REFOCUSING YOU... !

The Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your

food and drink. But now you will again see the Lord,

your teacher, and he will guide you. Whether you turn to

the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying,

"This is the road! Now follow it." 

Isaiah 30:20-21 

  

God's desire is for us to have the best of Him and He is committed to helping us follow specific road maps leading us to it.  He has designed a specific pathway for each and every one of us and along the way, specific things for us to do. 

However, the truth is that we are sometimes as stubborn as the children of Israel that we don't see, hear or sense His leading, or teaching, not to talk of following His instructions.  Now because God's will for our lives is bigger than us and the fact that other lives are dependant on its manifestation, God will sometimes introduce certain situations to get our attention and bring us back on the right path. 

God will use the appropriate circumstance or event (pleasant or painful) to get our attention, and bring us back into the realms of His will.

Here are some ways He may use to get our attention:

• A Restless Spirit: Sometimes we will find ourselves restless from deep within.  It is feeling we mostly cannot understand or identify why it is there.  We can't focus, eat, sleep or think straight, we are just restless for no reason, it seems. The best thing to do at this time is to pray and ask God what He is trying to teach or show us.  Usually when this happens, He is trying to move our attention towards something. We will do well and save ourselves a lot of sleepless nights when we pay attention to a restless spirit within us.

• Unanswered Prayers: I can testify to this one and I am sure most of you reading this can. Think about it, you fast, pray, roll on the floor, shout, jump, scream, quote and support it with scripture, yet, the prayers are not answered. Yes, it can be extremely confusing and frustrating right? Everybody who takes God and prayer seriously must deal, sooner or later with the problem of unanswered prayer.  This is a hard one, however God is sovereign and every unanswered prayer situation is different and He helps us accordingly.  Some of my thoughts and how God has helped me with these are: I was praying for selfish reasons as explained in James 4:3, which reads "You ask and do not receive, because you ask(A) wrongly, to spend it on your passions.", I prayed, yet did not have absolute faith that I received what I prayed for.  There was the nagging feeling of "what if and buts and maybe", just as explained in Matthew 21:22, which reads "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”. I had iniquity in my heart which I either knew or did not know about as explained in Isaiah 59:2, which reads "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."   It could be also be other things such as praying for something genuine, but at the wrong time. When we pray it is important to ask God to help us understand how the answer or non answer fits into the greater scheme of things, the live of others and His Kingdom.

• A Spoken (audible) Word: God sometimes uses the words like He gave a messages to Samuel and to Eli the priest as we read in 1 Samuel 3:4-18.  A good way to know that God is speaking through other is when quite a few people, within a short space of time are saying the same thing which connects to a burden or a prayer in your heart. 

• Unusual Blessings:  God sometimes blesses us in unusual ways  which is meant to turn us towards Him. He shows us kindness love, even when we least expect it. It should encourage us to praise and thank Him and use it for His glory. Romans 2:4 explains it so well, it reads "You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?"

• Disappointments: Is that a sigh I heard ripple through blogsville?.  Yes, we can all relate to this one right?  Just like He did with the children of Israel many years ago, God uses disappointments to bring some of us back to repentance, and back into the fold of His will.  Setbacks are meant to keep us from walking into a future we have mapped out for ourselves, as opposed to God's.  An example we find in the bible was when the children of Israel refused to follow God's command to take possession of the promised land. God judged them through disappointment for their unbelief and disobedience, to bring them to repentance and turn back to Him.  This we read Numbers 14:27-32 and the reaction of Israel when they realised their wrong is recorded in Numbers 14:39-40,  (please read for completion). They became remorseful, repented and turned to God in obedience.

• Financial Troubles: In Judges 6-17, we see how God brought judgement to the children of Israel through the Midianites. It was only when God took away all their material belongings, did they cry out to Him.  You see, they were dependent on and trusted in the riches they had and had no regard for God. What are we dependent on and trust in?  Our 'things' or God?.  When our trust is invested in the blessings of God (cars, houses, fame ) rather than the one who blesses - God , to refocus our priorities, He might take them all away.

• Tragedy, Sickness and Affliction:  I have learnt that in this life, tragedies will come, whether we like it or not. However, I have also learnt to regard them as a reason and opportunity to get even closer to God.  Romans 8:28,"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose...". Tragedy, sickness and affliction, when we endure, we realise that God will eventually worked it out for our good and for His glory and it brings us closer to Him.

God will use the above and more if required to get our attention and bring us back on the right path if we have strayed.  God knows exactly where we are in our journey of faith. He knows when we start straying away from the path, and He will do whatever is required to put us on the right path.

God is such a good God that even the adversity He might allow is limited, just like He did with Job.  God allowed Satan to persecute Job, but limited him not to hurt or kill him. Job 1:12 and Job 2:6 - (please read for completion).   All He does is for our own good.

I encourage you to stay strong, and be assured that whatever you might be going through, God is right there with you. Stay focused and alert. If you notice any of these things patterns (or others),  happening to you time and time again, pause and ask "Lord what are you trying to tell, show or teach me at this time".  He wants to tell and show you all the good things in store for you.   

He wants to see His will come alive in you; He wants to make a beautiful and glorious testimony out of the very makings of you. 


Much Love , Remi

***pictures by photobucket***

BSL (BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION)

(PRESS PLAY)

Next Generation - What Seeds Are We Planting

"And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers,

and there arose another generation after them who did not

know (recognize, understand) the Lord, or even the work which

He had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did evil

in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals."

Judges 2: 10 11

The verse above relates to the passing of Joshua and all the elders who witness the powerful hand of God; both in blessing and judgement, in the lives of the children of Israel. From their being rescued from Egypt, through the wilderness and into the promised land.

After Joshua and the elders who witnessed the hand of God died, a whole new generation (their children and grand children) were now on the scene. They were grown up. The Bible says they did NOT know the Lord and as a result of this they did the very things that despised God. For example, they worshipped other gods, like the Baal-gods. They did nothing that their father's did, the things that pleased God.

I read this and thought, how could they have not known the Lord, or learnt from how their father's served God? I mean with all the wonders and punishment (for their disobedience) Israel went through with God, this new generation should have at least know about it!

I pondered and I reasoned that I believe they knew about God and all His miracles and blessings and all, but they did NOT KNOW GOD. It seemed that they knew God from afar, the God their father's served. However, they did not have a personal relationship with Him. The verse makes me think, that the older generation carried on with the business of serving God, yes the books where there, the temples, the alters and the rest, however it seems they might not have taken the the time to sit down and teach the upcoming generation about God, and guide them towards having a personal relationship with Him.

My question - "did Israel forget to implement the commandment of Deuteronomy 4:9-10? Which reads "9 But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10 Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai,[a] where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also."

Fast forward to this generation, imagine a family - mother, father who have lived a life of obedience in God, they get married and have two children. They immerse themselves in family life and the father, wanting the best for his children (as he should), works all the hours, to give his children what he considers ** the best** in life. He works on Sundays too, just to get that extra double pay that His company provides. The wife on her own (even though married) raises the children- takes them to school, takes them to church and so on. She is busy rushing from one appointment to the other. The husband and wife only just have about enough time to catch up in the evening, before they both fall asleep, in anticipation of yet another busy day. They do not have the time to sit down and tell or really teach the children about God, who He is, and how to live a life that is pleasing to Him. ... and the wheel keeps spinning until the kids are grown.

Most likely, the boys would have learnt that working hard is required to give the family **the best**. The girls might have learnt that most if not all of the work of raising the family rests on her shoulders, and she just has to do the best she can, praying God will help.

Is this the best we can do for the next generation? Selah

Are we busy with life and serving God for ourselves, at the detriment of the younger ones.

The question that ensures is thus "what, if any knowledge of God are we passing on, planting, installing into our children or the next generation"? Will we empower them to live a life that is pleasing to God, or will they like the generation that is spoken in Judges 2, turn away from God, because they do not know Him?

Using the principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7, which reads "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant"). What we sow in the lives of our young people - the next generation, is what we will reap. What will manifest through the next generation in years to come, will be as a result of what we are or not doing today.

