• THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THANKFULNESS

    “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

    In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful.
    Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas.

    Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas.

    If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial.

    Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness.

    This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so.

    Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit.
    Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad.

    First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life.

    God bless you!
    THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT THANKFULNESS “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33 In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas. If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial. Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness. This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so. Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad. First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life. God bless you!
    Like
    1
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 15 Ansichten
  • ๐…๐จ๐ซ ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ ๐†๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ
    “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ,
    ๐˜ž๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฌ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜Š๐˜ฉ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ.”

    Some tasks feel important because people notice them. Others seem so ordinary that we wonder whether they matter at all. We answer emails, clean rooms, finish assignments, serve quietly, raise families, and fulfill responsibilities that may never receive applause. Yet Scripture gives ordinary work eternal weight. The question is not whether our task looks significant—but whether we are doing it for Christ.

    Paul writes in ๐Ÿ•ฎ ๐‚๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ‘:๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘, “๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜บ, ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ.” The command reaches beyond church ministry into every legitimate responsibility God has placed before us. Whether our work is public or hidden, celebrated or unnoticed, Christ is the true Master we serve.

    A craftsman may spend hours working on something nobody will ever see inside a finished building. Yet he works carefully because he knows what he is building matters. So it should be with us. Heaven sees what earth overlooks. The unseen task, the ordinary duty, and the quiet responsibility can all become worship when they are done faithfully before the Lord.

    Scripture teaches and reminds us that our labor matters to God. “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต, ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฌ, ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜Ž๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ” (๐Ÿ ๐‚๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ:๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ). “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜‘๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ด” (๐‚๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ‘:๐Ÿ๐Ÿ•). We do not work for applause; we work for approval from above. Our workplace, home, church, and daily responsibilities can become places where Christ is honored.

    The audience of our work is ultimately not man—it is God. “๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ” (๐„๐ฉ๐ก๐ž๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ”:๐Ÿ•). Don’t work like a mouse that only moves when the cat is away. We are not called to perform when people are watching and relax when they are gone. The task may be ordinary, the audience may be small, and the reward may be unseen—but the Lord sees every faithful hand.

    Before Christ called us to work, He worked for us. He “๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ” (๐Œ๐š๐ซ๐ค ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ:๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ“). The risen Lord now sends us as His servants, not to chase recognition, but to glorify Him in all we do. “๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜‘๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ” (๐‡๐ž๐›๐ซ๐ž๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ:๐Ÿ).

    Are you treating your ordinary responsibilities as interruptions or as opportunities to glorify Christ? What task have you been doing reluctantly because nobody seems to notice? You don't need Christ merely to make your work successful—you need Him to make your work worship. Whatever your hands find to do, do it for Him. The task may be ordinary, but the One we serve is not.

    ๐๐ซ๐š๐ฒ๐ž๐ซ: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving meaning even to the ordinary work You place before us. Forgive us for seeking human recognition or despising unnoticed tasks. Teach us to work faithfully, joyfully, and wholeheartedly, remembering that we serve Christ above all. May everything we do bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

    Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day!
    ๐€๐ฅ๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐–๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐†๐จ๐...
    _____________________________________________________
    All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible.
    Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day…

    If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling:
    FREE FlipBook Previews:
    https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html
    Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback)
    Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
    https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso

    Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you.
    Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app

    Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world.
    May God bless you more abundantly…
    ๐…๐จ๐ซ ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ ๐†๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ โœ๏ธ “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ž๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฌ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜Š๐˜ฉ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ.” Some tasks feel important because people notice them. Others seem so ordinary that we wonder whether they matter at all. We answer emails, clean rooms, finish assignments, serve quietly, raise families, and fulfill responsibilities that may never receive applause. Yet Scripture gives ordinary work eternal weight. The question is not whether our task looks significant—but whether we are doing it for Christ. Paul writes in ๐Ÿ•ฎ ๐‚๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ‘:๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‘, “๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜บ, ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ.” The command reaches beyond church ministry into every legitimate responsibility God has placed before us. Whether our work is public or hidden, celebrated or unnoticed, Christ is the true Master we serve. A craftsman may spend hours working on something nobody will ever see inside a finished building. Yet he works carefully because he knows what he is building matters. So it should be with us. Heaven sees what earth overlooks. The unseen task, the ordinary duty, and the quiet responsibility can all become worship when they are done faithfully before the Lord. Scripture teaches and reminds us that our labor matters to God. “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต, ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฌ, ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜Ž๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ” (๐Ÿ ๐‚๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ:๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ). “๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜‘๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ด” (๐‚๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ‘:๐Ÿ๐Ÿ•). We do not work for applause; we work for approval from above. Our workplace, home, church, and daily responsibilities can become places where Christ is honored. The audience of our work is ultimately not man—it is God. “๐˜š๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ” (๐„๐ฉ๐ก๐ž๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ฌ ๐Ÿ”:๐Ÿ•). Don’t work like a mouse that only moves when the cat is away. We are not called to perform when people are watching and relax when they are gone. The task may be ordinary, the audience may be small, and the reward may be unseen—but the Lord sees every faithful hand. Before Christ called us to work, He worked for us. He “๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ” (๐Œ๐š๐ซ๐ค ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ:๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ“). The risen Lord now sends us as His servants, not to chase recognition, but to glorify Him in all we do. “๐˜“๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฌ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜‘๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ” (๐‡๐ž๐›๐ซ๐ž๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ:๐Ÿ). Are you treating your ordinary responsibilities as interruptions or as opportunities to glorify Christ? What task have you been doing reluctantly because nobody seems to notice? You don't need Christ merely to make your work successful—you need Him to make your work worship. Whatever your hands find to do, do it for Him. The task may be ordinary, but the One we serve is not. ๐๐ซ๐š๐ฒ๐ž๐ซ: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving meaning even to the ordinary work You place before us. Forgive us for seeking human recognition or despising unnoticed tasks. Teach us to work faithfully, joyfully, and wholeheartedly, remembering that we serve Christ above all. May everything we do bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day! ๐€๐ฅ๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ž๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐–๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐†๐จ๐... _____________________________________________________ All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible. Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day… If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling: ๐Ÿ‘‰ FREE FlipBook Previews: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html ๐Ÿ“š Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback) โœจ Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world. May God bless you more abundantly…
    1 Kommentare 1 Anteile 170 Ansichten
  • *Praising Adonai From Dawn to Dusk*

    Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.)

    Everything that you just imaginedโ€”God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him.

    From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans.
    *โ€œFrom the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!โ€ Psalm 113:3*
    The sun โ€œrisesโ€ and โ€œsetsโ€ on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles.

    An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have been praising God from generation to generationโ€”and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop.

    In *Revelation 7*, John has a vision of a โ€œgreat multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,โ€ who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night.

    Godโ€™s peopleโ€”past, present, and futureโ€”are a worshiping people.ย 

    We can worship with our songs.
    We can worship with our money.
    We can worship with our lives.

    And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we donโ€™t have to wait to worship.

    When sunlight streams through our windows, we can worship.
    When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, we can worship.
    When weโ€™re in a season of waiting, we can worship.
    When weโ€™re in a season of receiving, we can worship.
    When our heart is empty and breaking, we can worship.
    When our heart is full, we can worship.

    *From dawn to dusk, let the Name of the Lord be praised.*

    Today, let's begin to think about this verse and consider what compels us to worship God. Then, shift our hearts toward Him and donโ€™t forget to worship Him that sit enthroned upon the circle of the earth.. The One that lives forever.

    *Praising God For His Goodness*
    Father God, You are good and Your Mercy endures forever. No matter what goes on around usโ€”You are always good. You are worthy of our praises because You are God in eternity past, present and future. You provide for us, strengthen us, deliver us, heal us and redeemed our souls. Even when we donโ€™t see You at work in our lives, that doesnโ€™t change the fact that You are working. There is no one like You. So regardless of what we face today, we will praise You forever! In Jesusโ€™ Mighty Name, Amen.
    *Praising Adonai From Dawn to Dusk* Close your eyes for a moment. And while you do that, picture this wonderfully diverse planet we call home. (Yes, really.) Everything that you just imaginedโ€”God created all of it. And God created all of us to worship Him. From north to south and east to west. From bustling cities to slow-paced villages. From lifeless deserts to life-packed forests. From the highest mountains to the farthest oceans. *โ€œFrom the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised!โ€ Psalm 113:3* The sun โ€œrisesโ€ and โ€œsetsโ€ on all of us. All people, all languages, all nations. All skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors. All shapes, sizes, and personalities. Rich and poor. Aching hearts and contagious smiles. An eclectic mix of people from various parts of the world have been praising God from generation to generationโ€”and it continues to happen now. And we know it will never stop. In *Revelation 7*, John has a vision of a โ€œgreat multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,โ€ who is Christ. They are serving and worshiping, all day and night. Godโ€™s peopleโ€”past, present, and futureโ€”are a worshiping people.ย  We can worship with our songs. We can worship with our money. We can worship with our lives. And one day, when we finally see things clearly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. But today, we donโ€™t have to wait to worship. When sunlight streams through our windows, we can worship. When the evening sky turns orange-ish pink, we can worship. When weโ€™re in a season of waiting, we can worship. When weโ€™re in a season of receiving, we can worship. When our heart is empty and breaking, we can worship. When our heart is full, we can worship. *From dawn to dusk, let the Name of the Lord be praised.* Today, let's begin to think about this verse and consider what compels us to worship God. Then, shift our hearts toward Him and donโ€™t forget to worship Him that sit enthroned upon the circle of the earth.. The One that lives forever. *Praising God For His Goodness* Father God, You are good and Your Mercy endures forever. No matter what goes on around usโ€”You are always good. You are worthy of our praises because You are God in eternity past, present and future. You provide for us, strengthen us, deliver us, heal us and redeemed our souls. Even when we donโ€™t see You at work in our lives, that doesnโ€™t change the fact that You are working. There is no one like You. So regardless of what we face today, we will praise You forever! In Jesusโ€™ Mighty Name, Amen.
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 9 Ansichten
  • Building Blocks To Growing In Jesusโ€ฆ

    SENSITIVITY AND SUBMISSION TO GODโ€™s WORD

    Proverbs 3:1-2 โ€” "My son, don't forget my instruction. Let your heart guard my commands, because they will help you live a long time and provide you with well-being."

    Psalm 119:105 โ€” "Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey."

