Are you one of the people who think 🤔 that once you are out of school 🏫🎒 there's no need to learn anymore? Many people subconsciously believe once they are out of school, what is left is for them to work and not bother about education anymore. Successful people however understand the difference between schooling and education. Schooling is a TYPE of education and has an end whilst education has no end. Here are 5 books 📚 that have helped me grow 🪴 this year...(1) The Joseph Calling by Os Hillman ... this is a book 📖 about how to discover and fulfill your purpose (2) The Biography of George Washington Carver by Geoff and Janet Benge ... I learned the importance of combining my faith with my work from this book (3) Read and Grow Rich by Burke Hedges...I always read this book to remind myself of the importance of reading(4) Sojourner Truth by Terry Whalin... The interesting biography of an abolitionist (5) The Path by Beth Laurie Jones... Creating a mission statement for life. Reading good books 📚 strengthens the brain 🧠,reduces stress, improves memory, sharpens focus and promotes better sleep. Become an avid reader if you are not. This will put you ahead of most people. Have a lovely day 💞❤️💜. Join our WhatsApp channel 👉:https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBbJqhKmCPUMQGqh52D

Guidelines for living. October 6th, 2026 Learn How to Live Without Clutter Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15 KJV Have you ever heard it said that three moves are as good as a fire? What that means is that every time you have to move, you end up throwing out things, good things too, which you would really like to keep; there's just no room to keep them all. Why didn't you toss it out a long time ago? You kept it because you were quite certain it was too good to throw away, so you put it in the closet or stored it in your garage. But eventually, it has to be reckoned with. If you want to label the disorder, call it, "CLUTTER!" It isn't our closets alone which suffer from clutter. It's a disease of the brain, even the heart, as well as the closet. Long ago Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3), but nobody likes to be poor, either in spirit or in material possessions. It's a universal malady, too. Wherever I've been in the world, and no matter how much or how little people have, when they see or meet people with more, they get dissatisfied with what they have. Everybody delights in being able to say, "This is mine!" or "That house," or "Those buildings there are mine." A spiritual giant of a generation ago, A. W. Tozer, faced the issue squarely when he wrote, "The pronouns, 'my' and 'mine' look innocent enough in print, but their constant and universal use is significant. They express the real nature of the old Adamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do. They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. The roots of our hearts have grown down into these things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die." Clutter becomes a disease that is all consuming. The more you have, the more you want; and the more you get, the more you become convinced that you must have more. Lost is the freedom of simplicity that has strength coming from within. Today the issue isn't simply a matter of things, it's an issue of the things which have you, the things which consume your time, your interest, your very life. When Jesus was here, He often made people feel uncomfortable because He didn't play games. He cut to the very heart of an issue, stripping away the veneer of hypocrisy and superficiality, which have always made us comfortable. He said bluntly, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life [consists] not in the abundance of the things which he [possesses]" (Luke 12:15 KJV). In one of his books, Alexander Solzhenitsyn tells how he was arrested, and item by item, his captors took away the things that had been meaningful to him - his home, his books, his papers, his family. Finally, all that he had was what he had within him. Solzhenitsyn said he was never richer than when he knew they could not take away the treasures within his heart. In 1978, Solzhenitsyn addressed the graduating class at Harvard University. His sober words were a scathing denouncement of the decadence of a society built on "things." He concluded, saying, "If the world has not come to its end, it has approached a major turn in history equal in importance to the turn from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. It will exact from us a spiritual upsurge, we shall have to rise to a new height of vision, to a new level of life where our physical nature will not be cursed as in the Middle Ages, but, even more important, our spiritual being will not be trampled upon as in the Modern Era .... No one ... has any other way left - but upward." If Solzhenitsyn's words were true years ago, how much more are they true today! Resource Reading: Luke 12:16-21