Like a farmer we must understand the hidden meaning of the principles of Galatians 6:7; and do our best implement them into the future generation, from our own little corner of the world.

The principles teach us that:

• We must not be misled, because God is not mocked: The message bible puts Galatians 6:7 like this: "Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds." Are we ignoring the spiritual needs of the next generation, the very foundation that will see them through in life? A word of encouragement, an act of reaching out to that teenager, that youth and young adult, will go a long way to save a life and most probably a nation.
  
  
• That we are required to do something: A farmer must first do something to get a harvest. He must go to the farm, get his out and plant them. Periodically, water them and tender the farm in expectation of a bountiful harvest. What are we expecting in and from the next generation? Are we planting the right seeds? Are we watering, and tendering them as we should? Teaching, coaching, being a good example, guiding and praying for them as we should? Are we planting God in their minds, in their hearts and soul. Are we planting, compassion, love, what it means to live a godly life, courage and obedience and complete trust in God and not in things?
  
  
• We reap what we sow: This is good news if we are sowing good seeds into the next generation, but terrible news if we are sowing bad or no seeds. Are we sowing the very seeds of Gods' word into our next generation - in prayer, in speaking in teaching and in doing? Are we sowing things such as discipline, respect and godly character?
  
  
• We reap more than we sow: Farmers plant their seeds because they expect a harvest, a great deal more than they put in the ground. Remember a seed is very tiny, but it blossoms into a big crop. A single seed of a scripture, prayer, word of guidance, or encouragement, a day, in the life of a young one will go a long way to bring forth a great harvest.
  
  
• We reap later than we sow: We don't see the results in the future generation now, but it does not mean they will not come. It also does not mean we should continue to ignore and not teach them about God and the godly principles that will save their very soul. There is no regular timetable for the harvest of life. Some crops will reap quickly, others take a long time, but it sure will be manifested.

So today, as you make your way through another week, I encourage you to pause from all your activities and spare a taught for the next generation. It is disheartening to read the horrible stories in the news, about the atrocities teenagers are getting up to. The devil is taking hold of our future and we must put a stop to it. It starts where you are, in your home, in your community, even at work. A word, a prayer, an act of compassion here or there goes a long way to plant good seeds that will bring forth good harvests in the future.

I encourage you to do your best to invest precious time to sow seeds into the lives of the future generation, and when their time comes, they will not be like the generation spoken about in Judge 2, but their very existence; love passion and fire for God, will make Him famous along their way.

Much Love, Remi
***pictures by photobucket***

31 Days Thanksgiving & Praise - DAY 6

"Every word of God is flawless;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."

Proverbs 30:5

Dear Lord, I thank you for the gift of another day to be called your own, to praise, worship, declare your majesty and your faithfulness. Thank you for joy, peace and love. Thank you for your promises, that resides within the collection of personal letters you have written to each and every one of us.

Today dear Papa, I am thankful for the gift of your Word, the gift of you, THE BIBLE.

I am thankful for the Bible because, it is the BOOK OF LIFE. It is about life that Jesus Christ came to give to me. Without His coming I would still be dead in sin and lost!. John 14:6 explains it clearly "Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me"

I am thankful for the Bible because the Word is YOU. You speak to me, guide, love and teach me the way that I should go. In John 1:1 you tell me this so clearly, it reads "John 1:1, "IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [b]Himself"

I am thankful because your word, even though written a long time ago, is relevant to every single part of my life today and it will be relevant tomorrow and forevermore. As the word is you, it brings to life the reality of who you are... 'THE I AM' the continuous present one. You are not the I was, or I am going to be, you are I AM! You explain this to me clearly in Exodus 3:14a "And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE...".

You see even when 'YOU WILL' be what 'YOU WILL BE', it will be that you are the 'I AM' at that moment in time! ha! You show the continuous relevance of your word, of who you are to me every single day! I can testify!


I am thankful because your word has an answer to every single question or situation I could ever have or conjure up! Opening your word is like walking into a personified library, a road map of history, parables, law, codes of behaviour, prayer, sermons, letters and even poetry. (I should really pen some more poems, just for your pleasure papa).

