Under proposed new divorce legislation unveiled by Justice Secretary David Gauke, a husband or wife only needs to declare that a relationship is irretrievably breakdown. They would not need to provide evidence.
The right of a spouse to contest a divorce would be removed. It has been used in approximately two per cent of cases.
Jonathan Williams from Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE) said: “The Government’s proposals to make divorce easier are incredibly misguided and will undermine marriage.
“If you make it easier to get a divorce, it is inevitable that the divorce rate will go up.
“Today, the Government is putting forward a view of marriage that prioritises individual freedom, rather than encouraging sacrifice and commitment.”
Our response to #nofaultdivorce plan: “The Government is setting out to destroy the foundations of marriage by allowing cheating or bored spouses to walk away from a solemn, lifelong commitment whenever they choose and with the full support, and even encouragement, of the state.”
Under the current Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, couples seeking a divorce could seek one if one partner is shown to be at fault through adultery, desertion or unreasonable behaviour.
Alternatively, if both parties agree to divorce but blame is not apportioned, a divorce could be granted after they…
Instagram Account Calls Out Pastors Who Wear Expensive Shoes
Should pastors wear expensive clothing? A new Instagram account has brought national attention to the question, ruffling the feathers of high-profile pastors along the way.
A man who identifies himself as Tyler started the account, PreachersNSneakers two weeks ago. In each post, he pairs a picture of a pastor posted on social media with a screenshot of the price of the shoes he is wearing. Some of the price tags have topped out over $1,000, igniting a debate about pastors’ pay and whether a pastor should dress in clothes members could never afford.
The account created a stir, amassing over 80,000 followers in the first two weeks and has been featured in stories on Buzzfeedand Fashionista.
Tyler told Fashionista about the origin of the account. He explained that he is an evangelical Christian whose wife works for a church and that he has also been “really into buying and reselling sneakers.” He said he was looking for a song by Elevation Worship one Sunday and a noticed the lead singer was wearing a pair of Yeezy 750s, which go for around $800 on resell sites.
This led him to look at photos of Elevation’s pastor, Steven Furtick. He found a picture of Furtick wearing a rare pair of Jordans that resell for $900. Then he looked up other influential pastors and noticing that they were wearing high-end clothing and “the highest resell kicks in the game.” He made…
A primary school teacher whose lessons on same-sex relationships and transgenderism upset some Christians and Muslims says he has received a death threat.
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead…
In America, many of us are sleep deprived after watching Virginia defeat Texas Tech in overtime last night. Meanwhile, much of the world is focused on Israel, where one of the most significant elections in years is taking place.
I have led approximately thirty study tours to Israel over the years. Each time, the two most common questions I’m asked are: “Why don’t the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah?” and “How does the Israeli government work?”
The two questions are more related than one might think.
Since Israelis are voting today in parliamentary elections, we’ll address the second question first. Here’s the process:
Fourteen parties are vying for votes. Citizens vote for parties, not people. At stake is control of the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) and its 120 seats. The more votes a party receives, the more seats it wins.
No party has ever won a sixty-one-seat majority. After today’s vote, the president of Israel (a largely ceremonial position) will invite one party’s leader to form a governing coalition with other parties. That person will have twenty-eight days to form a government, with a possible fourteen-day extension.
The president selects the leader who, in his opinion, has the best chance of forming a multi-party coalition to reach sixty-one Knesset seats. This is usually the leader of the party that received the most votes in the election, but not always.
If that leader is successful, he or she becomes the prime minister of the country. If not, the president invites a different candidate to form a governing coalition.
Justice Secretary David Gauke confirmed new legislation would be introduced after a consultation revealed support for reforms of the existing fault-based system.
Currently in England and Wales, unless someone can prove there was adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion, the only way to obtain a divorce without their spouse’s agreement is to live apart for five years.
The proposed new arrangements will keep “irretrievable breakdown” of a marriage as the sole grounds for divorce.
But, rather than having to provide evidence relating to behaviour or separation, divorcing spouses will be required to make a statement that the marriage has broken down.
