*EASTER TREAT(2)...STILL REFLECT!*

This is your Easter Treat(2)...&we still admonish you to *Reflect!*

*_Jesus Paid the sinful Price on our Heads._*

_You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.( 1 John 3:5)_

_For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.(1 Peter 3:18)_

_For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(John 3:17)_

*SO I SAY:*
*What's There To Do Then: Reflect on his Love, Open Your Heart,Accept him or betterstill Rededicate Your Life to him today.*

*Let's Live To Please Him!*

*EASTER TREAT(1)...Can we do same?*

This is my simple Easter Treat(1). It is a simple Easter message.

So some 2 years ago, i planned on doing this simple message thing... couldn't do it last year. Thank God it is here this year...

*_Jesus Took our Pain, Born our suffering ..And so he died for You...Such an Unconditional Love.😊_*

So, You want to know What this Love...this unconditional love is?😊

*_This is how we know how Love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters._*(1John 3:16)

*SO I SAY:*
*Can we?...Is it Possible especially in a world today?...My SimpleAnswer is only in this- Let's make time this season to really Reflect on this Love for then we know it is ever possible😉...ooh Yeah it is possible😁💪🏻🙌🏻🙏*

*...In Playing the Devil's Advocate*(1Cor. 15:12-34)

_*I always remind myself of the worst things I will never be.*_
This is a personal quote which i often allow myself to cautiously engage in&I must say no matter the worst state;it further helps& solidify me not to be.
In Essence,making me run back to God and his Grace all the time.

*Playing the Devil's Advocate* is to argue against or attack an idea,argument or proposition even  though one is genuinely in favour of it.
Often times, when people play the Devil's advocate, it is mostly to further examine its strength,validity or details.Also, it is a conscious move to exhaust all possible avenues and know the best way possible. And here, we are looking at one that pleases God.

So,What if the Bible or God himself plays this devil's advocate. You can relate the Job situation between the devil and God himself.

However, In 1 Cor.15:12-, Paul sought to play the devil's advocate with this 'What ifs' which happens to be the basis of our faith. Check it out below...

_V.12-But *if* it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?_V.13  *If* there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised._

_14 *And if* Christ has not been raised, ourpreaching is useless and so is your faith.v.15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised._

_V.16 *For if* the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.V.17  *And if* Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins._

Interesting stretch there from Paul.And so to have thought about this over 2 millennia ago, it tells you of what God anticipated will happen today which is actually  happening considering all the controversies& misunderstanding.

It was therefore imperative for Paul to capture this in scripture and further draw our minds to & the need to hold on firmly to this all important truth.

The fact that all these things are happening today should further strengthen our faith in God&his word.

*And so Indisputably&till date, noone has been able to disprove let alone wipe away the truth Jesus came,died,and rose again...For he's the way,truth and  the Life.*

And so *sometime just sometimes*, it is good to play the devil's advocate by covering all the needed angles. Remember, the Bible tells not to be ignorant of the devil's devises& schemes.
Mostly, going this extra mile enables us to know how empty,fabricated, witty,cunning,manipulative, deceitful, psychological and deadly the devil is.
*The only solution is to Run back to God.*

Paul after playing this wild advocate of the devil came back to state the categorical truth in
verse 20 aside providing other evidence from there:
_V.20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep._ 
_V.21For since death came through  man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man._ _22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive._

I must say it is noty all situations that require us to condone the devil&play his advocate.An example is in Matt.3-When Jesus' was tempted by the devil as he fasted.

At the end of the day, it requires the spirit of discernment and I pray God grants us that to know when to&not to.

Of course, this is applicable to our daily lives as well.As said, keep on reading 1Cor.15. this Easter season as we start from the end of the story. More to come.

*SO I SAY:*
*With a Strong Footing in Christ&being led;it may be necessary to play the devil's advocate yet in the end it only lead us to the one and only saviour Jesus Christ* .

*The Boldness in Declaring The Gospel*(1Cor.15:1-11)

Paul declared the Resurrection of Jesus with such cork surety.

He wasn't even there when it all happened like the disciples yet he was sure. Aside the deep conviction from his personal spiritual encounter with God, he stood on one pivotal substance- *The Scripture.*

_V.3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the *Scriptures,*_ 

_V.4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the *Scriptures,*_

And then he goes to give further evidence all according to  scripture.

_V.5 and that he appeared to Cephas,and then to the Twelve._
_V. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep._
_7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,_
_V.8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born._

Beloved, a lot of emphasis have been placed on Speaking in  tongues as one of the signs of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, one important sign that hardly receives a mention is the *Spirit of Boldness, Courage&Power.*

In my university evangelistic experience in the  Northern Region town of Bogni, the team and I wondered how we were going to survive there considering the superstitious stories we knew before.