    Walking the path of faith requires a steady anchor and a discerning heart. In a world full of shifting opinions, loud voices, and subtle spiritual errors, God has not left us to guess. He has given us His living, active Word as a reliable standard to guide our steps, protect our minds, and draw us closer to Him.

    True spiritual sensitivity begins when we approach the Scriptures with a humble and teachable spirit. Instead of forcing our own desires onto the text, we allow the Bible to search our hearts, correct our motives, and shape our character unfolding a life of genuine obedience and daily renewal. This kind of submission is not a burden; it is an act of deep trust in a loving Father who knows what is best for us.

    When we hide God's truth in our hearts, we build a natural defense against deception arming our minds with discernment and anchoring our souls against the shifting tides of the world. We learn to spot the counterfeitsโ€”messages that flatter human pride, promise cheap grace, or distort the character of Jesus Christ. Grounded in Scripture, we can test every teaching against the unchanging truth of the Gospel.

    Ultimately, submitting to God's Word transforms how we live each day. It moves us from merely hearing spiritual truths to actively putting them into practice through love, obedience, and service. As we let His word be a lamp to our feet, we walk with confidence, knowing we are anchored in the truth that never fails.

    The key to having true sensitivity to Godโ€™s Word involves our having true discernment working in our lives on a daily basis:

    True discernment always uses the Bible as the final authority. It is not based on gut feelings, cultural trends, or personal intuition.
    How it works: Just as a bank teller is trained to spot counterfeit bills by studying real currency exhaustively, a believer sharpens discernment by deeply knowing the absolute truth of God's Word.

    Discernment is not merely an intellectual skill; it is a spiritual fruit made possible by a close walk with God.
    How it works: The Holy Spirit actively lives inside every believer to act as an internal compass, giving a sense of spiritual alignment or warning when something contradicts God's character.

    Truth always produces godliness, humility, love, and a high view of Jesus Christ. Error eventually produces pride, division, exploitation, or unrepentant sin.
    How it works: When evaluating a teaching, movement, or leader, look past the initial presentation or emotional appeal to examine the long-term character and spiritual fruit it leaves behind.

    CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me a discerning heart anchored deeply in Your unchanging Word. Protect my mind from deception, and let Your Holy Spirit guide my every step. Help me to test all things with your wisdom Lord, walk in humble obedience, and reflect the love of Jesus Christ in a world so easily lost in the dark. Amen.

    Building Blocks To Growing In Jesusโ€ฆ SENSITIVITY AND SUBMISSION TO GODโ€™s WORD Proverbs 3:1-2 โ€” "My son, don't forget my instruction. Let your heart guard my commands, because they will help you live a long time and provide you with well-being." Psalm 119:105 โ€” "Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey." Walking the path of faith requires a steady anchor and a discerning heart. In a world full of shifting opinions, loud voices, and subtle spiritual errors, God has not left us to guess. He has given us His living, active Word as a reliable standard to guide our steps, protect our minds, and draw us closer to Him. True spiritual sensitivity begins when we approach the Scriptures with a humble and teachable spirit. Instead of forcing our own desires onto the text, we allow the Bible to search our hearts, correct our motives, and shape our character unfolding a life of genuine obedience and daily renewal. This kind of submission is not a burden; it is an act of deep trust in a loving Father who knows what is best for us. When we hide God's truth in our hearts, we build a natural defense against deception arming our minds with discernment and anchoring our souls against the shifting tides of the world. We learn to spot the counterfeitsโ€”messages that flatter human pride, promise cheap grace, or distort the character of Jesus Christ. Grounded in Scripture, we can test every teaching against the unchanging truth of the Gospel. Ultimately, submitting to God's Word transforms how we live each day. It moves us from merely hearing spiritual truths to actively putting them into practice through love, obedience, and service. As we let His word be a lamp to our feet, we walk with confidence, knowing we are anchored in the truth that never fails. The key to having true sensitivity to Godโ€™s Word involves our having true discernment working in our lives on a daily basis: True discernment always uses the Bible as the final authority. It is not based on gut feelings, cultural trends, or personal intuition. How it works: Just as a bank teller is trained to spot counterfeit bills by studying real currency exhaustively, a believer sharpens discernment by deeply knowing the absolute truth of God's Word. Discernment is not merely an intellectual skill; it is a spiritual fruit made possible by a close walk with God. How it works: The Holy Spirit actively lives inside every believer to act as an internal compass, giving a sense of spiritual alignment or warning when something contradicts God's character. Truth always produces godliness, humility, love, and a high view of Jesus Christ. Error eventually produces pride, division, exploitation, or unrepentant sin. How it works: When evaluating a teaching, movement, or leader, look past the initial presentation or emotional appeal to examine the long-term character and spiritual fruit it leaves behind. CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me a discerning heart anchored deeply in Your unchanging Word. Protect my mind from deception, and let Your Holy Spirit guide my every step. Help me to test all things with your wisdom Lord, walk in humble obedience, and reflect the love of Jesus Christ in a world so easily lost in the dark. Amen.
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 10 Ansichten
  • DAILY LEADERSHIP BOOST (DLB)

    THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 2026

    HE IS COMING LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

    โ€œFor yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.โ€ 1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV

    Leaders, there is no announcement date on heavenโ€™s calendar.
    Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. Sudden. Unexpected. Without warning to the world.

