Melissa Caslake, who is currently the executive director of children’s services for Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster boroughs, will take up the role.
It it the first time the Church of England has appointed a permanent director of safeguarding. She takes over from Sir Roger Singleton, the former chief executive of Barnados, who has been the interim director since the beginning of the year.
Caslake has worked in children’s and adults’ service for 20 years, with experience of leading ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ rated children’s services in local authorities.
She has overseen responses to non-current child sexual abuse cases and lead services for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in London and also overseen support for children affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
She contributed to the City of Westminster’s family services getting an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating in 2016 and has also worked in Harrow and Merton.
Caslake said: “I am proud to be taking on the role of National Director of Safeguarding for the Church of England. My career has been dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and helping families in need.
“I am determined to ensure that the Church is a safer place for all, and I look forward to applying my professional experience and expertise to this challenge.”
William Nye, Secretary General to the Archbishops’ Council,…
Uprightness according to Oxford English Dictionary is the condition of being honourable or honest. It is the conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong. Uprightness can also refer to positive character, decency, rectitude, integrity, morality, virtue and righteousness.
SCRIPTURE: For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalms 5:12
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Your character, many times, introduces you even before you speak.
Uprightness according to Oxford English Dictionary is the condition of being honourable or honest. It is the conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong. Uprightness can also refer to positive character, decency, rectitude, integrity, morality, virtue and righteousness.
It is confirmed that uprightness has an open door power. Integrity or Godly character is a door opener. God blesses the man of integrity with favour, and favour comes with open doors. It is well known that good character opens doors and bad character closes doors.
A Scriptural example of a man whose good character opened doors of supply for, was Elisha the Prophet. Elisha was perceived to be a holy man of God by the Woman of Shunem, and by that confirmation, a house was built for him (2 Kings 4:8-11). Now, what built the house for Elisha was not his title but his manners. It is important to know that character is both perceivable and discernible.
People’s perception of you can affect your possession in life. Your character, many times, introduces you even before you speak. The character of an excitable, exciting or an excited person is feel-able, and a depressed person also exudes depression all around him.
Now, one key to Godly character is passionate love for God. To love God with passion means the desire to please God is placed above the desire to please self. It means, making God Almighty the centre of your life. It means that there is nothing and no one that can take the place of God in your life.
Receive the grace to maintain Godly character, in Jesus’ Name.
REMEMBER THIS: Your character, many times, introduces you even before you speak.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Ask God for the grace to work on your character on a daily basis.
Love God, and love your neighbour as you love yourself.
PRAYER: O Lord, I ask for the grace to work on my character on a daily basis. Help me to progressively grow into Your Image, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: OPEN DOOR THROUGH UPRIGHTNESS PT1
QUOTE: You must make up your mind to be different in order to be different. Culled from WHO ARE YOU? by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Joshua 7:16 to 9:2, Luke 16:1 to 18, Psalm 82:1 to 8, Proverbs 13:2 to 3.
AMAZING FACT: There are 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 13/04/1997 – Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament.
Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. — Romans 12:12
No matter what we do in life, at some point in time we will all face a level of criticism. But it is possible to learn how to cope with criticism and not let it affect your life.
We can be grateful for the example the apostle Paul set for us. Paul experienced criticism often, but he said that he was not concerned about the judgment of others. He knew he was in God’s hands and that in the end he would stand before God and give an account of himself and his life. He would not stand before any man to be judged (see 1 Corinthians 4:3–4).
You may not always do everything right, but God sees your heart. If you’re attempting to live for God and looking for ways to love others, God is pleased (see Matthew 22:37–40). Don’t worry about the criticism of others; God loves you. His love and approval are all you need.
Prayer Starter: Father, I thank You that I don’t have to listen to the criticism of others. You see my heart and You know my motives. I thank You that Your approval is greater than the approval of any person. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Creativity is the search for solution. Every time you see a problem around you, know problems are catalysts for creativity. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. There was a problem of darkness and God went into creation and introduced light. The moment He introduced light, the problem of darkness was solved.
Just like someone invented microphones, so also, there is always a solution you can proffer that is designed to lift you.
Genesis 26:12 -Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
In the time of famine, Isaac was able to see what the Philistines could not see. In the midst of famine, he became the most prosperous person in the land. While others were busy complaining about the famine, Isaac was busy digging wells, from which he had water to water his farms. That is mechanised farming!
In the midst of famine also, Joseph prospered. He became a Prime Minister in a foreign land.
Genesis 47:20 -And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.
A one-time prisoner became the most important man in the same land because he had the solution to their problems. As a child of God, you have the mind of Christ; and if you know what to do, you cannot be a part of the problem in the society. Even if you are uneducated, it does not mean you should be a failure. No way! Salvation has placed you at an advantage. You have the mind of Christ ought to know what to do.
Jesus was faced with a seemingly huge problem of feeding thousands of people in a desert and the Bible says, “For He Himself knew what He would do.” (John 6:6). Thus the hardship in the society is an advantage to you. The more the hardship, the better for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ!
It is time for the Church to move into the realm of solving problems. Every man who solves a problem is rewarded accordingly. If you want reward, begin to solve problems in the society. However, money must not be your primary motive; just be out to solve problems. Many are in business for the sake of money but business is actually meeting the needs of the society. Anyone who wants to be a successful businessman must be driven by the understanding of meeting people’s needs.
If you are in business primarily to meet people’s needs, it will not be long and you will excel! It does not matter where you have failed, your case is not hopeless. May your eyes be open to introduce something that will solve a definite problem for humanity in Jesus name. Amen.
God bless you!
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
THE MESSAGE:
One of the privileges we have as children of God is prayer. Through prayer, we receive mercy and grace to help in time of need and find peace that guards our hearts and minds. But this privilege does not mean that God must answer all prayers. In today’s reading, Jesus talks about two basic kinds of prayer. The first is showmanship prayer by which the person praying draws attention to himself seeking to be known as spiritual and holy.
The second is relational prayer – one that seeks time with the Father. This prayer is offered to be seen and heard of God according to a pattern (as taught by Jesus) and with a merciful heart. God answers such a prayer.
Is your prayer marked by humility and pleading for mercy or do you make a show out of your prayers? Do you talk with God when you pray or you talk to yourself? Remember, God is not swayed by quantity of words, but by quality of the heart! Most important is the fact that if you do not have a private prayer life, there is no good praying publicly. If you believe that God hears prayers and rewards those who diligently seek Him, then make sure you offer the kind of prayer that God is pleased with.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to pray from a pure heart in accordance with Your will and in faith.
Matthew 13:25, ‘But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.’
Matthew 13:24-30
Satan has secretly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the influence of the Church. This has been a more effective strategy than direct opposition.
These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain. Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time. Many will profess Christianity, but ‘by their fruits ye shall know them.’
There will be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, who will remain among the Church. Jesus warns us against trying to root them out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people’s hearts. In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ’s ‘little ones’ and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.
It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we be aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. Stick to the Word!
This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).
“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.”-Psalm 106:1 KJV
You would agree with me that God has truly been faithful to you. Despite the global economic downturn, the various natural and man-made disasters and diverse challenges, the Lord still preserved you. He has been your shield and buckler. Indeed, our God is worthy of all praise and adoration. Therefore, I encourage you to thank God. Thank Him for His loving-kindness and tender mercies towards you. Thank Him for preserving you! Thank Him because you are not in the best of hospitals. Indeed, He has done much more for you.
There is so much to be thankful for. If you can think, then you can thank. Take time to think of where you were this time last year and where you are today. Yes! You might not be where you aspired to be, but you are certainly not where you used to be. Touch yourself! You are still around! That is enough reason to give Him praise. You can never quantify His mercies towards you. God truly deserves incredible praise. Learn to praise Him at all times. Praise Him in all the languages that you know. Praise Him in tongues and in your understanding.
I believe without any shadow of doubt in my heart that as you develop a lifestyle of praise, your life will be filled with an incredible harvest.
God will exceed all of your expectations. Only the sound of rejoicing will be heard from your household. I’m so excited because I know that the Blessing of God is manifesting in every area of your life in an unprecedented way. So remain expectant. God will cause you to laugh and they that hear your testimony shall laugh with you in Jesus’ name.
Further Reading: Psalm 103:1-5, Psalm 106
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 1 Samuel 22-24; Evening- Luke 12:1-31
Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:29).
The Apostle Paul, as he planned his missionary journey to the Roman Christians, was convinced he’d be carrying in him and with him, the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel. This is extraordinary. Some have said, “As long as you’re in the earth, you can never really have the fullness of God’s blessing”; but the Word shows otherwise. Paul had, and functioned in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. It’s about your consciousness of Christ; His life and power in you. Hallelujah!
The Apostle Paul had the audacity of faith to make such a bold declaration of the Word. He said he hoped to visit the Christians in Rome to impart to them some spiritual gifts. What does this mean to you even now?
