Topic: Be Prepared! [Thursday April 27, 2017]

Text: Luke 12:32-48

Key Verse: “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40).

The Boys’ Scouts motto briefly reads: “Be prepared”. This is at once a synopsis, an abbreviated message to the discerning to be well tutored for every situation in life. Nothing can be more succinct for the believer who is firmly admonished to always be ready for the sudden emergence of Christ at the rapture. Without this state of readiness, the unwary, so-called believer might be left behind.

Jesus teaches the importance of being ready at all times for the rapture. He states that blessed are those servants waiting and watching, giving the illustration that the return of the Lord will be like the break-in of a thief and the loss of precious valuables. He advises believers to be ready always as His coming will be sudden. The uncertainty of the time of the Lord’s return should jolt every believer to never retire to bed at night without taking stock of his or her life and settle any scores with others. It is incumbent on the believer to forgive offenders and remain blameless within and without. During the day, as we go about our duties (whether spiritual or secular), we should be vigilant.

Don’t be too encumbered with or too busy to miss the call-up signal. Don’t be so weighed down by the affairs of this world that you become too heavy to be caught-up to be with the Lord in the air. Get rid of every leaven of carnality, worldliness, hypocrisy and sin which can sap all spiritual strength. The life of Enoch who walked with God for so long and was called up alive is a reality to reflect on. “It is not over until it is over” – so goes the popular saying. And nowhere is this more applicable than in the race to heaven. The countdown to eternity has begun. Get prepared like the bride who is fully prepared for her bridegroom. Get washed in the blood of the Lamb, remain pure and live blamelessly.

Thought for the day: Be ready: it’s not over until it is over.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Corinthians 5-7

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.

Topic: Learning the Language [Thursday April 27, 2017]

Read: Acts 17:22–32, Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 1–2; Luke 19:28–48

As I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Acts 17:23

I stood before the gathering at a small Jamaican church and said in my best local dialect, “Wah Gwan, Jamaica?” The reaction was better than I expected, as smiles and applause greeted me.

In reality, all I had said was the standard greeting, “What’s going on?” in Patois [pa-twa], but to their ears I was saying, “I care enough to speak your language.” Of course I did not yet know enough Patois to continue, but a door had been opened.

When the apostle Paul stood before the people of Athens, he let them know that he knew their culture. He told them that he had noticed their altar to “an unknown god,” and he quoted one of their poets. Of course, not everyone believed Paul’s message about Jesus’s resurrection, but some said, “We want to hear you again on this subject” (Acts 17:32).

As we interact with others about Jesus and the salvation He offers, the lessons of Scripture show us to invest ourselves in others—to learn their language, as it were—as a way to open the door to telling them the good news (see also 1 Cor. 9:20–23).

As we find out “Wah Gwan?” in others’ lives, it will be easier to share what God has done in ours.

Prayer: Show us, Lord, what is important to others. Help us to think of their interests first, and allow opportunities to speak about the love of Jesus.

Before you tell others about Christ, let them see how much you care.

This message was written By Dave Branon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Give It All To God [Thursday April 27, 2017]

Scripture: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Thought For The Day: Commitment to God and His kingdom is key to greatness in life.

The Kingdom of God deserves the highest level of commitment on earth. As a Christian, your commitment to God should be greater than your commitment to your official work or anything else. This is because your primary assignment on earth is to be committed and dedicated to God.

Unfortunately, many Christians are more committed to money-making and career pursuits than they are to God who created them and, therefore, deserves their full commitment.

Abraham was a man who was doggedly committed to God. In Genesis 12:1-5, God disconnected him from physical relationships and associations yet he agreed to follow God. Abraham had a place where he met with God on a daily basis; it was a rigid routine (Genesis 19:27). It was Abraham’s habit to greet God first thing in the morning before talking to any man. In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son and he agreed. What a sacrificial heart!

Beloved, I counsel you to dare to be like Abraham; be committed to God and His Kingdom.

Remember this: Commitment to God and His kingdom is key to greatness in life.

Assignment(s):

1. Show God how committed you are to Him by your lifestyle of giving.

2. Give Him your life, time, resources and energy.

3. Put God first in everything you do.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE:  HOUSE OF GLORY

Prayer: Lord, I give You my life, soul and possessions. Do with me whatever You will, LORD, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Reading: Judges 7:1 to 8:17, Luke 23:13 to 43, Psalm 97:1 to 98:9, Proverbs 14:7 to 8.

Quote: Your favour for God’s Kingdom will command God’s favour in your direction. Culled from 30 SECRETS TO THE TOP by Dr Paul Enenche.

Amazing Fact: A flamingo can eat only when its head is upside down.

Today In History: 27/04/1945 – The Second Republic was founded in Austria.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Dr 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.

