Lifeline Today Tuesday August 18 The Benefit of Curiosity "The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, and she travelled to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions." 1 Kings 10:1 (GNB) The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. She was curious when she heard of the fame of Solomon. Creativity is always born out of curiosity. Curiosity is a holy pursuit that transforms a stagnant faith into an active journey. It moves a person past routine compliance and into a vibrant, deeper relationship with God. Curiosity means being adventurous, living your life outside of the box; not being satisfied with things as they are, but eager to enter true reality. It demands high level of sensitivity and alertness. It is a constant journey of discovery that triggers a new desire for greater accomplishment. Get more curious and you get more creative making you highly productive and a celebrated highflyer! This is your day. Wisdom Fountain: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence” Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for a fresh, holy curiosity about the life assignment You have designed specifically for me. I receive freedom from routine, a curious mind that is eager to learn, and the humility to ask honest questions. Help me seek understanding like hidden treasure every single day in Jesus’ name.

Day 14 - Evening Theme: UNDERSTANDING BEFORE BEING UNDERSTOOD: Building Connection Through Communication and Compassion Reflection Tonight, don't focus on what your spouse did wrong. Think about one thing you understand better about them because of this week's conversations. Thank God for the privilege of knowing another person's heart. 📖 God's Word "Be kind and compassionate to one another." — Ephesians 4:32 🌙 Heart Check Am I still curious about my spouse's heart? ❤️ My (LEWIS') HEART NOTE Over the years, I have discovered that many couples don't stop loving each other; they simply stop understanding each other. They become familiar with each other's routines but unfamiliar with each other's hearts. My encouragement is simple: Stay curious about your spouse. Ask questions. Listen to the answers. Notice the changes. Pay attention to the things they don't say. Sometimes the person you married years ago is carrying new dreams, new fears and new responsibilities today. Don't assume you already know everything about them. Keep discovering one another. 🙏 Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of marriage. Help us never stop learning how to love one another. Let understanding replace assumptions, compassion replace criticism, and grace replace resentment. Amen. 💎 Marriage Nugget: "The longer you are married, the more you should discover—not assume—you know about each other." Remember In marriage, it is not about winning the argument; it is about winning each other's hearts.

DON'T STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF TEMPTATION Many believers think temptation becomes dangerous only after they commit the sin. That is not how Scripture presents it. There is a threshold. There is a middle place where you are simply considering whether you will obey God or not. That is where many people lose the battle. It is like the bird flying over your head. The bird has not built a nest yet, but you allowed it to keep flying around because you refused to deal with it immediately. That is why the Bible says not to give room to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Don't give him a foothold. Don't let him stand on your veranda. The attitude should be, "Why are you standing here?" Deal with it immediately. Many Christians remain in that middle place. They entertain thoughts they should have rejected the moment they appeared. They consider things that should never have been considered. Then comes the next stage. You begin to agree with the thought. You enjoy it. You rehearse it. You keep turning it over in your mind. You defend it. You begin to justify it. "There is nothing really wrong with it." "Even other Christians struggle with this." "Even pastors have weaknesses." You start building arguments for something God already condemned. Finally, you begin planning how to act on it. That is why sin rarely happens suddenly. It has already been welcomed long before anyone sees the outward action. David did not suddenly commit adultery. First, he saw. Instead of turning away, he lingered. He kept looking. He imagined. The thought was welcomed and furnished. Then he inquired. He asked, "Whose wife is that?" That inquiry should never have happened. Fantasy had already begun looking for support. Many people excuse themselves by saying, "I'm just curious." No. There are questions you should never ask. There are numbers you should never request. There are conversations you should never begin. There are places you should never investigate. Every time someone has confessed how they fell into sin, there was an inquiry that should never have happened. If you know something is a temptation for you, avoid it completely. Don't negotiate. Don't stand at the threshold. Reject it while it is still outside the door. That is how many battles are won, before they ever become battles. Do have a wonderful evening!

I have a theory that you can learn a lot about someone from their music. Not necessarily their favourite artist. The song they play when they're happy. The song they listen to when they're sad. The song that reminds them of a particular person or time in their life. Music carries so many memories. So I'm curious... What's one song you could never get tired of hearing? I'm probably going to judge your answer a little, but I'll try to be nice. 😂

Acts 19: "1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. 21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly."

EVERYONE SAW A BURNING BUSH... BUT THEY MISSED WHY IT WASN'T BURNING UP. When Moses was tending sheep in the wilderness, he saw something unusual. A bush was on fire. But it wasn't being consumed. Curious, Moses turned aside to look. That's when God called his name. For years, people have focused on the fire. But here's what many people miss. The miracle wasn't just that the bush burned. The miracle was that it kept burning without being destroyed. Think about Moses. Forty years earlier, he thought he was ready to deliver Israel. He acted in his own strength. He failed. He fled into the wilderness. For forty years, it looked like his purpose had died. But God hadn't forgotten him. The burning bush became a picture of Moses himself. Weak. Ordinary. Just another bush in the desert. Yet when God's presence rested upon him... He was filled with God's fire... Without being consumed. That's the difference between human passion and God's calling. Human strength burns out. God's presence sustains. Moses didn't lead Israel because he was extraordinary. He led Israel because the God who called him stayed with him. Here's the deeper lesson. God doesn't need impressive people. He fills surrendered people. The fire was never about the bush. It was about the God in the bush. SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGEMENT "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9 If you remember one thing, let it be this... GOD DOESN'T CALL YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE STRONG... HE MAKES YOU STRONG BECAUSE HE HAS CALLED YOU. 📖 Key Scriptures: Exodus 3:1–12 2 Corinthians 12:9 Minister Clef Bible Insights Bringing Scripture to Life #MinisterClefBibleInsights #BringingScriptureToLife #BibleInsights #WordOfGod #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith #JesusChrist #BurningBush #Moses #GodsCalling #BiblicalTruth #ChristianContent

