Are screens affecting our children’s brains?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying the effect of screen time for children. The preliminary results are in and they’re not good.

The NIH report shows that nine- and ten-year-old children who spend more than two hours in front of a screen each day score lower on thinking and language tests. This is troubling since the average “tweenager” spends up to six hours a day on their tablet or phone.

In addition, scientists have found that children with daily screen usage of more than seven hours show premature thinning of the brain cortex. This is the outermost layer that processes information from the physical world. While it’s too soon to know with certainty that screen time usage caused the changes to the children’s brains, scientists will be monitoring this relationship carefully.

Are your children addicted to technology?

The NIH report is just one example of the growing effect of technology on our children. Another study related smartphone use by children to sleep deprivation and other problems associated with poor attention spans. This is alarming since two-thirds of children take their smartphones to bed with them.

One group of scientists found that the more time four-year-olds spent interacting with media, the shorter their sleep was at ages four and six. A study published by Harvard Medical School has shown that blue-tinged light emitted by devices such as smartphones and tablets suppresses the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone vital to good sleep.

Counselors warn that digital addiction is a growing problem. The compulsion to continue playing video games or using technology is escalating. China has identified internet addiction as one of its main public health risks. In some parts of Asia, digital addiction rates may be as high as 26 percent.

Among American children between the ages of eight and eighteen, around 8 percent could already be classified as addicted. A 2010 study found that children in…

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Four killed as gunman opens fire in Brazilian cathedral after mass

The shooting occurred right after mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas, a city about 60 miles north of Sao Paulo, according to Wilson Cassante, a spokesman for the archdiocese.

He said the officiating priest had left before the shooting began.

A spokesman for Sao Paulo state firefighters said four injured people had been taken to local hospitals.

Their conditions were not immediately known.

Mr Cassante said church officials did not recognise the gunman or have any ideas about his motive.

“It’s so sad,” said Mr Cassante.

“It’s hard to imagine the pain this has caused.”

Hamilton Caviola Filho, a police investigator, told news portal G1 that authorities had reviewed surveillance footage from inside the cathedral.

The gunman “came into the church, sat on a chair, with time to think, and then got up and starting shooting”, said Mr Caviola Filho.

The investigator also said that before shooting himself in the head, the suspect took a bullet in the ribs from responding police.

In total, the suspect fired at least 20 shots, said Mr Caviola Filho.

Images on Globo News showed paramedics taking bodies and injured from the church.

Firefighter Alexandre Monteiro told G1 that the four injured were in stable condition.

The motive was not clear.

Authorities have yet to release the name or age of the suspect.

While Brazil leads the world in total annual homicides, mass shootings are…

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Joyce Meyer Devotional 12 December 2018 — Reenergize Yourself

Topic: Reenergize Yourself [Joyce Meyer Devotional 12 December 2018]

Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.Acts 24:16 (AMPC)

If you are worn out all the time, it will affect your spiritual life because you won’t want to pray, study the Word, or walk in the fruit of the Spirit. If you are no longer sensitive to other people’s needs, you aren’t hearing from God.

If you are this tired, it is time to reenergize your life. Prune away the things that wear you out; don’t try to do what you think everyone else is doing. Wait on God to lead you, and get the rest you need to enjoy your walk with Him.

Prayer Starter: Father, I ask for Your help to lead a healthy and balanced life. Show me areas that need changing. Help me to schedule enough time for rest, relaxation, and time with You. I don’t want to live worn out, but I want to be healthy—spirit, soul and body—so I can be led by You and be a blessing to those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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TREM Devotional 12 December 2018 – You are a God to your World

Topic: You are a God to your World [TREM Devotional 12 December 2018]

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound Isaiah 61:1

We are not just Christians by name; God expects us to be Christians indeed. Who is a Christian? A Christian is a miniature Christ. A Christian is one who is like Christ in his or her world. So are you a Christian? Are you a representative of Christ in your world? If your answer is yes, then you should be able to declare our scripture for today with boldness.