However, as we  availed ourselves,the Holy Spirit enveloped us and gave us the courage & boldness to declare the Gospel out of which the local chief was touched amidst other miraculous happenings.

Beloved, We have the most cheaply expensive truth on Earth... One that saves all...And that is *Jesus is Lord...He Came,Suffered,Died&Rose Again...It is only through him we can have Life.*(And it only takes the heart to believe and the mouth to confess)

Our Basis?...the Scripture...Our Basis?...The Author of the scripture- *God himself* who dwells in us,convicts and mostly importantly confirm this truth with every single happening of our daily lives.(Then,becomesA matter of Trust...Trust him!)

_*Forget the supposed controversies,Go out  and boldly declare the message of the Gospel especially this Saving truth as Easter beckons.*
*For I know and can say that anytime we proclaim his word, the ever faithful God always proves himself strong&mighty.*_(The testimonies,signs&truths always manifest no matter its waits)

Remember,Whoever and whatever we have become is because of this saving truth that Jesus died and rose again. Paul confirms it in V.9-11

_For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me._

Make time to read 1Corithians 15 this Easter season(More to come from there)

*SO I SAY:*
*INDEED, GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER,LOVE&SELF-DISCIPLINE....GO OUT AND DECLARE THIS TRUTH&HE(GOD) WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.*

*MEDITATE(Eph.4:1-16)*

Let's do another edition of  Meditate this morning as we implore you to chew on it and let God speak to you.

*Unity and Maturity in the Body of Maturity*
V.1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

V. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

V.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

V.4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 

V.5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 

V.6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

V. 7 But to each one of us gracehas been given as Christ apportioned it. 

V.8 This is why itsays:
“When he ascended on high,he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

V. 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 

V. 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

V. 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 

V.12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 

V.13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

V.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

V.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

V.16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work

*SO I SAY:*
*MEDITATE!*

*#Anticipate...It is the #NextUp....#OTM*

*FASCINATING QUOTES*

It is fascinating quotes this evening.
Let's Enjoy #Blessings

Has God ever done something for U that U just didn't know how to thank
Him,not because Udon't want to.But because you were so overwhelmed?- Nathaniel Bassey

In arguments,there is strong exchange of energy...The technique is in making
sure that u keep your energy level.

You were born unique and original. Don't die a copy.-@funny04teen

Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back,
everything is different?- @Tweets2Motivate

Our God is not a God of behaviour modification,
He's into soul transformation- @hillsong

We have forty million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse.-Rudyard Kipling

I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind. -Albert Einstein

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.-Mother Teresa

Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else.-Will Rogers

'Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn't be done.'-Amelia Earhart

" A relationship without love is like a mobile phone with no network. You can only play games with it" Quotes from his upcoming play-
#SpecialDeliveryPlay- @UncleEboWhyte

*SO I SAY:*
*ENJOY THESE FASCINATING QUOTES...#BLESSINGS*

*A GOOD NAME...*

As it stands now, it may look like the most expedient option...

After all, what is all to this life...Do you always have to play *that* fair to get?

Whether i am bad or not,this is today's world, this is Ghana, this is Showbiz for instance&so let me cleverly create this controversy,people will talk, i will trend&ride on that to the _'so-called fame.'_

I make the money,houses,Cars,Conglomerate of business,even win people over by being 'generous'...but... *ANYTIME YOUR NAME IS MENTIONED?...*

_Hmm...who cares about Name?...Good Name?...Ebi Good name we go chop...Man dey hung oo...I have family to take care of oo...Do you know how we have suffered?_

It must be said sometimes it can be that pathetic....So, are they Good or Justifiable Reasons to let slide?

_Proverbs 22:1-2- *A Good name* is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold._

Today, with a hypocritical society dotted all over, they will push you,hail you&outwardly support you if they 'should' but inwardly they have what they say when your *name* pops up.

_Full of backbiting or pulling him down to get up there,leading others astray,lying your way through,Known to be Vulgar, Opinionated,Extremists & even murder to get there._

The interesting part?...
Even with those who do it or are seriously involved, they may not own up to say it or say it now; however they are unable to run away from their conscience unless seered.

Of course, the hypocrisy & cancer has even spread to many elderly in the society who dabble in this focusing on the materialism whiles creating a poisonous society which turns around to kill us all.

*Ask yourself-Do you have a Good Name?*

Of course, It is important to have a Good Name.
Yes, it takes *a lot* to build a Good Name-It requires Honesty,Hardwork,Discipline,Humility,Faithfulness,Self-Control,Generousity&generally of life of Integrity.

Beloved, just as God let the rain&sun fall on all;so does he reward anyone who desires& makes effort to build a Good reputation & Name whether believer or not.