KNOWING GOD IS TRUE LIFE Know God • Know Jesus • Live with Purpose ANCHOR SCRIPTURE John 17:3 (KJV) “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” 1. “THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL” — ETERNAL LIFE IS MORE THAN EXISTENCE Jesus shows that eternal life is not simply living forever. It is having a living relationship with God. A person can have money, education, a good career and many possessions, yet still feel empty inside. True life begins with knowing God. 2. “THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE” — KNOW GOD PERSONALLY To know God is more than knowing facts about Him. You can know about a person from books without actually knowing that person. Likewise, knowing Bible stories is good, but God desires relationship, trust, obedience and fellowship. Christianity is not merely knowing about God; it is knowing God. 3. “THE ONLY TRUE GOD” — GOD IS THE SOURCE OF TRUTH Jesus directs our hearts away from false hopes and toward the true God. Money can disappear. People can disappoint us. Positions can change. Human strength can fail. But God remains faithful. 4. “AND JESUS CHRIST, WHOM THOU HAST SENT” — KNOWING JESUS MATTERS Jesus is not merely a teacher or historical figure. He is the One whom the Father sent. To know God therefore includes knowing and receiving Jesus Christ. REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE Imagine having someone's phone number but never speaking to them. You may say, “I know the number,” but you don't really know the person. In the same way, a person can know many Bible verses, attend church regularly and even speak Christian language, yet remain distant from God. Relationship requires communication and fellowship. Prayer, God's Word, obedience and daily fellowship help us grow in knowing Him. KEY LESSON 1. KNOW GOD — personally 2. KNOW JESUS — genuinely 3. FOLLOW HIS WORD — faithfully 4. LIVE WITH GOD — daily REAL-LIFE APPLICATION Don't make Christianity only a Sunday activity. Talk to God. Read His Word. Obey His instructions. Follow Jesus. Build your relationship with Him every day. FINAL CHARGE You can know many things and still miss the most important thing. Education can give you knowledge. Money can give you comfort. Success can give you recognition. But knowing God through Jesus Christ gives life its deepest meaning. Don't just know about God. Make it your life's pursuit to know God. SHORT PRAYER Father, help me to know You more deeply and to know Jesus Christ personally. Take away every distraction that keeps me from You. Help me to walk with You, trust You and obey Your Word every day. May knowing You become the greatest pursuit of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. Prepared by Rev. Frank Fabian Aidoo +233 544 295 158

WAKE UP YOUR HEARING Going On to Spiritual Maturity | Part 1 Scripture Focus: Hebrews 5:11 “Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” Hebrews 5:11, NKJV There is something in this verse that we should not pass over too quickly. The writer of Hebrews had much more to teach them. There were deeper truths concerning Christ that he wanted them to understand. The problem was not that God had stopped speaking. The problem was that the people had become “dull of hearing.” That gives us an important principle concerning spiritual maturity: Before we can go deeper in the things of God, our spiritual hearing must remain responsive to the Word of God. They Had “Become” Dull Notice the wording carefully. “You have become dull of hearing.” They had not necessarily started that way. Something had happened along the journey. The Greek word translated “dull” is nōthros, carrying the idea of being sluggish, slow, or lazy. Hebrews uses the same word again in Hebrews 6:12: “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” This tells us that spiritual dullness can develop gradually. We hear the Word, but stop responding to it. We know what Scripture says, but postpone obedience. We become familiar with truth without allowing truth to continue changing us. And eventually something dangerous happens. What once convicted us barely moves us anymore. Jesus repeatedly said: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 11:15 Obviously, He was speaking to people who possessed physical ears. Jesus was talking about something deeper. He was talking about a heart prepared to receive what God is saying. Hearing Is More Than Receiving Information Biblical hearing carries the expectation of response. James tells us: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 There is a tremendous difference between hearing a sermon and hearing God’s Word with a heart prepared to obey it. One produces information. The other produces transformation. That is why Jesus compared the person who hears His sayings and does them to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. Matthew 7:24–27 The storm revealed what kind of hearing had taken place. Both people heard. Only one obeyed. Spiritual Growth Requires a Responsive Heart This connects directly with something we studied recently: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 God's Word enters the heart. Then Proverbs tells us: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart... In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5–6 The Word enters the heart, the heart responds in faith and obedience, and eventually our steps begin to change. That is spiritual growth. Paul describes the same process in Romans 12:2. We are transformed through the renewing of our minds. And Hebrews 5:14 tells us where that process leads: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Notice those words: “By reason of use.” Maturity does not come merely because we have heard more sermons, read more books, or accumulated more Bible knowledge. Truth must be used. Truth must become practice. Truth must become obedience. Truth must become life. The Question for Today Before asking God for deeper revelation, perhaps we should first ask: What has God already shown me that I need to obey? Maybe the next stage of spiritual growth is not another revelation. Maybe it is responding to the revelation we already have. Hebrews 5:11 is therefore both a warning and an invitation. Wake up your hearing. Come back to the Word with expectation. Come back with humility. Come back ready to obey. Come back saying: “Lord, whatever You show me in Your Word, give me a heart willing to receive it and the courage to walk it out.” Because a responsive heart is a heart that is ready to grow. Scripture Trail for Deeper Study Hebrews 5:11 → Matthew 11:15 → Matthew 7:24–27 → James 1:21–25 → Psalm 119:11 → Proverbs 3:5–6 → Romans 12:2 → Hebrews 5:14 → Hebrews 6:1–3 Prayer Father, keep my heart tender toward Your Word. Forgive me for the times I have heard Your truth without responding to it. Awaken my spiritual hearing. Give me ears to hear, a heart willing to receive, and faith to obey what You show me. Renew my mind through Your Word and train my spiritual senses so that I may discern good from evil. I do not want to remain where I am. By Your grace, lead me onward into spiritual maturity. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Going On to Spiritual Maturity | Part 1 WAKE UP YOUR HEARING A responsive heart is ready to grow. Today’s question: Is there something God has already shown you in His Word that you know it is time to put into practice? See less