The scripture in Isaiah 60:1 is not restricted to the Christians of old or restricted to Jesus when He walked as man on planet earth. No, it applies to you and me “… because as He is, so are we in this world”. Look at the last phrase very well. Many times believers act as if that scripture says: as He is, so we will be when we get to heaven.

Beloved, you do not need the authority of the believer in heaven, it is here that you need it. You do not need to lay hands on the sick in heaven, it is here that you have the sick. Everything Jesus died for is to enable us reign in life as Priests and Kings. So don’t settle for less.

The devil likes it when you walk in ignorance. He likes it when you cannot exercise your right and you are cowered to the ground because of ignorance. The devil likes it when you, the prince is walking on barefoot and the servants are on the horseback. He loves it when all you do is complain and murmur. Beloved, you have slept on your right long enough, it is time to arise and exercise the dominion mandate that He has given you. You are a god to your world. So rule and reign like the King and Priest that you are.

Further Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 John 4:15-19

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Hosea 9-11; Evening- Revelation 3

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’  

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.

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Our Daily Bread 12 December 2018 Devotional – The “No-Secret” Secret

Topic: The “No-Secret” Secret [Our Daily Bread 12 December 2018 Devotional]

Read: Romans 7:14–25, Bible in a Year: Hosea 9–11; Revelation 3

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15

A coworker confessed to me that he didn’t think he was “Jesus material.” I listened as he described what he called his “comfortable, narcissistic” life, and how it didn’t satisfy him. “But here’s my problem, I’ve been trying to be good, even caring, but it isn’t working. It seems that the very things I want to do, I can’t do, and the things I want to stop doing, I just keep doing.”

“What’s your secret?” he asked me in complete sincerity. “My secret,” I answered, “is that there is no secret. I’m as powerless to live up to God’s standards as you are, which is why we need Jesus.”

I pulled out a Bible and showed him “his” quote as the apostle Paul expressed it in Romans 7:15. Paul’s words of frustration often resonate with both pre-Christians and Christians who find themselves trying to be good enough to deserve God but falling short. Maybe it resonates with you. If so, Paul’s declaration that Christ is the author of our salvation and its resulting changes (7:25–8:2) should thrill you. Jesus has already done the work to free us from the very things that have us so puzzled with ourselves!

The barrier between us and God, the barrier of sin, has been removed without any work on our part. Salvation—and the changes made by the Holy Spirit in the process of our growth—is what God desires for all. He knocks on the door of our souls. Answer His knock today. It’s no secret that He’s the answer!

See christianuniversity.org/NT225 for more study on the book of Romans.

Without Jesus, salvation and spiritual growth are both gifts beyond our reach.

INSIGHT
In Romans 7:14–25, Paul candidly shares his personal spiritual struggles as well as his deep confidence in Christ for help and hope (7:25). Romans 8 then unpacks that help and hope. The hopeful promise of “no condemnation” (8:1) is supported by the most extensive treatment of the Holy Spirit’s helping ministry (vv. 5–27) found anywhere in the Scriptures (outside of John 14–16). Paul’s confidence in Christ’s help and hope are not theoretical—they are provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit (8:11).
Bill Crowder

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE

This message was written By Randy Kilgore [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

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MFM Daily Devotional 12 December 2018 – Lessons From the Life of Elijah (II)

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 12 December 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Lessons From the Life of Elijah (II)

TOPIC: Lessons From the Life of Elijah (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 12 December 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 1:9-14

MEMORY VERSE: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:17

The MESSAGE:

There are other lessons to learn from the life of Elijah. One of these other lessons is that Elijah was also a man of faith and courage. It is important to note that prayer produces faith and courage. It makes the Holy Spirit to overshadow and work mightily in the life of the vessel of God. Both the word of God and prayer provoke angelic intervention and operation in favour of God’s vessel. Faith and courage are two essential qualities we should possess in order to succeed in our mundane and spiritual assignments.

