God Is Good

The things of God are so deep, so involved, so complex that we forget those simple things that drew us to Him. More of the saints should spend meditation time on God’s goodness. Just allowing it to roll over our thoughts, just dwelling on His goodness. It should be easy because…well…it’s EVERYWHERE! I believe if we let our thoughts settle on the goodness of God, we will find ourselves with more fine-tuned thought patterns, holier ideas, cleaner thinking—and it will draw us that much closer to Christ!

Our God is SO good! And you know what’s great about Him? God doesn’t stop being God just because we stop being good. He’s always good. “God is Good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.” Churches chant this every Sunday morning for their service, and walk out the doors and some shun the world for not having fellowshipped with them. But God is good to the churched, and the unchurched among us. He is good to the beggar and He is good to the billionaire. He is good to the sinner and He is good to the saint.

Whether our bank accounts read in the six-figures or whether we just lost our bank account, it does not prevent God’s goodness from being over our lives! It is freeing to rejoice in the Lord when the world says you should be complaining to Him! Next time, tell your situation that He is still good, He’s still Jehovah Jireh!
He is good to all creation, providing rain to trees, sunlight to flowers. Flowing rivers and streams, oceans, lakes, and the tiniest puddles are a testimony to the goodness of God. The winds that cause trees to billow in worship, and cause waves to crash to shore are proof of God’s goodness. The dirt beneath us, and all its little inhabitants know…like the birds that take the wind that God is GREAT!
He has granted mercy to the fallen because He is good. He has given restoration to the weak because He is good.

It remains that He’s good in the midst of sickness, pain, and death. Still good! In the words of a downtrodden Job, “though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him!” Job knew that God was good, but he also knew that God was not JOB. He has plans bigger than ours, thoughts higher than ours, and sees the end from the beginning.

He has given us Himself. Better yet, a separation from himself to show us how Holy He is and yet, He is so close we can feel His heartbeat. So, when we are broken, we should lay on the breast of our Father, knowing that He has given healing to our souls. When we have sinned, we should not run from God in guilt, but we should run into his arms in order to feel loved and repositioned for greatness in Him. He corrects those He loves!

Naturally, we could go on and on about His goodness! I charge you to marvel at His goodness as often as it comes to your heart. It will stir your spirit, give you a new appreciation of all He has done, and all that He is, and make you appreciate the fact that He knows you by name!

Don’t “Turn A Blind Eye!” DAILY DEVOTIONS BY JENTENZEN FRANKLIN SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2018

“He will separate them one from another.” Mt 25:32 NKJV

The Bible says: “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom’” (vv. 32-34 NKJV). But here’s what happens to those on the left hand: “He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me’” (v. 41 NKJV). What determines His choice? How does He separate people? Is it based on the fact that one group was highly moral while the other was loose-living? Is it based on the fact that one group was doctrinally correct while the other went astray theologically? No. Jesus said the destiny of all present will be based on one thing: showing compassion to those in need. You object: “We are saved by faith alone!” Yes. But as Martin Luther pointed out, “The faith that saves us is never alone!” The Bible says that faith without works is dead (See Jas 2:26). Jesus said that this was the standard by which we’ll be evaluated and rewarded: “I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Mt 25:36 NKJV). Then He personalized it in these words: “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (v. 40 NKJV). That means you must open your heart and respond to the needs around you.

Ucb Word for Today: Looking after our finances (1) Sunday 11 February, 2018

‘The wise have wealth…but fools spend whatever they get.’  Proverbs 21:20 NLT

It’s never too early to think about our future, and to try and get into good habits now, so we’re really well prepared for any circumstance we might have to face. And one of the things that’s important for us to learn to manage well is our money. So let’s start by looking at Proverbs 21:20: ‘The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get’ (NLT). God isn’t against us having wealth and possessions, but He is concerned when we don’t use them well. In the proverb, those who have planned well and saved when they can are described positively, but those who have wasted their resources are harshly described as ‘fools’. So does that mean we should try and hoard up as much as we can? No, because one of the ways we can use our money well (or any of the resources God’s blessed us with) is to use it to help God’s kingdom. Take a look at the Parable of the Three Servants in Matthew 25 – it’s a reminder of how we can serve God by using what He’s already given us. God doesn’t demand that we give a certain amount. ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). It’s about finding a balance – we need to work out what we need to live on, what we should give, and what we should save. And to do that, we need God’s wisdom. If you’re feeling you need wisdom today, remember the words of James 1:5: ‘If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you’ (NLT).

What Now? Think about whether there’s something you could give up each week and give the money you’d usually spend on it to your church. For example, if you visit a coffee shop every day, resolve to miss a day, or buy a small drink instead of a large one.

Bible in a Year: Luke 2:25-52, Psalm 16-17

UCB Word for Today: Keep pressing on Saturday 10 February, 2018

Straining towards what is ahead, I press on.’

