Guidelines for living. August 19th, 2026 God is as Close as Your Need The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 Anyone who has ever looked up at the stars on a dark night has, at times, been awe-struck by their vastness and the greatness of space, yet only twelve men in all history have been privileged to stand on the moon and look back towards the blue planet, as Earth has described. Standing on the surface of the moon, the Earth is some 229,000 plus miles away, and, according to Jim Irwin, one of the 12 astronauts who saw it from that perspective, the Earth appears to be the size of a walnut. It takes a second and a half for light to reach us from the moon. Accordingly, astronomers refer to heavenly bodies as being light-years away. Now, a light year is the distance it takes light to travel in 365 days at the speed of 186,282 miles per second. Our closest star, excluding the sun, is Alpha Centauri: 26 trillion miles away. It’s five times the sun; it takes 4.5 light years for light to reach us even from the closest star. Very quickly the vastness of God’s creation begins to challenge our minds and comprehension—too great to fathom. So, how can the human mind handle all of this when we are accustomed to measuring distance in terms of miles or kilometers from our home? Now, imagine the thickness of a single sheet of paper and conceptualize that sheet of paper as representing the distance from the Earth to the sun, 93 million miles away. The distance to Alpha Centauri, the closest star, would be represented by the thickness of a stack of paper 71 feet high, or the height of a seven-story building. The diameter of our galaxy alone would be a pile of paper 310 miles high. Again, that’s based on the fact that the thickness of a single sheet of paper would represent the distance between the Earth and the sun. On several occasions, Jim Irwin, one of the 12 astronauts, was our guest at Guidelines. Before I did an interview with him, we had lunch with several friends at a nearby restaurant. While he was away from the table making a phone call, I told the waitress serving us who he was. When Jim came back to the table, the waitress kept peering out of the corner of her eye. But honestly, having experienced what Colonel James Irwin experienced separated him from the masses of humanity who stand on Earth and look up at the moon and the stars. One thing that impressed me about Jim is that his perspective of Earth, as well as of space and God, was different from most people. Why? He’d been there! He saw it from a different perspective, and for him life would never be the same. Robert Louis Stevenson, the poet, put it so beautifully when he wrote, The stars shine over the mountains, The stars shine over the sea, The stars look up to the mighty God, The stars look down on me, The stars shall last for a million years, A million years and a day, But God and I will live and love When the stars have passed away.”1 God is not “out there” somewhere. He’s as close as your need. He will reveal something of that personal care for you as you turn to Him and trust Him. He’s the God who cares, as well as the God, the Creator—which you can discover for yourself. Friend, get to know God. That’s the secret to life. Resource Reading: Psalm 19:1-14

Let's talk about it. DYING AND GOING STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN IS A FALSE DOCTRINE The Bible does not teach that the dead immediately go to heaven as conscious spirits. When Lazarus died, Jesus said plainly: “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.” — John 11:11 And Martha said: “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” — John 11:24 She did not say Lazarus was already alive in heaven. She understood that his hope was the resurrection. Scripture repeatedly describes death as a sleep: “The dead know not any thing.” — Ecclesiastes 9:5 “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” — Psalm 146:4 The Christian hope is not an immortal soul leaving the body at death. It is the resurrection when Christ returns. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven... and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 The teaching that the dead remain consciously alive opens the door to one of Satan’s oldest deceptions — the claim that human beings do not truly die. “Ye shall not surely die.” — Genesis 3:4 Once people believe the dead are conscious and able to communicate, they become vulnerable to spiritualism — apparitions, supposed messages from the dead, and deceptive supernatural manifestations. Scripture warns that powerful spiritual deceptions will occur in the last days. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders...” — Matthew 24:24 God’s Word gives the safeguard: The dead are unconscious. They do not communicate with the living. They await the resurrection. Our hope is not in supposed spirits of the dead. Our hope is in Jesus Christ and the resurrection at His coming.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 19) 1. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool 2. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. 3. The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. 4. Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. 5. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. 6. Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. 7. All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. 8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. 9. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. 10. Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. 11. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. 12. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. 13. A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. 16. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. 17. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. 18. Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. 19. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. 20. Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21. There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. 22. What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. 23. The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. 24. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. 26. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27. Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28. A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 29. Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🌺🌹🎁🎀💝 MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19, 2026. "TRUST YOUR BIBLE, IT'S TRUE!" ‘…that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled...’ Matthew 26:56 NIV THE DEATH, burial and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled no less than twenty-nine different Old Testament prophecies. The odds of that happening are virtually impossible! Mathematician Peter Stoner explains it this way: ‘If you were to cover the state of Texas two feet deep in pound coins, then on one, place a mark. What is the probability that a blindfolded person could, on their first attempt, select that coin? That’s the likelihood of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in one lifetime. And Jesus fulfilled twenty-nine of them in one day!’ Let’s look at some of the prophecies He fulfilled: 1) ‘…They pierced My hands and… feet’ (Psalms 22:16 NKJV). 2) ‘They divide my garments…and…cast lots’ (Psalms 22:18 NKJV). 3) ‘…in that day…I will make the sun go down at noon, and…darken the earth in…daylight’ (Amos 8:9 NKJV). Jesus predicted both His death and His resurrection. He told His critics, ‘…“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”…the temple he had spoken of was his body’ (John 2:19-21 NIV). Jesus orchestrated every event, including Judas’ betrayal, the high priest’s hypocrisy, and Peter’s denial. Why? ‘That the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ So you can trust your Bible because it’s true. And something else is true too. God is ‘…able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Note the words ‘immeasurably more.’ What seems impossible to you at the moment, is all in a day’s work for Him. So start trusting Him to work on your behalf. Bible In A Year: Gal 4-6, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 119:113-120, Pro 18:10-12. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀. MD.ii. [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2026. *THE PRICE OF DWELLING TOGETHER IN LOVE AND UNITY* *TEXT:* GENESIS 33:5-15. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. *Timeless Truth:* _"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"_ (Psalm 133:1). *INTRODUCTION* Love and unity are the indispensable catalysts of human relationships that make life worthwhile. Without these two graces, life ceases to have meaning and will breed heartaches, emotional troubles, bitter enmity and rivalries, anguish of the soul and all sorts of relational problems. The fulfilment and joy of natural and spiritual families, communities, nations etc rest on love and unity. *"Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity"*. Satan's delight is to fuel relational problems and thereby make the earth another hell for relations. When the foundation of happy relationship and co-existence is destroyed, what shall the righteous do? The foundation of a happy and united family life of Isaac was broken and it had its toll on the children. Parental disunity and favoritism led to bitter rivalry between Esau and Jacob. The result was not a sweet experience for each member of the family. After 20 years of separation between the children, the need for peace and unity, so as to end the ugly experience became imperative. They must be commended that they did not die in that situation. They allowed God and let go of their differences. What can we learn from them about how to build the broken walls and foundation of life and unity among brethren? Read on. *1. Bridge the Communication Gap* a. The main reason Jesus came to pay the ultimate price of redemption is to break the communication barrier between man and God due to sin. Once that barrier is broken, it will be possible to break the communication barrier among fellow brethren. The fact that Jesus paid this price underscores the importance of love and unity among brethren. No man can claim to be godly without conscious and deliberate commitment to living in peace and love with fellow brethren and neighbours. A graceless person will be content with disunity and loveless relationships while true grace makes true reconciliation possible. Jacob initiated it and this shows he had grace. He first settled the problem in the spiritual realm by wrestling with God on a lonely night at Jabbok. His personal encounter with God first changed his life, blew his ego to the wind of heaven, brought a deep transformation into his life and melted his hardened heart of deception. The change must start with you. The godly who desires to live at peace and pleases God must be ready to pray through until his heart is melted with the grace to forgive, forget and fall into the love of God. Ego or self is often the main problem that must bow in order to live at peace and unity. b. For the first time after 20 years, Jacob opted to take the lead by asking for a face to face meeting with his estranged brother and bridge the communication gap. *"And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee?"