The ability of a husband or wife to contest a divorce – used in under two per cent of cases – will be scrapped under the shake-up.
The existing two-stage process, in which a decree nisi is followed by a decree absolute, will be retained under the proposed new system.
Today the government is announcing reforms to #divorce law which will help reduce family conflict and end divorcing couples having to blame each other for the breakdown of their marriage.
Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. — James 4:9 (AMP)
Yesterday I encountered a person who was quite demanding that I do something she wanted me to do and would not take no for an answer. I ended up being rude to her, and I feel a godly sorrow over my behavior. I always want to represent God well, and that means I often need to be long-suffering with someone who is irritating to me.
I don’t feel guilty and condemned, because I have repented and know that I am forgiven, but I do feel a godly sorrow, and I think that feeling is healthy and right. We should take our sin seriously and be deeply penitent when we do something that we know is wrong.
Although this feeling is uncomfortable, I welcome it because it impresses on me the importance of my witness for Christ and reminds me of how easy it is to behave in a fleshly and carnal way. The Bible urges us repeatedly to be on our guard against the temptations we encounter in the world and to live carefully. Being rude to someone may seem a small thing, but it is the little foxes that spoil the vine (see Song of Solomon 2:15).
I believe we should appreciate any feeling of chastisement that we receive from the Holy Spirit, because it is God helping us be the kind of people who represent Jesus well.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I appreciate Your conviction and chastisement, and I am deeply sorry for my sins and grateful for Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If God is living inside of you, then everything in your body belongs to God.
SCRIPTURE: 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. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If God is living inside of you, then everything in your body belongs to God.
From our anchor scripture, we understand that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the Living God. This implies that God is living inside of you. If God is living inside of you, then, everything in your body belongs to God.
Every cell, tissue, organ, system and every department of your life, whether spiritual or physical, is meant for spiritual occupation and not for demonic habitation.
Our God is a jealous God and cannot share His habitation (your body) with any witch, wizard, sickness or disease. Only the Holy Ghost has the right to live in your body and it is His responsibility to maintain the structure (your body), therefore, your body cannot crack, break or dilapidate as a habitation of the Spirit of God.
Beloved, make up your mind to live with the mentality that no sickness or disease is allowed to take illegal habitation of your body. Just as darkness cannot survive in the presence of light, affliction cannot survive in the body of a Holy Ghost-filled child of God. You must acquire a total hatred and anger against the devil and the kingdom of darkness and any affliction they want to impose on your life.
Resist the devil today!
REMEMBER THIS: If God is living inside of you, everything in your body belongs to God.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Study the Word of God and locate Scriptures that pertain to your healing and health.
Believe the Word of God concerning your healing and health.
PRAYER: In the Name of Jesus, I declare that my body is the Temple of God, therefore, the devil has no place in my life; I am free from sickness and diseases in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: I AM A MOBILE TEMPLE
QUOTE: There can be no victory spiritually without warfare. Culled from REASON FOR LIVING by Dr Paul Enenche
DAILY READING: Deuteronomy 33:1 to 29, Luke 13:1 to 21, Psalm 78:65 to 72, Proverbs 12:25
AMAZING FACT: The human hand, including the wrist, contains 54 bones.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 09/04/1991 – Georgia declares independence from the Soviet Union.
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.
Faith is a spiritual force that commits God’s integrity to make good His promise. This means that if God has said anything to you and you have faith, you have committed His integrity that HE will make happen what HE said and HE cannot lie. Faith is evidential and substantial; you have not seen it but you know that it is real. Every good report is a product of faith.
Faith is your access to all your inheritance in Christ. It guarantees your access to every inheritance you have in Christ. Faith is the bridge that connects you to your destination. God has no problem confirming His word; He is only looking for who will trust Him.
Every child of God has faith according to Rom. 12:3b
Rom. 12:3 -For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
To pray a prayer of faith, you must first of all locate appropriate scriptures which are in line with your request. This is because God will not respond to any prayer which are not in line with His word. So, when you want to pray, you must locate a scripture or scriptures which are relevant to what you want to ask God for.