    Peter said the day of the Lord will come โ€œas a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.โ€_ 2 Peter 3:10. That means this world as we know it will end abruptly. And every leader will give account. Romans 14:12 โ€œSo then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.โ€

    This truth is not given to scare us. It is given to sober us.
    Because when a thief is expected, the wise owner stays awake. Luke 12:39-40 - โ€œAnd this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched... Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.โ€

    The danger for leaders is not unbelief. It is slumber. It is doing Kingdom work with a casual heart. It is building with wood, hay and stubble because we assume we have time. 1 Corinthians 3:13. But the day is approaching like a thief, and it will test every work.

    So how do we live when the coming is sudden?

    Walk in constant readiness. Not fear, but readiness. Keep short accounts with God. Confess quickly. Forgive quickly. Walk in the light. 1 John 1:7. Let your lamp be full of oil. Matthew 25:4. A thief does not wait for you to get ready. He meets you as you are.

    Guard your heart against surprise and sin. The reason people are caught off guard is because they are distracted. Luke 21:34 _โ€œAnd take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.โ€_ Watch what you watch. Watch what you feed on. Watch who you follow. A thief enters through open doors.

    Stay faithful in your assignment. The faithful servant is the one found _โ€œso doingโ€_ when the master returns. Matthew 24:46. Keep preaching. Keep serving. Keep praying. Keep building people. Donโ€™t drop your post because the night is long. The trumpet could sound on an ordinary Thursday.

    Leaders, our people are watching us. If we are careless, they will be careless. If we are awake, they will be awake. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 โ€œBut ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief... Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.โ€

    We donโ€™t know the day or the hour. Matthew 24:36. But we do know the Master. And He said He is coming. So we live every day like it could be today.

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VafVatb11ulKTDXcjL3X

    Prayer For Today
    Father, thank You for the warning in Your word. I refuse to be caught sleeping. Wake my spirit. Purify my heart. Help me to walk in readiness every day. Keep me faithful in my assignment, sober in my walk, and passionate for souls. Let the day of the Lord not overtake me as a thief. Prepare me and prepare the people You have given me. In Jesusโ€™ name, Amen.

    Today's Declaration
    The Lord is coming like a thief in the night and I am ready. I walk in the light. I keep my lamp full. I am faithful in my assignment. I watch and I pray. I will not be overtaken by darkness.

    Bible Reading Plan
    1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 24:42-51, Luke 12:35-40, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Revelation 16:15, Mark 13:32-37

    Todayโ€™s Action
    Leaders, do a โ€œthief auditโ€ today. Ask: โ€œIf Jesus came tonight, what would I regret?โ€ Deal with it now. Repent, reconcile, or reset.
    Then check one area of your life or ministry that has become casual. Tighten it. Set the standard again.
    Teach your team: We donโ€™t live in fear of His coming. We live in faithfulness because of His coming.
    Remember: A thief comes without notice. So we live every day with notice in our spirit.
    DAILY LEADERSHIP BOOST (DLB) THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 2026 HE IS COMING LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT โ€œFor yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.โ€ 1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV Leaders, there is no announcement date on heavenโ€™s calendar. Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. Sudden. Unexpected. Without warning to the world. Peter said the day of the Lord will come โ€œas a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.โ€_ 2 Peter 3:10. That means this world as we know it will end abruptly. And every leader will give account. Romans 14:12 โ€œSo then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.โ€ This truth is not given to scare us. It is given to sober us. Because when a thief is expected, the wise owner stays awake. Luke 12:39-40 - โ€œAnd this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched... Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.โ€ The danger for leaders is not unbelief. It is slumber. It is doing Kingdom work with a casual heart. It is building with wood, hay and stubble because we assume we have time. 1 Corinthians 3:13. But the day is approaching like a thief, and it will test every work. So how do we live when the coming is sudden? Walk in constant readiness. Not fear, but readiness. Keep short accounts with God. Confess quickly. Forgive quickly. Walk in the light. 1 John 1:7. Let your lamp be full of oil. Matthew 25:4. A thief does not wait for you to get ready. He meets you as you are. Guard your heart against surprise and sin. The reason people are caught off guard is because they are distracted. Luke 21:34 _โ€œAnd take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.โ€_ Watch what you watch. Watch what you feed on. Watch who you follow. A thief enters through open doors. Stay faithful in your assignment. The faithful servant is the one found _โ€œso doingโ€_ when the master returns. Matthew 24:46. Keep preaching. Keep serving. Keep praying. Keep building people. Donโ€™t drop your post because the night is long. The trumpet could sound on an ordinary Thursday. Leaders, our people are watching us. If we are careless, they will be careless. If we are awake, they will be awake. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 โ€œBut ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief... Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.โ€ We donโ€™t know the day or the hour. Matthew 24:36. But we do know the Master. And He said He is coming. So we live every day like it could be today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VafVatb11ulKTDXcjL3X Prayer For Today Father, thank You for the warning in Your word. I refuse to be caught sleeping. Wake my spirit. Purify my heart. Help me to walk in readiness every day. Keep me faithful in my assignment, sober in my walk, and passionate for souls. Let the day of the Lord not overtake me as a thief. Prepare me and prepare the people You have given me. In Jesusโ€™ name, Amen. Today's Declaration The Lord is coming like a thief in the night and I am ready. I walk in the light. I keep my lamp full. I am faithful in my assignment. I watch and I pray. I will not be overtaken by darkness. Bible Reading Plan 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 24:42-51, Luke 12:35-40, 2 Peter 3:8-14, Revelation 16:15, Mark 13:32-37 Todayโ€™s Action Leaders, do a โ€œthief auditโ€ today. Ask: โ€œIf Jesus came tonight, what would I regret?โ€ Deal with it now. Repent, reconcile, or reset. Then check one area of your life or ministry that has become casual. Tighten it. Set the standard again. Teach your team: We donโ€™t live in fear of His coming. We live in faithfulness because of His coming. Remember: A thief comes without notice. So we live every day with notice in our spirit.
    WHATSAPP.COM
    DAILY LEADERSHIP BOOST (DLB)
    Channel โ€ข 150 followers โ€ข Daily leadership Boost is a place where our daily devotional writings and inspiring contents are shared on a daily basis. The purpose of this channel is to bring the word of God in an inspiring new ways, helping believers and leaders throughout the earth to become what God has ordained them to be. We believe as you join us in this place your life will never be the same again. May God bless you in Jesus name. APOSTLE FORTUNATE MARTINS (President)
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 26 Ansichten
  • 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

