Loo roll pledge grows to 1000 UK churches

Stamford Methodist Church will also explore ways of encouraging local wildlife to thrive on its premises through installing facilities like habitat boxes for bats, birds and hedgehogs.

It is joining 999 other churches in the UK who have already signed up to the national Eco Church scheme being pioneered by the Christian conservation charity, A Rocha UK.

 

Helen Stephens, church relations manager for A Rocha UK, said: “To reach our 1000th registration is such an encouragement and shows that there is real concern for our environment and interest in caring for God’s earth.

“Eco Church is impacting church and community life in new ways and we’ve been excited to see how it’s spreading across England and Wales and involving Christians from all denominations and church backgrounds.”

Under the initiative, churches are also urged to use food which is organic and locally produced.

They are also encouraged to discourage car use by promoting walking or cycling to church.

Stamford Methodist Church

 

Special church services which enable people to celebrate the earth as God’s creation are promoted.

Youth and children’s ministries are urged to encourage young people to care for God’s earth.

Andy Atkins, chief executive of A Rocha UK said: “Over 250 churches, from small rural parishes to St Paul’s cathedral have already been certified as Bronze, Silver or Gold Eco…

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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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Joyce Meyer Devotional 26 September 2018 — One Good Choice After Another

Topic: One Good Choice after Another [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Joyce Meyer Devotional 26 September 2018]

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. — Proverbs 4:25 (NIV)

Are you enjoying the life and blessings of God in your everyday life? Or have you made a series of choices resulting in disappointment, pain, or feeling that everything you do requires great effort and produces little reward? Don’t spend your time and energy mourning all the bad decisions you have made; just start making good ones. There is hope for you!

The way to overcome the results of a series of bad choices is through a series of right choices. The only way to walk out of trouble is to do the opposite of whatever you did to get into trouble—one choice at a time.

Maybe the circumstances of your life right now are the direct result of a series of bad choices you have made. You may be in debt because you have made a lot of bad choices with money. You may be lonely because of a series of bad choices in relationships or in the way you treat people. You may be sick because of a series of unhealthy choices: eating junk food, not getting enough rest, or abusing your body through working too much and not having enough balance in your life.

You cannot make a series of bad choices that result in significant problems and then make one good choice and expect all the results of all those bad choices to go away. You did not get into deep trouble through one bad choice; you got into trouble through a series of bad choices. If you really want your life to change for the better, you will need to make one good choice after another, over a period of time, just as consistently as you made the negative choices that produced negative results.

No matter what kind of trouble or difficulty you and yourself in, you can still have a blessed life. You cannot do anything about what is behind you, but you can do a great deal about what lies ahead of you. God is a redeemer, and He will always give you another chance.

Trust in Him If you have a situation that is too big for you to solve, then you are material for a miracle. Invite God to get involved, trust in and follow His directions, make one good choice after another, and you will see amazing results.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your wisdom and guidance to make good choices for my life. Please help me to leave past disappointments behind and begin, one by one, to make decisions that will bring a harvest of good things into my life. 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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MFM Daily Devotional 26 September 2018 – Everything Happens For Good

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 26 September 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Everything Happens For Good

TOPIC: Everything Happens For Good (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 26 September 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:28-35

MEMORY VERSE: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

The MESSAGE:

There was once a king who had a wise advisor. The advisor followed the king everywhere, and His favourite advice was “everything happens for good.” One day, the king went hunting and had a little accident. He shot an arrow at His own foot and was injured. He asked the advisor what he thought about the accident. The advisor replied in his usual upbeat manner: “Everything happens for good!” This time however, the king was really angry about his advisor’s seemingly trite comment and ordered that the advisor be put in prison, the king asked him again, “Now that you are in prison, what do you think?” and the advisor replied, “Everything happens for good”, so the advisor remained in prison.

The king later went on another hunting trip, this time without the advisor. During this expedition, some cannibals captured him in the forest and he was taken to the cannibals’ camp where he was to be killed and eaten as the evening meal. However, as was their custom, before roasting him in the cooking pot, he was thoroughly inspected. When they did this, the cannibals saw the wound on the King’s foot and decided to throw him back into the jungle. According to the cannibal’s tradition, they do not eat anything that was imperfect or with a defect. As a result of this, the king’s life was spared. After this incidence with the cannibals, the king suddenly realised that his advisor was right all along that everything happens for good and ordered him to be released. The advisor also escaped death because if he had not been in prison, he would have followed the king on that fateful hunting trip and would have probably have ended in the cannibal’s cooking pot.

Indeed, there is always a silver lining to every cloud of adversity. There is always a new strength to rise to after every fall. There is a lesson to learn in every mistake. There is always an experience to change your destiny positively from any affliction. There is a new glory from any trial and in any lost opportunity, there are open doors to breakthrough. So beloved, whatever is happening to you, never cease to give God praise, knowing that all things will work out for your good in the long run, to the glory of the Lord Jesus.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
LIFE’S CHALLENGES ARE LESSONS TO POSITIVELY CHANGE OUR DESTINIES.

