Be a Contributor to Bless, Influence and Transform Lives

When you acknowledge God's power and might, He pours His encouragement into your heart. A simple prayer, "Lord, I need your help," speaks volumes to Him. He hears your confession and moves into action. Yet there will be times when you are unable to pray about what you are facing. There's an emergency and you need His comfort and direction. Can God help you in such urgent situations? Yes. He is able to provide all you need the moment you cry out to Him. So take heart, my friend, in your faithful God. He is as faithful to you today as He has been from time immemorial. And He will surely come to your aid as soon as you call. Yes, call 333, Jeremiah 33:3

"Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27). Let's break out of our comfort zone. The life of discipleship is not about comfortable pews and crosses - it is about a clash of kingdoms. We seek safety, comfort, security and pleasure, often at the expense of doing God's will. We risk compromising God's mission for the  path of least resistance. We are not willing to pay the price of impacting the world. Self-preservation at the expense of obedience always have grave consequences in the Bible. Let's recognize where eternal safety lies and abandon ourselves to the Christ who calls us to carry our crosses and commitments till the end where the glory of God will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Luke 8:8) Jesus knew that while many are ready to receive His message, there are many who may not. There are stubborn listeners "without ears" - those who will not open themselves to the truth of the gospel. Even among believers, Jesus faced this resistance. Many who accepted His claims could not and would not accept all of His teachings. Then and now, we see a strange phenomenon - priceless, eternal truth is often not welcomed in human hearts. Human nature can gravitate toward rebellion and the inevitable result is spiritual deafness. What about you? Are you listening?

God has gold nuggets and diamond everywhere in His Word but we must dig them out. Just like precious gems when they are first pulled out from the ground, the treasure of God's Word need to be polished and refined in us in order to have the brilliance they are capable of revealing. Everytime you meditate God's Word in your heart, it will become more refined and polished in you and shine more brightly in your soul. Through it all, may His Word increase your faith and remind you of who you are and bring the security of knowing your life is in His hands. Memorize Hebrews 4:12

When the Israelites complained about the manna God provided, He "sent serpents .... they bit the people and many died." (Numbers 21:6). When they repented, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent, mount it on a pole and whoever looked at it would be healed. For centuries, they preserved, protected and dragging it whever they went until they ended up worshipping it. Something that had once been a blessing became an idol. Think it can't happen? Your church, your children, your spouse, your family, your job and your car can become an idol - there's nothing wrong with these blessings. It is only wrong when they begin to take God's place. Take heed. Guard against idols in your life!

There are circumstances and events that will consume every bit of your energy. They're real and pressing, all-consuming and painful. No matter what you do, the situation is in the forefront of your mind. You simply can't shake it.  Your loved ones may be supportive but you cannot expect them to comfort you everytime the anxieties surface or the tears begin to flow. They get weary and so do you. It's in those times that you must draw upon God's comfort, strength and wisdom. Others will let you down but God never will. So call upon His unflagging love morning, noon and night - whenever you need him. He is always ready to help you. Read Psalm 55. As David and his weary men fled from King Saul's relentless forces, they came to the Desert of Ziph, hoping they could hide and get some rest. Unfortunately, the people there were Saul's allies and they divulged David's covert location. Saul's soldiers closed in on David and all seemed lost. Whenever difficulties...

If you need encouragement today, take a look at the palm tree. You can cut it but you cannot really destroy it. The nutrients that most trees need to survive can be found just below the bark - so when you cut them, they die. But not the palm tree - its life comes from its heart so it thrives even under attack. Today, do no let issues or events that had happened to derail you. Stay focus on what God promised you - "strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy (Colossians 1:11). God's plan for you is to go deep, stay connected to Him and never be uprooted, barren or blown away. Psalm 92:12 "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree."