“Come to Me” Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened…” Bible Study — Rest Begins With Surrender Jesus doesn’t say, “Come to Me when you’re strong.” He says, “Come to Me when you’re weary.” Matthew 11:28 is an invitation to bring the weight you’re carrying — not hide it. Rest is not found in escape. Rest is not found in distraction. Rest is found in coming to Jesus with what feels heavy. He offers rest for your soul — the deep kind that reaches the places no sleep, vacation, or break can touch. His rest comes from surrender, from laying down what you were never meant to carry alone. Today, Jesus invites you to bring the burden, not pretend it isn’t there. He meets you with gentleness, not judgment. He gives rest, not pressure. Reflection What weight do you need to bring to Him today? Prayer Lord, I come to You with what feels heavy. Give rest to my soul. Teach me to lay down what I cannot carry and trust You with what overwhelms me. Amen

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Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. Today is it. Today we pick up the littles (and the grown-ups) from the airport. Today I will become a 57-year-old toddler. More so than normal. Today my positive is the start of a month-long play date. I will need a vacation after this vacation…haha. My mom said it best yesterday: my heart says that I am a kid, my mind says we will worry about it later, and my body tells me that I am a fool. All are correct. Just to be upfront here. The enemy has a way of making all things that are good and wonderful seem as if there is a catch, a hook, a deception, or a possibility for failure and dismay. He is very good at using logic to show the pitfalls, create chaos, and change the visual of what is before us. He is subtle in his ways. He is persuasive and convincing. His points and thoughts appear valid. It is extremely easy to see his point of view. We are so conditioned to look for the other shoe to drop that when it does, we fall into this muddle mess of ‘I knew it’. Yesterday he did that with me. I got a feeling that our rental reservation was lost, and I could not find an email with the confirmation. As we ate dinner, my mind focused on what we were going to do if they did not have the vehicle we needed … it happened the last time we rented from them and serious changes had to be made. Fast forward … the van was there. We drove it home. I lost peace for no reason. For a short period of time, the enemy won a battle with me. I allowed my fear to control my faith. Many who know me know that this is a rarity. I know my God. I know His power. I know His promises. And even when this company failed the last time, God provided a way. To those who struggle with finding your positive … that is the enemy. A positive does not have to be a massive anything; a positive can simply be that your day was rough, yet you made it through and did not get fired. Your positive can be that the rain was soft and refreshing, dulling the humidity. Your positive can be that though your area was ravaged by the storm, your property got minimal damage. Your positive can be that your coffee pot produced another round of wonderful morning nectar. Your positive can be that you prayed before you got up or before you went to bed. Your positive can be that there is food in the fridge and cupboards. Your positive can be that your son/daughter wanted to cuddle. Your positive can be that you woke up rested. Your positive can be that the laundry is finished. Your positive can be that you found the money you needed for gas in a pair of pants that you just washed. The positive can be that your pet gave you kisses. Your positive can be that the morning air feels calming. Your positive can be … your positive can be anything. It does not have to be massive or explosive in design. Your positive is just that … any positive. Just as a positive can be what you receive … your positive could also be what you give. Your positive could be that you stopped and helped someone on the side of the road. Your positive could be that you were able to help someone pay for their groceries. Your positive could be that you gave someone a hug. Your positive could be that your smile calmed someone down. Your positive … your positive … Your positive is a gift, both received and given. Your positive shows His love for you and IN you. As you go through your day today, I challenge you to see only the positive. Even in the middle of the chaos and dark … there are positives. You just need to be willing to open your eyes and see them. Last night, a gentleman who really wants to help me promote the books but respects my current thought process gave me some ideas to think about. Another positive. A new vision. A new potential direction. A positive for the Kingdom. Be blessed today my friends. **Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. –Matthew 22:37

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS: SERMON TOPIC CONTENTMENT IN AN AGE OF MATERIALISM. THEME : Learning to be satisfied with God while living in a world that constantly tells us, “You need more.” Key Text: 1 Timothy 6:6–8 > “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1. WHEN IS ENOUGH REALLY ENOUGH? We live in an age where “more” has become a god. More money. More clothes. More followers. More cars. More houses. More recognition. More likes. More possessions. The world keeps telling us: “When you get that car, you will be happy.” “When you build that house, you will be fulfilled.” “When you become famous, you will finally matter.” But after getting one thing, we discover that we immediately want another. That is the trap of materialism. Materialism says, “I have more, therefore I am more.” But Jesus says: > “A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” — Luke 12:15 You can have a beautiful house and still have a broken home. You can have money in your account and emptiness in your soul. You can have thousands of followers and still feel completely alone. You can own many things without allowing those things to own your heart. Contentment is not the absence of ambition. Contentment is the ability to pursue God's purpose without allowing possessions to become your master. 