Rhapsody of Realities 6 March 2019 – Beautifying Your Spirit

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Rhapsody of Realities 6 March 2019 – Beautifying Your Spirit

Rhapsody of Realities 6 March 2019 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – Beautifying Your Spirit

Topic: Beautifying Your Spirit

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai carrying the two Tablets of The Testimony, he didn’t know that the skin of his face glowed because he had been speaking with GOD (Exodus 34:29 MSG).

Man is a spirit being and not a physical body. Many, however, have put a premium on their outward appearance; they go through rigorous exercises and dietary plans; some even go through severe surgical procedures to maintain or enhance their physical looks.

But you see, don’t be carried away by all the praise you might receive for your outward appearance. The truth is, there’s no glory like that of your spirit. That should be your dream: beautifying your human spirit!

1 Peter 1:23 says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” Thus, you’re born of the Word, and contemplating the Word should be a priority. When you study the Word or receive its ministry in teaching or preaching, it glorifies or beautifies your spirit. You’re strengthened, energized and invigorated for greater works.

Moses had an experience recorded in Exodus 34. He had spent so much time (forty days and forty nights) with God on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments. When he came down from the mountain, his face radiated the glory of God, such that everyone who saw him couldn’t look at him.

Moses had to wear a veil to shroud the glory that had rubbed off on him (Exodus 34:29-33). That’s the effect of deep contemplation and meditation on the Word. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The Word of God is where the glory is, and the New Covenant is far more glorious. As you receive the Word, at your quiet time, devotion, or church services, the intensity of the glory in your life is increased; you’re enraptured, beautified, and enveloped by His glory.

PRAYER
 Dear Father, thank you for your Word, which causes your glory to shine forth with much intensity in my life and in all that I’m connected with. As I meditate on the Word of faith, I experience victory, divine health, and blessings! My life is an expression of your supernatural grace, glory, perfection, beauty and righteousness. I’m continually metamorphosed from glory to glory, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
 1 Timothy 4:15; John 1:14; 2 Timothy 3:15-16

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
 Mark 11:27-12:1-17 & Numbers 18-19

2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
 Matthew 20:24-34 & Exodus 15

Click HERE to Read previous Messages

Rhapsody of Realities 6th March 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.

The post Rhapsody of Realities 6 March 2019 – Beautifying Your Spirit appeared first on Flatimes.

Police cuts are linked to rising knife crime, retired Christian inspector says

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Police cuts are linked to rising knife crime, retired Christian inspector says

Julia Jaegar, who left the force and is now a voluntary police chaplain with Surrey Police, told Premier: “We have seen police number cuts since 2010.

“We seem to have become a much more violent society. Many more people are carrying knifes or weapons, which they never used to do.

 

“They think other people are carrying a weapon, therefore they will.”

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick echoed that sentiment on Tuesday and acknowledged a link between violent crime and officer numbers – contradicting Theresa May.

The comments come after two 17-year-olds were killed in separate stabbings in London and Greater Manchester at the weekend.

Jaegar said she did agree with Mrs May wanting to tackle the root cause of rising violence.

PA

 

She told Premier’s News Hour: “We seem to have become a much more violent society.

“Many more people are carrying knifes or weapons, which they never used to do. They think other people are carrying a weapon, therefore they will.

“We have much more violent computer games so young people are exposed to violence from an early age.”

While she said she didn’t know the solution, she stressed the importance of government, families and schools working together to help counter violence.

“I also think as a Christian, successive governments and councils have taken RE out of the school syllabus so…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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‘Not a Single Bible Was Burned’, Fire Department Says after Responding to Dangerous Church Fire

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‘Not a Single Bible Was Burned’, Fire Department Says after Responding to Dangerous Church Fire


‘Not a Single Bible Was Burned’, Fire Department Says after Responding to Dangerous Church Fire


In the early morning hours Sunday, a fire broke out at a West Virginia church sparing nothing but the bibles and crosses inside. 


According to WIVB, firefighters arrived the Freedom Ministries Church in Grandview, W Va. at 1:00 am on Sunday to see the building engulfed in flames.


