The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING" “All Creatures of Our God and King” traces its roots to one of the most beautiful expressions of praise in Christian history: the Canticle of the Sun, written by St. Francis of Assisi around 1224. St. Francis composed the canticle near the end of his life, during a period of physical suffering. Rather than allowing his circumstances to silence his faith, he looked at creation and saw it as a reflection of God’s glory. The sun, moon, wind, water, fire and earth became, in his poetic prayer, fellow worshippers joining humanity in praising their Creator. Centuries later, the English clergyman William Henry Draper brought this ancient prayer into the world of congregational hymn singing. Draper translated and adapted portions of St. Francis’ canticle into English, creating the hymn now known as “All Creatures of Our God and King.” Draper prepared the hymn for a children’s Whitsuntide celebration in Leeds, England. His version was subsequently published in the early 20th century and became widely used in churches, particularly in Britain and other English-speaking Christian communities. The familiar melody adds another layer of history. The tune, commonly known as “Lasst uns erfreuen,” originated in Germany and appeared in a Catholic hymnal in 1623. Centuries later, it was arranged and popularised in the English-speaking church, notably through the work of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and the English Hymnal. The hymn’s message is simple yet profound: all creation belongs to God and is called to praise Him. Its repeated invitation to “O praise Him” turns the song into a celebration of worship that reaches beyond humanity to the entire created world. From a prayer written by a 13th-century saint to an English adaptation sung in churches centuries later, “All Creatures of Our God and King” has endured because of its timeless reminder that creation itself points toward the greatness, goodness and glory of its Creator.

🎂 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘵. Another candle on the cake. Another year has passed. Is a birthday merely a worldly custom, or can it become an occasion that truly honors Christ? You've celebrated every birthday you've ever had. But have you ever stopped to ask: — 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺? Before answering too quickly, let's sit under one verse and allow it to search our hearts. 📖 𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟏 (KJV) “𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦 𝘥𝘰, 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥.” Paul wasn't speaking only about worship services or special religious occasions. He was talking about everything—ordinary moments, daily activities, celebrations, and yes, even birthdays. Here is the challenging truth: If you're not celebrating your birthday to God's glory, you're not celebrating it according to His purpose. That may be difficult to hear, but it's a question every believer should consider. ✅ The Birthday Checklist That Changes Everything — Look at the glass you're holding during your celebration. 𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘰𝘥? — Look at the clothes you're wearing. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? — Look at the music, movies, conversations, guests, and activities surrounding your birthday. Ask yourself: "𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥?" Let's be honest. How many of us can confidently say that our last birthday celebration was truly centered on honoring Him? This isn't meant to rob us of joy. It's meant to sanctify our joy. 📖 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 Some people argue that birthdays are neutral because they are rarely mentioned in Scripture. Yet the two birthday celebrations specifically recorded in the Bible should make us pause. 📖 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝟒𝟎:𝟐𝟎 (KJV) “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘩'𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴…” 📖 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝟔:𝟐𝟏-𝟐𝟐 (KJV) “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘦; 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥…” Pharaoh's birthday was associated with an execution. Herod's birthday eventually led to the beheading of John the Baptist. Does this mean birthdays are evil? 𝐍𝐨. But it does remind us that a celebration without God at the center can quickly become a platform for pride, self-indulgence, and sin. That is why Paul's command in 𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟏 is so important. It transforms a self-focused day into a God-centered one. ✨ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 "𝐃𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝"? Scripture gives us clear guidance. — To glorify God means: — To act with gratitude. Recognizing every breath and every year of life as a gift from Him. — To walk in humility. Refusing to make everything about ourselves. — To seek His approval. Valuing God's pleasure above likes, comments, and human praise. — To live in obedience. Aligning our choices with His Word. 📖 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟕 (KJV) “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘮.” Your birthday can become an act of worship, or it can become an act of self-indulgence. The difference isn't found in the cake. It's found in the heart. ❌ 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝟏. "𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦." This can drift into legalism. Scripture gives believers liberty in matters not explicitly forbidden, while calling us to honor God in all things. Romans 14:5–6 (KJV): “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.” Colossians 2:16 (KJV): “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” 1 Corinthians 10:23 (KJV): “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” A birthday can absolutely be celebrated in a God-honoring way. 𝟐. "𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐧, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦." If our music, entertainment, speech, or activities do not glorify God, we should not dismiss them as harmless. Colossians 3:17 (KJV): “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Romans 14:7–8 (KJV): “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV): “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 𝟑. "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥." True. But the Bible does command us to glorify God in everything we do. That part is not optional. 