Philippians 3:13-14 NIVUK (2011 Edition)

Developing your faith is like taking swimming lessons. Observe: 1) Fear is like water; if you let it, it will take you under. 2) You can only tread water for so long before you drown. 3) When you reach a certain point, there’s no turning back. 4) Faith is like the air in your lungs; it will sustain you and keep you afloat if you just relax. Have you ever watched a seasoned swimmer? Stroke after stroke, he takes what’s infront of him and pushes it behind him, letting it propel him towards his goal. He literally takes what stands between him and his goal, and uses it to get there. Sometimes we despair and say, ‘I’m just keeping my head above water,’ and that’s okay as long as you keep ‘stroking’ and pressing on. It’s when you feel backed into a corner with nowhere to turn, that you’ve got to take hold of the faith God has placed within you and keep moving forward. Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force’ (Matthew 11:12 KJV). The word ‘violence’ suggests ferocity, passion, and intensity. You must be relentless and fight your way through, confident that God is on your side – because He is (see Psalm 56:9). The waters you’re in don’t determine your destiny; they either carry you over or take you under. It takes faith to keep going. When you quit, God can do nothing more for you! So today whether you’re doing the breaststroke, the backstroke, or some other kind of stroke that nobody’s ever heard of – keep pressing on.

Exodus 36-38, Matthew 23:1-22

Open Heavens Daily Devotional: Don’t Waste God’s Grace by Pastor Adeboye, Thursday 1st February 2018:

Topic: Don’t Waste God’s Grace [Open Heavens 1st Thursday, February 2018]

Memorise: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” – 2 Corinthians 6:1

Read: Genesis 6:1-8 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Bible in One Year: Exodus 20-21, Romans 7

MESSAGE

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" - Romans 3:23

When you consider the implication of the above verse of scripture, and compare it with the way God related with Noah in today’s Bible text, you will understand that Noah’s story is a classical example of the grace of God at work in someone’s life. To help you realize the enormity of God’s grace and what it can do for you, consider that at the time when the entire world was condemned to destruction by divine verdict, Noah was spared because he enjoyed divine grace. Genesis 6:7-8 says:

“7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

Having understood the enormity of God’s grace, the wise at heart will earnestly seek to be blessed by it. As the grace of God spoke for Noah, I pray that it will speak for you at the point of your inadequacies in Jesus’s Name. Without God’s grace, no man can escape His judgement. This special grace of God is personified in Jesus Christ, God’s own Son (Titus 2:11). He is calling everyone today to come and partake of God’s benevolent grace in the form of the salvation He makes available for all mankind. Have you partaken of the grace of God available in Jesus Christ? If you haven’t what are you waiting for? Today is the day of salvation; remember that tomorrow may be too late (2 Corinthians 6:2).

If you have received God’s grace in Jesus Christ, please don’t take it for granted. Our memory verse implores us not to receive the grace of God in vain. Noah did not waste God’s grace upon his life. He promptly acted on God’s instructions by building the ark according to His specifications, or are you living as if your own heaven will be different from that of the early disciples? If you reject God’s grace after hearing that it is available for you, or you end up missing heaven, you would have wasted this great grace. What a great waste that would be! I pray that this will not be your story in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, in any area of my life Your grace is lying fallow or being wasted, open the eyes of my enlightenment to correct it in Jesus’ Name.

Hymn 2: I Need Thee Every Hour

1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

Chorus:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;

Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

Word For Today:The marriage covenant (1) 1 FEBRUARY 2018

‘For those who are married, I have a command that comes…from the Lord.’  1 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

Having God’s blessing on your marriage is contingent upon your operating according to His rules. To enjoy His protection, peace, and prosperity you must follow His instructions. For example, you can spend hours arguing and still not resolve the issue, when if you’d just followed God’s rules, the argument could have been over in a matter of minutes. And both parties would have been satisfied at the end of the process. When your car breaks down, you take it back to the dealership. Why? Because they sold it to you and they know how to fix it! God performed the first marriage. So, when your relationship gets into trouble, if you’re wise you’ll talk to Him about it before talking to each other. Furthermore, when you get married with the attitude, ‘If this doesn’t work out I can always get a divorce,’ you’re running in the opposite direction from the truth of God’s Word. Paul writes: ‘For those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife’ (vv. 10-11 NLT). Yes, there are some acceptable reasons for divorce, but they are the exception and not the rule! Recently a Hollywood celebrity spent millions of dollars on her wedding and then divorced her husband two months later on the grounds of ‘incompatibility’. When you say, ‘Till death us do part,’ you say it before God and you’re supposed to mean it.

Bible in a Year: Exodus 19-20, Matthew 18:1-20

The Pluses And Minuses Of Role Models DAILY DEVOTIONS BY JENTENZEN FRANKLIN, FEBRUARY 01, 2018

“By the grace of God I am what I am.”       1Co 15:10 NIV

We all need good role models. But when you devote your life to being like somebody else, you risk becoming something God doesn’t want you to be. Always remember, your “heroes” wrestle with blind spots and character flaws too. Paul said, “I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I  persecuted the church of God” (v. 9 NIV). The same thing with Peter: When Cornelius sent for him, we’re told that as he “entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself’” (Ac 10:25-26 NIV). If you’re successful in life, you’ll adopt that same attitude. The danger in hero worship comes from forfeiting your individuality and missing the path God has mapped out for you personally. Some of the lessons God teaches us may be similar, but another person’s purpose, gifting, journey, and time-frame will be different from yours. For example, a friend starts a business and makes money, but when you quit your job and follow in his footsteps you go broke. Or a co-worker wears something that looks great on her, but on you the same outfit looks like a sack tied in the middle. God is “jealous” concerning you (See Dt 4:24). Why? Because He wants to protect you from anything that would rob you of your uniqueness, or threaten your relationship with Him. Bottom line: If you want to be on safe ground, make Jesus your role model and you’ll win every time