PROPHETIC WORD:
Whatever is happening to you now will work out for your good.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. My Lord and Saviour, I thank You for making all things to work for my good, in Jesus’ name.
2. O Lord, my God, arise and turn my sorrow to joy, in the name of Jesus.
3. My Father, arise and put an end to my weeping, in Jesus’ name.

EVENING
4. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Arise and kill affliction in my life, in the name of Jesus.
5. My Father, arise and calm the storm in my life, in Jesus’ name.
6. O Lord my Father, in this issue in my life, speak peace to my heart, in Jesus’ name.
7. My God and my Father, arise and turn every negative situation in my life for good, in Jesus’ name.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

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.

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Six Attitudinal Adjustments Scrappy Church Leaders Made

God’s not done yet.

That is the subtitle and theme of my new book, Scrappy Church.

It’s a book about real churches that had real turnarounds when most people said it was impossible. Most had given up. Many were ready to shut the doors.

But when we interviewed the leaders of these scrappy churches, we noticed a pattern. These leaders at one time had been discouraged and despondent. Many were ready to leave the church. Some were ready to leave vocational ministry altogether.

Then God grabbed them powerfully and persuasively. In a myriad of different ways, He told them He was done with their churches yet. They began to believe Him. They began to have hope. And they began to have major attitude adjustments.

Here are the six major adjustments they made. They were all profound and life changing,

  1. From excuses to ownership. The neighborhood is changing. The bigger churches are taking all of our members. The denomination is not helping us. Those are some of the excuses these leaders had. Then God gave them a new perspective, one of hope. He had called them to the church for a reason, and the reason was certainly not to make a litany of excuses. They took ownership of the call God had given them. Indeed, by taking ownership, they made a statement that they believed God was not done with them or their churches.
  2. From obstacles to allies. You’ve heard the well-worn joke. Leading a church would be fun if it wasn’t for the members. The reality is we’ve all had those thoughts. Scrappy church leaders,…

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

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Teens Open Heaven 26 September 2018 – Creativity in Thanksgiving

Topic: Creativity in Thanksgiving [Teens Open Heaven 26 September 2018]

Memorise: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

Read: Luke 17:11-19 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Isaiah 7-9, Galatians 4

MESSAGE:

Sometime ago, I read about a man who was attacked by armed robbers. He was robbed of his property and beaten. Yet, he went on to thank God. Many who saw no reason for him to thank God began to ask why he had come to thank God. To them, if he had escaped the armed robbers or his property was intact, those would be justifiable reason to thank God.

The man said he was thanking God that he was robbed but was not a robber himself, moreover, he had something that somebody considered valuable to steal; he was also thanking God that the robbers didn’t take his life. He didn’t take for granted all the things the others didn’t even see! Genuine thanksgiving calls for creativity.

Action Point: Be creative as you think of what God has done for you, and thank Him for them.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 10:

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a Friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield You;
You wilt find a solace there

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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Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 26 September 2018 – Let Your New Man Out

Topic: Let Your New Man Out [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland 26 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. – Romans 12:1

When you made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, you became what the Bible calls a “new creature.” Inside, you’re not the same person you were before. You have the nature of God born into you. But it’s not enough for you just to have that new nature on the inside. You have to let it take over the outside as well.

Don’t expect that to happen automatically. You have to make a decision to bring your body into obedience to the new man within you. You must determine to do what Romans 6:12 says and “let not sin…reign in your mortal body….”

I know that sounds tough, but remember, you’re not in this alone. You have a Helper inside you to enable you to carry out that decision. His Name is the Holy Spirit. He’s there to strengthen you. He gives you the power to put sin out of your life and under your feet.

Make that decisive dedication of your body today—and let that new man that’s on the inside of you begin to come out!

Scripture Reading: Romans 6:12-23

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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DCLM Daily Manna 26 September 2018 – Unkindly King

Topic: Unkindly King [DCLM Daily Manna 26 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Text: 1 Samuel 22:11-23 (KJV)

Key Verse: “And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD“ (1 Samuel 22:17).

MESSAGE:

A notable man once said “It is better to be without a king than to have a bad one.” Why? Because kings are symbols of fairness and justice. Kings depict honour, respect and orderliness in human societies. A wise king is indeed a blessing to the society.

In the passage today, King Saul brought shame and dishonour to the office he occupied. Unduly burdened with the rising profile of David, he sought to destroy him and his associates. He couldn’t lay hands directly on David but got information from Doeg that Ahimelech, the high priest, offered David assistance. He consequently called Ahimelech to account for his actions. He ordered his servants to kill the high priest and his team for supporting “David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to him.”

Despite the refusal of his servants to kill the high priest, Saul got Doeg to do his bidding. We must not allow people to influence us to do what we know is wrong. Paul told Timothy not to “partake in other men’s sins”. We must follow the same injunction in our daily walk whether at work, at home or in the church. Saul’s behaviour showcased human depravity, even though he was king. We, who are children of God, must be fair to all in our dealings with people. We must also be kind and respectful to men and women of God. Above all, we must not be jealous or envious of others.

Saul behaved contrary to the dignity and importance of his office and title. As believers, God expects us to respect others, ourselves and the office we occupy.

