Never ending praise

Friends,

Almighty God is worthy of praise at every moment, in every situation, and from every man, woman and child. We are human and don't live up to that call. Fortunately, God's word tells us that part of His creation is making sure that the Lord is receiving the praise that He so richly deserves!

Revelation 4:8 [NKJV]
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

Take time today - even right now - to join in that unending hymn of praise!

Be encouraged, Jose

Manna replaced

Friends,

One of the most difficult things to do is grow. Growth requires that we leave things behind so that we can embrace that which is yet to be experienced. We smile and think it very cute when a little child speaks of her imaginary friend as though her existence should be quite apparent and obvious. But we react differently when an adult does the same.

Likewise, the great experiences of our youth easily take on a larger than life importance when we are children. But with age, we gain understanding and context. We retain the memories, and never deny those events. But we realize that those events were not as important as we thought they were. We've let go of their original significance, and replaced it with a more appropriate and more mature perspective. We've grown.

"Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:31-33 [NKJV]

The people of Israel never forgot what the LORD had done for them in the desert, feeding them with life-giving manna. It was real. It was important.

But now, God was calling them to grow past that memory and embrace the fulfillment of what the manna symbolized. The manna sustained them physically, but only for a single lifetime. Jesus, on the other hand, is the bread of life. And He sustains us for eternity.

Be encouraged, Jose

The Father's Business

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)

The above scripture resonates with the ferocity, fierceness and urgency of now in today's world. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and is not taken by timidity, nor with a siddon-look (Sit down and look) approach. Rather it is taken with force. Our world is hounded on all sides with old and recycled failed gimmicks and lies, kingdoms are re-positioning themselves and aggressively pursuing their agenda with passion and commitment. Can the believer stay aloof and stand akimbo thinking the Kingdom of heaven will reign here without raising a finger? Far from it.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

The alternative kingdoms will not let down and are relentless. Believers like Apostle Paul did, ought not opt for slumber nor sleep. As we count down to the end of the year and usher in the new year, we must be about our Father's business.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Treasure place

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Mathew 6:19-20 (NKJV)

Its simply human to cherish and secure our most priced possessions. The above scripture used that simple truth to advise us to lay up our treasures in the heavenly places. A place that is void of a cycling economy, unpredictable stock market, slumping house market, Equity (one that disappears from ones investments overnight), 401Ks, IRAs, etc. This place is also immune against the elements of the world that can corrode, rust, melt or even steal away our assets.

It is a smart idea to lay up our treasures in a place void of 'up today, disappear tomorrow'. Where are you laying your treasures?

Be encouraged,

Afolabi