Linden, who met his wife Roslyn at church, started posting a thread on Twitter on Friday night saying “The next couple of nights are quite significant for our little girl”, showing how their five month old daughter Jessica has progressed from needing constant medical attention to being able to be taken out with portable oxygen canisters on his back.
The baby girl needs oxygen 24/7 and the MP for Glasgow East explained they have: “forty feet of oxygen cabling trailing around the house” but that she is having a sleep study to see if that will still be necessary.
[THREAD] The next couple of nights are quite significant for our little girl. Jessica was born premature 5 months ago and has been at home with us on 24/7 oxygen for the last four months. pic.twitter.com/QPFL6vQsmq
In a thread of posts on Twitter the MP showed her on a swing, sitting on a chair with her brother Isaac, who is three and was also born prematurely, and showed pictures of the machine that monitors her.
The MP thanked the NHS of Greater Glasgow and Clyde and also joked that his wife gets frustrated that he can’t cut the tape that goes on Jessica’s cheeks to secure her breathing tubes into love hearts.
And as for the canular, Jessica doesn’t bother much and goes about everyday life blissfully unaware of things. Roslyn gets frustrated…
The recent articles from the Houston Chronicle about sex abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) are convicting to me. What can I and others do better to prevent such abuse? How can we better serve, help, and show compassion to the victims?
I know many of you readers are not a part of the SBC, but please allow me to have this “family” conversation. It is too great of an issue to treat lightly.
One of the issues we have in SBC life is how we license and ordain pastors and staff. Each local church has the authority to ordain and license people because of our belief in the autonomy of the local church. In many cases, because our ordination process is so weak, we “bless” new pastoral candidates who may not be ready for ministry at the least, and who are sexual predators at worst.
Here are some of my thoughts on how we ordain, and how we could do so differently, particularly to protect our churches from predators and others who are not fit for vocational ministry.
Autonomy is not an excuse for irresponsibility. Every local church that licenses and ordains has a heavy and sobering responsibility. We need to examine our processes and how we communicate those processes to the full congregation. No church should vote on a candidate until they are confident the candidate has been vetted in every way possible.
Background checks should become normative in the ordination process. Some of you may be shocked to learn we likely have more churches doing background checks on church volunteers than…
The greatest enemy of man’s destiny is to have a wrong perspective. Many have wrong perspectives to life and that has affected their destinies. The Bible says that the path of the just is like a shining light that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18). Believe what the Bible says and not what people or philosophy say!
Some people say that “Marriage is full of troubles but my Bible tells me that His blessing makes rich and adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). What you believe is what you become. What we have in God (as covenant children) are promises, not problems. Your perspective determines your bearing and consequently defines your future.
Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
What you think is what you become. Somebody is about to graduate from school and in his heart he already believes he is not going to get a job. He says “In Nigeria, only those who have connections get jobs”. What a wrong perspective! Meanwhile the Bible has assured us that if God be for us, no one can be against us (Romans 8:31). No knowledge of God can have any value in your life when you have the wrong perspective. Many are not benefiting from the word of God because of wrong perspective. Do not expect anything from God when your perspective contradicts His Word.
Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
God responds to our thoughts as well. When you are praying right and thinking wrong, your prayers will not be answered. What is your perspective? Many think wrong and they believe God can make things right for them. No! What you are looking for is not going to come from abroad but from above (James 1:17).
In the school of dominion, perspective is a vital force. You can never change your life until your perspective is right. God will respond to your thoughts the same way He will respond to your prayers. Start to think right. Your dominion is a function of your perspective, so wake up! Begin to see far.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The things you think are the things you possess. Stop imagining evil. Stop imagining small things. Start imagining big things.
Genesis 11:6 (KJV) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Your imagination is what gives you your destination; it sets the pace for where you are going. Your destiny is molded by your perspective.
Genesis 13:14-15 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.
Can you see where you are going? You have a future; do not sympathize with yourself! Whatever challenge you are facing right now is just a passing phase. Do not allow it to trouble you. No matter how meager the meal you have to take now, have the perspective of someone sitting down to a sumptuous meal. Have a perspective of a man or woman God has blessed.