In a post shared by the Coal City Fire Department on Facebook, the fire department noted the miraculous nature of the spared Bibles.


The fire department wrote, “On March 3 around 12:58 am our department was dispatched to assist Beaver VFD with a structure fire at the Freedom Ministries Church, located in Grandview WV.”


“Though odds were against us, God was not,” they wrote.

The fire department then painted a picture of the night of the fire writing, “Picture this, a building so hot that at one point in time, firefighters had to back out. In your mind, everything should be burned, ashes.”


Yet, “Not a single Bible was burned and not a single cross was harmed!! Not a single firefighter was hurt!” the post proclaimed.



After posting about the Bibles miraculous survivals through the raging church fire many people took to Facebook to share similar experiences.


Dean Vandall commented on the post saying, “Out of every structure fire I have responded to in the past 20 years, not one Bible has burned, they might have smoke damage or chared (sic)…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Five Findings about Gen Z That Will Impact Churches

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Podcast Episode #516

SUBSCRIBE:
iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn Radio • Google Play • iHeart Radio • Spotify

The oldest members of Gen Z are just entering college and the work force. Today, we discuss a recent Wall Street Journal article on Gen Z and the generation’s implications on the church.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Instagram is generally the social media network of choice for Millennials and Gen Z.
  • Gen Z gets its news from social media, not from traditional media.
  • The next generation of people are on social networks. If churches want to reach them well, they must be on social networks as well.
  • Even with an increased digital presence, younger generations still need in-person community.

The five Gen Z traits we discuss are:

  1. Gen Z does not distinguish between digital and IRL.
  2. Facebook is out; Instagram is in.
  3. Gen Z gets its news from social media.
  4. Gen Z’s appetite for reading is surprising.
  5. This generation worries about tech addiction.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network

Episode Sponsors

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 your church.

For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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U.S. Closes Jerusalem Consulate, Causing Concern Among Palestinians and Their Advocates

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U.S. Closes Jerusalem Consulate, Causing Concern Among Palestinians and Their Advocates


U.S. Closes Jerusalem Consulate, Causing Concern Among Palestinians and Their Advocates


The United States closed the doors on its consulate in East Jerusalem Monday. The consulate acted as the “de facto embassy” to the Palestinians, but now most of its work will be carried out from the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.


Also, Consul General Karen Sasahara, who has been acting as what many describe as the “de facto ambassador to the Palestinians,” will be leaving Jerusalem. 


Critics see this as another move from the Trump Administration signaling that they want to pursue a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but State Department spokesman Robert Palladino tried to preempt concerns about a policy shift in his statement announcing the closure. “This decision was driven by our global efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our diplomatic engagements and operations. It does not signal a change of U.S. policy on Jerusalem, the West Bank, or the Gaza Strip.


Palestinian officials interpreted the decision differently. On official, Saeb Erekat, said it was “the final nail in the coffin” for the United States’ role as key peacemaker in the region. Critics also said that closing the consulate will make it more difficult for U.S. diplomats in the region to understand developments in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. They also say that it sends the message that the United States is seeking a…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Christian MP Onasanya loses challenge against conviction for perverting the course of justice

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Christian MP Onasanya loses challenge against conviction for perverting the course of justice

The 35-year-old solicitor was expelled from the Labour Party after being found guilty in December last year.

She was jailed for three months at the Old Bailey in January and was released from prison after serving one month behind bars.

Representing herself at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Onasanya told the court: “The charge against me was perverting the course of justice.

“I said from the outset, and I still maintain my innocence, that I did not do that.”

But she was refused permission for a full appeal by three leading judges.

Jurors at the Old Bailey were told that she colluded with her brother Festus after her car was clocked speeding at 41mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Thorney, near Peterborough, in July 2017.

She was sent a notice of intended prosecution to fill out, but it was sent back naming the guilty driver as Aleks Antipow, an acquaintance of her brother, who was away visiting his parents in Russia.

