North Korean Christians warn food shortage is stunting growth of children

The secretive state determines what food rations its citizens will receive.

A source wishing to remain anonymous told Christian charity Open Doors: “Not too long ago I met a North Korean refugee family in China.

 

“Their children were the ages of my children at the time – nine and six – or so it seemed. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“They were 14 and nine. But their growth was stunted because they had been malnourished their entire lives.”

Another source inside North Korea told the charity: “Recently, North Korean citizens were asked to donate money towards several construction projects.

“In the meantime, often we don’t get any food rations, even though we’re at the end of the winter, which always means that there are a lot of food shortages. The situation of the powerless North Korean citizens is getting worse.”

Open Doors claim the harvest goes directly to the government and what remains is “too little for most people to survive”.

The North Korean government recently announced that daily rations would have to be cut from 550g to 300g.

A kilo of rice costs more than twice the average monthly salary of a North Korean.

At a cost of £59 per family per month, Open Doors secret workers smuggle in enough food to keep 60,000 secret Christians alive in North Korea. They also smuggle in much-needed medicines, along with illegal Bibles and Christian literature.

The country has…

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Bishop confirms woman 92 years after her baptism

The Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev Philip North, confirmed Dorothy Hopwood from Helmshore in Lancashire – who was then able to take Holy Communion for the first time immediately after.

Hopwood has lived in Helmshore and attended her current church St Thomas’ for her whole life.

 

She missed out on Confirmation as a youngster because her mother, who was Methodist, attended a different church.

Bishop Philip said: “Jesus Christ is for everyone and it is never too late to say yes to his love. Very often we confirm children as they make promises of faith.

“It has been very beautiful therefore to confirm Dorothy at the age of 92. It is a sign to everyone that Jesus is offering them fullness of life, and it is never too late to say yes to that offer.”

 

Hopwood’s parish priest, Fr David Stephenson described her as “always a source of fun and always a smiling face”.

Fr Stephenson added: “Dorothy has continued to keep her faith at the centre of her life, although her high regard for the Church and for the Eucharist has meant that she has felt unable to receive Holy Communion, until now of course.

 

“She is a resident at Raven Croft, a community of mostly elderly folk who live in bungalows and share facilities in their ‘Community Room’. I go in once a month to celebrate the Eucharist for…

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Christians hand out flowers at Birmingham mosque after New Zealand terror attack

James Lynch and Marcus Kapers of Riverside Church gave out flowers to worshippers as they left Birmingham Central Mosque after the terror attack that killed 49 people and injured at least 20 others.

Mr Lynch said: “We were just really devastated this morning to hear the news, like a lot of people were, and we just thought there’s got to be a way of making a gesture to our friends here at the mosque, so we just wanted to let people to know that we love them, and we’re sorry for what happened.”

 

Right-wing extremist Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder after opening fire on worshippers attending Friday prayers.

World leaders have sent messages of condolence to the victims and their families. The Queen stated that she had been “saddened by the appalling events”.

Ben Birchall/PA Wire

 

The country’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, described the killings as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days”, adding: “What has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”

In a separate show of support, a fundraiser for the victims of the shooting at two mosques in Christchurch raised more than 380,000 New Zealand dollars (£197,000) within hours of the tragedy.

AP Photo/Mark Baker

 

Created by New Zealand charity Victim Support, the appeal had over 6,000 donors at 2am local time, after a press…

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The Love of Money by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

The Love of Money by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

Topic: The Love of Money

1Tim.6:10 -For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Money is not bad; it is the love of money that is bad. The moment you begin to love money, you will start doing things you ought not to do as a child of God. Anything that will make a man to go for money at all cost will destroy his life with sorrows. Gehazi was supposed to carry the double anointing of Elisha but he ended up carrying leprosy all because of the love of money.

Matt. 26:14 -16 -Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

No one can sell you off without the help of someone very close to you. To get Jesus, Judas was used. Judas destroyed his life because of the love of money; he committed suicide. There are so many believers who are ready to do anything just to get money; if you are one of such persons, stop it before it destroys you.