*. Take the godly initiative and step: bridge the Communication Gap. Sink all your pride, anger, hatred, bitterness and desire for revenge at the cross and take the initiative. Unknown to him, Esau, though a violent man, secretly desired peace too. It only takes one to bell the cat. Surprisingly, the God of peace that had broken Jacob at the altar of prayer and grace had also dealt with Esau too. Broken communication became mended. *"And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant"*. In bringing peace to a troubled or broken relationship, there may be the need to bring a third party that is respected by both sides and has the wisdom and grace to mend relationships. *Question* Are you willing to please and bridge the communication gap with someone? How do you want to demonstrate your willingness? *2. Bind Your Character with Grace* a. Jacob had trained all his wives and children on how to show respect and give honour to the one who had been hurt and might be breathing out revenge and anger. It was not the time prove who was wrong or right. In reconciliation, self defence is minimized. *"Why do ye not rather accept wrong? Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due? Why do you not rather take wrong?"* (1Corinthians 6:7). The crucified saint will be willing to accept blame even when he is not convinced that he is wrong for the sake of peace. This is where grace is also needed. *"Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves"*. All the people with Jacob went humbly and bowed to their Daddy's brother. Jacob had depoisoned the hearts of his people so that they could sincerely give the needed and expected honour to Esau. The peaceful person will not be a hypocritical person who will pretend to seek for peace and unity and privately he will be poisoning the hearts of others. b. Humility is an essential part of living in love and unity and building again love and unity in a broken relationship. Many apologies, though may be simple, have a way of healing hurt hearts and broken bones and barriers in relationships. It takes humility to bend when the other person is standing on his points which may even be wrong and unacceptable altogether. *"The fruit of peace is shown by them which make peace"*. *"Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of GOD"*. *Question* Are you willing to pay the price of love and unity so that your life receives the immeasurable blessings of obedience to God or you still want to stick to your gun and end up in perdition? *3. Bless Your Companion With Gifts* God paid the price of reconciliation with man by giving us the gift of Jesus Christ and all other spiritual and earthly gifts and blessings. True reconciliation must also be sealed up with exchange and acceptance of godly and helpful gifts. Jacob was smart to have prepared gifts for Esau ahead of their encounter. In fact, at first, Esau wanted to wisely reject the gifts. If he had refused, then know that the problem was only solved superficially. *"And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord"*. The Scripture says, *"A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men"* (Proverbs 18:16). It is not how much that is affordable, but the heart of love and reconciliation that is behind it. Jacob insisted that the gift should be taken though Esau himself was well to do. *"Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it"*. Look at the choice of words of wisdom and humility of Jacob. He was not using words that will fuel the ember of hatred, but words that will calm down nerves. *"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger"* (Proverbs 15:1). Apart from exchanging and acceptance of gifts and visits, true reconciliation will also be manifested by willingness to walk together and experience godly partnership. *"And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go"*. *Question* How genuine was your previous reconciliation with others? *Prayer Points* 1.Father, examine my heart, expose and remove all tendencies in me contrary to abiding in love and unity 🙏. 2.Lord, give me a definite life changing encounter like Jacob that will make me full of grace to initiate and advance peace and love in my family, church and community 🙏. 3.Make me a peacemaker and promoter of reconciliation among people 🙏. 4.Lord, visit all families with broken relationships and help all to open up to true communication and reconciliations 🙏. *HYMN:* Let love be among us *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOB 38-42. [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *ENDURING RECONCILIATION* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥🫂🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:GENESIS 33:5-15```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant" (GENESIS 33:5).*_ *After the horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda focused heavily on national reconciliation. The Gacaca Courts, a system of community-based justice, allowed perpetrators of the genocide to confess their crimes and ask for forgiveness, while victims could voice their suffering. The emphasis on unity and a shared vision for rebuilding the country contributed to Rwanda's remarkable recovery and the avoidance of further ethnic conflict. Although there are ongoing challenges, the national narrative of "unity and reconciliation" has continued to play a central role in Rwanda's politics and society.