I am thankful for the Bible because it brings me closer to you, it reveals the (with the help of the wonderful teacher Holy Spirit) deeper meaning and understanding of your Will for my life. Through your word, I am learning to know what my master wants, so that I can do that all he says I should do, in willingness and obedience - so that I will eat the good of this land!

I am thankful that indeed, every word written therein is truly flawless, and therefore I have hope and trust in your word, which means I have hope and trust in you!. This hope brings the gifts of your blessings upon my life, as declared in Jeremiah 17:7, which reads "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD."

So today, dear Papa, I say a big, massive, thunderous THANK YOU for THE BIBLE, YOUR WORD, WHICH IS YOU! I thank you for the gift of your words which gives hope, joy, peace and most of all life to my very soul.

Papa, I pray that my basket of thanksgiving and praise is acceptable and sweet smelling in your sight today. Be glorified, honored and praised, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ I thanks, pray and praise. Amen!!

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, WHAT ARE YOU

THANKFUL TO THE LORD FOR TODAY?

Much Love, Remi

***pictures by google and photobucket***

31 Days Thanksgiving & Praise - DAY 5

“I was glad when they said to me,

Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 122:1

I thank you Father for another day to give you glory, honor and praise. I thank you for another day under the tremendous umbrella of your grace. I thank you for love, peace, life and fulfilment.

Last night, in my sanctuary, it was our last ‘Prayer Night Vigil’ for the year 2009. To say it was awesome would be an understatement. It really did make everyone reflect on how GOOD our God really and truly has been to us this year. When we thought of all the atrocities that had been reported on the news from January till now, and the fact that we were still alive and standing firm in faith and hope in God, crazy praise and thanksgiving ensued!

Today dear Papa, I say a BIG THANK YOU for my SANCTUARY – New Wine Church !

Where should I start? From our insightful senior pastor, I thank you for his life and his obedience. You have indeed given us the reality of Jeremiah 3:15. “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding”.

I thank you for the wonderful people I have met and grown up in the knowledge of you with! Yes, there have been disagreements and all, but then with a family this huge, there is bound to be. However, with and through the teachings of your love papa, we have overcome a lot and grown that much stronger and moved forward in you. We have prayed, fasted, cried, rejoiced danced, helped the poor, ministered to others, been fed and watered by you Papa. Father, I am very thankful.

It is in this same place that I re-anchored my intense passion for all things concerning you. It is in this same place that you really taught me what it means to serve and live through the spirit of Excellence; to be diligent in all I do. Now I won’t have it any other way. I am still learning, but I thank you how much you have taught and grown me in Excellence.

I have met beautiful and wonderful people who will be part of my life for a long time to come. I have met others too, who have left their mark and have gone to do the same for others. I pray that I in turn, have left a good impression in their lives.

It is in this same place, that I am learning to take the apostolic ministry you have given me out to those who are hungry and thirsty for you.

It is the same place, where day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, season after season your name will forever be glorified.

I thank you for the leaders, ministers, teams and all the incentives you give us, in as much as they have been to serve you, it has also been for our own good; to draw us nearer to you.

I thank you for the guest ministers, pastors and speakers you have sent to us. They have been

diligent in delivering your word of life, on time and season, when we most needed it.

Papa, today I place my basket of thanksgiving and praise at your feet today and say a BIG THANK YOU for this sanctuary that you have placed me in.

Father, I pray that my offering is sweet smelling, presentable and acceptable in your presence this very day. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I Thanks, Praise and Pray – Amen.

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, WHAT ARE YOU

THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THIS VERY DAY

Much Love, Remi

***pictures by photobucket & google***

31 Days Thanksgiving & Praise - DAY 2

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue
to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith
as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7: 6

Dear Lord, thank you for another day to give you glory, praise and honor. Another day to be thankful for your mercies, grace, faithfulness and never-ending love.

Today, dear Papa, I thank you for this very platform, this website, ‘A Day In God’s Will’. I thank you for the availability of this platform and the ability to use it to encourage others; through my experience, knowledge and wisdom you kindly and graciously give me.