However, to fully build&keep this lifelong virtue, it takes a heart that fears God...that fully submits his will to God...That purposes in his heart to pursue the RIGHT way for It pays Right no matter the long wait.

And ooh for those who think that a Good Name doesn't *pay*, it does and this is what the Bible says:
*_I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous/godly/good people forsaken or their children begging bread._*(Psalm 37:25)

*Prov.10:7-The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot._*

*Beloved, Have a Good Name!*

*SO I SAY not the Usual:*
*FOR A GOOD NAME PAYS &IT PAYS RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU SAY?😁*

*WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS*_(Lawrence Darmani-Our Daily Bread)_

Lawrence Darmani is a Ghanaian novelist, poet and publisher. His first novel , Grief Child, won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize as best first book from Africa.

He also writes devotional articles for Our Daily Bread , which touches the lives of many Christians around the world. He fellowships with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

Today, I bring you one of his writings from the Daily Bread entitled- *Written On Our Hearts*

Here we go:
_In my Neighborhood,religious inscriptions abound-on plaques, walls,doorposts, commercial vehicles and even as registered names of businesses._

_*By the Grace of God* reads an inscription on a mini-bus; *God's Divine Favor Bookshop* adorns a business signboard.The Other day I couldn't help smiling at this one on a Mercedes Benz- *Angels on Guard!*_

_But religious inscriptions, whether on wall plaques,jewelry or T-shirts, are not a reliable indicator of a persons love for God. It's not the words on the outside that count but the truth we carry on the inside that reveals our desire to be changed by God._

_I recall a program sponsored by a local ministry that distributed cards with Bible verses written on both sides that helped memorize God's word. Such a practice is in keeping with the instructions Moses gave the Israelites when he told them to write the commandments of God "on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deut.6:9)_

_We are to treasure God's word in our hearts, to impress it on our children, and to talk about it 'when we walk along the road,when we lie down and when we get up.'_

_May our faith be real and our commitment true,so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength._

_Father, may your words be more than nice sayings to us. May they be *written on our hearts* so that we will love you and others_

*SO I SAY:*
*FROM OUR DAILY BREAD, THIS IS _WRITTEN ON  OUR HEARTS_ BY LAWRENCE DARMANI*

_*DON'T LOSE YOUR PRECIOUS ME TIME*_

_And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he(Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed._(Mark 1:35)

_You will never speak to anyone more than you speak to yourself in your head.Be kind to yourself._(unknown)

_My Best conversations are from 12am-3am. They know all my Secrets.😁_(unknown)

Today, we do the above title- *Don't Lose Your Precious Me Time.*

Last week I did *You Can't Do It All...All Alone..All by yourself* to achieve your purpose on earth. You will definitely need someone to help you in that.

However, there is one that You *Can&must* do it all...All Alone...All by yourself&that is *Your time of Solitude... Your Me Time...And it better be Precious.*

Yes, it better be *Precious*...because i'm not talking about those scary times you give your loved ones when you hurriedly run to your room after that dejected moment Or wanting to be alone to think about those dirty&irrelevant stuff,
conceive those evil plans&fantasize about what is sensual&illusionary.

This is why dwelling on Jesus in the scriptural reference used above&many others,you find out that yes he was alone but he didn't misuse it as he connected to his father(maker or source)through prayer.

Your Precious Me time(Solitude) can be equated to that Personal Relationship we have with God which is the heart of the Christian life i.e The deep personal intimacy with God. 

The only difference is that, times of Solitude focuses more on Self in a positive and selfless way. However, the similarity is that God is&should at the center of it all.

*For the Christian,* as you grow&mature, your Precious Me Time is where all the vital crucial things about your life spring from...
*_Constant Introspection&Taking Stock of your life-Know or Learn more about yourself,People in your lives, A time to rest, A good feeling of savouring glorious moments, A Relook&Refix of those Mistakes &Wrong ways._*

*_Make you see life from a totally different viewpoint esp. in how God wants you to see it, Generate Ideas&Draw out Realistic Action plans._*

*_Above all, A time to know&learn more about the Source of your life(God)...Commune with him to draw strength in order to have a Glorious & Purposeful life._*

Beloved, if life is all about how you react to it &not what happens to you;then  it is important to be rich&strong  within(Spiritually)&that wholly depends on what you do in your 'Personal Me time'.

*I believe A full You,Your Wherever Conducive Space & the Ever Good God equals A Precious Me Time.*

Again, I believe having this Precious Me Time is everything because it  determines everything we do,people we move with &what we become eventually.

Don't be like those people who can't stay off friends.Their friends virtually thinks or determines what they do. Friendship has its positives but It is important to know who you are,your values because people no matter how 'hypocritical' they may be, they tend  to value what you have within.