* *Jacob had lived for years under the shadow of a broken relationship with his brother, Esau. Their past was filled with deceit, betrayal, and conflict. Having stolen Esau's birth right and blessing, the resultant rift was so deep that Esau had vowed to kill Jacob. After years of separation, Jacob now had to face Esau, but with trepidation and fear of retribution. However, what ensued was a stunning picture of grace and a lasting reconciliation, with no record of relapse into hostilities.* *Their reconciliation must have been mutual. That "... Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept" showed his willingness to forgive Jacob and let go of his anger and bitterness, and the pain of the past - a rare display of grace. On the other hand, Jacob exemplifies a posture of humility. His bowing before Esau, offering gifts of homage, and acknowledging his wrongs demonstrate the humility required for true reconciliation.* *We are called to the same grace and reconciliation that Jacob and Esau experienced. Perhaps there are areas where we need to humble ourselves and seek forgiveness. We are called to extend grace, even when the hurt is deep.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Reconciliation draws the curtain on a dark past and opens a door for a brighter future.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOB 39-42*📜📜 Enduring Reconciliation https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 232: BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS; GHS 117: SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE AND KINDNESS; AND GHS 75: THE CHURCH'S IS ONE FOUNDATION* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SNUB SATAN* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👿👺❌🫷🏽🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JAMES 4:4-8```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (JAMES 4:7).*_ *The end of all things draws nearer and nearer every day. This should make us think deeply about the imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the impending punishment that would be unleashed on sinners who have chosen to remain adamant and unrepentant now.* *The signs of the last days are visible - increased wickedness all over the world, surging compromise of faith among believers, and so on. The devil is out there like a roaring lion looking for those he could devour. Would you snub him or fall into his snares?* *Beloved, the time we are in now calls for patience and perseverance. Some have given up already because they have fallen into the hands of the devil by believing it is impossible to maintain their faith considering the pressure associated with this perilous time.* *Friend, please hold on to the faith, snub the devil, and keep marching forward. Remember that Lot's wife missed a blissful eternity because she could not snub Satan and resist the temptation of looking back. On the other hand, the young Joseph snubbed Satan by resisting Potiphar's wife's invitation to sin.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Lot's wife missed a blissful eternity.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Stand firm and snub the devil.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to hold on to the faith.*_ Snub Satan https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [18/08, 9:45 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST, 2026``` *JOHN'S TESTIMONY ABOUT JESUS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🗣️📢📣🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```JOHN 1:29-34```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 The Bible refers to John the Baptist as the forerunner who came to prepare the way for the Lord. Though John was born before Jesus, he was not greater than Jesus. In fact, John himself declared that someone greater than him would come after, and he was not even qualified to untie his shoe latchet. This is to show the high esteem in which John rightly placed Jesus. John proclaimed the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world. He told the people that Jesus was before him, meaning that Jesus had been before the time of creation. John was baptizing people in River Jordan, and it was he who also baptized Jesus Christ. John did not know Jesus, but the Holy Spirit descended and stayed on Christ at His baptism. He diverted attention away from himself, and made men to see Jesus Christ as *"...the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."* *Do you know Jesus? Can you point to Him that He is your Friend, Saviour and Lord? If your answer is No, then surrender your life to Him, repent and ask Him to forgive you all your sins. Tell Him to be your Friend and tell others about Him everywhere you go.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord Jesus, please take away my sins and make me Your friend today.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Matthew 3:1-12* John's Testimony About Jesus https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk19thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ⏤ Philippians 3:13-14 Prayer is the acid test of devotion. ⏤ Samuel Chadwick O Lord, You’ve taught us through Your apostle to forget what lies behind and to reach forward to what lies ahead. Give us the grace to let go of the past and press on toward the goal of our high calling. Help us to cast aside every weight and the sins that so easily trip us up, and to run with endurance the race set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. This world pulls us back, holding us from aspiring heavenward. May we have the strength to resist these earthly temptations and instead be drawn toward the blessings of a heavenly life. Help us to live more and more for the things that are unseen and eternal. Earthly things, though sweet and beautiful, are temporary—like flowers that are fragrant today but wilted tomorrow. May these fleeting blessings remind us of You and turn our thoughts to You. Let us not rest in these temporary joys or build our hopes on them. Instead, teach us to rest in You and build our hopes on the enduring rock of Your eternity. Then, no matter what earthly disaster or loss comes our way, we will be safe and secure in You, our unchanging God. As we step into the world today, fill our hearts with thoughts of Your love and grace. Go before us, lead us, and help us follow You wherever You guide. Give us wisdom to respond rightly in every situation. Grant us courage to face difficulties and overcome obstacles. And give us gentle hearts so we may be a blessing to others. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/45/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