2. WHAT IS BIBLICAL CONTENTMENT? Contentment is a settled confidence that God is enough, even while we are trusting Him for more. Contentment does not mean: You should stop working. You should stop dreaming. You should stop improving yourself. You should refuse legitimate opportunities. You should remain in poverty when God gives you wisdom and opportunity to prosper. Rather, contentment means: “I will work for more, but I will not worship more.” “I will pursue success, but success will not become my god.” “I will appreciate what I have while trusting God for what I don't yet have.” Paul declared: > “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” — Philippians 4:11 Notice the word learned. Contentment is learned. Nobody automatically becomes content. It requires spiritual maturity. 3. KEY BIBLE VERSES A. 1 Timothy 6:6–8 — GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN Paul says: > “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” Paul does not say money is evil. The Bible says: > “The love of money is the root of all evil.” — 1 Timothy 6:10 The problem is not having possessions. The problem is possessions having you. Money is a useful servant but a terrible master. When money becomes your identity, you become its slave. B. Hebrews 13:5 — GOD'S PRESENCE IS GREATER THAN POSSESSIONS > “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Notice God's solution to covetousness: His presence. Why should I not destroy myself trying to possess everything? Because I already possess something greater: God is with me. If God is with you, you are not empty. C. Matthew 6:33 — SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM > “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus did not say: “Seek possessions first.” He said: “Seek the Kingdom first.” When priorities are right, possessions find their proper place. 4. FOUR DANGERS OF MATERIALISM POINT ONE: MATERIALISM MAKES US CONFUSE POSSESSIONS WITH PURPOSE Some people spend their entire lives acquiring things without discovering why God gave them life. They know what they want to own, but they don't know what they were created to accomplish. Your purpose is bigger than your possessions. You were not born merely to: Buy a car Build a house Wear expensive clothes Travel around the world Accumulate wealth You were created to know God, serve Him, love people, fulfill your assignment, and leave an impact. Jesus asked: > “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36 Never exchange your soul for things that will eventually perish. POINT TWO: MATERIALISM CREATES THE NEVER-ENOUGH SYNDROME Materialism says: “Just one more.” You buy one phone. Then another model comes out. You want it. You buy one car. Then you see another one. You want it. You get one house. Then you start comparing your house with somebody else's. This produces a dangerous cycle: Desire → acquisition → temporary satisfaction → comparison → dissatisfaction → another desire. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says: > “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver.” There is a level of wealth that money cannot solve. If your heart is empty, increasing your possessions will not automatically fill it. Only God can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human soul. POINT THREE: CONTENTMENT PROTECTS US FROM COMPARISON Social media has made comparison easier than ever. You see someone's wedding. Someone else's car. Someone's ministry. Someone's business. Someone's vacation. Someone's new house. Someone's achievement. And suddenly you look at your own life and say: “I am behind.” But remember: You are comparing your real life with someone else's public presentation. You don't know their struggles. You don't know their sacrifices. You don't know what happens behind the camera. The Bible says: > “But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” — 2 Corinthians 10:12 Comparison can make you despise a blessing because it does not look like somebody else's blessing. Thank God for what He has given you. Improve where you can. Grow where you must. But don't allow comparison to steal your gratitude. POINT FOUR: CONTENTMENT TEACHES US TO SEE POSSESSIONS AS STEWARDSHIP Everything we have ultimately belongs to God. Psalm 24:1 says: > “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof.” Your money belongs to God. Your house belongs to God. Your talents belong to God. Your time belongs to God. Your influence belongs to God. Your opportunities belong to God. Therefore, the question is not merely: “How much do I have?” The greater question is: “What am I doing with what God has placed in my hands?” God does not bless us merely to make us comfortable. He blesses us so that we can become channels of blessing. 5. BIBLICAL CASE STUDY — THE RICH FOOL. Jesus told the story in Luke 12:13–21. A rich man's land produced abundantly. He said: > “I will pull down my barns, and build greater.” His entire conversation was about my crops, my barns, my goods, my soul. But God said: > “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." What was the man's problem? He had possessions but no eternal perspective. He had storage for his wealth but no preparation for his soul. He planned for retirement but failed to prepare for eternity. He accumulated things but neglected God. Jesus concluded: > “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” The lesson: It is possible to be rich toward the world and poor toward God. 6. DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS 1. CONTENTMENT IS NOT LAZINESS A contented Christian can still be hardworking. Joseph was content in God's presence even in prison, yet he eventually became a ruler. Paul worked. David worked. Proverbs praises diligence. Contentment does not kill ambition. It purifies ambition. 