Festus Onasanya, 34, from Cambridge, was jailed for 10 months after he admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice over speeding, including the July 24 incident.

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

Tell us what you think about our news service, what you want and how Premier fits into your news…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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AI-powered grocery stores and Chip and Joanna Gaines: How to use the temporal for the eternal

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AI-powered grocery stores and Chip and Joanna Gaines: How to use the temporal for the eternal

Imagine a day when your grocery cart will scan and weigh items, alert you to sales, suggest items based on what you’ve already chosen, and help locate products in the store. It will then scan your credit card to check out.

Here’s an even-easier fantasy: You could download a free app, scan a QR code at the store’s entrance, grab items off the shelves, then exit through the turnstiles. By the time you’re halfway to your car, you’ll receive a receipt in the app.

Sounds like science fiction? It’s actually just science. The Wall Street Journal tells us that AI-powered shopping is already here and coming to stores nationwide this year.

Will a robot drive your next taxi?

Here’s another fiction-to-fact story: According to Bloomberg Businessweek, robot-driven taxis will soon make travel in a driverless cab much cheaper than owning our own car. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are making personal car ownership less attractive as well.

FedEx is testing autonomous delivery robots that will bring products from Pizza Hut, Walmart, Walgreens, and other companies to your door. AutoZone, Lowe’s, and Target have also signed on to the program.

An adjunct professor at Stanford School of Medicine has developed an AI-assisted mental health platform. Woebot offers flexibility for patients by being available at any hour of the day. This virtual counselor also offers anonymity that might free patients worried about how their therapist is evaluating them.

And an unmanned space capsule has docked at the International Space Station. The SpaceX vessel is carrying a data-collecting test dummy named Ripley, which will monitor how traveling in the craft may affect humans in the future.

“The deadliest animal in history”

Humans can do amazing things. However, we are still finite people living in a fallen world.

I just finished reading No Beast So Fierce by Dane Huckelbridge. The subtitle tells the tale: The…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Coventry Cathedral praying for city’s football club as it faces extinction

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Coventry Cathedral praying for city’s football club as it faces extinction

Coventry City, who play in League One, could be forced out of the area or, even worse, become extinct due to a row over where they play their games.

The team currently plays at the Ricoh Arena, owned by rugby club Wasps, but their contract runs out at the end of the season.

 

Owners of the football club have been told they need to confirm where they intend to play next season by league organisers.

The club has stated their intention is to remain at the stadium but Wasps are currently refusing to renegotiate as Coventry City’s owners are currently involved in legal action with the city council, who previously owned the stadium.

It’s not the first time Coventry City have faced this situation. Back in 2013 they were forced to play games in Northampton.

Following that move, the Dean of Coventry, Very Rev John Witcombe helped mediate a deal which brought the Sky Blues back to the city.

Speaking as the club face a Tuesday deadline, the Cathedral said in statement: “Coventry Cathedral continues to be very concerned for a good outcome to the long running dispute over the position of Coventry City Football Club in its home city.

“We were privileged to be involved in some of the discussions that led to a return to the Ricoh stadium in 2014, and will continue to pray for a swift resolution to this present impasse, for the good of both the club and the city.

“We would encourage all…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Marriage – A Garden Full Of Treasures By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

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Marriage – A Garden Full Of Treasures By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Marriage – A Garden Full Of Treasures

Dear Reader,

I welcome you to another interesting edition of Family Life. It is my prayer that God’s word will illuminate your family life, in Jesus name. All through this month, I will be sharing with you on a subject, which I titled, Marriage – A garden full of treasures.

Marriage can be likened to a garden. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a garden is a piece of ground used for growing things such as flowers, fruit, vegetables, etc. The Bible tells us that the marriage garden was planted by God Himself …the Lord God planted a garden… (Genesis 2:8). Marriage is not just an ordinary garden, but a garden full of treasures.

God, Himself is the Great Planter of this garden and you can be sure that His design is the best. The maximum yield of a physical garden is determined by the use to which it is put, and how well it is taken care of. The marriage garden operates this way, too. Put this garden to the best use and you will get maximum yield from it. If you take proper care of it, the output will be affected positively. This week, I will be showing you how to dig out the treasure in the marriage garden.