EVERYONE SAW A BURNING BUSH... BUT THEY MISSED WHY IT WASN'T BURNING UP. When Moses was tending sheep in the wilderness, he saw something unusual. A bush was on fire. But it wasn't being consumed. Curious, Moses turned aside to look. That's when God called his name. For years, people have focused on the fire. But here's what many people miss. The miracle wasn't just that the bush burned. The miracle was that it kept burning without being destroyed. Think about Moses. Forty years earlier, he thought he was ready to deliver Israel. He acted in his own strength. He failed. He fled into the wilderness. For forty years, it looked like his purpose had died. But God hadn't forgotten him. The burning bush became a picture of Moses himself. Weak. Ordinary. Just another bush in the desert. Yet when God's presence rested upon him... He was filled with God's fire... Without being consumed. That's the difference between human passion and God's calling. Human strength burns out. God's presence sustains. Moses didn't lead Israel because he was extraordinary. He led Israel because the God who called him stayed with him. Here's the deeper lesson. God doesn't need impressive people. He fills surrendered people. The fire was never about the bush. It was about the God in the bush. SCRIPTURE ENCOURAGEMENT "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9 If you remember one thing, let it be this... GOD DOESN'T CALL YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE STRONG... HE MAKES YOU STRONG BECAUSE HE HAS CALLED YOU. 📖 Key Scriptures: Exodus 3:1–12 2 Corinthians 12:9 Minister Clef Bible Insights Bringing Scripture to Life #MinisterClefBibleInsights #BringingScriptureToLife #BibleInsights #WordOfGod #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith #JesusChrist #BurningBush #Moses #GodsCalling #BiblicalTruth #ChristianContent