Begin now to see what God has ordained for you. I command your understanding to be opened. From this day, as you read from God’s Word, whatever you see, your hands will handle! I command every wrong perspective you have had hitherto to be crushed in Jesus name. Amen!
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.
Topic: Tear Down Your Walls with Faith [Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 February 2019]
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” — Psalm 126:2
To avoid pain, some of us build walls around ourselves so we will not get hurt, but that is pointless. God has shown me that it is impossible to live in this world if we are not willing to get hurt. People are not perfect; therefore they hurt and disappoint us, just as we hurt and disappoint others.
I have a wonderful husband, but occasionally he has hurt me. Because I came from such a painful background, the moment that kind of thing happened, I used to put up walls to protect myself. After all, I reasoned, no one can hurt me if I don’t let anyone get close to me.
However, I learned that if I wall others out, I also wall myself in. The Lord has shown me that He wants to be my protector, but He cannot do that if I am busy trying to protect myself. He has not promised that I will never get hurt, but He has promised to heal me if I come to Him rather than try to take care of everything myself.
If you build walls around yourself out of fear, then you must tear them down out of faith. Go to Jesus with each old wound and receive His healing grace. When someone hurts you, take that new wound to Jesus. Do not let it fester. Take it to the Lord and be willing to handle it His way and not your own.
Receive this scripture as a personal promise from the Lord to you, For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: “It is Zion, for whom no one cares!” (Jeremiah 30:17).
With the help of the Lord, you can survive hurt and disappointment and find your completion “in Him.”
Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for being my Protector. Help me to live today and every day in freedom—not putting up walls out of fear, but embracing the relationships in my life, knowing You will help me and heal me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I welcome you to this wonderful month and I count it a great privilege to share a few thoughts of God’s Word with you today. We understand that experiencing happiness in the home is God’s desire for every family. The family is one of God’s most wonderful gifts to mankind. It is a treasure worth cherishing and sustaining. But despite the fact that it is God’s desire for your family to be happy, it is still your responsibility to work it out yourself. Apostle Paul said: …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). In this series, we will be looking at Love: A Requirement for A Happy Family.
Love is not a mysterious emotion that two people fall into or out of for no apparent reason; it is a seed that must be sown and nurtured. Love is care and consideration directed towards another person, not just an ethereal emotion. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a says: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth, not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth…
Love is a binding force that holds the family together. If you are not in love with your spouse and children, there is nothing to bind the relationship together. Love is the master key and the foundation to a happy family. Love is not only a decision but also an instruction from God and His instructions are as valid today as ever. However, to follow such godly instructions is a personal choice. But its resultant effect is seen by all. No shame comes from following God’s instructions; it only secures benefits and lasting rewards.
The kind of love I am talking about here is not just the love expressed after sex. Though romance is a good thing, but it’s not the kind of love that makes a marriage strong. It’s not the “love” on which a marriage is founded. There is a far greater love than this. The love I’m referring to is sacrificial and selfless love. Jesus Christ, our perfect example, demonstrated how to show true love. He exemplified God’s love for mankind through His focus on self-sacrifice, the seeking of the well-being and benefit of others at one’s own expense. That is true love and it brings happiness in the family.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. 1 Peter 3:1
The scriptures above advise that husband and wife must learn to work together in marriage by showing respect and love for each other. Establishing a family in an atmosphere of love and respect gives the newly married a foundation upon which to build their life together happily.
Love in the family begins with having a relationship with God, the One who instituted the family for a place of happiness. Do you wish to invite Him into your home? You need to be born again. This is done by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. If you are already born again, rejoice because your case is settled. If you are not born again yet 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).
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.
2.Thank You, Father, for teaching me obedience, through the things that I suffer.
3.Father, in anyway I have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus name.
4.Father, please, don’t ever withdraw Your discipline from me, that I may remain focused on You, and not go astray.
5.Father, please, grant me the grace to accept and endure divine correction and discipline, in Jesus name.