I thank you because I know that lives have been and continue to be impacted and changed for the better and that you are taking the glory. I thank you for in its own small way, it is drawing people back and closer to you.

I thank you for the passion, zeal, desire and willingness (even though sometimes it is quite challenging oh!), to keep on writing, encouraging and sharing that which I have learnt.

I thank you because like Peter in Luke 22:31-32, you give me a second chance to come back here, and strengthen my brothers and sisters. I thank you that you are always glorified.

Father, I thank you that when I encourage others, I am encouraged. When I lift up, I am lifted up, when I help others, you send me helpers. I thank you for all the breakthroughs and testimonies that I have experienced through a simple post. It is totally awesome.

I thank you Holy Spirit for ministering to everyone that visits ‘A Day In God’s Will’, like only you can. The testimonies are endless and truly amazing.

I thank you father for the wonderful and bright future you have for 'A Day In God’s Will’; a future that will impact lives and generations to come, all for your glory.

Papa, today I place my basket of thanksgiving and praise at your feet and say a big THANK YOU for ‘A Day In God’s Will’.

I thank you for the privilege, honor, responsibility and confidence you have placed in me to declare your majesty, to write about your faithfulness, your kindness, your schooling, your scolding, your teaching, your building and your infinite love for us all.

Papa, I pray that my basket of thanksgiving and praise is sweet smelling and acceptable in your presence today. Be glorified and honored in Jesus name I pray, thanks and praise. Amen!

Beautiful People, what are you thankful

to God for this very day?

Much Love, Remi

***pictures by photobucket***

Pleasurable Smiles...

"For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;

He will beautify the humble with salvation"

Psalm 149:4 (NKJ)

To take pleasure in someone, means to derive joy, delight and enjoyment in everything that individual does.

When a husband says about his wife that "he takes pleasure in her"; he is in fact saying that he enjoys every single aspect of who she is. He takes pleasure from her eating, sleeping, talking, reading or simply just sitting still. This is what I believe God means when He says in the verse above that "For the LORD takes pleasure in His people."

God takes takes pleasure in everything we do (apart from sin), if we do like we are doing it for Him and doing it as an act of worship. He takes pleasure in our waking up, our eating, sleeping, singing, dancing, working, relationships and much more.

How can we make our daily activities an act of worship, that will bring pleasure to God and cause Him to smile?

When we engage in our daily activities or tasks, we must have God very much in mind. We can have at the back of our minds questions such as "Does this activity, for example eating, bring worship to God? Does the food I am consuming and how I am fueling and looking after my body, the temple of God, bring pleasure to God? Does it make God smile"?

What common, yet daily tasks can you start doing differently today, with God in mind?

To further learn how our daily activities can bring glory to God, we can learn from the life of Noah, Genesis 6. Noah's life was a life that brought pleasure to God, His life and the activities he engaged in, glorified God and made Him smile.

In the days of Noah, God could not find anyone on the earth who pleased Him. Man was consistently engaged in evil doings. It was so bad that God was sorry He ever made them, and said He was going to wipe man out. However, Noah, found favour with God. Genesis 6: 5- 8 (please read for emphasis). God found pleasure in Noah for he was the only blameless man living on earth at that time as we read in Genesis 6:9 which reads "This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God". God decided to start creation all again, and to start with Noah. He could not wipe out Noah, for he lived a life that pleased God. Can God say the same thing about us? Can God intervene in some crises happening because we are present and the grace He has over us helps to rectify the situation? (selah)

Here are five acts of worship we can learn from the life of Noah. Acts of worship that will bring pleasure to God and cause Him to smile.

We make God smile when we:

• Love Him supremely: Noah loved God, when no one else did as we read in Genesis 6:9 reads "This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God. This is the most thing God wants from us. God made us to love us and longs for us to love us back. God wants to have a daily and continuous walk with us. He wants us to have a continuous and engaging relationship with Him, through conversations; from the moment we wake up to the time we go to sleep. God wants a relationship with us, a one to one relationship. He made us to love us and longs for us to love Him back. God is more interested in our relationships rather than our sacrifices as we read in 1 Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.