It takes faith to depend on God and carry out His instructions even when they don’t make much sense to us. 1 Kings 17:2-4 says, “And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [3] Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. [4] And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” The next verse says that Elijah went and did according to the word to the word of the LORD. He went and stayed by the Brook of Cherith. He believed God for his sustenance. Good did not fail him. By faith he pronounced that there would be no rain nor dew in Israel except at his word. He got what he pronounced. By faith he challenged the prophets of Baal to duel on Mount Carmel and said that the God that answered by fire would be God indeed. His God, the consuming fire, answered him by fire and Baal worshippers were put to shame. It took faith and courage to do all that Elijah did.

God’s charge to Joshua was that he should be strong and courageous. Fear is counterproductive. Also the just shall live and win by faith. Faith comes by hearing, reading and meditating on the word of God. You can obtain divine courage and strength by asking the Lord for them in prayer. The Most High God will give you extraordinary faith and courage to subdue kingdoms and obtain good reports, in the name of Jesus.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
HAVE FAITH AND COURAGE; YOU WILL SUCCEED IN YOUR ASSIGNMENTS.

PROPHETIC WORD:
Receive unprecedented power and grace to do exploits for the Lord.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. Father, give me the gift of faith, in the name of Jesus.

2. O Lord, make me a man of supernatural courage, in the name of Jesus.

3. The anointing to confront and conquer false prophets and enemies of the gospel, fall upon me, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

4. I shall rule and prosper in the midst of my enemies, in the name of Jesus.

5. My Father, use me to fulfil Your end-time agenda, in the name of Jesus.

6. As I work for the Lord, my strength will not fail, in the name of Jesus.

7. O Lord, as You did for Elijah, make me invincible and unstoppable, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

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.

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DCLM Daily Manna 12 December 2018 – A Dependable Intercessor

Topic: A Dependable Intercessor [DCLM Daily Manna 12 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: Numbers 16:41-50 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed(Numbers 16:48).

MESSAGE:

God, in his infinite wisdom, gave the power of attorney to men who would be able to stand in His presence to plead on behalf of those who are worthy of punishment and death. No doubt, sin and murmuring are extremely evil before God. Before Him, sins attract fatal penalty. Sin, wherever it is committed and by whosoever, does not go unnoticed by the all-seeing eyes of God. Every action of man attracts a recompense of reward, either good or bad.

In our text, Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, their leaders. This attracted God’s attention and invited His reprimand. God rose to punish the people with a deadly plague. Christians must learn this big lesson and take caution! Murmuring against leaders is extremely evil before God. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

Moses summoned Aaron to quickly take steps to stand between the breach for the people and appease God on their behalf. Aaron did this and God was entreated for the people. Vengeance belongs to God. In life, people will offend us, deliberately hurt us and even sin against God. Like Moses did not call for judgment over this people, we should not call for fire upon them, neither should we wait expectantly for God’s judgment over them nor rejoice when they are visited by one calamity or the other. Rather, we are expected to sincerely and passionately intercede for such people as did Moses and Aaron. As God promptly regarded the sacrifice of Moses and Aaron, there is the assurance that God will refrain from His judgment and spare the penitent sinner. You too can be a dependable intercessor.

Thought For The Day: A forgiving spirit and an intercessory heart are greatly prized before God.

Bible Reading In One Year: Acts 20:4-23:35

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

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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Seeds of Destiny 12 December 2018 Devotional – Hindrances to Answered Prayers

Topic: Hindrances to Answered Prayers [Seeds of Destiny 12 December 2018 Devotional]

Scripture: And even when you do ask you don’t get it because your whole aim is wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3 (TLB)

Thought For The Day: When God’s principles are upheld, His products are accessed.

It is true that many people engage in prayers. However, it is not every prayer that is answered by God. Many people realize that their prayers are not being answered, and in their frustration, they begin to think that God is either partial or selective in His dealings with humanity.

The truth remains that God is not a Respecter of persons; He is a Respecter of principles. When God’s principles are upheld, His products are accessed; when God’s principles are violated, His products are forfeited. Many times, when prayers are not answered, God’s principles may have been violated.