Thought For The Day: Responsible people always respect themselves.

Bible Reading In One Year: Nehemiah 1-5

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

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.

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.

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Seeds of Destiny 26 September 2018 – The Power That Enforces Change

Topic: The Power That Enforces Change [Seeds of Destiny 26 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10

Thought For The Day: What you do not resist will persist.

It has been established that change, like every other phenomenon, is brought about by force. There is a force behind every change; nothing changes on its own. Every change experienced in life is powered by a force. Situations change when people decide to enforce a change.

That is why Jabez, from our anchor Scripture, did not just sit down and wait for things to change in his life. His life and situation could not have changed if he did nothing about them.
I once heard God’s servant, Bishop David Oyedepo say, ‘What you don’t want, you don’t watch.’ I can imagine Jabez say, ‘I don’t want this miserable life and I will not continue to watch it. I want the situations of my life to change so I have to go to God and place a demand for a drastic change.’

Please note this: what you do not resist will persist; whatever you do not resist will remain.

What Jabez did was what Jacob also decided to do. When Jacob saw the situation of his life, he decided to pray about it. He also determined to fight it out (Genesis 32:24).

Beloved, you need a fighter spirit to change your destiny. Destiny changes when responsibility for change is accepted. When you make up your mind for change to occur, when you make up your mind to pray about it, then the change must happen.

Remember this: What you do not resist will persist.

Assignment(S):
1. Accept the responsibility of effecting changes in the relevant areas of your life.
2. Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer.
3. Never quit the fight for your fulfilment in life and destiny.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PRAYER OF JABEZ 1

Prayer: Lord, I cast my cares upon You. I refuse to be established in the status quo. Cause things to turn around in my favour, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

Quote: The reason why it bothers you is because you have been packaged to handle it! Culled from GO IN THIS THY MIGHT by Dr Paul Enenche.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 48:12 to 50:11, Ephesians 4:17 to 32, Psalm 69:1 to 18, Proverbs 24:5 to 6.

Amazing Fact: Like fingerprints, each human tongue has its own unique print

Today In History: 26th September, 1981 – The Boeing 767 made its maiden flight in Everett, WA.

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

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.

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Our Daily Bread 26 September 2018 Devotional – It’s Not About the Fish

Topic: It’s Not About the Fish [Our Daily Bread 26 September 2018 Devotional]

Read: Jonah 3:10–4:4, Bible in a Year: Isaiah 1–2; Galatians 5

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented. Jonah 3:10

Sighted numerous times off the coast of Australia’s South Queensland, Migaloo is the first albino humpback whale ever documented. The splendid creature, estimated at more than forty feet long, is so rare that Australia passed a law specifically to protect him.

The Bible tells us about a “huge fish” so rare that God had provided it especially to swallow a runaway prophet (Jonah 1:17). Most know the story. God told Jonah to take a message of judgment to Nineveh. But Jonah wanted nothing to do with the Ninevites, who had a reputation for cruelty to just about everyone—including the Hebrews. So he fled. Things went badly. From inside the fish, Jonah repented. Eventually he preached to the Ninevites, and they repented too (3:5–10).

Great story, right? Except it doesn’t end there. While Nineveh repented, Jonah pouted. “Isn’t this what I said, Lord?” he prayed. “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love” (4:2). Having been rescued from certain death, Jonah’s sinful anger grew until even his prayer became suicidal (v. 3).

The story of Jonah isn’t about the fish. It’s about our human nature and the nature of the God who pursues us. “The Lord is patient with you,” wrote the apostle Peter, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God offers His love to brutal Ninevites, pouting prophets, and you and me.

Prayer: Father, we tend to look at what others “deserve” and forget we need Your love just as much. Help us live in Your love and tell others about it.

Our love has limits; God’s love is limitless.

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

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

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Billy Graham 26 September 2018 — You Can Preach!

Topic: You Can Preach! [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 26 September 2018]

And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world . . . —Matthew 24:14 (TLB)

We are stewards of the Gospel. The power to proclaim the greatest news in heaven or on earth was not given to the angels. It was given to redeemed men. This was addressed to humble laymen. Some think that only ministers are to preach, but that is wrong. Every Christian is to be a witness; every follower of Christ is to preach the Gospel.

We can preach by sharing our experience with others. We can preach by exalting Christ in our daily lives. Sermons which are seen are often more effective than those which are heard. The truth is: the best sermons are both heard and seen. They are a sort of audiovisual testimony. We can also preach by giving to others, so they may preach. Missionary gifts, church offerings, and charitable contributions all speak eloquently of your unselfishness and Christian generosity.

In all these things, we are partners with God. We are helping by His grace to redeem the world. God needs our time, our talents, our witnessing, and our money, today more than at any other time in history. Become a full, working partner with God.

Prayer for the day: Wherever I go today, make me conscious of the people I meet. They need Your love. So whether I can speak of You to them, say a kind word or minister in any way, I would be like You, Lord—ever loving, ever giving.

“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.

The post Billy Graham 26 September 2018 — You Can Preach! appeared first on Flatimes.