6.Father, empower me to look beyond my present suffering, for the glory that is placed ahead of me, in Jesus name.
7.Father, You’re the glory and lifter up of my head, please, lift up my head above those of my enemies and cause me to laugh last over them, in Jesus name.
8.Father, please, help me to live through today, without committing a single sin, in Jesus name.
9.Father, please, count me worthy to reign with You in glory, in Jesus name.
10.Father, uphold and keep Your son, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, till the very end, without blemish or wrinkle, in Jesus name.
11.Father, bless Your son, that You have been using to prepare these prayer points, beyond measures; help him to overcome every challenge of getting these prayer points across to Your children timely, on daily basis, in Jesus name.
12.Father,let Your peace that passes all human understanding, reign supreme during and after today’s election, in Nigeria and let Your own candidates, emerge victorious, in Jesus name.
13.Your Personal petitions. (Philippians 4:6)
14.In Jesus name I pray. (John 14:13-14; 15:16)
15.Thank you Father for answered prayers. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
These prayers have no expiry date! Please, pray them, irrespective of the time they get to you. Remain blessed, in Jesus name.
Kindly, purchase your own hard copy or online version of the Open Heavens devotional & buy for your friends too, as a potent evangelism tool. God bless you, as you sow, into Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s book Ministry, in Jesus name.
Open Heaven 16 February 2019 Prayer Points on Today – Divine Chastisement
Topic: The Next Move Is Yours [TREM Devotional 16 February 2019]
“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:18 KJV
Why are you afraid to lay hands? Who told you they won’t recover? Jesus said you should lay hands. He didn’t say you are the one that is doing the healing. Just lay hands by faith! But when we see somebody who is sick, the last thing we do is lay hands. We tried other things first, then we now fall back on laying hands. When the first thing we should do is to lay hands. Beloved, you can lay hands on the sick and the sick will recover.
According to Mark 16:19: “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19 KJV) He has finished! He is sitting down! He is the head of the Church! We are His Body. So for Him to move, He has to move through us now. Jesus has finished His own part. The next move is yours! Stop looking unto God to move. The next move is yours.
Now, let’s look at the next verse to see how it works. “And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20 KJV) They went forth and preached everywhere, both in the market and in the office. Anywhere they saw human beings they preached and the Lord was working with them. The Lord was working. Their own part was to preach because the Word is supernatural. God’s Word is Spirit and life. And as they were preaching, the Lord of the Word came and started confirming what they were preaching, with signs following. They were not running after the signs. In other words, signs are following you every time, waiting for you to release the Word. You are carrying a dangerous weapon in your hands. There is power in the Word.
Further Reading: Mark 16:14-20
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 19-20; Evening- Matthew 27:51-66
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.
Topic: The Blessing-Provoking Fear of God [Seeds of Destiny 16 February 2019 Devotional]
SCRIPTURE: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever. Psalms 112:1-3
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To fear God is to hate evil; and the fear of God is the channel of the Blessing.
The fear of God has been confirmed to be a channel of the Blessing. The man who fears God is a natural candidate for the Blessing (Psalms 112:1-3). Job was blessed by God because He feared the Lord (Job 1:1-3). It is not possible for anybody to be blessed by God without the fear of God.
It is important to know that the Blessing of God is beyond having physical money; it is the totality of God’s package of goodness for man’s welfare, wholeness, serenity and tranquility.
Now, what are the dimensions of the fear of God that provokes the Blessing of God?
1. The fear of God entails the hatred of evil
To fear God is to hate evil; and the fear of God is the channel of the Blessing (Proverbs 8:13). Blessed is he that fears the LORD (Psalms 112:1-3); this means, if to fear the LORD is to be blessed, then to hate evil is also to be blessed. To hate evil is not to be comfortable anywhere evil is present or being perpetrated.
2. The fear of God entails the passion to give God pleasure with one’s life (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
The fear of God is the passionate desire to ensure God is pleased with your life; it is the passion to give God pleasure with your life.