Job 28:5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire… Transformation happens not just in us, but also within the world we live in. We see in today’s verse how the earth is transformed below. But why was this verse selected to be included in this month’s devotions? Let’s see what we can glean from the words in it today.  This verse is taken from the book of Job which is one of the earliest books written and provides answers for such questions as suffering and why things happen. In the verses around today’s selection we see metaphors that explain things like mining and the provision of food. In these, we learn that man has many methods of technological advancement or ingenuity that allow him to extract things that can be used.  But none of this explains the mystery of HOW it all happens or why. The earth, which produces all of the wonderful and wondrous things we rely on, is being transformed. It is being changed, shaped, and remade by some mysterious force. Or rather, it is all done through the hand of God. He alone makes things happen, brings about the changes, remakes and builds things up that we see and use. It is not done through the efforts of mankind, no matter how advanced we become with our technology and know-how.  But what does this have to do with our daily walk? We need to understand that what we have is not due to our own efforts, our own mining or farming efforts, our own ingenuity. It is ours because He has given it to us. He has blessed us. He has provided for us. He has done it all, not us.  What are you mining for or digging up? Are you seeking glory? Are you pushing for financial success or fame or notoriety? What are you sacrificing your praise and worship for in hopes of obtaining?  How much of the time that you spend digging for other things compared to how much time you spend digging through God’s Word? How much time do you give to Him thanking Him for the blessings He has poured out upon you?  Take a few moments today to stop and thank Him for providing everything you need and blessing you beyond those things with additional grace and blessings. Acknowledge His hand in your life and in all you have and thank Him. Then spend some time digging deep into His Word to learn something new. Not sure where to start? I always suggest the book of Romans to people wondering where to begin. #TEENS4JESUS #devotion #dailydevotional #christianteens #DailyBibleVerse

Eight editions. Two platforms. Two days. I may have pressed the Publish button a few times last week. 🙂 English and Spanish. Paperback and ebook. Amazon and Lulu. And somewhere along the way, something I had been working on for months stopped being a manuscript. It became a book. Actually, it became quite a few books. 😄 There comes a point in writing when you have to stop changing sentences, moving pictures, checking covers, and wondering whether you could make one more improvement. Eventually, you have to say: This is what I made. And let it go. That's what today's blog is about—the strange moment when the next book finally becomes a real book. 📖 When the Next Book Becomes a Real Book 👉 steverhartwigauthor.com/blog #ChristianAuthor #AuthorJourney #ChristianFiction #WritingJourney

water yourself read books expand your knowledge open your mind who do you want to be 5 years from now what kind of person becomes who you see yourself plan yourself and you will be it visualize it and act on it 🙏🏼

The Bible is truly remarkable. Across 66 books, written over roughly 1,500 years by about 40 different authors—from kings and prophets to shepherds and fishermen—its words come together to tell one unified story. Within its pages are more than 63,000 cross-references, creating an incredible web of connections between passages written centuries apart. Prophecies connect with their fulfillment. Promises made in the Old Testament appear again in the New Testament. Themes introduced in Genesis continue throughout Scripture and ultimately point to Christ. Events, people, promises, and teachings repeatedly connect across books written by authors who lived hundreds of years apart. Think about what that means. Around 40 different people, separated by generations and by hundreds of years, contributed to 66 books, yet those books tell one consistent story. They were not all sitting in the same room planning out how everything would fit together. Their writings were produced across centuries, yet they continually connect with one another. That kind of unity is not something we would expect from a collection of unrelated human writings. The Bible’s thousands of connections reveal something extraordinary: behind the many human authors stands one divine Author. The Bible has 66 books, roughly 40 human authors, and more than 63,000 cross-references, yet it speaks with one unified message. That is the remarkable unity of Scripture.

Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. This weekend has been: Wondiferous. Fanduckulous. And … surprisingly humbling. Friday was a windy booger. Weights were definitely needed for the canopies, and lots of product blew over. I ended up just laying my books flat on the table. Saturday, the wind only popped up a couple of formidable times and overall, the weather was perfect. Of course, my menopause showed up for the dance and I played hot/cold all day … that was fun. However, Saturday was also a very, very good day in another realm. Which is why I think my menopause was such a pain: the enemy could not keep me silent; he could not keep people from stopping by; he could not stop the power of God’s voice through me. So, he did the only thing he could do: try to make me miserable. The morning was slow. I was watching over my booth and my sister’s since she had to work. If you wanted a comedy show, you should have come watch me try to sell Scentsy. And yet … as I told my sister … I did sell two waxy thingies. Ta-dah. Also, in the morning, I did sell one book. Up until noonish, foot traffic was very light and unproductive … however … that changed quickly. Foot traffic picked up and then petered out, then picked up, then petered out. Like a normal fest does. Because I sell books- Christian books- at that, I do not expect long lines at my booth. I would love it, but I do not expect it. I pray that He sends me the people that He wants me to speak to. Let me tell you, He did just that. Two older women who needed someone to talk to. One of them tried to set up a collaboration of sorts between me and another booth. (I did, later inquired with the other booth what it was about, and then gave her my card. I liked her ideas.) A couple of gentlemen who said that they could not wrap their minds around the Jesus thing or the God thing. Those were exceptionally good conversations. A former church fellow who shared their life of late with me. And, for icing on the cake of my day before the darkness fell, my great-niece told me thank you. (She has been stubborn about talking and now I hear she is talking your ear off. So, the thank you and the hug made my day.) I told you yesterday that my sister and I have kind of traded outgoing roles in our adult life. As I was packing up my station, someone was emptying their trash behind me and I asked if they did well today. Startled for two reasons … it was dark and someone spoke to them; we started up a conversation and talked for a good ten minutes or more. At the end of it, I was blessed with hugs … not only from them, but from their business partners as well. I walked to my truck covered in the power of God and His love. Not only did He use me for others, but He used others for me. Many times I have written about ‘we are the only bible’ most will ever read. When we are true to His calling. When we are transparent to our own demons … not for comparison, but for victory in Him. When we show His true and authentic love for others … the enemy screeches in agony. Why? Because his power over the world ceases; God’s love prevails. How do we win souls for the Kingdom of God? Not by beating people over the head with the bible … but by exerting God’s love through truth, compassion, understanding, and grace. The enemy uses logic … he hurt you, so you need to hurt him; they betrayed you, you have to hate them; did you see that, how could you ever associate with them? The list is unending and we fall for it more times than we would like to admit. Today is the Lord’s day. Will you join me in giving the enemy the migraine of the century by sharing God’s love with everyone? Be blessed. **Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