Start developing one if you don't... *Spending time with yourself.* It is the best friend to have...Yes, It is an alone time but never is it lonely when done with  some of the right ingredients above.Make it a habit and let God&his Holy Spirit be the Center of it & it will lead to all the right solutions in this life.

*SO I SAY:*
*PLEASE, DON'T LOSE YOUR PRECIOUS ME TIME*

*MEDITATE(ROM. 6:14-23)*

Let's do *meditate* this morning from the books of Romans.

Powerful...Be Blessed!

_V.14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace._

*Slaves to Righteousness*

_V. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!_

_V.16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?_

_ V. 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance._

_V. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness._

_V. 19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness._

_V. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness._

_V. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!_

_V. 22 But now that you have been set free from sinand have become slaves of God,the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life._

_V.23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord._

*SO I SAY:*
*MEDITATE!*

http://myinss.blogspot.co.id/?m=1

*McReynolds Quotes*

On Quotes Saturday, I bring you Quotes from a young Songwriter, Musician,Artist,thinker - *Jonathan McReynolds.*

His current Album Make Room has powerful lyrical songs like Cycles, Not Lucky,Lover of my skull, Not Loved. You can check out the link to the cycle song below.

Let's check out some powerful quotes from him:

_You can't undo what you did now so take the clean slate._-Better (Make Room Album)

_What I lack, you are full of. Where I am broken, you are whole. Where I doubt, you are sure of. I will trust the lover of my soul_- Lover of my Soul(Make Room Album)

_We have plenty of pressures. We have the pressure to succeed to a certain level. You have peers that are doing so well, or some peers that are not doing so well and whether you like it or not you are constantly being compared to them. And of course you have the church pressures._

_Gospel artists have to do something that secular artists don't always have to do and that's kind of abide by and reflect a certain set of values and morals. So everything that we do, every decision that we make, every picture that we take has a different weight on it. It's always interesting in balancing being an artist but being a minister as well._

_There's tons of external and internal pressures that we deal with but live for God and you'll be alright._

_I pray that when people hear my music, they say at the very least 'man I'm glad that someone else feels that way too.'_

_It's always an honor and a scary experience to sing new music._

*Quotes from the Cycle song:*
_There is power in the name of Jesus to break every cycle._

_The devil wants to extend the game, free throws.And when it ends he wants to make the sequel 'Cause if he has another chance.He feels like he can take My joy, my peace, my faith_

_See the devil,he learns from your mistakes Even if you don't.That's how he keeps you in cycles...But I'm not going in cycles, cycles._

_Let's break some cycles in 2018_-Cycles(Make Room Album)

*SO I SAY:*
*BE BLESSED WITH McReynolds Quotes.*

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Eu2aYgWmVA

*YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL...(Exodus 18:12)*

*You can't do it all*... _I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.(Phil 4:13)_

They seem to conflict right?...Oh No, I'm not trying to spark any debate.😁

*You can't do it all* is as deduced from the intercourse between Moses&his Father-in-law Jethro.

Once again, today, a summary of the whole account will do in Exodus 18:
_After allowing God to lead him to deliver the Israelites from the  Egyptians, Moses left his family including the father in-law for a while._

_As his family returned to him, they were all full of praise for what God had done. However, Moses' father-in-law noticed something about  him..._

_And that is, All the Israelites from morning to evening came with their cases so that *Moses alone will sit as judge*&help solve their disputes as well as inform them of God's will &decrees._

_This prompted Jethro,the in-law to utter these words in v.17-18_
*_“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone._*

On this premise,I pause- take your time, you can't change the world in one day, not the church in another.

We know about your zeal,passion& seriousness about those young ones in the Lord,those deprived in the community and about those corruption issues.

However, bear in mind you can't do it all alone...You will definitely need your fellow man to help no matter the trust issues or how bad they do it. _(I must say it is very understandable but...)_

Sometimes, a lot of people(Christians for that matter) behave like Jack...yeah, of all trades. We want to do virtually everything as if by that might we win God's favour & prove ourselves right before him.

God doesn't want us to unduly *overwork* ourselves just because we want to please him.After all,it is he who worketh in us both to will &do according to his good pleasure.(Phil.2:13)

There will still be a lot to do even when you are not there because for the many things here on earth,God brought you here to fulfil your part in it.

I have realised this in every place God resides & so is my  church. Anytime, a role is left to be played ,God raises someone out of nowhere to fill the gap.....

And so take note Mr .Want to do it all...You realise you can't do it all...In fact, you are not meant to do it all by yourself.

Remember, as all powerful as our God is, he still partners us to fulfil his will on earth. It is not because he can trust us as 'humans' but because that is how he operates in his scheme of things. A reason he remakes us anew in order to be fully subjected to his will.

It is or should be the same with us....
Work with your fellow man,build relationships & build trust. We will make mistakes,some will fail us.It is all part of the journey.

As we don't lose who we are in Christ&forge on,we help to build,nurture&raise good, trustworthy,honest&Godfearing people who will also be there for others&continue that chain.

Delegation&controls are good but I believe it doesn't  just end there. It takes a good heart to raise &impart those godly values in others.

Beloved, in all, i believe there are still good people to trust even today. They may be few &will take a great deal to find but there are; for if there is none the whole world will be doomed by now.

Jethro finally emphasized it all in v.20 onwards:
_Teach them his decrees and instructions,and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave._ _But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials..._ _Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves._

*SO I SAY:*
*You Can't do it ALL ALONE...ALL BY YOURSELF& that is why through Christ he strengthens&empowers us to do ALL HE HAS MANDATED US by involving, connecting&raising the right people.*

*_Don't Lose Your Precious Me Time_* is a message to look out for.👍🏻

*YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL*(PART 1) (Exodus 18:12-27)

*You can't do it all*... _I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.(Phil 4:13)_

They seem to conflict right?...Oh No, I'm not trying to spark any debate.😁

*You can't do it all* is as deduced from the intercourse between Moses&his Father-in-law Jethro.

Once again, today, a summary of the whole account will do in Exodus 18:
_After allowing God to lead him to deliver the Israelites from the  Egyptians, Moses left his family including the father in-law for a while._

_As his family returned to him, they were all full of praise for what God had done. However, Moses' father-in-law noticed something about  him..._

_And that is, All the Israelites from morning to evening came with their cases so that *Moses alone will sit as judge*&help solve their disputes as well as inform them of God's will &decrees._

_This prompted Jethro,the in-law to utter these words in v.17-18_
*_“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone._*

On this premise,I pause- take your time, you can't change the world in one day, not the church in another.

We know about your zeal,passion& seriousness about those young ones in the Lord,those deprived in the community and about those corruption issues.

However, bear in mind you can't do it all alone...You will definitely need your fellow man to help no matter the trust issues or how bad they do it. _(I must stay it is very understandable but...)_

Sometimes, a lot of people(Christians for that matter) behave like Jack...yeah, of all trades. We want to do virtually everything as if by that might we win God's favour & prove ourselves right before him.

God doesn't want us to unduly *overdo* ourselves just because we want to please him.After all,it is he who worketh in us both to will &do according to his good pleasure.(Phil.2:13)

There will still be a lot to do even when you are not there because for the many things here on earth,God brought you here to fulfil your part in it.

I have realised this in every place God resides & so is my  church. Anytime, a role is left to be played ,God raises someone out of nowhere to fill the gap.....

And so take note Mr .Want to do it all..However... Let's
Continue this Evening on Message For the Evening.

*SO I SAY:*
*You Can't do it ALL ALONE...ALL BY YOURSELF& that is why through Christ he strengthens&empowers us to do ALL HE HAS MANDATED US by involving, connecting&raising the right people.*

*NOT ALL...(THE SILENT GREATS)*(Numbers 4)

We may not all be but God has made us all great.Of course, Knowing & Realising this will take different formats...

...And this is why I believe *Not all*...Yea, *Silent Greats.*

A summary of this biblical account in Numbers 4 will throw more light:

_The Levites is one of the 12 tribes of Israel.(as derived from the 12 sons of Jacob)._
_Among the Levites are these 3 clans-The Kohathites,Gershonites & the Merarites. Now these group of Levites had a very simple, rudimentary, monotonous&maybe seemingly unrecognised task  to carry out._

_Their core duty was to carry those things in the Tent of Meeting- i.e. carry,put it down &carry it to another place...And for the rest of their lives, they were to repeat this again &again._

_Meanwhile for all the holy instruments that made the tent of meeting, it was only Aaron&his sons who were assigned to get close,touch and handle it._

Wouldn't you say Aaron&his sons had the very visible &better role to play?

I speak to the many songwriters who write or have written great songs but may never be heard. (Not forgetting backing vocalists)

I speak to the many  producers,directors,photographers&others behind great productions who  may never be known.

Again, I speak to  various people& handlers of great successful visible men of God who may never seen.

Ooh yea, A lot of Great people abound but in hiding. The 'many greats' that we see constitute a few of the larger pool that we don't see.

Beloved, I believe in God's scheme of things *Not all Great people  will be loudly heard though will be fulfilling their God-given  purpose on earth.*

What is important?...is to Find your Purpose&pursue it diligently by accessing  God's  enabled Grace to fully live out.

It may not be flamboyant...Please don't Force it to be. You may not be born to be that popular musician but you were born to be his Keyboardist helping to churn out those mega hits. Beloved, you are in not in his shadow... You are also Great as well. _(The other legitimate issues can be looked at another time.)_

In fact, for the many known faces we see, that is not their place. That is not real calling. Many  have misplaced their calling for which they need to go back and find.

If you are born to be OUT there, of course pursue it all with all the sweet bitter attractions associated. However, know that it doesn't take popularity to live a pleasing&fulfilling life unto God.

You only stand before God to give account of the gifts and mandate he gave you to fulfil&not how well known you were. *Always remember that!* (Come to think of it which one is easier)

*SO I SAY:*
*NOT ALL GREATS WILL BE SEEN/WELL-KNOWN; FOR THERE ARE MANY SILENT GREATS.*

*MEDITATE!*

Let's do meditate this morning from Deuteronomy 6:1-12.

Be blessed!

V.1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

V.2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

V.3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the
LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

V.4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the
LORD is one.

V.5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

V.6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

V.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

V.8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

V.9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

V.10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,

V.11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied,

V.12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

*SO I SAY:*
*MEDITATE*

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*Our Daily Bread QUOTES*

On Saturdays, we mostly do Quotes & today I serve you with one from the Daily Bread....Be Blessed!

_The secret of Peace  is to give every anxious care to God._

_Jesus longs to turn our mistakes into amazing examples of his Grace._

_Daily Blessings are daily reminders of God._

_God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our sinfulness, holds us in our brokenness._

_Compassion is understanding the troubles of others couples with an urgent desire to help._

_Christ Showed his love by dying for us;we show ours by living for him._

_Life challenges are designed not to break is but to bend us towards God._

_The heart of prayer is prayer from the heart._

_God is in the small things as well as the Great_

_The Journey is as important as the destination._

*SO I SAY ending with this:*
*In Christ,The End  does justify the Means;For the Means is as important as the End*

*This is Saturday Quotes from Our Daily Bread.*

*OUR CLOTHES*(Part 2) (Col. 3:12-14)

Hello Christian, I know you have your  clothes on😉 but let me ask again- Do you have your clothes on today?

_Colossians 3:12-15 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, *clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.*... Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on *love*, which binds them all together in perfect unity._

Yesterday, we looked at these virtues which the bible figuratively describes as clothes to put on perpetually.

We continue with:
*Gentleness*: It also means meekness.
*And please we are not* looking at the human/dictionary definition which is Excessive submission, prepared to obey unquestionably, naive et al. This is bad &should not be encouraged.

- It is rather an attitude that should be expressed to God only. i.e An attitude of total trust to God without disputing or resisting even if one disagrees.
-An attitude of accepting whatever God does as good&perfect.
-An attitude of wholly yielding your will to God and letting his, reign supreme.
Read more- http://myinss.blogspot.com/2016/05/matthew-55-psalm-2591494-4541pet-34.html?m=1

God wants us to wear this clothe of Gentleness in our christian life & not what it literally means.

*Patience*- As always in the heat of the moment,we forget this clothing- Patience. It has never been easy to exercise &we always see its need after it all unwinds.

Then, we keep saying-If only we had been a little patient,things won't have...Yes, it is an attitude we build but you realise that it is not just a physical attribute but requires the help of the Holy Spirit. I pray God helps us to exercise that wait, to control self,Be Patient at every step of our walk with him.

*Bear with Each other:* Tolerance is very key. People&Things of this life are not the same.We all don't have one belief&even when we have, bearing with one another is even more needed.

We don't have to always agree but we must respect one another for who we are. From there, if any change would come, that is where it would start&can sink in. Rom.12:17 Sums it up _If possible, so far as, it depends on you, be at peace with all men._

*Forgive:* As always, taking it from the end explains it better. After weeks,months,years&you are still holding on to 'that'-Pain, bitterness which leads you on&on...Is it doing you any good.Ask yourself?...Beloved, it is not worth it!... Especially when you are not at fault.

It is why he has given us the ministry of reconciliation. I believe God has enabled us to forgive no matter the gravity&pain. It can be an attitude...Very possible. Always see it from this angle.

*LOVE- And on top of it all,when it all proves difficult, let Love prevail because *Love is not a virtue but GOD himself* (I Jn.4:8) He lives in you&enables you to love your neighbour as yourself exhibiting the above virtues.

*SO I SAY:*
*Compassion,kindness, humility, Gentleness, Patience,Bearing with each other, Forgiveness... They are our clothes, Christians...Always wear them!*

*OUR CLOTHES*(Part 1) (COL.3:12-14)

Almost all Professions,jobs&even hobbies come with unique apparels or clothes to adorn. Lawyers,Waiters just to mention but a few.

One sport or hobby with a fascinating attire to put on is Athletics. Isn't it interesting how its costume is tight-fitting &revealing yet doesn't seem to be appealing to the eye causing that stir as it would normally have.(The focus is somewhere unless you...😉😆)

There are always clothes for whatever  spectrum of life &uniquely they become 'clothes' that identifies us.
We also have Clothes as Christians. What you are thinking?... Ooh yea, of course,primarily *we are to look *decent*,clean,
and then with appropriate outfits &  additionally *Nice*.☺

However, the focus is another kind of clothe that the Bible tells us to wear.

_Colossians 3:12-15 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, *clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.*... Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on *love*, which binds them all together in perfect unity._

The above 'clothes' are not your mere ' physical clothing.They are abstract- can't be seen or touched yet its underneath strength is in the spiritual manifesting in the physical through training and upbringing.

So, are you:
*Compassionate:The Christian should always have that heart that cries,seeks,yearns for the interest of others especially for perishing souls. Are you?

*Kindness- It should be us...DO NOT grow weary of it especially in this increasingly cruel world...Remember Just one act of Kindness can change someone's view of life(The Good Samaritan in M
the bible)

*Humility:Have you seen that picture that shows how plantain develops from when it is fresh till when it is virtually of no use. That is how humans are. Please, Be Humble!... Visit the  bible, it has a lot of words on this. Please Be Humble!

As we continue tomorrow, these are clothes that God wants us to perpetually wear  in our daily lives so that it will shine for all to see the Christ we profess.

*SO I SAY:*
*THESE ARE OUR CLOTHES... CHRISTIANS...ALWAYS WEAR THEM!☺*

*INDECE SPECIAL*

It is Independence day and whichever way we want to put it, I believe we can still be grateful to God for how far he has brought us as a nation.

No matter how far we have lagged behind, i still believe the way out is not just in ranting but in always focusing& looking out for the solutions in our every sphere of national life.

Today on your *All Round Devotional*, we bring you an
Excerpted Speech from the famous Black American Baptist Minister&Activist- *Martin Luther King,Jr*.
"I've Been to the Mountaintop"Speech was delivered 3 April 1968, Mason Temple(Church of God in Christ Headquarters),Memphis,Tennesse.

*The Speech:*
_. . .The world is all messed up. The nation is sick.Trouble is in the land;confusion all around.That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars._

_And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding._ _Something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled today, whether they are in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; or Memphis, Tennessee -- the cry is always the same:_

_"We want to be free." And another reason that I'm happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where we are going to have to grapple with the problems that men have been trying to grapple with through history, but the demands didn't force them to do it._

_Survival demands that we grapple with them. Men, for years now, have been talking about war and peace. But now, no longer can they just talk about it. It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it's nonviolence or nonexistence. That is where we are today._

_And also in the human rights revolution, if something isn't done, and done in a hurry, to bring the colored peoples of the world out of their long years of poverty, their long years of hurt and neglect, the whole world is doomed._

_Now, I'm just happy that God has allowed me to live in this period to see what is unfolding.And I'm happy that He's allowed me to be in Memphis._
_I can remember -- I can remember when Negroes were just going around as Ralph has said, so often, scratching where they didn't itch, and laughing when they were not tickled._

_But that day is all over. We mean business now, and we are determined to gain our rightful place in God's world._

_And that's all this whole thing is about. We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody._

_We are saying that we are determined to be men. We are determined to be people. We are saying -- We are saying that we are God's children. And that we are God's children, we don't have to live like we are forced to live._

_Now, what does all of this mean in this great period of history? It means that we've got to stay together. We've got to stay together and maintain unity. You know, whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong the period of slavery in Egypt, he had a favorite, favorite formula for doing it. What was that? He kept the slaves fighting among themselves._
_But whenever the slaves get together, something happens in Pharaoh's court, and he cannot hold the slaves in slavery. When the slaves get together, that's the beginning of getting out of slavery. Now let us maintain unity. . ._

*SO I SAY in Kwame Nkrumah's words on 6/3/'57:*

*At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved is free forever... We have awakened. We will not sleep anymore. Today, from now one, there is a new African in the world!*

*ON SALVATION QUOTES*

Quotes is back & I bring you another edition of SALVATION QUOTES. A need for us to remind ourselves of how crucially vital salvation is in our lives especially in today's world.

Let's hit it:
“ Even if no salvation should come, I want to be worthy of it at every moment.- Franz Kafka.