    In today’s verse there is no mention of repentance or repenting but the core message is based upon that action. If we are to confess our sins and be purified, we must first turn from the wrongful behavior and seek Him and His ways. Then we have the promise that He is just and will forgive us.

    The Apostle John wrote his letter to believers who were facing false teachers. These false teachers claimed they were sin free. But we know from Paul that no one is sin free for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We inherited our sinful nature from Adam and Eve and no matter how hard we try we will never be totally sin free. 

    Lucky for us, God loves us despite that. He provided a way to escape the punishment of sin and the consequences that our actions would result in. He gave His Son, perfect and blameless, the only one to ever be sin free, as a sacrifice for our sin. He died on the cross and was raised again to satisfy the requirement of the law for the remission of sin. And we are made righteous because of Him.

    This verse is not about salvation though. It is about restoring fellowship with God. If we claim we have fellowship with Him but are living a life of hidden sin or denying our sinful nature then that fellowship is disrupted. Instead, we are walking in darkness and lying against the truth (1 John 1:6; 1 John 1:8). 

    The only way for us to restore fellowship with Him is to repent and turn back to Him once more. We must confess our sins in order to be forgiven. The Greek word for confess is homologeo and literally means to say the same thing or to agree with God about our sin. We don’t make excuses or try to hide it, instead, seeking His ways and His will for our lives. 

    And when we repent and change our behavior, He forgives us. He gives us grace and mercy that we don’t deserve. The penalty for our sin is paid in full thanks to the death of Jesus on the cross. When we acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness, the barrier that prevented us from fellowship with Him is removed and we have our relationship restored. 

    Don’t let your sin come between you and God. Confess, repent, and seek Him once more. He is waiting and faithful, ready to embrace you just like the father of the prodigal son did. He will restore fellowship with you and you will be made righteous and holy. But it all begins with repentance. What are you waiting for?

    #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse 
    1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  In today’s verse there is no mention of repentance or repenting but the core message is based upon that action. If we are to confess our sins and be purified, we must first turn from the wrongful behavior and seek Him and His ways. Then we have the promise that He is just and will forgive us. The Apostle John wrote his letter to believers who were facing false teachers. These false teachers claimed they were sin free. But we know from Paul that no one is sin free for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We inherited our sinful nature from Adam and Eve and no matter how hard we try we will never be totally sin free.  Lucky for us, God loves us despite that. He provided a way to escape the punishment of sin and the consequences that our actions would result in. He gave His Son, perfect and blameless, the only one to ever be sin free, as a sacrifice for our sin. He died on the cross and was raised again to satisfy the requirement of the law for the remission of sin. And we are made righteous because of Him. This verse is not about salvation though. It is about restoring fellowship with God. If we claim we have fellowship with Him but are living a life of hidden sin or denying our sinful nature then that fellowship is disrupted. Instead, we are walking in darkness and lying against the truth (1 John 1:6; 1 John 1:8).  The only way for us to restore fellowship with Him is to repent and turn back to Him once more. We must confess our sins in order to be forgiven. The Greek word for confess is homologeo and literally means to say the same thing or to agree with God about our sin. We don’t make excuses or try to hide it, instead, seeking His ways and His will for our lives.  And when we repent and change our behavior, He forgives us. He gives us grace and mercy that we don’t deserve. The penalty for our sin is paid in full thanks to the death of Jesus on the cross. When we acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness, the barrier that prevented us from fellowship with Him is removed and we have our relationship restored.  Don’t let your sin come between you and God. Confess, repent, and seek Him once more. He is waiting and faithful, ready to embrace you just like the father of the prodigal son did. He will restore fellowship with you and you will be made righteous and holy. But it all begins with repentance. What are you waiting for? #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse 
    Love
    1
    0 Kommentare 1 Anteile 72 Ansichten
  • In a world full of opinions and passing trends, there is nothing like the pure, life-changing truth of the Word.

