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“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). Word from Joel and Victoria Everyone goes through seasons of difficulty and challenge in life. One of the enemy’s traps is to isolate you and convince you that you won’t make it. But God promises that He will deliver the righteous out of all of their afflictions. You are righteous because of your relationship with God through Christ Jesus. You are righteous simply by having faith in Him, His goodness, and the promises in His Word. If you’re going through a tough time today, keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Declare His promises over your life. You are more than a conqueror through Him! The joy of the Lord is your strength! As you continue to stand, even during the difficult times, you can be assured that victory is on the way. It might be today…it might be next week…next month, or next year, but God is faithful! Through faith and patience, you will inherit the promise. You will get beyond your difficulty, and you’ll increase in wisdom and strength and live the abundant life He has for you!
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of victory in every area of life. I choose to trust You, knowing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
TAKE A BREAK!
PICK SOME APPLES
Can you get 50% in the pail ?
THIS ONE WILL DRIVE YOU NUTS!!
Let's go, it's Apple pickin' time! |
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Uncertain Future will be a feature for years to come The future as we expect may not turn out to be very easy and pleasant for those who love God and his commandments. There is this constant opposition to everything related to god. It’s not a wonder because satan (the god of this world) knows he does not have much time to convert and pervert all the people of the world. He is going to use all his resources to constantly make his plans to become the standard for the people (Psalms 74:4). Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs. As we read in 2nd Thesselonnians 2:3,4-13 “3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition A revolt...”This revolt, or falling off, is generally understood, by the ancient fathers, of a revolt from the Christian faith, before the coming of Antichrist. The man of sin.” here must be meant some particular man, as is evident from the frequent repetition of the Greek article ho anti-keimenos, the man of sin, the son of perdition, the adversary or opposer. It agrees to the wicked and great Antichrist, who will come before the end of the world. “4 Who opposeth and is lifted up above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself as if he were God. In the temple...” Either that of Jerusalem which some think he will rebuild; or in some Christian church, which he will pervert to his own worship. 5Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you[b] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth The antidote to all this is for God’s children to recognize the time and start to awaken out of the slumber they are in. God’s plan will always fulfill whether or not all the cogs work together or not. God’s plan will never fail because he is capable of making all his plans work, maybe if plan A does not work he will go to plan B else Plan C and so on. His angels are “All powerful” to carryout anything God wants if all else fails. We know God promised Abraham that he will make him a great nation but as you know he did not even have a whiff of his next generation. The things in your life may not reflect the extent to which god wants to expand your borders but this is where to trust in God who brings all promises about your life to fruition. They may be impossible for man but not for God and Abraham was blessed with a son when he was a 100 years old, years beyond what human mind can believe anything’s possible. The happenings around like the earthquakes, pestilences, wars and constant rumours of wars were predicted by our Lord Jesus Christ that those are the signs that the time is near for his Second Coming. Nations will rise up against nations, People against people and so on. The ring of hatred and strife will only increase. Satan does not want the good news to be preached, people worshiping, praying and doing things that will keep them in the faith also threatening his plans and purposes. Satan knows very well when God’s people are praying and worshipping they are breaking his hold on people, strongholds, etc. Folks that are under his influence will be released to seek deliverance or change in their environment. Satan’s plans for God’s people are to keep them from praying and doing the spiritual activities that will eventually help God’s plans to succeed. If there was ever one particular religion, belief and followers that were the most persecuted, no other system will ever come close. Christianity and it’s followers have been hounded, burned and persecuted throughout history since the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The truth is that it has survived it all because the author and finisher of the faith is our Lord Jesus Christ himself and he said I will build the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail. Trials and troubles are temporary maybe 100 years but the eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ would be a minimum if you had a number, Trillion years would still not be eternity. It is high time God’s people realized their power and potential that God has entrusted to them. When that happens, changes will begin to take place and the momentum of Christianity will spread encouraging others to rise up and join those who are already awake and walking with God. God does not despise small beginnings because he knows very well that it can lead to greater things. Failure is not final unless you don’t get back up and try to finish the race that is set before you. God chose ordinary people to show his power through them. Prayer brings about discipline in our spiritual life and consequently affects other areas enough to make a difference in circumstances and situations not just in one’s own life, but the lives of those around you.
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A TRICK
A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.
As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.
The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."
"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."
The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by.
The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin.
Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.
His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.
The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"
The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
-- Author Unknown
Satan - the defeated foe
Sony Joseph We have to demonstrate satan's defeat in our lives, says Sony Joseph, Thane
Satan is the biggest foe that we believers of Christ can see. We consider satan as a strong foe. But we do not see him as a defeated foe. Satan is a defeated foe. We not only need to tell this to the world, but we need also to demonstrate it by the power of the Holy Ghost, use of the Word of God and the name of Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 2:11, the words clearly say. "For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had power of death that is the devil".
We have to demonstrate satan's defeat in our own lives and in the lives of others. This demonstration should be in every realm of life - physical, spiritual, financial, marital, mental and every phase of our activities. It is pitiful to see the sons and daughters of God in fear of demonic power and being overtaken by demons daily. Satan is defeated before us. We must realize that and fight against all evils. Have faith and trust in the Lord. Never fear when satan tries to tempt you. Fear activates satan's power. Faith activates God's power. When you act on satan's fear, fear takes possession of you. Fear is the devil's tool. Never act on fear. When you act on fear, you are saying by your actions that satan is mightier than God. When you act on the Word of God in faith against fear you are saying you are greater than the devil. The Word of God says that when you resist the devil he will flee from you. He has put Holy Ghost in you to demonstrate that satan is the defeated foe. God has left you on the field of battle with satan to help you grow up. He wants you to learn the Word of God which is the sword of Spirit and drive the devil away so that you will know that the Holy Ghost works. He will help you demonstrate Satan's defeat.
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