2. GRATITUDE IS THE ANTIDOTE TO GREED When you constantly focus on what you don't have, you become blind to what God has already done. Start counting your blessings. You may discover that you have been complaining about things you once prayed for. 3. YOUR VALUE DOES NOT COME FROM WHAT YOU OWN You are valuable because you were created in God's image. Your worth is not determined by your bank balance. Not by your clothes. Not by your followers. Not by your car. Not by your academic qualifications. Not by your social status. Your identity must be rooted in Christ. 4. GOD CAN GIVE YOU MORE WITHOUT ALLOWING MORE TO DESTROY YOU God is not against prosperity. But God wants prosperity with purpose. He wants blessing without bondage. Increase without idolatry. Wealth without wickedness. Success without losing your soul. The blessing is dangerous when the blessing becomes more important than the Blesser. 7. PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS 1. Practice daily gratitude Every day, intentionally thank God for at least three things. 2. Stop unnecessary comparison You don't need to compete with everybody. 3. Live within your means Don't destroy your financial future trying to impress people. 4. Learn to distinguish NEEDS from WANTS Ask yourself: “Do I need this, or do I simply desire this because somebody else has it?” 5. Give generously Giving breaks the grip of materialism. 6. Invest in eternal things Invest in: God's Kingdom People Your character Your family Your spiritual growth Your God-given assignment 7. Enjoy what God has given you Contentment means appreciating today's blessing while preparing responsibly for tomorrow. 8. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. What possession occupies my thoughts more than God does? 2. Am I pursuing success or worshipping success? 3. Do I compare my life with others? 4. If God does not give me everything I desire, will I still worship Him? 5. Am I grateful for what I already have? 6. Does my money serve God's purpose or merely my pleasure? 7. If everything I owned disappeared tomorrow, would Christ still be enough for me? That last question deserves serious reflection. 9. POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS 1 Father, deliver my heart from greed, covetousness, and unhealthy materialism, in Jesus' name. 2 Lord, teach me to appreciate what You have given me without losing my desire to fulfill my purpose. 3 Father, remove every spirit of comparison from my heart. Help me to celebrate Your work in my life. 4 Lord, let money never become my master. Give me wisdom to use every blessing for Your glory. 5 Father, give me the grace to seek Your Kingdom above material possessions. 6 Lord, make me rich toward You and useful to humanity. 7 Father, give me contentment in every season—when I have much and when I have little. 10. STRONG CLOSING — WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED? Beloved, the world will never stop telling you: “You need more.” But the Holy Spirit is asking: “Do you have Me?” You may not have everything you want. But if you have Christ, you have the greatest treasure. You may not live in the biggest house. But you can have the presence of God in your home. You may not drive the most expensive car. But you can walk in God's purpose. You may not have millions in your account. But you can possess something money cannot buy: peace with God, joy in your heart, purpose in your life, and hope for eternity. So pursue excellence. Work hard. Build. Create. Dream. Invest. Grow. Prosper. But never allow material things to become your master. Have possessions, but don't let possessions have you. Seek success, but don't sacrifice your soul for it. Desire increase, but remain grateful in the process. And above everything else: > “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” — Matthew 6:33 FINAL DECLARATION I will not be controlled by materialism. I will not measure my worth by what I possess. I will not allow comparison to steal my joy. I will be grateful for what God has given me. I will pursue God's purpose for my life. I will use my resources to bless others. And whether I have much or little, Christ will remain my greatest treasure. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen! If you have not given your life to Jesus kindly do so by joining a Bible believing Church You can get inspirational ebooks from my selar/Amazon shops below https://selar.com/m/umoh-edem1 https://selar.com/m/umoedem https://www.amazon.com/author/umohedembooks CONTACT - WhatsApp +2349024173027, +2349055447540 Email pastor.umoedem@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/share/14jvL7GbGrc/ #UMOHEDEM

🚨 Canadian officials proceeded with lethal injection after an 83-year-old grandmother stayed silent An 83-year-old Christian grandmother who had already rejected assisted suicide was euthanized under Canada’s MAiD program after her family says she never gave the required final verbal consent. Brigitte Stegemann, known to her family as GG, lived at The Pearl long-term care facility in Belleville, Ontario, and had been diagnosed with untreatable Stage IV stomach cancer five months earlier. Two months before her death she clearly told staff she did not want Medical Assistance in Dying because it violated her Christian faith and she wanted to die naturally. While her granddaughter, who held legal power of attorney and had advocated for her for more than 12 years, was away on a 10-day vacation, facility staff reopened the conversation privately without informing the family. Stegemann was completely deaf in one ear and could hear only minimally in the other, and she was frequently lethargic and unresponsive. During formal assessments on July 6th and 7th she gave incorrect