Many people have died untimely because of the love of money. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira his wife died inside the church due to love of money. Love of money kill people more than anything else.

Acts 5:3-5 – But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Acts 5:9-10 -Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Wisdom demands that you should not make money a god. Watch your dealings that involve money. Why do you swindle your business colleague when the profit of the business comes? Don’t kill yourself in church so that it will look as if the church is not praying enough. You will not die untimely in Jesus name –Amen!

God bless you

Also Read Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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Dangers of Desperation – Anglican Communion 16 March 2019

The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 March 2019 – Dangers of Desperation

TOPIC: Dangers of Desperation

READ: Job 7:1-10 King James Version (KJV)

1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:

3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

THE MESSAGE:

Job, out of anguish resulting from his suffering, has expressed his feelings. In desperation, he has seen nothing good in his life. His flesh has been eaten up with worms and dust (verse 5).

Every hope for life was gone and everything has totally become futile. Under this situation, the only alternative was death. As humans limited in knowledge about the source of his predicament, he took to negative confessions. God, though silent over the matter, had purposed to glorify His name through Job but he did not know.
Christians should not despair or take to negative confessions when passing through suffering.

Alternatively, they should confess positively. This will help such a person to endure and see affliction from an eternal perspective and ultimately to triumph over such situations. We should learn from Abraham who against hope had hope and was blessed to be the father of many nations.

It will pay us more if we humbly reason with God over such uncommon matters than to despair. He knows the details of what we are passing through and will make a way of escape and fast too. Desperation does not solve problems; rather it wounds our spirit and leaves us defeated.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please help my weakness so that I will not despair in time of affliction.

Click HERE to read previous messages

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Train Your Senses – Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019

Topic: Train Your Senses [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019]

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. – Hebrews 5:13-14

You’re spiritually “grown up” or mature when, through practice, you have trained your senses to discern between good and evil. You’ve practiced walking in the spirit and renewing your mind by the Word of God until even your flesh habitually goes God’s way instead of the world’s way.

Stop and think for a moment. Aren’t there some things your old flesh used to pressure you to do before you made Jesus Lord of your life that you don’t even want to do anymore?

There are for me. For example, I used to smoke tobacco, and I felt sorry for all those Christians who couldn’t. But you know what? Now that I’m a believer, I have no desire for tobacco anymore. It is not even part of my thoughts, much less my lifestyle.

That’s the kind of thing that happens as you feed and renew your mind on the Word of God. It doesn’t necessarily happen quickly or easily. Your flesh may fight and buck for a while because it’s been trained to go the way of the world so long. But if you stick with the Word and keep growing, your flesh can develop the habit of righteousness just like it developed the habit of unrighteousness.

Don’t starve your spirit by trying to get by on just a little spiritual milk now and then. Develop the habit of feeding on the solid food of the Word every day and find out what real maturity is all about.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3

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.

The post Train Your Senses – Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.

Train Your Senses – Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019

Topic: Train Your Senses [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019]

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. – Hebrews 5:13-14

You’re spiritually “grown up” or mature when, through practice, you have trained your senses to discern between good and evil. You’ve practiced walking in the spirit and renewing your mind by the Word of God until even your flesh habitually goes God’s way instead of the world’s way.

Stop and think for a moment. Aren’t there some things your old flesh used to pressure you to do before you made Jesus Lord of your life that you don’t even want to do anymore?

There are for me. For example, I used to smoke tobacco, and I felt sorry for all those Christians who couldn’t. But you know what? Now that I’m a believer, I have no desire for tobacco anymore. It is not even part of my thoughts, much less my lifestyle.

That’s the kind of thing that happens as you feed and renew your mind on the Word of God. It doesn’t necessarily happen quickly or easily. Your flesh may fight and buck for a while because it’s been trained to go the way of the world so long. But if you stick with the Word and keep growing, your flesh can develop the habit of righteousness just like it developed the habit of unrighteousness.

Don’t starve your spirit by trying to get by on just a little spiritual milk now and then. Develop the habit of feeding on the solid food of the Word every day and find out what real maturity is all about.

