Topic: The Price Of Success

Success is a costly endeavor. There is a price behind every great success story you see today. Many people are not interested in paying the price for success but yet expect to see results, so they keep chasing the wind all their lives.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it- Matt.13:44-46 .

Every prize has a price. The level of dignity you command is a function of the price you are willing to pay.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish- Luke 14:28-30.

Every great accomplishment therefore is a product of a great price paid. Every global impact will demand a global price. There is no short-cut to greatness and there are no short-cuts to anywhere of great importance.

As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise-Prov.27:21.

Many believers settle for the status-quo due to the seemingly unbearable price that success demands.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force- Matt.11:12.

To enjoy success, there is a cost price attached to it which is commitment to God, His word and dedication to your assignment. As you continuously seek God’s face in prayer and study of His word, dedicate your time and energy to your assignment, you will encounter all round divine success in every area of your life in the name of Jesus –Amen!

God bless you.

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Topic: Child’s Training (3)

Dear Reader,

I welcome you to another edition in our series on Child Training. This week and the next, by the enabling power of the Holy Ghost, we shall be examining the various developmental stages in Teenage Children, for example puberty, adolescence etc., and to see how you as a parent can guide them.

The teen years are the most demanding years for many children and parents alike. A lot of prevalent challenges stems from a basic lack of understanding of this phase of life. Most parents are puzzled by the swings in the mood of their teenagers. One minute they are excited, next minute they want to be alone. What used to excite them before, like certain types of clothes, is now regarded as childish. “Who can cope with it?” many parents seem to be asking.

I would like you to know that teen years need not be so frustrating, it can be one of the most interesting periods of your life. All that is actually required is knowledge and understanding.The Bible says: “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3.”Now, let’s see what happens at various stages of your teenage children’s development.

Puberty: The first phase children pass through is known as puberty. Puberty is a phase of sexual awakening in the life of a child. This is when the sexual organs and the reproductive system of a child begin to develop, in preparation for adulthood, reproduction and child birth. The age it begins differs from one child to another.

a) For boys:
Puberty starts from the age of twelve. Rapid growth begins to take place in their bodies. At this stage the pituitary gland is activated. It produces hormones, which bring about changes in the body and the ability to produce a child. As a result, hair begins to grow and concentrate in certain parts of the body, like armpit and the pubic region. Also beards begin to form on the face. The sexual organs also begin to enlarge, the voice deepens and becomes steadier. There might, however, be some children whose voice don’t deepen. Feelings of fatigue and tiredness occur once in a while. When this begins, assure your children that there is nothing to be afraid of, nor be alarmed about; heis simply growing up. Encourage him to take plenty of rest and sleep. Ensure that he eats balanced diet for proper body building.

b) For girls:
Puberty begins between the ages of 10 and 11. It begins earlier in girls than boys. At puberty, the female body begins to equip itself with the ability to produce a child. Also, at this stage, menstruation begins. Some other changes occur, during menstruation. Her body becomes more rounded and curvy, her breasts begin to enlarge, and may become sore or slightly painful. She might experience slight pains in her lower abdomen, hair begins to grow in armpit, legs and pubic region. She becomes very much aware of and sensitive to the regions around her private part. At such times she begins to wonder what is happening to her body and why the changes are occurring. This can be avoided, if you as a parent, especially mothers, will ensure that you fulfill your responsibility toward your children, by creating time to educate them on these stages of development to avoid confusion and unnecessary concern. Educate your daughters on the use of sanitary towels, to ensure hygiene during these periods. They need proper sex education. Please understand that they are not too young to be told these things.

Mothers have a greater share of this responsibility. This is so because among other things, mothers have a lot of influence over their children. The Bible records the influence Timothy’s Mother and grandmother had on his life and ministry. It is written: When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also (2 Timothy 1:5).Timothy became one of the most respected Bishops in the New Testament.

Let us also take a look at these scriptures addressed directly to mothers:

A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother (Proverbs 10:1).
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Proverbs 29:15).

I believe that though child training is a joint responsibility of parents, mothers have a greater share of the responsibility. For your children not to give you heartache tomorrow, it is a must for you to sow seeds of proper upbringing in their lives.

As you work on your children, I pray all your efforts over them shall be rewarded in Jesus mighty name. However, to get good rewards for your labour, you must be born again. You do this by accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. If you want to make this decision today, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood, Building a Successful FamilyandA Living Witness.