• Trust him completely: To trust God is to have faith in God. It is impossible to please God or make Him smile if we have no faith, as declared in Hebrews 11:6a which reads "And it is impossible to please God without faith..." By faith Noah built the ark ( a ship) in preparation for rain, even though there had never been any rain! Hebrews 11:7a reads "It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood...". Today, how many of us will trust God totally and completely with every area of our lives, even when He says to do things that makes no sense whatsoever! How many of us will do that? In what areas of our lives do we need to trust God completely, to bring Him pleasure and to make Him smile?
  



• Obey Him wholeheartedly: The dictionary defines wholeheartedly as - fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic and energetic. Noah obeyed God wholeheartedly, by following specific instructions. He did everything God commanded, as was confirmed in Genesis 6:22, which reads "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.". When God tells us to do something, regardless how insane it might seem to us, our duty (out of love and obedience to Him) is to simply obey. We must be instant in our obedience. Instant obedience will teach us more about God than a whole lot of bible school will. Also, I believe (and have experienced) that instant obedience will further unlock understanding which will not be given to us otherwise. Delayed obedience, is still disobedience.
  

• When we thank and praise Him continuously: When the flood subsided and Noah embarked from the ark, his first act of worship on dry land was to offer a sacrifice of burnt offerings to God, and God was pleased, as we confirmed in Genesis 8: 20 - 21a, it reads "20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice... It pleases God when we express our thanks to Him, for all that Has done, doing and for that which He has promised to do. As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 107:1, we must "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever".
  

• When we use our abilities: After the flood, in Genesis 8: 15-16, God said to Noah, "Be fruitful and increase the earth". God was telling Noah, to enjoy all that God has given Him and live a life He designed for Him. God wants us to get on with our life according to his Will for us. He wants us to do the things we have been specifically designed to do. He takes pleasure in it all. When we use our abilities, for His glory and to help those around us, it brings Him pleasure, it makes Him smile. If God created you with the gift of a writer, then write. If God created you to be a runner, then run to His glory. If God created you to be a tailor then sew the best designed pieces there is!
  
  

So, are you living a life that is pleasing to God? Does your everyday actions worship and make Him smile? What area of your life or activities you engage in, can be displayed as an act of worship to God?

I encourage us all to live out the very essence of our lives as an expression of worship to Almighty God. We should endeavour to make our every activity be impregnated with the knowledge of God, causing those activities to flow in seamless praise, and adoration to Him. For this will bring Him pleasure, make Him smile, and His glory will shine through us, whilst we make him famous as we live out the intricacies of each and every day.

Much love

Remi

***Pictures by photobucket***

The Good And Perfect Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow

of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence

of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me. All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house

of the LORD Forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

The dictionary defines a shepherd as thus:

• a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.
• a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

From that definition, it is safe to say that a Shepherd would naturally care for the sheep. An individual who is a leader should have a caring nature for and towards those whom he is leading or directing.

John 10:11-14 reads "11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep".

From the verse above, Jesus was explaining that He is the good shepherd. For Him to have to clarify and distinguish Himself as a 'good shepherd' means that there are 'bad shepherds' around. It means that there are bad shepherds who lead the sheep, his people astray.

Further reading of the same chapter in verse 14 - 15, Jesus not only further re-affirms and distinguishes himself as the good shepherd, but also explains, His love and what He, as a good shepherd, does, continuously, to look after His sheep; his people. It reads 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep".

Now in John 10:12-13, we see the characteristics of a bad shepherd, and it reads "12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep

From this passage, it is obvious that the bad shepherd, referred to as 'hired hand', does not care about the sheep; the people. A bad shepherd abandons the people at the first sign of trouble, causing confusion and displacement.

From that understanding, the questions I ask of you today is thus:

"who is your leader, who are you following?

Who is your Shepherd?

Is God and His word your Shepherd

or is man and the world your shepherd?"

Just as a shepherd tends to the needs of his sheep, by watching over them carefully, protecting them from the dangers of the field and elements of the weather, guiding them away from trouble, leading them out of trouble, when they have wandered off into trouble, and leading them to what will satisfy their needs, daily and constantly; God does the same for His people.