This thought has been sitting with me for a while now. And every time I think about it, I somehow become even more convinced. I genuinely don't think you can afford to follow Jesus and ignore emotional intelligence. Notice I didn't say every Christian is emotionally intelligent. They're not. We've all met Christians who can quote Scripture for hours but cannot apologize. Who can discern "spirits" in every room but cannot discern that the person sitting beside them is tired, grieving or afraid. Who know how to pray, but don't know how to listen. Who know how to correct, but don't know how to restore. And I don't say that to judge anybody. I say it because I think we've accidentally separated two things that Jesus never separated. We've treated spiritual maturity and emotional maturity like they are different journeys. I don't think they are. Actually... I don't think they can be. Because who exactly are you becoming if you're becoming like Christ? Think about Jesus for a second. And no, not just what He taught. But the way He related to people. That's the part that keeps arresting me. He didn't speak to everyone the same way. To some people, He asked questions. To others, He sat and listened. Sometimes He challenged. Sometimes He comforted. Sometimes He walked away. Sometimes He stayed. He knew when Peter needed correction. He knew when Peter needed breakfast by the sea. He stood in front of a woman caught in adultery and somehow managed to hold both compassion and truth in the same conversation. How? He wasn't just spiritually deep. He understood people. He understood timing. He understood emotions. He understood that the same truth can heal one person and crush another depending on how and when it's delivered. And I think that's where a lot of us struggle. We've become so committed to saying the right thing... that we've forgotten to ask whether this is the right moment. Sometimes the truth is right. The timing isn't. Sometimes the words are biblical. The posture isn't. Sometimes we're so eager to "speak the truth" that we forget Scripture didn't stop there. It says to speak the truth in love. Love changes how truth sounds. I've also noticed something else. A lot of us think emotional intelligence means having deep conversations. Or using words like "boundaries" and "attachment styles." No. Sometimes emotional intelligence is much simpler than that. It's noticing that your friend has gone unusually quiet. It's realizing someone is angry but the anger isn't the real emotion. It's apologizing without adding, "But you also..." It's knowing when your spouse doesn't need another solution. They need to know they're not carrying the weight alone. It's recognizing that the person who keeps interrupting everyone may not be proud. They may simply be desperate to be heard. It's asking one more question instead of making one more assumption. You know what I find interesting? Paul spent so much of the New Testament teaching people how to relate. Be kind. Bear with one another. Forgive one another. Encourage one another. Be patient. Be gentle. Those aren't just spiritual instructions. They're relational ones. And relationships are where emotional intelligence is tested. Not during prayer meetings. During disagreement. During disappointment. During correction. During marriage. During leadership. During friendship. During ordinary Tuesday afternoons when someone says something that hurts your feelings. That's where you find out whether you've just learnt Scripture... or whether Scripture has started reshaping you. Because following Jesus should change more than your prayer life. It should change how safe people feel around you. How you handle conflict. How quickly you assume the worst. How you carry people's weaknesses. How you respond when you're misunderstood. How you hold both conviction and compassion without sacrificing either. If ten years with Jesus has made me more knowledgeable but less patient... something is wrong. If I've learnt how to preach but not how to apologize... something is wrong. If I know every spiritual principle but cannot sit with someone's grief without trying to fix it immediately... something is wrong. I honestly think we've admired gifting more than we've admired Christlikeness. And they're not the same thing. You can be gifted and still be emotionally immature. You can be anointed and still wound people with your words. You can lead thousands and still not know how to love the person sitting across from you. That should bother us. Because the goal of Christianity has never been to know more about Jesus. It's to become more like Him. And every time I read the Gospels, I don't just see a man full of power. I see a man who noticed people. Who made space for questions. Who wasn't intimidated by tears. Who wasn't threatened by people's emotions. Who could tell the hardest truths without making people feel unseen. The more I think about it, the less I believe emotional intelligence is optional for the Christian. Not because it's trendy or because psychology says it's important. But because every step towards Christ should also be a step towards becoming more patient, more gentle, more aware, more compassionate, more self-controlled. More human in the way heaven intended. Maybe that's what emotional intelligence looks like in the Kingdom. And not becoming better at reading people so you can manage them. But becoming so formed by Christ... that people consistently experience His heart when they encounter yours.