    Join Pastor Mike for deep-dive teachings that focus on the Bible.

    Listen Online: graceinfusion.org

    Download the App:

    Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.himfirstapps.graceinfusionapp

    IOS: apps.apple.com/ug/app/grace-infusion-app/id6535689666

    #BibleTeaching #PastorMike #GraceInfusion #TruthSeeker #ScriptureFirst #FaithOverTrends #ChristianPodcast #WordOfGod
    ๐Ÿ“– In a world full of opinions and passing trends, there is nothing like the pure, life-changing truth of the Word. ๐Ÿ™Œ Join Pastor Mike for deep-dive teachings that focus on the Bible. ๐ŸŽง Listen Online: graceinfusion.org ๐Ÿ”ฝ Download the App: ๐Ÿ‘‰ Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.himfirstapps.graceinfusionapp ๐Ÿ‘‰ IOS: apps.apple.com/ug/app/grace-infusion-app/id6535689666 #BibleTeaching #PastorMike #GraceInfusion #TruthSeeker #ScriptureFirst #FaithOverTrends #ChristianPodcast #WordOfGod
    Like
    1
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 13 Ansichten
  • Guidelines for living.
    August 20th, 2026

    What Does Agape Love Look Like?

    Love โ€ฆ doesnโ€™t force itself on others, isnโ€™t always โ€œme first,โ€ doesnโ€™t fly off the handle, doesnโ€™t keep score of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13:5 The Message



    When Sir Ernest Shackleton was exploring in the arctic, he faced a very difficult hour as their rations became depleted. Finally, the last biscuit had been given out to each of the men. There was not a crumb of anything left. That night Shackleton lay awake in his sleeping bag with their peril heavily on his mind. He knew that death by starvation was approaching unless something happened.

    As he lay there with thoughts he dared not express keeping him from sleep, out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement by one of his men. A cold chill came over him as he realized this man was stealthily reaching for the food bag of the man next to him. Shackleton still pretended to be asleep. His mind reeled; he couldnโ€™t believe what he was seeing. This was one of his most trusted men. Still, he knew that starving men sometimes act like predators. He was not disturbed for long, however. The man did reach for the food container of his companion โ€ฆ and then quietly took his own biscuit, his last one, and placed it in the other manโ€™s parcel before lying down to sleep. That is the companionship and the cost of real love.

    To this Paul adds the words, โ€œLove does not seek its own.โ€ Another version puts it: โ€œLove does not act in its own interest.โ€ Love acting in its own interest is not the agape love that is described by Paul. When the expression of love does not embrace the total needs of the other person, it falls short of this test which Paul articulated. Agape love produces an unspoken commitmentโ€”without conditions or strings attachedโ€”to meet the needs of the person who is the object of affection, and along with that commitment comes personal sacrifice which is not difficult to make.

    โ€œLove,โ€ writes Paul, โ€œis not easily provoked.โ€ George Bernard Shaw once said, โ€œI was taught when I was young that if people would only love one another, all would be well with the world. This seemed simple and very nice, but I found when I tried to put it into practice not only that other people were seldom lovable, but that I was not very lovable myself.โ€ Thatโ€™s the predicament we often find ourselves inโ€”not only are others unlovable but when we are honest with ourselves we must admit we are not very lovable either.

    A gardener once wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and said, โ€œIโ€™ve tried everything Iโ€™ve ever heard or read, including all of your bulletins, on how to get rid of dandelionsโ€”and Iโ€™ve still got them.โ€ By return mail he received the last word on the subject.

    โ€œDear Sir,โ€ read the letter, โ€œif you have tried everything and you still have dandelions, then there is only one thing left for you to do: learn to love them.โ€

    You know, we smile at that candid bit of advice, but life is much like a lawn full of dandelions. We want to be rid of them any way we canโ€”kill them by spraying (that is, the dandelions), dig them, bomb them, pull them outโ€”destroy them no matter what, just get rid of them! Nevertheless, at times, the dandelions of life hang in there, and God expects us to love them by the alchemy of faith and grace. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he told them Godโ€™s love comes through His Spirit who is given to us. Thatโ€™s the only way to learn to really love.