Yes, there might be times when life strikes a painful blow, and we start to feel discouraged and in our discouragement cannot sense the presence of God; Him being there or leading us.

However, learning from the nature of a shepherd (in the natural), a shepherd does not always have physical or direct contact with the sheep he is herding, but his presence is there all the same, looking after and over the sheep. So even when we don't feel God's physical touch or feel Him near, He is always and will always be there as He declares in the second part of Hebrews 13:5, which reads "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So, today, I encourage you to start your, day, week, month and season in submission to the Good and Perfect Shepherd, Almighty God. I encourage you to submit yourself to be led by the shepherd who knows what you need before you ask. The one who knows where all the provisions and opportunities (jobs, contracts, business opportunities, promotions and much more) are, even in the midst of the current economic climate. The one who will lead you in the paths of righteousness, even in the world's darkness, for the glory his holy name.

I for one, declare that God is my good and perfect shepherd, and with renewed understanding of His goodness and his mercy and His love, I can further re-affirm Psalm 23 as thus:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

I distinguish you Lord (set you apart, and obove) from all others leaders, as my good and perfect shepherd. As my guide, my teacher, my leader and my life coach!. And because you are a good God, I shall never lack any provision or any good thing.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He leads me into abundance

In your goodness, you lead me in blessed abundance (plentiful, more than enough of everything that is good and enriching for and to me), even in recession. You know where all the opportunities are; how to get them to me or how to get me to it, as long as follow your lead... and as you lead me along, you gift me with perfect peace within my soul.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

You bring me back to my original position, how you created me to be, living in peace, in love and in abundance. You lead me in right thinking, right doing for your name's sake. (this is the part I love). Now because you do this for your namesake, I have no need to worry or be stressed, because you cannot forsake your name, for your name is your very reputation, and you will not forsake your reputation, you cannot. Assured Confidence! Hallelujah!

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Even when I go astray from your will (yeah, I am silly like that sometimes, and wander off on my own), and work and walk myself into some disastrous situations (and you know I have had a few Lord); in your goodness and like the good and perfect shepherd that you are, you still come and find me, and help me out of my own mess! Wow!

Your rod, you use to correct me (that's right, sometimes it sure hurts, but it is for my own good, so I thank you) and your staff you use to lead me out of that very situation (guiding me out by insight through your word, your teaching, your wisdom and your Holy Spirit). In so doing you show me the nature of your perfect character, which is all goodness.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Even in the presence of my enemies, those who want to see me fail, you prosper me (to their amazement, and for your glory). In the presence of those who doubt that I serve a living God, you show yourself strong, and then you go further to anoint my head, blessing everything that concerns me, and it still does not stop there, you then bless me so much that I have to expand my territory to contain it all, and its still keeps coming. Your blessing is never -ending. When I think I have seen all your goodness, you 'wow' me some more!

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

As long as I follow you and let you lead me as the good and perfect shepherd that you are, your goodness and your mercy will always surround me, be with me and be manifested in me. It will follow me everywhere I go, be evident in everything I do, I touch and I'm involved in ... all the days of my life.

As long as I keep my eyes, firmly focused on you, follow your instructions and whilst doing so (no matter how long the journey or work I must do; and Lord, I must confess, sometimes the journey is long and the work, extremly hard, but by your grace, I have been and always will be able), remember your constant faithfulness, love and goodness. I must always remember that you are my good and perfect shepherd, whose desire is to lead me in the right path, for your name's sake and for your glory. And for all these and even more, I declare I will live within the realms of your will and love forever more...Amen.

How about you? How do you declare and re-affirm Psalm 23, confessing the Lord as your shepherd? Have a wonderful day being led in spirit and in truth by God the good and perfect shepherd, glorifying His name in your life along the way.

Much Love

Remi

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Constant and Continous is He: even in the midst of famine

And I will put a division and a

sign of deliverance between

My people and your people.

By tomorrow shall this sign be in evidence.