Good evening, brethren. 1. Evening devotion for today. ED.i. *DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST* (COCIN DEVOTIONAL) *DATE;* SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST, 2026. *SUB-THEME:* YOUTHS: VESSELS OF GOD'S GRACE. *TOPIC:* CHOSEN VESSELS. *TEXT:* 1 PETER 2:9-10. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be His very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Exo 19:5 Deu 7:6 Deu 14:2 Deu 26:18 Eph 1:14 Rev 1:6 Rev 5:10 [Exo 19:6] [Psa 135:4] [Isa 61:6] [Luk 2:34] [Rev 20:6] 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Hos 1:10 Hos 2:23 Rom 9:26 [Luk 15:6] *TOPIC:* CHOSEN VESSELS. *THE MESSAGE:* Just as Israel was God's chosen people in the Old Testament, believers are God's elect, His chosen ones under the New Covenant. This divine selection is by God's abundant mercy and grace. God has graciously set you apart as His possession for secred purposes. Therefore, you no longer belong to the world. As a chosen vessel, you are saddled with a divine assignment in your generation. Your calling is not for self-glory but to propagate the gospel to others. Satan always seeks to capture the passion and strength of the youth for his agenda. Do not yield to him. Remember, you are a vessel of honour for the Master's use. So, avail yourself. True worth is not found in worldly achievements but in being a child of God, yielded for His use. *REFLECTION:* Be available for the Master's use. *PRAYER:* Thank You for choosing me as Your vessel. *MEMORY VERSE FOR THE MONTH:* 2 TIMOTHY 2:21. "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be instruments for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." *TODAY'S BIBLE READING PLAN:* JEREMIAH 4-6. ED.ii. THE BEST IS YET TO COME "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10 Once upon a time there was a frog that lived in a well. The frog was having a good time in the well. It had its heart's desire and did not know a better life. However, it used to see a light up in the sky which attracted it. It was so curious that it decided to take the hard way and climb up to the light. Arriving at the top, the frog looked carefully over the edge of the well and saw a large water canal, 100 times larger than the well. The frog went to the canal and followed it until it became a river. It thought to himself 'this is 1000 times larger than the well'. Following the river, the frog arrived at a lake and again it thought: 'this is something different than that well, fantastic!' When the frog went ahead, it came to a beach. There the frog saw water, water and more water. It discovered then that all those years it was in the well, the frog lived in a very small world. We all understand this simple story. God wants to bless you God has a message for you and me in this story. God wants to bless your life abundantly. God's dream for your life is much greater than you can realize or imagine. Yet we want to stay in that little comfortable world of our well so badly. Dear readers, I want to tell you: there is more! We must change our thinking. Take a look over the edge. Go look beyond your well. God has so much more for you: a sea of joy, peace and victory. God wants you to enjoy everything He has for you. Perhaps God has already placed a dream in your heart. Take then the first step in faith. God is with you! He will make you successful. With Him you are more than a conqueror. Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able todo immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. https://www.theblessingdevotional.com 2. Evening Prayer for today. EP.i. Evening Prayer There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ⏤ Hebrews 4:9 The sabbath is the day we go to the mountain to see God’s creation. ⏤ Eugene Peterson May Your peace be upon us, our Father, this sweet Sunday evening. The day has been like a quiet oasis in the wilderness of the world. We have enjoyed its restfulness. We have sat under Your shadow with great delight. We have drunk from the springs of water that flow from under Your throne. Bless to us all the enjoyments and privileges of this Sunday. May we be better able to work because of the strength we have received while waiting on You. Give us now our evening blessing. We long to know You more deeply. Somehow, we do not know You as well as we desire to. We cannot see You with our physical eyes, feel Your touch, or hear Your voice, and we don’t always realize Your closeness to us. Help us to know You better. Reveal Yourself to us in Your word as we read it. May Your Spirit make You known to us. Make us more aware of Your love for us. May we receive more spiritual life into our souls. Give us a deeper measure of Your joy, peace, and love. May Jesus be in us, and may we be filled with all Your fullness. We wait at Your feet this evening, asking that our lives be filled with Your grace. We want to be like You, Lord Jesus, and we can only become like You through Your transforming presence in our lives. We hunger and thirst for righteousness, to have our characters made holy and good like Yours. You have promised to satisfy those who have this longing. Fill us and satisfy our cravings. May we go into the new week full of Jesus, and thus be prepared to bless many. We wait now for Your blessing. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/28/evening #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Go and Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19–20) Sixty days. Sixty opportunities to share God's Word. Sixty reminders that Jesus saves, restores, forgives, and gives hope. But this journey was never meant to end with a number. It is a mission for life. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His followers a clear assignment: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This is known as the Great Commission. And it wasn't given only to pastors, missionaries, or church leaders. It was given to every follower of Jesus. That includes you. You don't need a microphone or a large audience to share Christ. Your mission field may be your family. Your school. Your workplace. Your neighbourhood. Your social media page. Or simply the person sitting beside you. Start where God has placed you. Tell someone what Jesus has done in your life. Encourage someone with God's Word. Pray for a friend who doesn't know Christ. Show compassion to someone who feels forgotten. Live in a way that makes people curious about the hope within you. And when an opportunity comes, boldly and lovingly share the Gospel. Tell them that God loves them. Tell them that sin separates humanity from God. Tell them that Jesus Christ came to save us. Tell them that He died and rose again. Tell them that forgiveness and new life are available through faith in Him. The Gospel is too important to keep to ourselves. Someone around you may be waiting to hear the message of hope you already know. For the past 60 days, we have talked about faith, grace, forgiveness, prayer, courage, love, hope, and salvation. Now comes the challenge: Keep going. Keep sharing Jesus. Keep living your faith. Keep praying for people. Keep serving others. Keep shining your light. You may not always see the results, but God can use every seed you plant. Your responsibility is faithfulness. God handles the transformation. Day 60 may mark a milestone, but the mission continues. Jesus is still saving lives. The Gospel is still Good News. And the world still needs to hear it. Who is one person you can intentionally share the hope of Jesus with today? #GreatCommission #Matthew28 #MakeDisciples #ShareJesus #ShareTheGospel #JesusSaves #FaithInAction #ChristianYouth #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

The Untamed Flame. Why True Love Never Fade. It is a curious and somewhat heartbreaking thing to hear a believer say, "I once loved you, but I no longer do." It makes one wonder: Has the Word of God truly taken root in our hearts, or are we just skimming the surface? Love vs. Feeling The world often mistakes "feelings" for love. Feelings are like the weather; fickle, changing, and prone to storms. But Biblical love? That is a bedrock. Scripture tells us that love is not a temporary emotion, but an enduring commitment. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up... love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 If the Bible says love never fails, then true love cannot simply "go away." It is designed to stick for a lifetime. Is Love Enough? In modern relationships, we often hear the cynical phrase, "Love is not enough." But for the believer, this contradicts the very nature of our faith. Biblically speaking, love is the greatest force in existence. It is the fuel that carries the burdens of life, the glue that holds marriages together, and the bridge over troubled waters. The Apostle Paul reminds us: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13 Letting Go Without Losing Love You might ask, "If I can’t stop loving them, how do I let them go?" When a relationship becomes unhealthy or ends, "letting go" doesn't mean you stop loving that person with the heart of Christ. It means you "Let go and let Christ." It means moving them from your hands into God’s. When you allow Jesus to be the center of your life, He provides the grace to go through the complexities of heartbreak. As the Psalmist tells us: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3 The Source We must never forget the ultimate definition: God is love (1 John 4:8). To say love has run out is to suggest that God has run out, and we know His grace is an overflowing well. Let us stop following our fleeting feelings and start walking in the enduring, sacrificial love that Christ modeled for us. Shalom.