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3

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.

The post Train Your Senses – Kenneth Copeland Devotional 16 March 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.

Touched By Love – Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019

Topic: Touched By Love [Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019]

Mark 1:41, “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him…. and he was cleansed.”

Text: Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-15

Only Mark records this important statement that Jesus was “moved with compassion” in the healing of this leper. There are three other instances in the gospels when Jesus was moved with compassion which resulted in healing (Mt. 14:14; 20:34; Lk. 7:13; and once in deliverance – Mk.5:19). The difference between seeing a person healed or not healed many times is this all-important ingredient of love.

All three of the Gospel accounts record Jesus touching this leper. This not only illustrates the doctrine of “laying on of hands”, but was probably included because according to Numbers 19:22, this action would have made Jesus unclean. This illustrates the New Testament ministry of the Spirit versus the Old Testament ministry of the letter of the law (2 Cor. 3:6).

Jesus did not have to avoid the ceremonial uncleanness that would come from physical contact with a leper because He came to bear our sins in His own body. As can be seen from Mark’s account, two things happened: (1) the leprosy departed and (2) the man was cleansed. Jesus not only removed the disease but restored the damaged parts of his body. This leper was healed as soon as Jesus spoke.

The Word of God is the will of God, and it reveals that it is always God’s will to heal. Jesus often healed people by touching them, and others received their healing as they touched Jesus. You can transmit the power or the anointing of God through the laying on of hands. Let Him use you today to touch others.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

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).

The post Touched By Love – Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.

Touched By Love – Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019

Topic: Touched By Love [Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019]

Mark 1:41, “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him…. and he was cleansed.”

Text: Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 5:12-15

Only Mark records this important statement that Jesus was “moved with compassion” in the healing of this leper. There are three other instances in the gospels when Jesus was moved with compassion which resulted in healing (Mt. 14:14; 20:34; Lk. 7:13; and once in deliverance – Mk.5:19). The difference between seeing a person healed or not healed many times is this all-important ingredient of love.

All three of the Gospel accounts record Jesus touching this leper. This not only illustrates the doctrine of “laying on of hands”, but was probably included because according to Numbers 19:22, this action would have made Jesus unclean. This illustrates the New Testament ministry of the Spirit versus the Old Testament ministry of the letter of the law (2 Cor. 3:6).

Jesus did not have to avoid the ceremonial uncleanness that would come from physical contact with a leper because He came to bear our sins in His own body. As can be seen from Mark’s account, two things happened: (1) the leprosy departed and (2) the man was cleansed. Jesus not only removed the disease but restored the damaged parts of his body. This leper was healed as soon as Jesus spoke.

The Word of God is the will of God, and it reveals that it is always God’s will to heal. Jesus often healed people by touching them, and others received their healing as they touched Jesus. You can transmit the power or the anointing of God through the laying on of hands. Let Him use you today to touch others.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

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).

The post Touched By Love – Andrew Wommack Devotional 16 March 2019 appeared first on Flatimes.

The Secret of Contentment – Billy Graham Devotional 16 March 2019

Topic: The Secret of Contentment [Billy Graham Devotional 16 March 2019]

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead . . . — Ephesians 1:19,20 (TLB)

Jesus told His disciples that the world would hate them. They would be “as sheep in the midst of wolves.” They would be arrested, scourged, and brought before governors and kings. Even their loved ones would persecute them. As the world hated and persecuted Him, so it would treat His servants. Thousands of Christians have learned the secret of contentment and joy in trial. Some of the happiest Christians I have met have been lifelong sufferers. They have had every reason to sigh and complain, being denied so many privileges and pleasures that they see others enjoy, yet they have found greater cause for gratitude and joy than many who are prosperous, vigorous and strong.

In all ages, Christians have found it possible to maintain the spirit of joy in the hour of trial. In circumstances that would have felled most men, they have so completely risen above them that they actually have used the circumstances to serve and glorify Christ.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, keep us ever mindful of the need to rejoice in You constantly; to go beyond the circumstance, no matter how desperate, and to see You as our hope and joy.

“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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