…….. Reports Profit before Tax of ₦50.39Billion
Lagos, Nigeria – April, 2017: Guaranty Trust Bank plc has released its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 to the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges.

A review of the results shows positive performance across all financial indices, reaffirming the Bank’s position as one of the most profitable and well managed financial institutions in Nigeria. Gross earnings for the period grew by 39% to ₦104.66billion from ₦75.39billion reported in March 2016; driven primarily by growth in interest income. Profit before tax stood at ₦50.39billion, representing a growth of 64% over ₦30.68billion recorded in the corresponding period of March 2016. The Bank’s loan to customers dipped marginally by 2% from ₦1.591trillion recorded in December 2016 to ₦1.563trillion as at March 2017. Deposit from customers grew marginally by 1% from ₦1.986trillion in December 2016 to ₦2.012trillion in March 2017.

The Bank’s balance sheet remained strong with a 1.6% growth in Total Assets as the Bank closed the quarter ended March 2017 with Total Assets of ₦3.16trillion and Shareholders’ Funds of ₦546.9Billion. The Bank’s non-performing loans remained low and within regulatory threshold at 3.62% (Bank: 3.27%) with adequate coverage of 231.6% (Bank: 266.6%). Capital remains strong with CAR of 20.03%. On the backdrop of this result, Return on Equity (ROAE) and Return on Assets (ROAA) closed at 31.55% and 5.28% respectively.

Commenting on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said that “Given the significant progress we made in 2016, we came into the year better equipped to navigate any further economic headwinds, and our performance in the first quarter demonstrates our ability to deliver sustainable long-term growth. We remain committed to maximizing shareholders’ value and delivering superior and sustainable return, guided by our founding values of hard work, discipline and integrity.

He further stated that “As we transform our organization into a platform for enriching lives, we are providing our customers with information and access they need to thrive. We are also leveraging our brand and networks to support small businesses through free business platforms and capacity building initiatives.

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry and reported the best financial ratios for a Financial Institution in the industry with a return on equity (ROE) of 31.55% and a cost to income ratio of 38.75%, evidencing the efficient management of the banks’ assets. Overall, the Bank has enshrined its position as a clear leader in the industry.

In due recognition of the Bank’s leading role in Africa’s banking industry, owing to its bias for world class corporate governance standards and excellent service delivery and innovation, GTBank was  recognized in 2016 as the Best Bank in Nigeria by Euromoney, Most Innovative Bank in Africa by African Investor and Best Banking Group Nigeria by World Finance Magazine.

In almost every home in Nigeria, you will find a generator because power is unstable. Some run their generator for 24 hours while others run it in the night.  However, in recent times, we have heard of people dying because of generator fumes. It is unfortunate but true. Obviously, this carbon monoxide is very harmful to the body. In line with this, Jumia Travel and Jumia Mobile Week shares lifesaving tips for running a generator at home.

Your generator should be far away from your window

As long as generators use dirty energy such fuel or diesel, it will always release fumes. So, it should be reasonably far away from your window. Do not say that because you tightly shut your window and doors, you want to place it beside it. It is dangerous.

Use your generator outdoor

You will be shocked that some people in this country use their generator right in their parlour or sitting room. They don’t want to leave it outside for fear of it being stolen or because they are too lazy to go outside to switch it off. You are joking with your life if you continue with this practice.

Do not run it in an enclosed area

A generator needs ventilation to function properly because of the heat it produces while it is working. Always use your generator in an open space so that it will be able to breathe. A generator may stop working or explode if there is no ventilation.

Turn off all your appliances

Before you start your generator, turn off all your appliances to prevent any damage. This is because a power surge can destroy your devices. Also, do not overload your generator.

Never refuel a hot generator

It is no gainsaying that you should not refuel a generator while it is running let alone when it is hot. Your generator may explode if you do this. Hence, switch off before refuelling.

Periodic maintenance

Always maintain your generator by taking it for regular checkup especially when it produces fumes. Sooner or rather than later, it will collapse.

By Adeniyi OGUNFOWOKE
PR Associate at Jumia Travel
+2348090747241

Insecurities have a way of interfering with our lives in very inconvenient and sometimes frustrating ways. This is why the need to deal with them can’t be overemphasized. Jumia Travel and Jumia Mobile Week share 6 ways to successfully deal with insecurities.

Vocalize Your Self-Critical Thoughts

The primary fuel for insecurities is the critical inner voice people have formed concerning certain area(s) of their lives out of painful or difficult life experiences. You need to learn to vocalize these self-critical thoughts or write them down in the second person, so rather than saying “I’m fat. I’m ugly”, you would instead say, “You’re fat. You’re ugly”. This process will help you separate these vicious attacks by seeing them as an external enemy or force, rather than your real point of view.