People to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too- William Faulkner

There is nothing more important than your eternal salvation.- Kirk Cameron

How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?
Oscar Wilde

There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.
James A. Baldwin

The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.
Charles Spurgeon

No man is excluded from calling upon God, the gate of salvation is set open unto all men: neither is there any other thing which keepeth us back from entering in, save only our own unbelief.- John Calvin

If you believe indeed in the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, if you walk uprightly and do not regard iniquity in your heart, if you continue to wait patiently, and believingly upon God; then answers will surely be given to your prayers.- George Muller

Surely the earth can be saved by all the people who insist
on love. -Alice Walker

The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation... But there will come a time when it will be too late for you.- Billy Graham

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:10

*SO I SAY:*
*I AM IN LOVE...IN LOVE WITH THESE SALVATION QUOTES... #SALVATION IS KEY...BE SAVED!*

*MEDITATE*(Heb.12:1-5)

Hello Wonderful People, let's do Meditate today on your All Round Devotional.

The first 2 verses one of my favourite scriptures & indeed a blessing!

Here we go:
V.1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

V.2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Children.

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.

*SO I SAY:*
*MEDITATE!*

*AHA!* (Funny or Serious?)

So we all do *Aha or Ahaa* when we suddenly understand or find  something interesting or intriguing.Well, sometimes, it is a way of cheering us on in a conversation.
(Basically, used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise.)

However, there is  one 'Aha!' that also denotes mockery, contempt, irony, according to the manner of utterance.

The Bible talks of  *'Aha!'* in these two ways.Let's look at them and draw lessons:
The Serious:
Psalm 35:25  _Do not let them think, “ *Aha,* just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.”_

Psalm 35:20-
_They do not speak peaceably,but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 21 They sneer at me and say, *“Aha! Aha!*_

Psalm 70:3(Also in 40:15)
_May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame._

*Of course, a lot of people sit in wait genuinely looking for your downfall, shame, defeat, disgrace. All this while they are waiting to say Aha!...Just what we wanted.

*Today,I pray that may any evil thoughts,hand, schemes plotted over your life never ever materialize!🙏*

*We may trip or even fall... Sometimes,it happens so we see those wolves in sheep clothing...Then we'll be Alert,stand firm and put our Armour fully on knowing that we together in Christ has overcome the world...For he overcame them by the blood of the lamb&word of their testimony. Fully bask in that.*

A lot of the times we give the devil and such people a footstool because we rather concentrate on them,see&tackle from the physical.

We talk about this serious Aha! of others. Meanwhile as Christians we may be culprits.

What is your Aha!?

As a Christian, did you not celebrate when she got pregnant or that disgrace befell on him.
It may have been coming, very predictable but check within you, for when you are so full of delight&nothing else...Not thinking of their repentance after it all.... Then,check the Christian you are?

Love your Neighbour as yourself &even your enemies.  The Golden Rule - “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.(Matt.7:12)

For the enemies, they will scheme but for us,christians, I pray that this Aha of Job 39:24-25 will be our lives.

_In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. 25 At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’It catches the scent of battle from afar,the shout of commanders and the battle cry._

Let our Aha be good at all times.

*SO I SAY:*
*Aha!...We embrace the Good...Refuse the Bad in Jesus Name.🙏*

*TAKING NOTICE(From Our Daily Bread)*

One of my Inspirations _'Our Daily Bread'_ exceptionally blows me away with this one & I would like to share. Well, if you've read, just count it all joy to be blessed once again.😉☺

The Message:
_When I clean my house for a special event, I become discouraged because I think that guests won't notice what I clean only what I don't clean._ _This brings to mind a larger philosophical and spirited question: Why do humans more quickly see what's wrong than what's right?_

_We are more likely to remember rudeness than kindness. Crimes seem to receive more attention than acts of generosity. And disasters grab our attention more quickly than the profound beauty all around us._

_*But then I realize I am the same way with God. I tend to focus on what he hasn't done rather than on what he has, on what I don't have rather than on what I have,on the situations that he has not yet resolved rather than on the many he has.*_

_When I read the book of Job,I am reminder that the Lord doesn't like this any more than I did. After years of experiencing prosperity, Job suffered a series of disasters. Suddenly those became the focus of his life and conversations.Finally, God intervened and asked Job some hard questions, reminding him of his sovereignty and of everything Job didn't know and hadn't seen (Job 38-40)_

_Whenever I start focusing on the negative, I hope I remember to stop,consider the life of Job, and *Take Notice* of all the wonders God has done and continues to do._

_*Consider keeping a 'Thanks' Journal. Write down each day one thing God has done for you*_👍🏻🙌🏻

*SO I SAY:*
*I AM SURE YOU ARE _TAKING NOTICE_ OF ALL THIS*

*'Aha!' ... is the intriguing title for Tomorrow's ON THIS MORNING... #JustAnticipate👍🏻*