confidence to declare:
    I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself!
    THE QUESTION STILL STANDS
    Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart:
    DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
    Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches.
    Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about.
    Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School.
    But Jesus Christ for yourself.
    And perhaps an even deeper question is:
    DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM?
    Jesus said:
    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
    — John 10:27 (KJV)
    Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus.
    Following Jesus should produce obedience.
    Obedience should produce transformation.
    And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus.

    PRAYER...
    Father, in the name of Jesus,
    Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him.
    We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You.
    Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves.
    Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice.
    Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You.
    Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live.
    When temptation comes, remind us who You are.
    When storms arise, remind us who You are.
    When fear attacks, remind us who You are.
    When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word.
    May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ.
    And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul:
    “That I may know him.”
    We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly.
    In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
    Amen.

    DECLARATION...
    I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith!
    I know who Jesus is!
    Jesus is my Savior.
    Jesus is my Redeemer.
    Jesus is my Lord.
    Jesus is my Deliverer.
    Jesus is my Rock.
    Jesus is my Strength.
    Jesus is my Hope.
    Jesus is my King!
    I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him.
    I refuse to merely know about Jesus.
    I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
    And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?”
    My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer:
    YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
    “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)

    Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!
    DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS? Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him! Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV) “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Thought Of The Day... There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus. Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus. They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results. They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had. They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said: “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” — Acts 19:13 (KJV) Notice their language. They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.” They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony. And that raises a serious question for every believer: Do you know Jesus for yourself? It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus. It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus. It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him. Christianity was never intended to be secondhand. You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony. Eventually, you must know Him for yourself. Paul could say: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV) Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.” “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?” These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts. The evil spirit responded: “Jesus I know.” There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus. The demons knew exactly who He was. During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried: “I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” — Mark 1:24 (KJV) James gives us another sobering reminder: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” — James 2:19 (KJV) Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him. But then the spirit said something else: “Paul I know.” Why was Paul recognized? Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus. Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus. Then came the devastating question: “BUT WHO ARE YE?” In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using? The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase. There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is. Jesus declared: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” — Matthew 28:18 (KJV) His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom. We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives. DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON? Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer. He is the Son of God. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:16 (KJV) He is the Savior. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — Luke 19:10 (KJV) He is the Way to the Father. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” — John 14:6 (KJV) He is the Resurrection and the Life. “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” — John 11:25 (KJV) He is Lord. “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” — Philippians 2:11 (KJV) The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?” The question is: Have you trusted Him? Have you surrendered to Him? Are you following Him? Are you walking with Him? Does your life belong to Him? YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing. But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique. You can imitate someone's preaching style. You can imitate someone's prayer language. You can imitate someone's worship. You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures. But you cannot imitate their relationship with God. Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:4–5 (KJV) Our strength comes from abiding in Christ. The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him. The seven sons discovered this painfully. The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.” They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.” There is a warning here: Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ. YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus. Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God. Who are you when there is no microphone? Who are you when there is no congregation? Who are you when nobody sees you praying? Who are you when temptation comes? Who are you when life becomes difficult? Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith? Jesus said: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” — John 8:31 (KJV) Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ. KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is. Know Him now. Know Him in prayer. Know Him through His Word. Know Him in worship. Know Him through obedience. Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from. David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared. Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den. The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it. Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered. And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus. You need to be able to declare: I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! Job said: “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” — Job 19:25 (KJV) There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough. You need your own history with God. You need memories of prayers He answered. You need moments when His Word carried you. You need times when you experienced His grace. You need the confidence to declare: I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself! THE QUESTION STILL STANDS Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart: DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS? Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches. Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about. Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School. But Jesus Christ for yourself. And perhaps an even deeper question is: DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM? Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27 (KJV) Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus. Following Jesus should produce obedience. Obedience should produce transformation. And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus. PRAYER... Father, in the name of Jesus, Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him. We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You. Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves. Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice. Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You. Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live. When temptation comes, remind us who You are. When storms arise, remind us who You are. When fear attacks, remind us who You are. When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word. May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ. And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul: “That I may know him.” We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly. In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. DECLARATION... I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith! I know who Jesus is! Jesus is my Savior. Jesus is my Redeemer. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Deliverer. Jesus is my Rock. Jesus is my Strength. Jesus is my Hope. Jesus is my King! I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him. I refuse to merely know about Jesus. I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?” My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer: YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF! “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV) Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!
    Praying
    1
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  • August 23
    “WHO GOD IS TO ME”
    MY KEEPER
    Psalm 121:5 (LLV) —
    “The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.”
    There is comfort
    in knowing
    someone
    is watching
    over us.
    Not watching
    to find fault.
    Not watching
    from a distance.
    Watching
    because
    we matter
    to them.
    The psalmist says,
    “The LORD
    is your keeper.”
    He guards.
    He watches.
    He preserves.
    He cares.
    Earlier
    in this psalm,
    the writer
    looks toward
    the hills
    and asks,
    “Where does
    my help
    come from?”
    His answer
    is immediate.
    “My help
    comes
    from the LORD.”
    Then he tells us
    something remarkable
    about this Keeper.
    “He who keeps you
    will not slumber.”
    We grow tired.
    God does not.
    We become
    distracted.
    God does not.
    We sometimes
    fail to see
    the danger
    ahead.
    God does not.
    There is never
    a moment
    when God's attention
    wanders
    from His children.
    But then
    the psalmist
    makes the picture
    even more intimate.
    “The LORD
    is your shade
    at your right hand.”
    In the fierce heat
    of the ancient world,
    shade
    was not merely
    comfortable.
    It could mean
    survival.
    And shade
    cannot protect you
    from far away.
    It must be
    near.
    Very near.
    The psalmist
    could have said
    that God
    watches us
    from heaven.
    That would
    have been true.
    Instead,
    he describes
    God as shade
    beside us.
    Close enough
    to shelter.
    Close enough
    to protect.
    Close enough
    to remain
    at our side.
    We may not
    recognize
    every danger
    from which
    God has protected us.
    We may never know
    how many paths
    were quietly
    redirected,
    how many doors
    remained closed,
    or how many circumstances
    God used
    to keep us
    from something
    we could not see.
    But our confidence
    does not depend
    upon knowing
    everything
    God is doing.
    It rests
    in knowing
    who He is.
    My Keeper.
    The One
    who watches
    when I sleep.
    The One
    who sees
    what I cannot.
    The One
    who remains
    beside me
    through every step
    of the journey.
    A new beginning rests beneath this promise:
    I do not know everything that lies ahead, but my Keeper does—and He never stops watching over me.
    Reflection: Can I trust God's watchful care even when I cannot see what He may be protecting me from or how He is guiding my path?
    Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Keeper. Thank You for watching over me when I am awake and when I sleep, when I understand the road ahead and when I do not. Help me trust Your protection even when I cannot see what You are doing. Remind me that You are not distant, but near—my shade at my right hand. Let me walk through today resting in Your faithful care. In Jesus' name, Amen.
    August 23 🌿 “WHO GOD IS TO ME” MY KEEPER 📖 Psalm 121:5 (LLV) — “The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.” There is comfort in knowing someone is watching over us. Not watching to find fault. Not watching from a distance. Watching because we matter to them. The psalmist says, “The LORD is your keeper.” He guards. He watches. He preserves. He cares. Earlier in this psalm, the writer looks toward the hills and asks, “Where does my help come from?” His answer is immediate. “My help comes from the LORD.” Then he tells us something remarkable about this Keeper. “He who keeps you will not slumber.” We grow tired. God does not. We become distracted. God does not. We sometimes fail to see the danger ahead. God does not. There is never a moment when God's attention wanders from His children. But then the psalmist makes the picture even more intimate. “The LORD is your shade at your right hand.” In the fierce heat of the ancient world, shade was not merely comfortable. It could mean survival. And shade cannot protect you from far away. It must be near. Very near. The psalmist could have said that God watches us from heaven. That would have been true. Instead, he describes God as shade beside us. Close enough to shelter. Close enough to protect. Close enough to remain at our side. We may not recognize every danger from which God has protected us. We may never know how many paths were quietly redirected, how many doors remained closed, or how many circumstances God used to keep us from something we could not see. But our confidence does not depend upon knowing everything God is doing. It rests in knowing who He is. My Keeper. The One who watches when I sleep. The One who sees what I cannot. The One who remains beside me through every step of the journey. A new beginning rests beneath this promise: I do not know everything that lies ahead, but my Keeper does—and He never stops watching over me. Reflection: Can I trust God's watchful care even when I cannot see what He may be protecting me from or how He is guiding my path? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Keeper. Thank You for watching over me when I am awake and when I sleep, when I understand the road ahead and when I do not. Help me trust Your protection even when I cannot see what You are doing. Remind me that You are not distant, but near—my shade at my right hand. Let me walk through today resting in Your faithful care. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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    1
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  • JOY IN THE MORNING
    By Pastor Jonathan O. Ubah.

    This story will bless your life. Ensure you read till the end.

    Daniel was the kind of young man people admired from a distance but rarely helped when he needed them most.

    He was intelligent, hardworking, and full of ideas. At school, he had always been among the best. His teachers spoke highly of him and often said, "Daniel will go far in life."