    Resource Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
    Guidelines for living. August 20th, 2026 What Does Agape Love Look Like? Love โ€ฆ doesnโ€™t force itself on others, isnโ€™t always โ€œme first,โ€ doesnโ€™t fly off the handle, doesnโ€™t keep score of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13:5 The Message When Sir Ernest Shackleton was exploring in the arctic, he faced a very difficult hour as their rations became depleted. Finally, the last biscuit had been given out to each of the men. There was not a crumb of anything left. That night Shackleton lay awake in his sleeping bag with their peril heavily on his mind. He knew that death by starvation was approaching unless something happened. As he lay there with thoughts he dared not express keeping him from sleep, out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement by one of his men. A cold chill came over him as he realized this man was stealthily reaching for the food bag of the man next to him. Shackleton still pretended to be asleep. His mind reeled; he couldnโ€™t believe what he was seeing. This was one of his most trusted men. Still, he knew that starving men sometimes act like predators. He was not disturbed for long, however. The man did reach for the food container of his companion โ€ฆ and then quietly took his own biscuit, his last one, and placed it in the other manโ€™s parcel before lying down to sleep. That is the companionship and the cost of real love. To this Paul adds the words, โ€œLove does not seek its own.โ€ Another version puts it: โ€œLove does not act in its own interest.โ€ Love acting in its own interest is not the agape love that is described by Paul. When the expression of love does not embrace the total needs of the other person, it falls short of this test which Paul articulated. Agape love produces an unspoken commitmentโ€”without conditions or strings attachedโ€”to meet the needs of the person who is the object of affection, and along with that commitment comes personal sacrifice which is not difficult to make. โ€œLove,โ€ writes Paul, โ€œis not easily provoked.โ€ George Bernard Shaw once said, โ€œI was taught when I was young that if people would only love one another, all would be well with the world. This seemed simple and very nice, but I found when I tried to put it into practice not only that other people were seldom lovable, but that I was not very lovable myself.โ€ Thatโ€™s the predicament we often find ourselves inโ€”not only are others unlovable but when we are honest with ourselves we must admit we are not very lovable either. A gardener once wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and said, โ€œIโ€™ve tried everything Iโ€™ve ever heard or read, including all of your bulletins, on how to get rid of dandelionsโ€”and Iโ€™ve still got them.โ€ By return mail he received the last word on the subject. โ€œDear Sir,โ€ read the letter, โ€œif you have tried everything and you still have dandelions, then there is only one thing left for you to do: learn to love them.โ€ You know, we smile at that candid bit of advice, but life is much like a lawn full of dandelions. We want to be rid of them any way we canโ€”kill them by spraying (that is, the dandelions), dig them, bomb them, pull them outโ€”destroy them no matter what, just get rid of them! Nevertheless, at times, the dandelions of life hang in there, and God expects us to love them by the alchemy of faith and grace. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he told them Godโ€™s love comes through His Spirit who is given to us. Thatโ€™s the only way to learn to really love. Resource Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 12 Ansichten
  • Gods Creation,100 / evolution,0
    THE BEETLE THAT NAVIGATES BY THE STARS

    Most people would never look twice at a dung beetle. After all, it spends its day rolling balls of animal manure across the ground. Yet hidden inside this tiny insect is a navigation system that continues to amaze scientists.

    Dung beetles depend on manure for survival. Many species shape it into a ball and roll it away from the competition before burying it underground as a food source. That sounds simple enough until you realize how they do it.

    The beetles push the dung ball backward using their hind legs. Their heads face downward toward the ground. They cannot see where they are going. Yet somehow they travel in remarkably straight lines, avoiding competitors and efficiently reaching their destination.

    How do they do this?

    Scientists have discovered that dung beetles use the sun as a compass during the day. When the sun is hidden by clouds or directly overhead, they can switch to using wind direction. But one species, the African dung beetle Scarabaeus satyrus, takes things even further.

    It navigates by the night sky.

    Researchers found that these beetles can orient themselves using the polarized light of the moon and even the faint glow of the Milky Way. Think about that for a moment. A tiny insect, pushing a ball of dung backward across the African landscape, is using the stars to guide its path.

    The obvious question is how such a system came to exist.

    Evolutionists often argue that the beetle's behavior provides a survival advantage because it helps avoid conflicts with competing beetles. But identifying a benefit is not the same as explaining the origin of the system. Saying a trait is useful does not explain how an insect acquired the ability to process information from the sun, moon, wind, and stars and convert it into successful navigation.

    A navigation system requires more than a benefit. It requires sensors, processing mechanisms, behavioral programming, and precise coordination between all of those components.

    And the wonders do not stop there.

    Dung beetles play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. By burying manure, they recycle nutrients back into the soil. Studies have shown that their activity can increase soil water retention by around 10 percent and dramatically improve plant growth by 280 % during drought conditions. In other words, these tiny insects are helping entire ecosystems thrive.

    Australia learned this lesson firsthand.

    When millions of cattle were introduced, bush fly populations exploded because the insects bred in the enormous quantities of cow dung scattered across the landscape. Beginning in the 1960s, scientists imported specialized dung beetle species from overseas. The results were extraordinary. Fly numbers dropped by approximately 90 percent as the beetles efficiently buried the manure before the flies could use it.

    What many people dismiss as a dirty little insect turned out to be one of the most effective environmental workers on the continent.

    The dung beetle reminds us that design is often found in the most unexpected places. Hidden beneath its humble appearance is a sophisticated navigation system capable of using the sun, wind, moon, and even the Milky Way. It performs ecological services that benefit entire landscapes while carrying out tasks most people never notice.

    The next time you see a dung beetle, remember that you are looking at far more than an insect rolling a ball of waste. You are looking at a tiny creature equipped with abilities that human engineers still struggle to fully understand.