“Please click to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo” 

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

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Topic: Up a Tree [Our Daily Bread 22 Tuesday May, 2018]

Read: Jonah 2:1–10, Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16–18; John 7:28–53

In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Jonah 2:2

My mother discovered my kitten Velvet atop the kitchen counter, devouring homemade bread. With a huff of frustration, she scooted her out the door. Hours later, we searched our yard for the missing cat without success. A faint meow whistled on the wind, and I looked up to the peak of a poplar tree where a black smudge tilted a branch.

In her haste to flee my mother’s frustration over her behavior, Velvet chose a more precarious predicament. Is it possible that we sometimes do something similar—running from our errors and putting ourselves in danger? And even then God comes to our rescue.

The prophet Jonah fled in disobedience from God’s call to preach to Nineveh, and was swallowed up by a great fish. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me’ ” (Jonah 2:1–2). God heard Jonah’s plea and, “commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (v. 10). Then God gave Jonah another chance (3:1).

After exhausting our efforts to woo Velvet down, we summoned the local fire department. With the longest ladder fully extended, a kind man climbed high, plucked my kitten from her perch, and returned to place her safely in my arms.

Oh the heights—and the depths—God goes to in rescuing us from our disobedience with His redeeming love!

Dear God, how we need Your rescue today!

Jesus’s death on the cross rescued us from our sins.

Insight:

The story of Jonah is a story of the unexpected. The only character in the story who doesn’t obey God is the one the reader would expect to be obedient, the one who told the sailors, “I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land” (Jonah 1:9). In contrast to the fugitive prophet, the pagan sailors turn to God (v. 16); the fish did as the Lord commanded (2:10); the Ninevites (a blood-thirsty and pagan people) repented (3:5–10). But the unexpected doesn’t stop there. God goes to great lengths to teach Jonah who He is. Rather than punish the disobedient prophet who is angry at God’s mercy, God invites Jonah (and us) to contemplate the depths of His love and mercy.

When have you experienced the love and mercy of God? J.R. Hudberg

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

This message was written By Elisa Morgan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

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Topic: Change Your Mind [Andrew Wommack Tuesday May 22, 2018]

Mark 7:21, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders.”

Text: Mark 7:17-23

These verses (21-23) further establish the fact that our heart includes more than just our spirit. Even Christians still struggle with things like pride and foolishness, which Jesus said comes out of our heart. It’s certain that our born again spirit is not the source of these sins; therefore, the heart encompasses more than our spirit.

The word “spirit” is used in different ways in scripture. The most frequent usage refers to either the Spirit of God or the spirit of man. In that context, it denotes the person of the Holy Spirit or identifies a part of our three-part being (1 Th. 5:23). But the word “spirit” can also describe a mental disposition (Strong).

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul is praying that what is already true in our spirit will become our “mental disposition.” He’s praying for a release into the physical of what is already present in our spiritual being.

The Christian life is not an attempt to get more faith, or more anointing, or to get closer to the Lord. We already have these things in their fullness. We just need a revelation of what is already ours. Understanding this takes a lot of frustration and doubt away. It’s much easier to release something you already have than to try and get something that you don’t have. And why would anyone doubt whether or not he could receive what he already has? Through Christ, we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings. All we have to do is appropriate what is already ours, through the renewing of our mind. If you will change your thinking to believe what God says in His Word about who you are and what you have, then this agreement between your spirit and soul forms a majority, and your flesh will experience the life of God that has been deposited in your spirit.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack’s Daily Devotional HERE

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).

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Topic: God Made Us Unique [Billy Graham’s Devotional Tuesday May 22, 2018]

Our soul waiteth for the Lord . . . — Psalm 33:20

I am a soul—and I have a body! The body is the house in which the soul lives. When Oliver Wendell Holmes was in his 80th year, a friend hailed him and asked, “How are you?” “I’m fine,” said Holmes, “the house I live in is tottering and crumbling, but Oliver Wendell Holmes is fine, thank you.” In this materialistic age we often forget that the real, the abiding part of us is invisible. Much time, money, and effort are expended to perpetuate the physical part of us, and too many are unconcerned about their spiritual health and nurture. Hence doctors’ offices are overcrowded, and many ministers’ counseling rooms are empty.

When God created man, He made him distinctive, different from the other animals. “He breathed into him the breath of life and man became a living soul.” He clothed him with intelligence, conscience, and a will. He made him like Himself—a companion, a friend of God. At the resurrection, this mortal shall put on immortality, and we shall be like Him, and be with Him forever.