Treasures are highly valued objects, which when profitably traded with, take one off the realm of the ordinary to that of the supernatural. They also raise one from the realm of poverty to riches. In the same way, when the treasures in marriage are properly harnessed, one is bound to enjoy success. You must believe that those treasures are there and then consciously dig them out before you can profit by them. I am a living witness and testimony to the fact that the marriage garden is full of treasures.

Also Read: Clear Principles for a Blissful Marriage (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

By the grace of God, I have already started digging out some of the treasures in it, and I tell you, they are profitable. God is no respecter of persons; the same Lord is rich unto all. You can also start digging out the treasures and make use of them, to the glory of God.

You will observe that I said digging, not wishing. That means you cannot get the treasures in marriage by wishing. Haven’t you heard, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride?” Well, wishes are not horses. So, you cannot stay in your house and say, “How I wish I can enjoy the treasures in the family.” You must work for it. There can be no achievement without demand. The strength required for digging will be supplied to you, in Jesus name.

You may ask, how then do I dig out the treasure in this garden? The act of digging is a process, let us examine some:

Wisdom

Digging to know the one you are married to is a must. We must study and understand our spouses. Proverbs 24:3 says: Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established. If you want an established and fulfilled home, you must utilize the tool of understanding to dig into your spouse. Remember, what your home becomes is determined by how much you have invested in digging up its treasures. Solomon wanted to establish the kingdom God gave him. So, when God appeared unto him and told him to ask whatever he wanted, he asked for wisdom to rule God’s people, and God gave it to him (1kings 3:9,12). You too can ask God for wisdom to cultivate the marriage garden so as to reap the treasure therein.

Diligence

Diligence is defined as a careful and persistent effort. Many people don’t want to dig, but they want to enjoy the treasures. Most treasures are buried deep inside the earth, and you have to diligently dig to find it. Diligent digging is required to have access to the treasures in the home. The Bible says in Hebrews 6:11, And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. This means that to see what you hope for being fully realized, diligence is required.

Other requirements for digging up treasures in the marriage garden are determination, patience and time. Remember God is the Great Planter of the marriage garden. If you must enjoy the treasures in your marriage garden, you must first identify with the planter.

If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: 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: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-authored).

“Please click HERE 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.

The post Marriage – A Garden Full Of Treasures By Pastor Faith Oyedepo appeared first on Flatimes.

Joyce Meyer Devotional 5 March 2019 — Wait Patiently

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Joyce Meyer Devotional 5 March 2019 — Wait Patiently

Topic: Wait Patiently [Joyce Meyer Devotional 5 March 2019]

So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord… — James 5:7 (AMP)

James starts his epistle writing about patience, and here in the last chapter he writes about patience again. Patience is not just the ability to wait; it is the ability to keep a good attitude while we are waiting.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that can only be developed under trial. That is the reason God permits us to go through times of testing and difficulty instead of delivering us from them as quickly as we would like. God always has a plan for our deliverance, but He wants us to grow and stretch so we will be stronger when we come out of the trial.

Isaiah 40:31 is a well-known verse about waiting on the Lord: But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired (AMP).

This verse teaches us that waiting on God is expecting, looking for, and hoping in Him. It is spending time with Him in His Word and in His presence. We do not worry while we wait on God; we do not get frustrated while we wait on God; we do not get upset while we wait on God. We rest in faith believing God will do what needs to be done for us at the right time.

Learning to wait with patience and hopeful expectation is a mark of spiritual maturity. When we find ourselves having to wait on something, we can patiently take a seat in Him and rest in God’s presence. The promise of God’s peace is not made to those who work and struggle in their own strength but to those who rest in Christ Jesus. As we wait on Him, our strength is renewed.

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to wait well—with patience and hopeful expectation. Help me to use the challenging times in life as opportunities to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer Devotional 5 March 2019 — Wait Patiently appeared first on Flatimes.

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