Now, those things that violate God’s principles regarding answered prayers are called hindrances to answered prayers. One hindrance to answered prayers is the life of SELFISHNESS. Our anchor scripture says…you want only what will give you pleasure.

God is not against you enjoying pleasure, but He is concerned about the Kingdom content in your desire. Is there room for the welfare and wellbeing of other human beings in your desire? Are your prayer requests all about yourself? Some people only ask God for things so they can brag about them to other people. God hates self-centredness. When you ask for financial resources, is it for the propagation of the gospel of the Kingdom? How many people would benefit from your wealth?

Beloved, when you pray, connect your requests to the benefits of the Kingdom and humanity; you would be shocked to see how God would deck your life with His blessings.

Remember This: When God’s principles are upheld, His products are accessed.

Assignments:

  1. Do not pray for yourself only; make intercessions for God’s Kingdom, the nation and others a continual assignment.
  2. When making demands from God, let the Kingdom of God be your major focus. RF: Samuel’s mother (1 Samuel 1:11).

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the grace to be selfless. Open my eyes, Lord, to see the needs of people and pray for them accordingly, in Jesus Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS.

Quote: Prayer deepens your intimacy with God. As you press into God at the place of prayer, you begin to see things from the level of God. Culled from PRINCIPLES AND POWER OF PRAYER by Dr Paul Enenche

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 12:19 to 14:17, Romans 1:1 to 17, Psalm 9:13 to 20, Proverbs 19:4 to 5.

Amazing Fact: A day on Venus lasts longer than a year on earth.

Today In History: 12/12/1808 – First Bible Society was organized and known as the Bible Society of Philadelphia.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

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.

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Ending the Year #MeToo Went to Church, Wheaton Summit to Discuss Evangelical Response

Ending the Year #MeToo Went to Church, Wheaton Summit to Discuss Evangelical Response



CHICAGO (RNS) — For years, Nancy Beach had no idea there were women with stories similar to hers.


Beach, the first woman to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church, said her boss acted sexually inappropriately toward her in the late 1990s.


Instead of speaking out, she said she went silent, like so many other women, wanting to protect the church and families involved and thinking her situation was an isolated case.


When she learned other women said they had similar encounters with Willow Creek founder Bill Hybels, she decided to speak out earlier this year. Eventually, Hybels, who has denied the allegations against him, retired early after about 10 women accused him of misconduct.


Like others who have shared their stories of sexual harassment and abuse this year, Beach hopes other women won’t have to wait so long to speak out. It’s time, she said, for evangelical churches to have an honest conversation about sexual misconduct.


She plans to tell her story at Reflections: A GC2 Summit on Responding to Sexual Harassment, Abuse and Violence, a one-day evangelical gathering around the topic on Thursday (Dec. 13) hosted by the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, an evangelical Christian school in the Chicago suburbs.


There’s never been a more important time to address the topic of sexual misconduct in the church,…

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Australia Confirms the Move of Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

Australia Confirms the Move of Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem



After mentioning the possible embassy move earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is preparing to formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Wednesday. 


According to the Times of Israel, the Australian government approved the move in a late-night national security meeting, Tuesday, but it will likely be delayed due to the exorbitant price tag of the relocation.


Reportedly, the decision was only passed by Morrison’s cabinet members after extensive conversation. Additionally, the parties involved agreed that the move would happen at a later date because it would cost an estimated $200 million.


The Times of Israel reports that a source confirmed to them that a temporary consular office will be established in Jerusalem until the country is ready to pay for the hefty fee for relocation. 


The decision is expected to be announced Wednesday during the Council of Australian Governments meeting.


Specific details on the move have not yet been divulged and it is not clear at this time if the government plans to recognize Jerusalem as a whole as Israel’s capital, or just West Jerusalem, which has been Israeli ground for the entirety of the country’s existence.


Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Tracey Nearmy/Stringer

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