    Daniel believed them.

    But after graduation, life began to tell him a different story.

    He wrote applications. He attended interviews. He shared business ideas with people who had influence and resources. Again and again, he heard the same words:

    "We'll get back to you."

    They never did.

    Some people praised his intelligence but refused to support him. Others took his ideas, promised partnership, and disappeared. Even friends who once came to him for advice suddenly became too busy when Daniel was the one asking for help.

    Months became years.

    One evening, Daniel sat alone in his small room, staring at his laptop. The battery was almost dead. His rent was overdue. His phone had stopped ringing.

    He felt abandoned.

    "What is the use of being intelligent," he whispered, "if nobody is willing to give me a chance?"

    For the first time in his life, Daniel began to doubt himself.

    That night, he lay awake with tears in his eyes. He was tired—not because he lacked dreams, but because he was exhausted from carrying them alone.

    Before dawn, unable to sleep, Daniel stepped outside. The night was still dark. The streets were quiet.

    He sat on a wooden bench and watched the sky.

    For a long time, nothing happened.

    Then, slowly, the darkness began to change.

    A faint light appeared at the edge of the sky.

    Daniel watched as morning pushed back the night—not with noise, not with force, but gradually and faithfully.

    And something stirred inside him.

    He realized that the darkness had not lasted forever.

    The morning had been on its way even when he could not see it.

    Daniel returned to his room with a different decision. If nobody would help him open a door, he would begin with whatever was in his hands.

    He used his intelligence to solve small problems for people around him. He started offering services online. He read more, learned new skills, and refused to let rejection become his identity.

    It was not easy.

    Some days, he earned nothing. Some days, he wanted to give up again.

    But he remembered that morning.

    One opportunity led to another. A small client introduced him to someone else. The skills he had developed during his lonely years became the foundation of a growing career.

    Years later, Daniel stood before a group of young people and told them something he had learned the hard way:

    "Sometimes, the people you expect to help you will not come. Sometimes, doors will remain closed longer than you hoped. But never conclude that your story has ended because you are in a dark season. Keep moving. Keep learning. Keep believing. There is always another way, another door, another opportunity, and another morning."

    Daniel smiled as he looked at the rising sun through the window.

    He finally understood.

    The night had not destroyed him.

    It had prepared him to recognize the morning.

    Reflection

    No matter what you are going through today, do not surrender to the darkness. Your present situation is not the final chapter of your life. You may feel alone, rejected, forgotten, or unsupported, but there is always a way forward.

    Sometimes the help you are waiting for will come. Sometimes you will discover strength you never knew you had.

    But one thing is certain: the darkest night cannot stop the morning from coming.

    Keep going.

    Joy may not be visible tonight, but joy is still possible in the morning.

    #highlights
    #beinspired
    #dontgiveup
    JOY IN THE MORNING By Pastor Jonathan O. Ubah. This story will bless your life. Ensure you read till the end. Daniel was the kind of young man people admired from a distance but rarely helped when he needed them most. He was intelligent, hardworking, and full of ideas. At school, he had always been among the best. His teachers spoke highly of him and often said, "Daniel will go far in life." Daniel believed them. But after graduation, life began to tell him a different story. He wrote applications. He attended interviews. He shared business ideas with people who had influence and resources. Again and again, he heard the same words: "We'll get back to you." They never did. Some people praised his intelligence but refused to support him. Others took his ideas, promised partnership, and disappeared. Even friends who once came to him for advice suddenly became too busy when Daniel was the one asking for help. Months became years. One evening, Daniel sat alone in his small room, staring at his laptop. The battery was almost dead. His rent was overdue. His phone had stopped ringing. He felt abandoned. "What is the use of being intelligent," he whispered, "if nobody is willing to give me a chance?" For the first time in his life, Daniel began to doubt himself. That night, he lay awake with tears in his eyes. He was tired—not because he lacked dreams, but because he was exhausted from carrying them alone. Before dawn, unable to sleep, Daniel stepped outside. The night was still dark. The streets were quiet. He sat on a wooden bench and watched the sky. For a long time, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the darkness began to change. A faint light appeared at the edge of the sky. Daniel watched as morning pushed back the night—not with noise, not with force, but gradually and faithfully. And something stirred inside him. He realized that the darkness had not lasted forever. The morning had been on its way even when he could not see it. Daniel returned to his room with a different decision. If nobody would help him open a door, he would begin with whatever was in his hands. He used his intelligence to solve small problems for people around him. He started offering services online. He read more, learned new skills, and refused to let rejection become his identity. It was not easy. Some days, he earned nothing. Some days, he wanted to give up again. But he remembered that morning. One opportunity led to another. A small client introduced him to someone else. The skills he had developed during his lonely years became the foundation of a growing career. Years later, Daniel stood before a group of young people and told them something he had learned the hard way: "Sometimes, the people you expect to help you will not come. Sometimes, doors will remain closed longer than you hoped. But never conclude that your story has ended because you are in a dark season. Keep moving. Keep learning. Keep believing. There is always another way, another door, another opportunity, and another morning." Daniel smiled as he looked at the rising sun through the window. He finally understood. The night had not destroyed him. It had prepared him to recognize the morning. Reflection No matter what you are going through today, do not surrender to the darkness. Your present situation is not the final chapter of your life. You may feel alone, rejected, forgotten, or unsupported, but there is always a way forward. Sometimes the help you are waiting for will come. Sometimes you will discover strength you never knew you had. But one thing is certain: the darkest night cannot stop the morning from coming. Keep going. Joy may not be visible tonight, but joy is still possible in the morning. #highlights #beinspired #dontgiveup
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  • August 22 - Jesus’ Availability to Jairus