answers to basic questions, saying she had no siblings even though she was the second-youngest of 14 children, and claiming none of her siblings were still alive when some were and she had spoken with one the previous week. She became disoriented, cried, and confused her surviving siblings with her great-grandchildren. The family corrected most of her answers and challenged the physician on how she could be declared capable. The doctor still ruled her capable of consenting, ordered the family out of the room, and scheduled the procedure for July 10th. Staff later admitted the death date had been set before the official paperwork was finished, and facility employees completed and witnessed the forms themselves. Officials even tried to move the injection forward by a full day to fit the physician’s schedule. On the morning of July 10th, the family took Stegemann outside for fresh air and gave her a scoop of her favorite strawberry ice cream while waiting for her pastor, as she had requested. After staff inserted an intravenous line that left blood on her bedding and surroundings, the physician arrived. The family had been assured she would have to give explicit verbal confirmation immediately beforehand, yet Stegemann remained silent with her hands held in a prayer position. The clinical team administered the lethal injection anyway. Her relatives say they were left alarmed and horrified. They accuse the system of clinical arrogance, secrecy, and a total lack of transparency, describing her death in their public statement as a systemic failure driven by a blatant disregard for the safeguards meant to protect vulnerable patients. They point out that she had already said no because of her faith, yet staff reopened the subject while her longtime advocate was away, excluded her power of attorney from critical discussions, and proceeded despite her silence at the final moment. The family is now demanding accountability and asking how an elderly, hearing-impaired woman who could not correctly identify her own family was deemed capable of consenting to her own death. By April 2026 more than 100,000 Canadians had already died under the MAiD system. This case shows how protections can collapse for the elderly, hearing-impaired, and cognitively fragile. Canada’s MAiD program has grown increasingly predatory, expanding far beyond its original limits and routinely placing pressure on the most vulnerable.

just got done with a weeks vacation, it’s always nice to get away from everything for a little bit. had a wonderful visit with my brothers and sisters in a different church last Sunday at the start. I figure when I’m on vacation I can watch our service online or meet other believers in person. it’s a lot more fun to visit in person, it takes me out of my comfort zone and it takes others out of theirs as well.

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ANOTHER KAMEL AND KNAT SATIRE NEWS STORY WARNING! Rated G-PS for POLITICAL SATIRE The Kamel and Knat Trump Issues Another Executive Order Reducing Congressional Recesses to National Average of 3 Weeks Vacation Based on 10 Years of Service Click Below for Important Details and More Photos: https://open.substack.com/pub/kamelandknat/p/trump-issues-another-executive-order?r=2u8e73&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Continuation chapter 3.2 Jesus Himself warned about the internal bake-off when He said, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:19). He didn't say these things come from the devil, though the devil is happy to RSVP to the bake-off and bring a plus-one. He said they come from the heart. The same heart that sings worship songs. The same heart that gets goosebumps during the sermon. The same heart that just volunteered for the nursery. That heart is fully capable of producing evil thoughts and then presenting them as noble, justified, and even godly. It's a factory, and the machinery runs on emotion, and the quality control department is on permanent vacation. ‎ ‎But here's the punchline, the final twist that makes the whole thing so beautifully ridiculous: once you see the factory for what it is, you are not condemned by it. You are liberated from it. You are not a terrible Christian because your heart produces garbage; you are a normal human being with a deceitful heart that needs to be supervised like a toddler with a permanent marker. The problem is not that the thoughts arise; the problem is when you believe them, bake them into a cake, and then deliver the cake to your neighbor with a note that says, "Thus saith the Lord." The freedom comes when you can watch the thought arise, observe the emotion stirring, and say, "Ah, there's that old recipe again. I recognize the smell. That's the self-pity soufflé. That's the righteous anger casserole. That's the lust lasagna. Hello, old friends. You may sit in the corner while I choose not to eat you." And then, instead of indulging the illusion, you do what the wise man does: you hold it back, you examine it, and if necessary, you throw the whole dish in the trash and order takeout from the Word of God. ‎ ‎The next time you feel a surge of holy certainty, a rush of righteous fury, a wave of self-justifying sadness, pause. Ask yourself: Did I just bake this? Is this from the divine kitchen, or did I just raid my own emotional pantry and turn last week's hurt into this morning's prophecy? If you can laugh at the possibility that you've been pranked by your own heart, you are already free. And if you can't laugh yet, don't worry—the realization is coming, and when it does, it will be the funniest thing you've ever tasted. Even funnier than a man who thought his pizza dream was the Third Great Awakening. And that, my friend, is a joy no illusion can manufacture, and no deception can steal. It is the taste of actual freedom, and it needs no frosting at all. ‎

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