3. The fear of God entails the tenderness or purity of motive and conscience (Proverbs 8:13).
The fear of God is in place where the motive of a person is pure.
When the motive is not pure, the conscience is hardened; such people who can do anything with impunity are not candidates for the Blessing.
Beloved, my counsel is, make up your mind to fear God at all cost.
Remember this: To fear God is to hate evil; and the fear of God is the channel of the Blessing.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Make up your mind to give God pleasure with your life.
Maintain a clear conscience always.
PRAYER: Father, I receive the grace to give You pleasure with my life and to maintain a pure conscience always, Lord in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE BLESSING – CONTENT AND CHANNELS – PT1.
DAILY READING: Leviticus 1:1 to 3:17, Mark 1:29 to 2:12, Psalm 35:17 to 28, Proverbs 9:13 to 18.
TODAY IN HISTORY: 16/02/1741 – Benjamin Franklin published America’s second magazine, ‘The General Magazine and Historical Chronicle’.
AMAZING FACT: More than half of your bones are located in your hands and feet.
QUOTE: The Blessing of God is not in the hearing; the blessing is in the doing. Culled from 21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO by Dr. Paul Enenche.
DO NOT FORGET TO ATTEND: The Power Communion Service by 5:30pm tomorrow at the Glory Dome, Airport Road, Abuja. God bless you as you come
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.
RCCG Fasting Prayer Points for 16 February 2019 – DAY 37: PRAYER FOR SAFETY ON OUR WAYS
DAY 37: PRAYER FOR SAFETY ON OUR WAYS (SATURDAY 16TH FEBRUARY 2019)
Travelling is becoming a burden these days rather than pleasure because of so many dreadful occurrences on our highways, Forces of darkness has invaded our roads, water ways and airways in perpetuating their evil agenda.
Praise and worship
Thank God for a new day and for the salvation of your soul
Father in Jesus, we come against every form of accident in Nigeria and abroad be it air, road or rail etc.
Father in your mercy, safeguard your children from ritualists and kidnappers on our highway (Ps 91:1-2)
Father in your mercy, safeguard your children from accidents on our highway (Ps 91:1-2)
Father, Let every blood sucking demon on our highways be put to Shame this year 2019
Father be a wall of fire round about us against every blood sucking demons on our ways (Zec2:5)
Lord, we decree and declare that in 2019 every journey embarked upon by your children be safe! (Isa3:10)
Father let your angles go with us wherever we go this year in Jesus’ name. Psa121
Father, move our government to repairs, construct road conducive for traffic this year so that the land will be safe for every journey in Jesus’ name!
Topic: Setting Priorities [Open Heavens for Teens 16 February 2019]
Memorise: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1
1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
Bible In One Year: Leviticus 22-23, Mark 1:1-22
MESSAGE:
The way you spend your time tells a lot about your priorities because what you spend more time doing is more important to you than what you spend less time doing. It is good to set your priorities consciously. If you don’t, you will be allowing your flesh to set your priorities for you and you may be unconsciously prioritizing the wrong things.
The most important thing to any Christian teenager should be spending time with God. In fact, as you go on with your day, you should be taking small breaks just to pray to God. Your academics must also rank very high in your priorities. It is foolishness to read your Bible and pray all day when you have exams the next day; our God is a God of diligence.
If you spend more time on social media than with God, then you have placed social media above God in your life. If you can spend one hour in front of the mirror, doing make-up, but you cannot spend 30 minutes praying to God, obviously, your make-up is more important than God in your life. Setting priorities is a very important and tough task that requires discipline. Don’t leave you flesh to set your priorities for you.
Key Point:
Your priorities determine your destination in life.
1. I am so glad that our Father in heaven Tells of His love in the book He has given; Wonderful things in the Bible I see; This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
Chorus
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus love me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.
2. Though I forget Him and wander away, Still He doth love me whenever I stray; Back to His dear loving arms would I flee, When I remember that Jesus loves me.
3. Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing, When in His beauty I see the great King, This shall my song in eternity be, “Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me.”
Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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