1 Peter 4:11 (KJV): “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 𝟒. "𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡." No day belongs to us. Every day belongs to the Lord. Romans 14:8 (KJV): “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Psalm 118:24 (KJV): “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Luke 9:23 (KJV): “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Galatians 2:20 (KJV): “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 🎁 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝟏. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 Thank God for the gift of life. 📖 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝟏𝟑𝟗:𝟏𝟒 “𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦...” 𝟐. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝 Share a testimony. Offer a prayer. Sing songs that exalt Christ. Let your celebration point others to Him. 𝟑. 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 📖 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝟐𝟎:𝟑𝟓 “𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦.” Consider helping the poor, supporting missions, sponsoring a child, or blessing someone in need. 𝟒. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 If the music, jokes, or activities would not honor Christ, they have no place at a celebration meant to glorify Him. 𝟓. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 Every birthday marks one year closer to eternity. Let it remind you that life is brief and that Christ is worthy of our remaining days. 💭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬 Every birthday you've ever had was either lived for God's glory or for your own. One day, every believer will stand before Christ and give an account of how they lived. 📖 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟐 (KJV) “𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥.” Will your birthday celebrations be remembered as opportunities used for God's glory? Or opportunities wasted? The choice is before us. And we don't need to wait until our next birthday to make a change. ❤️ 𝐀 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 This message isn't meant to crush your joy. It's meant to redirect it. God is not against celebration. He is the Author of true joy. 📖 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟏 “𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘫𝘰𝘺...” He created the feast, the family, the laughter, and the blessings we enjoy. So yes, celebrate. Blow out the candles. Eat the cake. Rejoice in the gift of another year. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲. And may your next birthday be the one where you can honestly say: "𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥." 🙏 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:2–3 ɴᴋᴊᴠ Divine glory shines for us in Christ. It is the glory of the only-begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, but a glory which now shines out for us from the face of a Man passed into the heavens. In Him we are brought near to God. In Him we know God. He has descended into the darkness which hid from us the face of God; He has dispelled it forever. He has revealed the holiness and the tenderness of divine love. We know God, and are known of Him. We are His, and He is ours. We carry this knowledge with us through the world. It is our competency for testimony in the world. It is not a testimony to ourselves, but to Him. We are the epistle of Christ read and known of all men. And this is not responsibility only, but competency, for the epistle is not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on fleshy tablets of the heart. The light that has shone in shines out again. No matter what it shines on, it is easy enough to tell where the light is shining. The moon, as a type of us, is a ruin; but bathed in the sun’s brilliance, she can reflect it to us. “You are an epistle of Christ,” says the apostle not “epistles.” Individually I could be an epistle of Christ, but it takes the whole Church to make the “epistle of Christ.” Then, as little as the world could contain all the sun rays, or the moon reflect the full brightness of the sun, so little could even this fitly represent Him. Yet a warm and bright spot can be made, nevertheless, with but a few of His beams. F. W. Grant https://gbv-online.org/calendar/773/date/2026-08-13

The Mice in the Piano Pastor Joseph Clark August 12, 2026 “He who denies the existence of God, has some reason for wishing that God did not exist.” —Saint Augustine “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 10:32–33 The Mice in the Piano Once upon a time, there were two little mice. They were brothers, and they had lived their entire lives inside a piano. It was the only world they had ever known. Their parents and siblings had died of old age, leaving the two brothers as the last members of their family. They spent their days exploring their strange little world and listening in wonder to the beautiful music that constantly filled the piano. They could not see where the music came from. Their parents had taught them that the music was produced by a great and mysterious being who lived beyond their understanding—the one who played the piano. The two mice loved to think about this great player. They talked about him, wondered about him, and delighted in the beautiful music he produced. Then, one day, one of the mice went exploring. When he returned, he was thoughtful and unusually serious. “There is no great player,” he told his brother. “It is all a myth. I have seen the inside of this piano. The music is produced by wires, hammers, strings, and mechanisms. I have seen them with my own eyes!” The brothers abandoned their belief in the great player. They were convinced that they had finally discovered the truth. They understood the mechanisms of the piano, and therefore they believed they had explained away the musician. They examined the wires, hammers, strings, and mechanical workings repeatedly. The more they learned about how the piano worked, the more confident they became that there was no need to believe in a player. But they had overlooked something very important. Knowing how the piano works does not explain who is playing it. And so, while the two mice congratulated themselves on their newfound wisdom, the great player continued to play. The mice simply could not see him. The Limits of Human Understanding There is an important lesson in this little story. Human beings are intelligent. We have learned extraordinary things about the universe. We have explored the depths of the oceans, walked on the moon, examined the microscopic world, mapped the human genome, and discovered astonishing laws governing the physical universe. But our ability to understand something does not mean that we understand everything. The Bible repeatedly reminds us that humility is essential when approaching God. Jesus said: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:3 He also said: “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 19:14 And again: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” —Luke 18:17 Jesus is not telling us to abandon reason or become intellectually childish. Rather, He is calling us to humility, trust, and dependence upon God. Scripture says: “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:4 The Christian life begins with recognizing that God is God—and we are not. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” —Ephesians 2:8 And: “The righteous shall live by faith.” —Romans 1:17 Faith is not a rejection of reason. Faith recognizes that human reason has limits. Living in a Skeptical Age In 1897, Francis Pharcellus Church wrote his famous response to eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon concerning her question about Santa Claus. Church observed that people can become skeptical of anything they cannot see or fully comprehend. Although Church was writing about Santa Claus—not God—the broader observation is worth considering. We live in an age that often treats what can be measured as though it were the only thing that can be real. But there are many things we accept as real without seeing them directly. We cannot see gravity. We cannot see thoughts. We cannot see love. We cannot see electricity itself. Yet we observe their effects. Likewise, Christians believe that although God cannot be placed under a microscope or reduced to a laboratory experiment, His existence can be considered through the evidence of creation, reason, morality, human consciousness, history, and ultimately the revelation of Jesus Christ. The fact that we cannot see God with our physical eyes does not prove that God does not exist. The mice could not see the piano player either. That did not mean he wasn't there. When People Mock Our Faith A close friend of mine, an Archbishop, once told me a humorous story from his childhood. He had been at a park with his mother when he ran over excitedly and told her that the sun was actually a star and that the stars in the sky were also suns. His mother, apparently overwhelmed by the complexity of the information, responded with a blunt declaration that, in essence, the sun was the sun and the stars were the stars—and that was the end of the discussion! Sometimes we can become uncomfortable when someone challenges what we believe. That is particularly true when people we respect dismiss Christianity as foolishness. Richard Dawkins, Woody Allen, Isaac Asimov, Mark Twain, Carl Sagan, and many others have expressed skepticism toward Christianity or belief in God. But Christians should not respond with anger or hatred. We should respond with grace. Forgive them. Pray for them. Love them. And share the Gospel with them. The Apostle Peter instructed Christians: “Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” —1 Peter 3:15 That is an important distinction. We are called to defend the faith, but we are not called to be quarrelsome. Jesus said: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” —Matthew 10:14 And He warned: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls before swine.” —Matthew 7:6 There comes a time when we must recognize that arguing louder will not make someone believe. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim Christ. The Holy Spirit is responsible for changing hearts. What About Suffering? One of the most common objections to belief in God is the existence of suffering. People ask: “How can I believe in a loving God when there is so much suffering in the world?” This is a serious question, and Christians should never dismiss it with a shallow answer. The Bible itself contains people crying out to God in the midst of suffering. Job asked difficult questions. David cried out in the Psalms. Even Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Christianity does not pretend that suffering is imaginary. Instead, Christianity tells us that suffering exists in a fallen world and that God entered that suffering Himself through Jesus Christ. The cross is Christianity's answer to the claim that God is indifferent to human suffering. God did not remain distant from our pain. He entered our world. He suffered. He died. And He rose again. The Apostle Paul writes: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” —Romans 8:18 C.S. Lewis famously described pain as God's “megaphone” to a deaf world. Suffering does not prove that God does not exist. For many people, suffering instead becomes the very circumstance that drives them to ask the deepest questions about meaning, morality, mortality, and God. What About Hell? Another question frequently asked is: “How can a loving God send people to Hell?” The Christian answer begins with the extraordinary love of God. Jesus said: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 God offers salvation freely through Christ. The Gospel is not a message that God delights in condemning people. It is a message that God has provided a way of salvation. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The seriousness of judgment is precisely what makes the offer of salvation so important. God does not force anyone to love Him. The Gospel calls us to repent, believe, and receive the grace of God. Faith and the Evidence of Creation The universe raises enormous questions. Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe possess order? Why are the laws of nature intelligible? Why does human consciousness exist? Why do human beings possess an awareness of moral obligation? Science can investigate how many things work. But questions concerning ultimate meaning and purpose extend beyond the laboratory. The Christian does not believe that science is the enemy of faith. Quite the opposite. The universe is intelligible because Christians believe it was created by an intelligent God. The laws of nature can be investigated because Christians believe those laws reflect an ordered creation. The human capacity to reason can be used to explore the universe because Christians believe human beings were created by God. Science can tell us much about the mechanisms of the piano. But science alone cannot answer the question: Who is playing the music? Believers in the Scientific Community Christianity has never belonged exclusively to the uneducated or uninformed. Throughout history, many highly accomplished scientists have believed in God. Among them are figures such as: Isaac Newton, whose work transformed physics and mathematics. James Clerk Maxwell, one of the great figures in electromagnetic theory. Gregor Mendel, whose experiments established foundational principles of genetics and who was also an Augustinian friar. Georges Lemaître, a Catholic priest and physicist whose work on an expanding universe helped establish the foundation of what became known as Big Bang cosmology. Francis Collins, physician-geneticist and former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, who has publicly identified as a Christian. Charles Townes, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and inventor of the maser and co-inventor of the laser, who was an openly religious Christian. These examples do not prove Christianity simply because these scientists believed. But they do demonstrate something important: Faith in God is not incompatible with intellectual achievement. A person does not have to abandon intelligence in order to believe in God. Nor does becoming a Christian require someone to stop asking questions. Christians should welcome honest questions. The Problem With the Piano Mice The two mice made a fundamental mistake. They confused an explanation of the mechanism with an explanation of the ultimate cause. They discovered the wires. They discovered the hammers. They discovered the strings. They discovered the machinery. And then they concluded: “Therefore, there is no piano player.” But that conclusion did not logically follow from their discovery. In fact, their discovery of the piano's complexity could have led them to ask an entirely different question: Who designed this? And that is the question we must ultimately ask about our universe. Where did everything come from? Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe operate according to discoverable laws? Why does consciousness exist? Why do we have an innate sense that some things are genuinely right and others genuinely wrong? And perhaps the greatest question of all: Who are we, and why are we here? The Christian answer is that we are creatures made by our Creator. We are not accidents without purpose. We were created by God, for God, and ultimately for relationship with Him. We Are the Mice There is another lesson in the story that we must not miss. Perhaps the greatest danger is not being ignorant. Perhaps it is believing that we know everything. We are the mice in the piano. We live inside a universe vastly larger and more complicated than our minds can fully comprehend. We see only a fraction of reality. We understand only a fraction of what exists. And yet we sometimes look at the small portion we understand and confidently declare that nothing exists beyond it. The Bible reminds us: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.” —Isaiah 55:8 And: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” —Romans 11:33 The proper response to a God who is greater than our understanding is not arrogance. It is humility. It is worship. It is faith. The Music Continues The two mice eventually stopped believing in the piano player. They became convinced that they had explained everything. But outside their tiny world, the musician continued to play. The music never stopped. The fact that they could not see him did not mean he was absent. And perhaps that is where many people find themselves today. They have examined the mechanisms of the universe. They have learned about physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and astronomy. They have become fascinated by the machinery. But they have never stopped to ask whether there is a Creator behind it all. The Christian message is that there is. His name is Jesus Christ. He is not merely an idea, a philosophy, or a comforting story. He is the Son of God who entered human history, died for our sins, and rose from the grave. And He calls every one of us to respond. Jesus said: “Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 10:32 The question is not merely whether we believe that God exists. The deeper question is: What will we do with Jesus Christ? The piano is playing. The music is all around us. The question is whether we will remain convinced that there is nothing beyond the wires and hammers—or whether we will humble ourselves, listen carefully, and seek the One who is playing the music. Do not be so certain that you have explained the piano that you never look for the Player. —Pastor Joseph Clark

**For three hours... the land grew dark.** Not at sunrise. Not at sunset. At **noon**. All three Synoptic Gospels record the same remarkable event: > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* From **12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.**, darkness covered the land during the crucifixion of Jesus. Some have suggested this was simply a **solar eclipse**. But that explanation faces a significant problem. A total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any one location—not three hours. There's another difficulty. The crucifixion took place during **Passover**, which occurs at the time of a **full moon**. A solar eclipse, however, can occur only during a **new moon**, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. Astronomically, a normal solar eclipse cannot occur during Passover. So what caused the darkness? The Bible does not explain the physical mechanism. Some scholars have suggested unusually dense storm clouds or other natural phenomena. Others understand the darkness as a miraculous act of God, symbolizing divine judgment and the weight of the moment when Christ bore the sins of the world. Interestingly, a few ancient writers outside the New Testament—including **Phlegon of Tralles**, whose work survives only through later quotations—refer to an unusual darkness and earthquake during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Historians continue to debate whether these references describe the crucifixion or a different event. Whatever one's conclusion, the Gospel writers present the darkness as no ordinary occurrence. Creation itself seemed to bear witness as the Son of God gave His life. > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* 💬 The darkness at Calvary reminds us that the cross was not just another execution—it was the pivotal moment in God's plan of redemption. What do you think the three hours of darkness signify? Share your thoughts below, and pass this along to someone who enjoys studying the deeper details of Scripture. #BibleStudy #TheCross #Crucifixion #Matthew27 #JesusChrist #Resurrection #ChristianFaith #KJV #BibleTruth #Gospel

**For three hours... the land grew dark.** Not at sunrise. Not at sunset. At **noon**. All three Synoptic Gospels record the same remarkable event: > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* From **12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.**, darkness covered the land during the crucifixion of Jesus. Some have suggested this was simply a **solar eclipse**. But that explanation faces a significant problem. A total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any one location—not three hours. There's another difficulty. The crucifixion took place during **Passover**, which occurs at the time of a **full moon**. A solar eclipse, however, can occur only during a **new moon**, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun. Astronomically, a normal solar eclipse cannot occur during Passover. So what caused the darkness? The Bible does not explain the physical mechanism. Some scholars have suggested unusually dense storm clouds or other natural phenomena. Others understand the darkness as a miraculous act of God, symbolizing divine judgment and the weight of the moment when Christ bore the sins of the world. Interestingly, a few ancient writers outside the New Testament—including **Phlegon of Tralles**, whose work survives only through later quotations—refer to an unusual darkness and earthquake during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Historians continue to debate whether these references describe the crucifixion or a different event. Whatever one's conclusion, the Gospel writers present the darkness as no ordinary occurrence. Creation itself seemed to bear witness as the Son of God gave His life. > **"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."** — *Matthew 27:45 (KJV)* 💬 The darkness at Calvary reminds us that the cross was not just another execution—it was the pivotal moment in God's plan of redemption. What do you think the three hours of darkness signify? Share your thoughts below, and pass this along to someone who enjoys studying the deeper details of Scripture. #BibleStudy #TheCross #Crucifixion #Matthew27 #JesusChrist #Resurrection #ChristianFaith #KJV #BibleTruth #Gospel

Luke 11:21-22 NLT For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. Good morning and praise God. I hope you are having a good day. I thank God for you who keeps following my devotions. That gives me the heart to keep typing and sharing what God has put in my heart. Be blessed. At one point of my childhood I had been captured by some strong powers that carried away my peace and mental soundness. We were not so persistent in church going but hymns have always flowed daily from my mother's unwritten hymnbook of singing. I still wonder how she remembers all these lyrics but she has a history of having been once a baptist. I lived under extreme panic and fear. Strange things moved in the dusk on dark village life then. The moon would only make the nightmares more real rather than bring light. This was worsened by stories of ogres and witches that were said to operate in darkness. My primary school teacher would always ask us about where we went to church every Monday. His name was Mr. Gathu from Gatwe Kogi. What was more common were Catholic mass that we attended as primary school children. I had always had this heart of God's word. I would not want to see a Bible paper swiped like a normal paper or burned. I would pick them and put them aside. Then came Lord's Prayer which I began reading before sleeping and this is how the nightmares were slowly subdued. This is how I learned to pray. I learned that there was a person who was might and able to fight this strong evil cloud that had been pushing me to sleepless and panick filled nights. I give you this snippet of my life to remind you of one that you need in your life. It is not all battles that you can win as long as the strong man is still in your presence. I talk to you about Jesus Christ. It is not a story of fables or trial and error. You may have already know that you're followed by powers that wishes you bad in life , powers that waste the time God has given you in this world. We all need Jesus Christ to save us from this strong man. We cannot save ourselves but He is able. The book of Romans teaches us much about salvation but more importantly reminds us how our actions and efforts to please God are futile when we don't have the Son of God as our LORD and Savior. He loves you first so there's nothing else you can do to make Him love you more or less. All you can do is to allow Him shower you with His protection, His guidance, learning form His Word and walking with God. Take a moment and call to Jesus Christ today. Invite Him to fight your battles but of more importance make Him your friend. He alone has life you've always desired. Father, I have seen your salvation from the strong man who binds you children. Release your power LORD upon the life of this person reading this devotion. Break all the chains and shackles in their life and set them free. Let them receive your victory and glorify your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen. Shalom. Shalom.

*Revelation 12:6 (King James Version)* > _And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days._ Explanation: To understand this verse, you need the context of *Revelation 12*. It’s highly symbolic. *Who is "the woman"?* Most Bible scholars see her as *Israel* — God’s covenant people. Clues: - Verse 1: She’s clothed with the sun, moon under her feet, crown of 12 stars = the 12 tribes of Israel - She gives birth to the "man child" in verse 5 = Jesus Some also see her representing the faithful people of God through history. *Who is she fleeing from?* The "dragon" in verse 3-4 = Satan. Right after the birth of Jesus, Satan tries to destroy Him and later tries to destroy God’s people. *"fled into the wilderness"* The wilderness = a place of refuge, protection, and testing. Just like God protected Israel in the wilderness for 40 years in Exodus. God has _already prepared_ this place. It’s not an accident. *"a thousand two hundred and threescore days"* That’s *1,260 days* = 3.5 years. "Threescore" = 60, so 1200 + 60 = 1260. This same time period shows up a lot in Revelation and Daniel: - *1260 days* - *42 months* - *"time, times, and half a time"* = 3.5 years It represents a period of tribulation, but also God’s protection during that time. *"that they should feed her there"* God provides for His people even in hard, wilderness seasons. He protects and sustains them. The Big Picture: Revelation 12 is showing spiritual warfare. Satan attacks → God protects → His people are kept safe for a set time in a place He prepared. It’s a promise: Even in persecution/trials, God makes provision and gives refuge to His own.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5, 2O26. "YOU CAN CARRY GOD’S PRESENCE WITH YOU (1)" ‘The poles…are not to be removed.’ Exodus 25:15 NIV THE ARK of the Covenant represented the presence of God in the midst of His people. When the Philistines captured it, they were smitten with tumours. When they placed it in their temple, their god Dagon fell to the ground (1 Samuel 5). The moral of this story is—don’t mess around with the things of God! Even if you are not prepared to serve God; at least be wise and revere Him. When Israel conquered the Philistines, David decided to bring the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, back home to Jerusalem. Now, when God designed the Ark, He put rings on the side of it, and poles through those rings, saying it must only be carried on the shoulders of special priests. But somebody thought of ‘a better way,’ so they put it on a new cart pulled by an ox. And that’s when everything went wrong. When the Ark started to slip off the cart, a well-meaning bystander decided to steady it. And he died for it! You say, ‘That’s pretty extreme.’ There’s a lesson here for those who want to package God’s presence, market it, and ‘take it on the road.’ Who is qualified to carry God’s presence? Only believer-priests who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, are washed by the Word at the laver, who fellowship with God at His table, who worship Him at the altar of incense, and who walk in the light of truth represented by the seven-branched lampstand. Away with newfangled carts! ‘…the Lord added to the church…’ (Acts 2:47 NKJV). If we are going to carry God’s presence and build His church, we’ve got to do it His way. Bible In A Year: Deut 32:29-34:12; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Pro 27:7-10. 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. [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *DEFILEMENT DETESTED* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🖤❌🩸🤍🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:LEVITICUS 11:13-28```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you" (LEVITICUS 11:28).*_ *Leonard Syme, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley, indicates the importance of social ties and social support systems in relationship to mortality and disease rates. He simply underscores the saying that attack is the best defence. Defiant posture to defilements regardless the form or the size is the panacea for living holy.* *This is the gem in the seemingly extensive and meticulous dietary regulation outlined in our passage, which serves a crucial purpose beyond maintaining physical health. To the Israelites, it was a constant reminder to their distinct identity and calling on one hand and a perpetual prompt to seek holiness and live in constant obedience to God in all aspects of life on the other hand. In the same way, believers today are called to maintain a distinct identity in the world. Our lives must be marked by holiness, obedience, and respect for God's commandments.* *Our text, on the surface, sets forth the dietary restrictions on fowls or birds (Leviticus 11:13b-19) and flying insects (Leviticus 11:19-23), but at a deeper level they are part of a larger tapestry of holiness and obedience to God's laws.* *The hallmark of this dietary law is the indelible imprint of God's work in them and the call to live lives directed by God. The regulation constantly reminds the Israelites that they are a different and separate people who should by no means live the same way or share common values with the surrounding nations. As the distinction exists between clean and unclean animals, birds or creeping creatures so is there an uncompromisable difference between the Israel of God and other nations. Their food choices reflect this consecrated, holy identity.* *How this speaks to you, the "ecclesia", called out one today. If you are saved, your only option is to be separated to live holily before the Lord Who saved you: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16). These detailed and seemingly complicated instructions underscore the place of God's amazing grace and the unmerited favour He shows to us by His covenant loving-kindness.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Passion for heaven necessitates strict separation and unqualified obedience to the word.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOHN 10-12*📜📜 Defilement Detested https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 190: "CALLED UNTO HOLINESS"; GHS 219: MORE HOLINESS GIVE ME, MORE STRIVING WITHIN; AND GHS 188: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *LIFT UP JESUS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🆙🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️📢📣🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 12:30-36```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (JOHN 12:32).*_ *Jesus is the Saviour of the world. Life here and in eternity will be worthless without Him. Thus, everything concerning the redemption and restoration of man after his unfortunate fall in the Garden of Eden revolves around His ultimate price for the propitiation of our sins.* *Since Christ is the cornerstone of our existence, we must lift Him up for the world to see and be saved because without salvation through His blood, a soul will be damned in hell forever.* *Modern technology has made it easy to lift up Jesus for the world to see. The social media platforms have made it very easy to preach to thousands of people without stress. Serve the Lord in the days of your youth; lift up the flag of Jesus with all your strength and vigour to draw all men to Him for their salvation.* *God has rewards for those who faithfully carry out the work of evangelism. However, for you to lift up Christ for those to see, you must allow Christ to lift you out of your sinful lifestyle first.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Lift up Christ for others to see.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Serve the Lord.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to lift up Christ every day.*_ Lift Up Jesus https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *A HELPER TO OTHERS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 6:1-3```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Helping others is an important aspect of Christian fellowship. Jesus set the perfect example by healing the sick, comforting the brokenhearted and providing for those who were in need. Christ's life was dedicated to serving others, showing us that true love is found in selfless acts of kindness and compassion. When we help others, we are following Christ's command to love our neighbours as ourselves. Serving others does not always require big gestures. Sometimes, it is the small things that matter most; like a kind word, a listening ear, or sharing what we have. These simple acts can make a big difference in someone's life and show Christ's love in powerful ways. *By helping others, we not only fulfill God's command, but we also make the world a better place. Our service becomes a living example of God's love, drawing others closer to Jesus. Through these actions, we share the hope and grace that He offers, and in doing so, we become vessels of His love in the world.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, guide me to help others, showing Your love through my actions and words.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Matthew 25:35-40* A Helper To Others https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:32 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 5TH AUGUST, 2026. *BEYOND GOOD AND BALANCED DIET* *TEXT:* LEVITICUS 11:13-28. 13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. *Timeless Truth:*_"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"_ (Colossians 2:16,17). *INTRODUCTION* It is doubtful if there is any generation different from ours who is better exposed to the principle of healthy living through a good and appropriate diet. This is possible through newest and advanced, though progressive, scientific discoveries especially, from nutritional scientists. Ignoring their advise and instructions is suicidal against healthy living and longevity. A healthy spirit in an unhealthy and weak body cannot be at its best spiritually. Does God care about what we eat? God is the greatest nutritional scientist since He created those animals and knows them more than anybody else. The dietary laws in the text were primarily directed to Israel as part of the Mosaic law which are not binding for those in the new covenant. However, beyond dietary rules, these rules are meant to pass across deeper truths as they are shadows of things to come in the New Testament (Colossians 2:16,17). *1. Dietary Laws* a. In order to get honey from the rock, there must be willingness and determination to pay the price of diligently digging hard. The same with the old covenant which is a shadow of the new. Due diligence must be given so as to eat and digest the meat of the Word which is beyond the milk of the Word. b. The chapter can be categorized for better understanding. i.Land-living mammals that can be eaten and those that cannot be eaten are given in Leviticus 11:1-8. God gave these laws to the children of Israel. Did God create any animal to be unclean? The New Testament says NO. *"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."* God just decided to make that temporary classification to teach some lessons as divine revelations were evolving. When God created animals, *"God saw that it was good"* (Genesis 1:25). Would something unclean be good to God? The classification was revealed in the days of Noah when there was a distinction between clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2, 8:20) for the purpose of sacrifice. The first law God gave to humanity had to do with what could and could not be eaten. Was the fruit that was not to be eaten unclean. NO. It was a good fruit from a good tree, but God classified it as forbidden to test their obedience. So these laws were given to Israel as a test of their obedience and separation to God. ii.Water creatures that cannot be eaten and those that cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:9-12. Under these dietary laws given to Israel, the unclean water creatures were to be regarded as an abomination and could not be eaten. iii.Birds and other flying things that can and cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:13-19. There was no rule given to determine if a bird was clean or unclean. Instead, specific birds (twenty in all) are mentioned as being unclean and therefore forbidden for eating.The common thread through most of these birds is that they are either predators or scavengers which, apart from killing fellow creatures, have the tendency to drink their blood. iii. Insects that can and cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:20-23. Good examples of clean insects include the locust, the cricket and the grasshopper. All these unclean creatures can be touched when they are alive except that they must not be eaten. We can relate with sinners without getting polluted with their sins. If the carcass of any of the unclean is touched either deliberately or accidentally, the person and their clothes become unclean and must perform some ceremonially purifying rituals. *"And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even"*. The evening was referring to the time of their evening sacrifice. *"And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even"*. *Question* Check the list for those animals and birds that were unclean then, but are freely eaten now by believers and man in general. *2. Definite Lessons* a.It has been established that no creature of God is created unclean. The classification was temporary to pass across some eternal messages. Eternal divine messages are difficult to comprehend by the natural man. The concept of the innocent coming to die for the wicked is not natural. It is the other way around. A kind of mercy that will declare the guilty not just forgiven and stands before God as though he had never sinned and a saint is beyond human comprehension. This is called justification. How do you reconcile justice and mercy? What about the concept of grace that will make God forget committed sins to the point that He would not be able to remember again? God in His wisdom decided to use natural and visible things in the Old Testament to shadow reality in the New Testament so that those concepts will be readily understood by mankind. And it worked. b. The emphasis in the text is more of moral uncleanness rather than medical uncleanness. It teaches that there is moral cleanness and moral uncleanness and they cannot mix. Moral uncleanness is not just divine hatred, it is an abomination to God of which the judgment is capital or eternal damnation. The fact that unclean animals cannot be sacrificed is indicative of the fact that God only accepts the sacrifices and the services of those that are holy and clean. *"Be ye holy for I am holy"*. This is reasonable. If you have a delicious meal, but notice a small and an "insignificant" quantity of human excreta in the food, will you eat it? If you are very hungry and you see an exposed loaf of bread in a dustbin of all kinds of rotten things, will you pick the bread and eat? If you are interviewing a person for a good job and you notice the person tells "small, small lies", will you employ the person? At times man pushes to God what he himself cannot accept or tolerate. Will you blame God if He is angry at your unholy sacrifice, service and actions? There is also the law of "don't touch" a dead animal or you become unclean. This is the law of total separation from uncleanness and peddlers of uncleanness. *"Come out from among them and be ye separate"*. Jesus Christ, in mind, motive and every area, was separate from sinners. Even when He physically interacted, it was to shine the light to them and minister the truth to them. *"Abstain from all appearance of evil"*. The defiled shall be unclean till the even or evening sacrifice.It was time an innocent animal was slain for the sin of the whole nation on a daily basis. It shows that forgiveness comes through atonement by the blood. The fact that he must also wash himself with water is an indication that there must be personal responsibility in addition to the atonement. The sinner must apply the washing of water by the Word of God to wash his mindset, heart, attitude and actions and be presentable to God as a holy vessel. The fact that some food is forbidden is a test of our obedience and self control. It is not everybody we befriend or relate with. There must be self discipline. *Question* What other lessons can you learn? Do you depart from uncleanness and all unclean people? In addition to the atonement, do you do your part by opening up your heart and mind for the Word of God to clean on a daily basis? *Prayer Points* 1.Praise God for His wisdom in making spiritual truths to be comprehensive to all seekers 🙏. 2.Ask God for more understanding of deep mysteries of the Word of God and the gospel 🙏. 3.Offer your heart and life to God afresh and ask for total cleansing from all defilements 🙏. 4.Pray that the messages of holiness will go beyond our heads, but permeate through our hearts to true holiness 🙏. *HYMN:* Wash Me O Lamb of God. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOHN 10-12. 2. Morning prayer for today. MD.ii. Morning Prayer To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ⏤ Psalm 46:1 God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it. ⏤ John Wesley Gracious Father, we come to You at the start of this new day, seeking Your blessing. We thank You for the rest we’ve had through the night. We laid down, slept, and woke up again because You sustained us. We will not fear any opposition because You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Now, our Father, send us out into the new day on new missions. We want to take our directions from You. Help us to keep Your commandments. Cleanse us from hidden faults and sins; keep us from falling into willful sin. You are able to keep us from falling—we commit our souls to Your holy care. Deliver us from the Evil One. We have no power to stand against his cunning attacks, so we trust our souls to You, our faithful Creator and Friend. Save us from the Tempter. We ask that You make us strong for our duties today. We have many things to do that will require wisdom and perseverance. Give us the strength that comes from victory in struggle. Equip us to do good at home—showing love and care for one another. May our home be filled with Your rich blessings. Let nothing disrupt our love for each other or harm our fellowship. Help us to grow in love that is sincere, patient, thoughtful, and kind. May we continue to learn the lessons of love better and better. May the light from our home shine out, showing others how to live more sweetly. May Your grace be upon us in proportion to our need, filling our hearts and lives, and preparing us for every experience we may face today. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/31/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Psalms 81:1-3 AMP [1] Sing aloud to God our strength; Shout for joy to the God of Jacob (Israel). [2] Raise a song, sound the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp. [3] Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, At the full moon, on our feast day. https://bible.com/bible/1588/psa.81.1-3.AMP