Are you aware that you can, and should walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ? The very thought of it, the understanding of it, will completely revolutionize your life. Consider Peter: he also understood this and functioned accordingly. No wonder he declared that we’re associates of the God-kind (2 Peter 1:4); we belong in God’s class of beings, and should therefore live with this consciousness.
John, writing to the Church, said, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). These men understood what it meant to walk in the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. They knew what Christ had made us and they spoke and lived accordingly. The Bible says, “…Of His fulness,” talking of Christ’s, “have we all received…” (John 1:16).
You received the fullness of God’s blessing when you received Christ, because Christ is EVERYTHING! Discover Christ in you.
CONFESSION I’ve received the fullness of God’s blessings, being a partaker of the divine nature. I’m an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ; Christ in me is everything. I’m more than a conqueror, reigning by grace through righteousness, in the affairs of life. Blessed be God!
FURTHER STUDY: John 1:16; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 13:22-35 & Judges 14-16
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 1:40-45 & Leviticus 13
Rhapsody of Realities 13th April 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
TOPIC: The Arm Of The Flesh (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 13 April 2019)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 22-24; Luke 12:1-31
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Esther 7:6-10
MEMORY VERSE: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” – Psalms 20:7
The MESSAGE:
Don’t trust in the arm of the flesh. Why did the Bible give us this stern warning and great admonition? The first reason is that the arm of the flesh will fail you.
The arm of the flesh is insufficient and limited in itself. It is not founded in God or dependent on God, but on man. The arm of the flesh is often opposed to God and glorifies satan. When you trust in your family connections, parentage, your good look, skills, talents and spiritual gifts rather than the ultimate Giver, you are trusting in the arm of the flesh.
Ellab trusted in his height, Kingly look and position as the first born in Jesse’s household. All these made him arrogant and made his heart impure. He trusted in the arm of the flesh and God rejected him. Similarly, Goliath trusted in his giant physique, his years of experience as a warrior, his superior weapons and his gods. David trusted in Jehovah, the Lord of Hosts. Goliath was killed. The arm of the flesh failed him.
Are you a very beautiful lady or a handsome man? I thank God for you, but don’t trust in your look. If you do, it will fail you. There are many beautiful ladies who have no suitor and are unmarried and there are so many handsome men who are yet to make a headway in life, all because they trust in their physical look. I encourage you to amend your ways in this regard. Put your trust absolutely in God. Are you a genius? Are you rich? Beware of the deceitfulnes of riches
Paul boasted in the Lord. His confidence, trust and boasting were in the Almighty. I encourage you to always look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Any personality, institution or object you repose confidence in outside God is an arm of the flesh. It is bound to fail you. I encourage you to put your trust in God always. You will never be put to shame, in Jesus’ name.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.
PROPHETIC WORD: I decree upon your life that your little effort will yield big harvest.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
Lord, I thank You for Your love and mercy, in the name of Jesus.
I reject any backward journey, in the name of Jesus.
Agents of shame, assigned against me, die, in the name of Jesus. EVENING
I paralyse the activities of household wickedness over my life, in the name of Jesus.
I quench evil negative fire ignited against me, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, give me power for maximum achievement, in the name of Jesus.
O Lord, give me the confronting authority to achieve effortless results, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
Key Verse: “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuttest his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28).
MESSAGE:
Most of the troubles in the world today are caused by an unbridled tongue. A mark of wisdom is to think before we speak. Unfortunately, some people speak before they think and eventually, more often than not, they end up regretting. A man could prove his wisdom by the good control of his tongue. However, God can not be deceived by our silence because he knows the heart and the folly that is bound there.
The text parades a catalogue of the conduct of fools. The Lord refers to the wicked as fools. A fool acquits the guilty and condemns those that are innocent. The fool wrongs his family and is quickly angry. He lives above his income and finds himself frequently in trouble because of unbridled tongue. He makes his parents sad very often. He gives bribe to avoid being punished. He does not have any regard for the word of God and is unreliable and inconsistent. He nags, insults, blackmails, slanders and exaggerates. He is full of false promises and makes a series of unredeemed vows and pledges.
The believer is expected to be careful of what he says, how to says it, where he says it and when he says it. A believer should be careful of what he says before the enemies and in evil times. He should be of few words when passing through difficult times. A believer should not be rash in speech and should not be garrulous or loquacious.
The obvious fact is that the unregenerate man cannot control his tongue. It is therefore sacrosanct that he needs to visit Calvary for Christ to touch his tongue. Even a believer may still be found guilty of this and it is an indication that he needs the second touch of Christ for total purging and inward cleansing of the stings of the tongue.
Thought For The Day: Never allow your speech to master you.
The Bible In One Year: Acts 11-12
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
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