    "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Psalm 104:24
    Gods Creation,100 / evolution,0 THE BEETLE THAT NAVIGATES BY THE STARS Most people would never look twice at a dung beetle. After all, it spends its day rolling balls of animal manure across the ground. Yet hidden inside this tiny insect is a navigation system that continues to amaze scientists. Dung beetles depend on manure for survival. Many species shape it into a ball and roll it away from the competition before burying it underground as a food source. That sounds simple enough until you realize how they do it. The beetles push the dung ball backward using their hind legs. Their heads face downward toward the ground. They cannot see where they are going. Yet somehow they travel in remarkably straight lines, avoiding competitors and efficiently reaching their destination. How do they do this? Scientists have discovered that dung beetles use the sun as a compass during the day. When the sun is hidden by clouds or directly overhead, they can switch to using wind direction. But one species, the African dung beetle Scarabaeus satyrus, takes things even further. It navigates by the night sky. Researchers found that these beetles can orient themselves using the polarized light of the moon and even the faint glow of the Milky Way. Think about that for a moment. A tiny insect, pushing a ball of dung backward across the African landscape, is using the stars to guide its path. The obvious question is how such a system came to exist. Evolutionists often argue that the beetle's behavior provides a survival advantage because it helps avoid conflicts with competing beetles. But identifying a benefit is not the same as explaining the origin of the system. Saying a trait is useful does not explain how an insect acquired the ability to process information from the sun, moon, wind, and stars and convert it into successful navigation. A navigation system requires more than a benefit. It requires sensors, processing mechanisms, behavioral programming, and precise coordination between all of those components. And the wonders do not stop there. Dung beetles play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. By burying manure, they recycle nutrients back into the soil. Studies have shown that their activity can increase soil water retention by around 10 percent and dramatically improve plant growth by 280 % during drought conditions. In other words, these tiny insects are helping entire ecosystems thrive. Australia learned this lesson firsthand. When millions of cattle were introduced, bush fly populations exploded because the insects bred in the enormous quantities of cow dung scattered across the landscape. Beginning in the 1960s, scientists imported specialized dung beetle species from overseas. The results were extraordinary. Fly numbers dropped by approximately 90 percent as the beetles efficiently buried the manure before the flies could use it. What many people dismiss as a dirty little insect turned out to be one of the most effective environmental workers on the continent. The dung beetle reminds us that design is often found in the most unexpected places. Hidden beneath its humble appearance is a sophisticated navigation system capable of using the sun, wind, moon, and even the Milky Way. It performs ecological services that benefit entire landscapes while carrying out tasks most people never notice. The next time you see a dung beetle, remember that you are looking at far more than an insect rolling a ball of waste. You are looking at a tiny creature equipped with abilities that human engineers still struggle to fully understand. "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Psalm 104:24
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 8 Ansichten
  • WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PROPHECY MEETS DESTINY?

    Can the words spoken over one generation become reality in another?

    Can a person become a victim of a spiritual consequence they did not personally create?

    Can someone become a beneficiary of a prophetic word because of what someone before them did?

    These questions take us into some of the most fascinating accounts in Scripture.

    Hiel rebuilding Jericho.

    Ahaziah becoming entangled in the consequences surrounding Ahab.

    Amalek facing a trans-generational conflict with Israel.

    Jehu receiving a prophetic promise concerning his dynasty.

    Amaziah confronting a dynasty whose prophetic foundation he apparently did not understand.

    And the Canaanite woman confronting what appeared to be a spiritual and covenantal barrier through extraordinary faith.

    What happens when the words spoken over one generation collide with the choices of another?

    Tonight, we go into Scripture to discover the:

    VICTORS & VICTIMS OF PROPHECY.

    Watch the full teaching on GSIM TV:
    https://youtu.be/9DgVY2fQNnc?si=jHAliHjAKP5-arkg

    What does this subject make you think about?

    Don't merely watch.

    Listen.

    Think.

    Search the Scriptures.

    Pray.

    And share.

    Someone somewhere may need this revelation.

    #VictorsAndVictimsOfProphecy #BiblicalProphecy #ChristianTeaching #SpiritualWarfare
    #ChristianFaith
    #GSIMTV
    ๐Ÿ”ฅ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PROPHECY MEETS DESTINY? Can the words spoken over one generation become reality in another? Can a person become a victim of a spiritual consequence they did not personally create? Can someone become a beneficiary of a prophetic word because of what someone before them did? These questions take us into some of the most fascinating accounts in Scripture. ๐Ÿ“– Hiel rebuilding Jericho. โš”๏ธ Ahaziah becoming entangled in the consequences surrounding Ahab. ๐Ÿ”ฅ Amalek facing a trans-generational conflict with Israel. ๐Ÿ‘‘ Jehu receiving a prophetic promise concerning his dynasty. โš”๏ธ Amaziah confronting a dynasty whose prophetic foundation he apparently did not understand. ๐Ÿ™ And the Canaanite woman confronting what appeared to be a spiritual and covenantal barrier through extraordinary faith. What happens when the words spoken over one generation collide with the choices of another? Tonight, we go into Scripture to discover the: VICTORS & VICTIMS OF PROPHECY. ๐ŸŽฅ Watch the full teaching on GSIM TV: ๐Ÿ”—๐Ÿ–‡๏ธ๐Ÿ“Žhttps://youtu.be/9DgVY2fQNnc?si=jHAliHjAKP5-arkg ๐Ÿ’ฌ What does this subject make you think about? Don't merely watch. Listen. Think. Search the Scriptures. Pray. And share. Someone somewhere may need this revelation. #VictorsAndVictimsOfProphecy #BiblicalProphecy #ChristianTeaching #SpiritualWarfare #ChristianFaith #GSIMTV
    0 Kommentare 0 Anteile 12 Ansichten
Suchergebnis