Expose the Critical Self Thoughts

What insights and reactions do you have when you separate yourself from those critical self thoughts? Do they remind you of anyone or any specific thing from your past? Asking yourself these questions will eventually help you discover the relationship between these insecurities and early life experiences. After this, it will be easier to understand why they are there and will be much easier to address them, reject them and move on from them.

Make Connections

After exposing the critical self thoughts, you should settle down and make connections between the voice attacks and your present day behaviors. You need to ask yourself, “How are these voice attacks or critical thoughts influencing my behaviors?”, “What are these attacks or insecurities making me do, or what are they holding me back from doing?”, “What events trigger these voice attacks?”, “In what areas are my insecurities most influential?”.

Stand Up to Your Insecurities

People often struggle with this process, but it requires determination and a strong will to be free of these insecurities. You have to decide that enough is enough. Once you’ve exposed the critical self thoughts, it’s time to confront them and respond to these critical voice attacks. You respond to these voice attacks strictly and confront them with statements about who you want to be, not what the voice says you are. You can also respond to the attacks the way you would a friend – with compassion and kindness.

Your Feelings Don’t Dictate Your Reaction

Standing up to your insecurities means that you understand that the fact that you might still feel insecure doesn’t matter. Insecurities aren’t feelings; they are mindsets you have to deal with. Stop being emotional about it and concentrate on getting rid of that mindset. Keep saying ‘no’ to the mindset, keep rejecting the insecure mindset until it’s gone.

Avoid Your Triggers or Learn to Live With Them

Once you’ve identified your triggers of insecurity, it will be easier to avoid them if you can. However, if you can’t avoid them, the next thing is to learn to live with them. This is also easy but requires a bit more effort. We are not born with insecurities, insecurities are learned behaviours; it’s only that they are learned unconsciously. Learning to live with your insecurities means taking active steps to learn new behaviours around your triggers to override the ones that fuel your insecurities. Over time (30 days according to scientific research), the triggers will lose their effect on you. But you have to be determined and not give up throughout the process.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
+2348101556883

Today’s Scripture: “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – (John 10:10, NKJV)

Topic: Abundant Life Today [Wednesday April 26, 2017]

Are you living the abundant life Jesus came to give? I’m not talking about living in the fanciest house or driving the newest car. No, His promise of abundant life goes way beyond material things that this world offers. Abundant life means “life to the full.” That means no matter what is going on around you, you can partake of the full blessings of God. You can have peace in the midst of a storm. You can have joy when things are uncertain. You can have hope when circumstances seem hopeless. As believers, a lot of times it’s easy to look at that verse and think, “God is going to give me abundant life someday.” But the truth is that God wants you to have abundant life TODAY! Don’t waste another second living in mediocrity or settling for less than God’s best. Receive His blessings by faith today. Receive His hope, joy, strength and favor. Declare that you are living the abundant life today and every day!

A Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I can have eternal life. I know that You want the best for me. Help me to keep my heart and mind focused on You so that I can walk in Your ways all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

A Promise For You From Bible Promises:

Topic: Righteousness Through Christ [26/04/2017]

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3:9. Read: Isa 64:5-7

Please note, when you say it’s not possible, that particular thing remains impossible to you. Because all things are possible to them that believe in the God of possibilities. Many do not believe any can be perfect and righteous as Jesus said in Matt 5:48 because they don’t understand how it works. The righteousness of a man the Bible says is like a filthy rag. This is not the righteousness we are talking about. No. Not the righteousness that comes from the law.

The righteousness and perfection Jesus talked about is the one through Faith in Him. man is too filthy for God to behold, but when you surrender your life to Jesus Christ, His righteousness envelops you before God to behold. God can no longer see you as you are, but sees you through Jesus’s righteousness. You are righteous through faith in Christ Jesus, not because of your work, no. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus only when you have faith on the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

#BiblePromisesThought

* I am Holy, righteous in Christ Jesus who has called me into glory and virtue.

Topic: Knowing What You Ought To Know [Wednesday April 26, 2017]

That which I see not teach Thou me… – Job 34:32

The purpose of knowledge is improvement and perfection.

It is those who think they know enough that pride themselves.

Those who actually know usually seek to know more.

There is what you know and there is what you ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:1, 2

What you ought to know that you are yet to know is what makes you incomplete.

Jesus said to the rich man, “If you’ll be perfect, one more thing remains.”

Job acknowledged, “That which I know not, teach Thou me.”

Paul cried out, “That I may know Him!” Philippians 3:10.

One would wonder, “What more does Paul want to know, having known so much?” Yet he cried to know more.

God responds only to panting, hungry hearts.

Are you panting after God?

What you know is already stale, if you don’t seek to know more, what you know now will lead to your stalement.