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 19) 1. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool 2. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. 3. The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. 4. Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. 5. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. 6. Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. 7. All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. 8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. 9. A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. 10. Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. 11. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. 12. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. 13. A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. 16. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. 17. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. 18. Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. 19. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. 20. Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21. There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. 22. What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. 23. The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. 24. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. 26. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27. Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28. A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 29. Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

*From Death to Life* Many of us unfortunately know what it feels like to lose a loved one. And we've longed to have just a few more hours with them here on earth. *John 11* tells the story of Lazarus—a man who died but, by the power of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, was brought back to life four days later. It was a miracle! What was dead became alive again! And yet, we only know that Lazarus’ physical body was resurrected. *Romans 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. "* In this passage from Romans, Paul writes about a different type of resurrection—the best kind of resurrection. Unlike Lazarus, Jesus' resurrection wasn't merely physical, but also one of the Spirit. It wasn't temporary, but permanent💃. But before Jesus’ resurrection, He willingly faced a painful, slow, emotional death. Jesus died that death for you. He suffered on the Cross for humanity. He bore the weight of all sin and affliction so that we might live with Him forever. The Bible tells us how this story ends, but on the day that Jesus died, the people who loved Him did not know its end. They mourned, they grieved, they wept. Jesus' death felt final, but it wasn't. We might have a friend or family member who’s far from God, who doesn’t know the good news that comes after mourning. Or we might be in that same period of uncertainty—feeling like we don’t know the rest of the story.  When we've been united with Jesus by accepting the truth that He died in our place, as well as His free gift of grace, we can know that we have passed from death to life—forever! Our eternity is secure with Him. We can have joy and hope, and we can share it with others, and should/must share the experience. *Prayer* Everlasting Father, You made it possible for us to go from death to life, and to spend eternity with You! We can't fully comprehend or express how amazing that is. We don't deserve this kind of unconditional love, but we are grateful for it and overwhelmed by it. Thank You that this story isn't over, and You will have the final victory over sin and death. Amen!

Good evening to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you. Catawampus. That is my word of the day. Catawampus. It is a beautifully weird word that can be used in a myriad of ways to describe the perfect blend of chaos and dumbness in any given situation. The definition actually is: going badly, awkwardly, or in the wrong direction. Most Mondays are, by definition, catawampus. As you read from last night’s post, mine was extremely catawampus. Today tried to slide sideways but quickly smoothed out. Another vibrant way to describe something going haywire is “off-kilter”. The actual definition of this word is: out of balance. So, if your catawampus is off-kilter … is that good or bad? The purpose of this paper today is to make you laugh with the playfulness of words. We make up words every day depending on how our brains and mouths communicate. Sometimes real words come out; sometimes weird syllables that formulate a weird concoction of letters into a word come out. Most of those situations result in gut-filled laughter and a sense of relief because of the guffaw. What if we approached our off-kilter moments in life in the same manner? Throwing off the stress of the catawampus event and finding the hilarity in the guffaw. If we look, most any stressful situation can find some humor or light, even if it is deemed ‘inappropriate’. Such