Prayer for the day: What expectation is mine as I think of being with You forever, my beloved Lord Jesus!

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

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Topic: He Will Tell You What’s Ahead [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Tuesday May 22, 2018]

What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? — Romans 8:31

One of the many benefits of hearing from God is that listening to His voice helps us prepare for the future. The Holy Spirit gives to us the messages the Father gives to Him, and He often tells us things that will happen in the future.

We find many instances in the Bible in which God spoke to people and gave them information about the future. He told Noah to prepare for a flood that would come to destroy the people of the earth (see Genesis 6:13–17). He told Moses to go to Pharaoh and ask for the release of the Israelites and that Pharaoh would not grant this request (see Exodus 7). Obviously, God does not tell us everything that will happen in the future, but His Word promises He will tell us some things.

There are times when I sense that something good, or perhaps something challenging, is going to happen. When a challenge awaits me and I have some prior knowledge of it, that knowledge helps to cushion the blow when the difficult situation comes. If an automobile with good shock absorbers hits a pothole, those absorbers protect passengers in the car from the jarring impact that would result and no one gets hurt. God’s giving us information ahead of time works the same way.

Part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to tell us things to come. He knows the mind of God and He knows God’s individual plans for our lives. He will reveal what we need to know when we need to know it in order to fulfill the good plans God has for us.

Prayer Starter: Thank You, Lord for Your precious Holy Spirit and for speaking to me about things to come. Help me to continually grow in my relationship with You so I can be even more sensitive to hearing Your voice. 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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Topic: Confront Your Confrontations [TREM Devotional Tuesday May 22, 2018]

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:” Exodus 14:15

Dearly beloved, I want you to know that you have been given all that it takes to succeed in life. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:3 (KJV) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” So this makes you know that no matter the situation or challenge you may be faced with, you have what it takes to succeed.

Our text tells us that the children of God were confronted with a situation, they needed to get to the other side, but the ocean was a major barrier, how were they going to get through, and they had no boats, no canoes, no technology to provide sophisticated equipment, what were they going to do?

To worsen it, turning back was not an option because the Egyptians were on their tails in hot pursuit. At that point, they started to lament and cry out, even regretting their decision to follow Moses, and Moses sought the face of God, and God gave a simple instruction: Go forward. You cannot afford to be intimidated by that challenge, no matter how big it seems, no matter how difficult it is, you serve the Almighty God, He can make and unmake, He is All-Powerful and All-knowing God. Looking at the natural situation confronting them, the instruction to go forward made no sense, but Moses had walked long enough with God to know that He was dealing with the all-powerful God, whose word is yea and Amen. The rest is history, Moses obeyed and generations after generations are still reading the account of the entire nation crossing the red sea.

So, don’t allow any challenge intimidate you. No, don’t shrink back because of any challenge, get a word from Him and obey; and your victory is guaranteed. I declare that you will reign over situations and circumstances. I bless you today in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Further Reading: Exodus 14

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- 1 Chronicles 16-18; Evening- John 7:28-53

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read “TREM’s 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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Topic: Silence The Critics [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Tuesday May 22, 2018]

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. – 1 Peter 2:15

I know from personal experience that when people start to criticize you and persecute you because you live by faith, your natural human response is to want to strike back. You want to start dishing out a little criticism of your own. Maybe if they get a taste of their own medicine, they’ll shut their mouths, you think.

But you know what? They won’t. Your words will just add fuel to their fire and they’ll criticize you harder and louder than they did before.

According to the Word of God, however, there is a way to silence them. Not by arguing with them. Not by defending yourself. But by keeping quiet and continuing to do the good works God has called you to do.

Jesus was highly criticized by the religious establishment of His day. But He never fought back. Instead, Acts 10:38 says He simply went about doing good.

When people start riding you about living the faith life, be like Jesus and just keep on blessing people. Keep on praying for folks who are oppressed by the devil and get them delivered. Keep on laying hands on the sick and getting them healed. Keep on doing what God has called you to do.

That will aggravate the devil because his primary purpose is to make you ineffective for the kingdom of God. He wants you to get wrapped up in the criticism. He wants to distract you, to get your mind off the job God has given you. He really wants you to quit.

Don’t do it! Instead, follow the instructions in 2 Timothy 3:14 and “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of.” Silence the ignorant criticisms of men by continuing to do good and by continuing to live by faith. And when all their foolish words have faded away, you’ll still be standing strong.

Scripture Reading: Luke 23:1-9

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

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