1 John 5:14 – And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
So, firstly, you have to locate the right scripture to pray with; if you just pray anyhow, God will not hear you.
Hosea 14:2a – Take with you words, and turn to the Lord:…
Thus, you have to get God’s word and return it back to the Lord because God’s word is Himself. God will hear your prayers when you pray according to His word; not according to your grammar. That is why many people that pray with calculated English do not have result because their prayers are not in line with the word of God.
It is not enough to locate a scripture. When you locate a scripture, meditate on it until faith rises in you. Meditation can be compared to incubation in agriculture. Meditate on the scripture until faith is built.
1Tim. 4:15 – Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Sit with the word of God until the rhema becomes very real to you. A good illustration on meditation is digestion. When you eat food, it has to digest before it nourishes your body. That is how getting the word of God is likened to eating while meditation is likened to digestion. Therefore, the word of God has to settle in your heart before you can produce it.
After meditation, the next step is to open your mouth in prayer because faith is not finished until it is spoken for God to confirm it.
2Cor. 4:13 – We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Speak and declare what you have seen in God’s word which you have also meditated on and God will not hesitate to confirm it.
After speaking and declaring what you want to see, believe that it is done.
Mark 11:24 – 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you. {Amp}
If you want the prayer of faith to work, when you pray for anything, you don’t have to see it before you know that God has answered; you have to know that He has answered before you can see it. If you don’t have faith that God has answered, you cannot see it but the moment you have faith, then you will have what have prayed for.
Believe that you have received answers to your prayers before you see any physical manifestation. From today, as you begin to practice the prayer of faith, may all that you request of the Lord in accordance to His word come to pass in your life speedily in the name of Jesus –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.
Dearly Beloved, it is with great joy and pleasure that I come your way on this wonderful Sunday morning. I want to challenge you as you go through this year wherein God has made you Above Only not to accept anything that is contrary to what God has ordained for you. Stand your ground in the victory that Jesus Christ obtained for you, and you shall see the salvation of the Lord. Often times believers give up too easily, they accept their circumstances and situations as their lot, rather than stand their ground for victory. Beloved, if you must be Above Only this year, you must be careful what you accept.
In 1 Chronicles 4, the Bible tells us an interesting story about a man called Jabez who was described as honourable. In-spite of his honour, his problem started when his mother bore him and gave him a name which literarily means ‘sorrow’. Beloved, Jabez understood what it meant to encounter closed doors in life. He was rejected by men, even though he had no hand in the circumstances of his birth. He was victimized by those who should have shown him love and given him succor. Everywhere Jabez went, sorrow went with him. Can you imagine how he felt? He could have given up and accepted the situation as his lot, after all it was his own mother who put him in the situation in the first place. But not Jabez, he decided he wasn’t going to simply accept it.
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine Hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” (1Chronicles 4:10 KJV)
Beloved, let us see this same text in the Message Translation:
“Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection – don’t let evil hurt me”. God gave him what he asked.” (MSG)
Jabez refused to be refused. He refused to just resign and accept the cards life had dealt him. Rather, he decided to call the God who can turn any situation around. And God intervened in the life of Jabez. Jabez’s story changed because he refused to just accept his predicament as final, not after hearing/encountering a God that is able to make impossibilities possible.
Child of God, I don’t know what contrary situation you have accepted as your lot. I don’t know what has garaged you and kept your head bowed low, but one thing I know is we serve a God that can turn any situation around. We serve a God who is not limited by anything or by anyone, we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, His name is Jehovah and there is nothing too hard for him to do. All God is looking for is someone who will refuse to accept that contrary situation, and He will step in.
As you go into this week, be assured that in every area of life, God is committed to blessing you. He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. He will open your eyes to see the hidden treasure of secret places. He will fill your mouth with testimonies. You will surely, without fail, testify. Your miracle will not be aborted.
Maranatha!
In His Royal service, Dr. Mike Okonkwo The Presiding Bishop
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