THE SPHERE OF MINISTRATION: BEFORE GOD USES YOU THROUGH YOU, LET HIM WORK IN YOU «“This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” — Mark 9:29» The disciples had tried to help the suffering boy. But they couldn't. Later, they asked Jesus: “Why could we not cast him out?” That's a serious question. They had followed Jesus. They had seen His miracles. They had been given authority to minister. Yet, when they faced this particular situation, they were powerless. And Jesus pointed them back to something deeper: Dependence on God. Maybe that's where some of us are today. We're busy doing things for Jesus. But are we still walking closely with Jesus? Because it is possible to work for Christ while slowly drifting away from Christ. You can preach and become spiritually dry. You can sing and neglect your secret place. You can counsel others while your own heart is becoming neglected. You can lead a ministry while losing your intimacy with the One you are supposedly serving. You can write books. Organize programs. Teach Scripture. Pray publicly. Serve people. And still become more dependent on your ability than on Jesus. That's dangerous. Jesus said: «“Without Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5» Not, “Without Me you can do a little less.” Nothing. That means ministry doesn't begin with a platform. It begins with a relationship. It begins with Jesus. And this is where I have to ask myself—and perhaps you can ask yourself too: Am I doing God's work while remaining dependent on God? Because ability is useful. Education is useful. Experience is useful. Technology is useful. Communication skills are useful. Connections can be useful. Money can be useful. But none of these things can replace Jesus. You can copy a preacher's style. Copy someone's prayer language. Copy someone's sermon structure. Copy another person's ministry strategy. But you cannot manufacture spiritual life. A method can be copied. A personality can be imitated. A sermon can be repeated. But dependence on Christ cannot be faked forever. And perhaps this is one of the greatest dangers in ministry: Being so busy working for Jesus that we have little time to be with Jesus. You spend hours preparing to speak to others but barely allow God's Word to speak to you. You pray publicly but neglect private prayer. You teach holiness while secretly tolerating sin. You encourage others to surrender while keeping certain areas of your own life away from Jesus. Lord, have mercy. Maybe we need to slow down and ask: “Jesus, am I still abiding in You?” «“Abide in Me, and I in you.” — John 15:4» Prayer and fasting are not magic. Fasting doesn't twist God's arm. Prayer doesn't control God. We don't fast because we are trying to force heaven to obey us. We pray and fast because we are saying: “Lord, I cannot do this without You.” And sometimes, when ministry becomes difficult, that's exactly where we need to return. You counsel someone, but they don't change. You preach, but someone rejects the message. You pray, but the answer delays. You try to reconcile people, but they remain bitter. You serve faithfully, but nobody notices. What do you do? Don't manufacture results. Don't manipulate people. Don't pretend something happened just so you can look successful. Come back to Jesus. “Lord, I have obeyed as far as I know how. I trust You with what I cannot control.” That's ministry too. And maybe the thing standing between you and effective ministry isn't your lack of ability. Maybe it's something in your heart that Jesus has been asking you to surrender. Pride? Unforgiveness? Secret sin? Greed? Jealousy? Bitterness? The need for applause? The fear of people's opinions? The desire to control everything? The need to be recognized? Sometimes the biggest obstacle in ministry isn't the difficult person in front of us. It's the thing inside us that we refuse to surrender. David prayed: «“Search me, O God, and know my heart.” — Psalm 139:23» That's a dangerous prayer. Because when God searches us, He may show us things we would rather hide. But when He reveals something, don't run. Don't justify it. Don't blame someone else. Bring it to Jesus. Repent. Forgive. Make things right where possible. Seek wise counsel when necessary. And keep walking with Him. Because the power is not in you. The power is in Christ. Paul said: «“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13» Paul wasn't saying, “I can accomplish everything I want.” He was talking about learning to remain faithful in abundance and in lack. His strength was not the absence of difficulty. His strength was Christ in the middle of difficulty. And perhaps that's the kind of strength we need. Not: “Nothing difficult will happen to me.” But: “Whatever happens, Jesus will help me remain faithful.” That's real strength. That's real ministry. Because anyone can appear strong when everything is going well. But what happens when you're misunderstood? When you're tired? When your work isn't appreciated? When your prayer seems unanswered? When you have to admit that you were wrong? When doing the wrong thing would be easier? That's where spiritual maturity becomes visible. So don't despise ordinary obedience. You don't need a huge platform to minister. Sometimes ministry is praying when nobody hears. Serving when nobody notices. Teaching one person. Encouraging someone who is discouraged. Apologizing when you're wrong. Refusing dishonest money. Keeping your word. Loving someone who cannot benefit you. Doing your work faithfully. Heaven may measure ministry differently from the way social media does. Faithfulness is ministry. So before you ask God: “Lord, use me greatly.” Maybe pray: “Lord, keep me close.” Before: “Give me a bigger platform.” Pray: “Give me a deeper relationship with You.” Before: “Give me more spiritual power.” Pray: “Teach me deeper dependence.” And before you ask God to work through you, ask Him to work in you. Because the greatest ministry isn't simply doing things for Jesus. It is remaining so close to Jesus that whatever He does through your life points people back to Him. Maybe that's the prayer we need today: **“Jesus, I don't want to merely work for You. I want to know You. I want to remain in You. I want You to change me before You use me. And if You ever use my life, let people see You—not me.”** Can I ask you something? What is one area where you need to depend on Jesus more deeply right now? Let's talk. #Jesus #Christianity #Ministry #Prayer #Faith #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #Bible #PrayerAndFasting