    #LifeOfChrist


    “Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples” (Matthew 9:19).

    Jesus was always willing to go out of His way to serve others in the Father’s name. This trait was certainly evident as Christ reached out to Jairus with accessibility and availability. There were certainly many other needy people in the region near Jairus, but the urgency of the synagogue leader’s circumstances demanded that Jesus go to Jairus’s home. From a distance the Lord could have sent the power to raise the man’s daughter from the dead. He chose, however, to manifest selfless love and compassion by following the grieving Jairus to his home.

    God is sensitive not only to the needs of the many but to the cry of individuals in need. The Holy Spirit’s work through Philip in Acts 8 illustrates this principle. In the midst of a highly profitable ministry in Samaria, an angel dispatched the evangelist to Gaza (v. 26). Right away Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch, the royal official who served the queen of Ethiopia. When the Holy Spirit prompted Philip to approach the man, the evangelist found an eager seeker about the things of God and was able to lead him to saving faith in Christ (vv. 35–37).

    God sometimes leads us, as He often led His own Son and the early disciples, to temporarily set aside a larger ministry to focus on the need of one person—and He wants us to be available. After all, Jesus did promise that every single individual who genuinely “comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37).

    Ask Yourself

    Who comes to mind when you think of someone God has called you to influence at this point in time? Avoid the temptation to withhold yourself from others, not wanting to get involved in the messiness of their needs and problems, when Jesus has called you to compassion.
    August 22 - Jesus’ Availability to Jairus #LifeOfChrist “Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples” (Matthew 9:19). Jesus was always willing to go out of His way to serve others in the Father’s name. This trait was certainly evident as Christ reached out to Jairus with accessibility and availability. There were certainly many other needy people in the region near Jairus, but the urgency of the synagogue leader’s circumstances demanded that Jesus go to Jairus’s home. From a distance the Lord could have sent the power to raise the man’s daughter from the dead. He chose, however, to manifest selfless love and compassion by following the grieving Jairus to his home. God is sensitive not only to the needs of the many but to the cry of individuals in need. The Holy Spirit’s work through Philip in Acts 8 illustrates this principle. In the midst of a highly profitable ministry in Samaria, an angel dispatched the evangelist to Gaza (v. 26). Right away Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch, the royal official who served the queen of Ethiopia. When the Holy Spirit prompted Philip to approach the man, the evangelist found an eager seeker about the things of God and was able to lead him to saving faith in Christ (vv. 35–37). God sometimes leads us, as He often led His own Son and the early disciples, to temporarily set aside a larger ministry to focus on the need of one person—and He wants us to be available. After all, Jesus did promise that every single individual who genuinely “comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Ask Yourself Who comes to mind when you think of someone God has called you to influence at this point in time? Avoid the temptation to withhold yourself from others, not wanting to get involved in the messiness of their needs and problems, when Jesus has called you to compassion.
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  • ~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 232nd day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 233rd day of 2026, might I suggest to you that to be loved is to be changed? So allow yourself to be transformed . . .==> "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." [Revelation 3:20]
    [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.]
    (For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz])
    https://youtube.com/watch?v=70vCmPaPyY8&is=sUKPuu_ds6ZvJaog
    ~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 232nd day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 233rd day of 2026, might I suggest to you that to be loved is to be changed? So allow yourself to be transformed . . .==> "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." [Revelation 3:20] [And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.] (For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz]) https://youtube.com/watch?v=70vCmPaPyY8&is=sUKPuu_ds6ZvJaog
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