as, a friend of mine had a falling-out with their dad. They got sick, and when asked if the dad had been notified, I was promptly told no. For whatever the reason, I simply stated that had they called the dad, my friend may have just died on the table, to prove the point that they did not want to speak to him. Dark humor, yes. Somewhat funny in the moment, yes. Appropriate, not really. However, the levity of looking at something bad in a light that can bring a smile … totally worth it. A business deal is heating up. Everyone involved is losing patience. Someone sneezes softly. Another person belts out, “No need to bring in biological warfare.” Inappropriate, yes. Funny, yes. Mowing the yard with my borrowed mower, I missed a stump. Yes, a stump. Did not know or see it there. When the mower locked up and stopped mowing, instantly I saw my retirement check fly out the window. This mower was in my care; I was not careful enough, and instant panic set in … when explaining to the owner, he laughed and said he would like small bills. (FYI the mower was fixable) There are going to be times in life when the situation or circumstance is not good. It is the habit that we have formed to always go dark and negative. That is fine if you only stay there for the moment, but immediately you should be searching for the bright side, the humor, the sarcastic satire. Something that shows you, in your heart, that God is in control and it will all work itself out. Catawampus and off-kilter moments are a part of life. Do not allow them to remain permanent residents in your lane; find that inappropriate giggle line, and give it back to God. You will find that it helps alleviate your stress level and replace it with His love. Be blessed. **Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2

I built an audience of over 8,000 people who trusted me with their tech journey, real transitions, real results, real proof. I shared roadmaps, resources, opportunities and practical advice, and most importantly, I saw people actually use them to make progress. Then one day, it was gone. Facebook dißbled the account without warning. I could have quit. Instead, I'm starting again this time, smarter. A little about me: I have a degree in Industrial Chemistry, I'm pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity, I'm currently pursuing a professional certification with Google PWAN, and I'm also the founder of PornBlock. But honestly, the credentials aren't what I'm most proud of. I'm proud of the 2,000+ beginners I've helped with tech roadmaps, people who came to me confused about where to start, what to learn and how to move from. And that's why I don't believe in telling everyone to learn the same skill. Someone might be better suited for UI/UX. Someone else might thrive in Cybersecurity, Data Analysis, Software Development, Digital Marketing, Product Design or another path entirely. My job is to help beginners understand their options, choose a realistic path and know what to do next. I also wrote Win the Job Toolkit — a practical guide for beginners who are tired of applying without knowing what they're doing wrong. It covers things like building a stronger CV, preparing for interviews, positioning yourself properly and understanding how to pursue remote and freelance opportunities. I'm not starting again with nothing. I'm starting again with everything I've learned along the way. And if you're trying to figure out your own path into tech, you're welcome to be my friend. If you knew me before and wondering where I went, follow me now or you might not see my profile again.

Pilgrims of God I was wandering the desert Lost without hope for now I roam Crushed beneath the pressure Wanting a place I could call home I was drowning in my sorrow Up to my kneck in sin Looking for somebody Who I respect- a friend I was desperate for a treasure Never bought and can't be sold But stuck inside a prison And the devil had a hold I couldn't see my way out And I was just about to fold Till then heard of a savior Who purchased every soul He promised life in heaven I knew I could not say no Many of us were called there Only a few of us would go I left behind the old life And stepped into the light The darkness wasnt happy so it scuffled and tried to fight I held onto the rugged cross Grappled to it with all my might Took a little bit of time And the darkness left my sight I passed up all the lost souls I tried to grab them if I could I talked about the gospel As I knew a Christian should I saw them as did Jesus In the valley on a slope Up top of God's mountain I tossed down to them a rope The flames of hell roared higher Nearly devoured some to nought I rejoiced to all the heavens About the few of them I caught The angels played a trumpet A couple instruments with strings I heard the choir bellow Out a hymnal they did sing See heaven is the treasure The Holy Ghost bestow a ring Some claimed to know all mysteries yet still slow to know a thing And didnt know the calling So quickly fell from Grace Dont buy into this life of sin Nor after riches niether chase Dont forfeit to hell your precious soul For if so your life you waste Just call out now to Jesus Bow your head and seek his face He loves you very much This world is but a bitter taste see Jesus is enough He knows your every hurt.... And carries all your sorrow Ask for His safety here and now For you may not see tomorrow Listen to the preachers words Of life beyond the veil Take heed to travel down this path Forsake the broken trail And you will live in glory of the Father you should know That Jesus has a plan for you And your eternal soul By Clifton Wagner Gospel Poetry Foundation