Exodus 8:23

... and the story continues to be delivered through all forms of media; television, radio, newspapers, the Internet, even on bill boards. Tales about the devastating blows of the doom and gloom of the world's recession is never ending, it seems

The constant barrage of the state of the recession is a repackaged tactic of the devil. A tactic to instill fear into the minds of those taking it all in. However, as children of God, who firmly reside within His Economy, we know that because He is good, we are going to be okay.

Over time and throughout the Bible, God has shown us His continuous and constant desire to proposer his children, even in the times of famine (recession). His aim is to prosper us in wealth, health, relationships, influence and affluence and so much more; so that we in turn can be a blessing to others, bringing glory to His name.

God spoke the verse above when he was about to bring the plague of 'the Plague of Flies' upon the Egyptians, (please read the Exodus chapter 6 - 9 for completion). In the midst of all the havoc that was to be evident in the land, God promised to 'protect, set aside, mark and treat different' the Israelites, showing that He is their all powerful, knowing and protecting God.

As I mused over that verse, I realised that, even in the middle of this world's crisis, it is still God's constant and continuous desire to "set us apart, mark us with his blood, make it evident that we have and serve a living God, who is more than able to rise us well above the recession". After all, He is a God that changes not, He did it before and He will do it again; only if we let him through our obedience.

Some encouraging stories of how God showed his constant and continuous desire for his children to prosper in the times of famine are:

• Isaac became prosperous - Genesis 25 - 26 (please read for completion): Isaac was a diligent and obedient man and he moved as instructed by God to Gerar, the land of the philistines. In response to his obedience God blessed him in the land of Gerar, he reaped in the same year of famine (recession) a hundred fold. We must note that God blessed Issac because he was obedient. Also, we learn that Isaac did not follow the ways of the world and go to Egypt like everyone did, or as his father Abraham did. He obtained instructions for his own victory, in the times of famine. What is God telling you to do, physically or spiritually? Are you following God's or the world's pathway to your victory in this recession?

• God saves the Israelites in the wilderness - In Deuteronomy 8 (please read for completion): Here, we learn how God fed the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness. God supernaturally fed them through manna (bread) from heaven. This bread was to be gathered together by specific instructions from God. The Israelites lived the reality of Matthew 4: 4 which reads "But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". God did more than feed them, he made their clothing (clothes and shoes) last on them throughout their time in the desert, forty years. Imagine that? They never outgrew their clothes or shoes. The Israelites ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. This is proof that God saw them through the wilderness. As he did it for the Israelites, He can and will see us through the hard times, if we let him and are obedient.
  


• Elijah fed by Ravens - 1 Kings 17 (please read for completion): In verse 2 and 3 of this chapter, we see how God told Elijah to move from where he was to the brook of Cherith , the east of Jordan. In this place God provided water to drink and ravens to feed him food. The awesomeness of this is that Raven birds, are scavengers in nature, and they do not discriminate between humans and animals, they will eat it all. However, this is the same bird that God commanded to feed Elijah. God can use the same wave and instigator of this recession to feed, take care and increase His children.
  

• The Widow of Zarephath - 1 Kings 17 (please read for completion): This is another wonderful example of how God provided for his own, through obedience; and also how the obedience of one person, led to the saving of another life. The widow of Zarephath and her son were down to their last meal and close to death by starvation. God commanded Elijah to move from the brook Cherith, (where he had initially hidden and provided for him), to go to Zarephath, where he will meet this widow. On getting to Zarephath, he did see the widow. He asked her for some water to drink and some bread to eat - on which the woman replied in 1 Kings 17 11 - 12, which reads "11As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 12And she said, As the Lord your God lives, I have not a loaf baked but only a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the bottle. See, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
  
  Elijah heard her plight, but because he knew God was onto something, encouraged her. The widow obeyed the prophet and the result of both of their obedience was that she, her house hold and Elijah, ate for many days throughout the famine. They never lacked. From this we must understand that the ramifications of obedience to God is usually bigger than us. In this case, Elijah's obedience saved the widow and her household. The widow's obedience, gave room for God to do his work and provide for both of them.
  

• The favoured man called Joseph - Genesis 40 - 41 (please read for completion): The favour of God was on Joseph, for God gave him the wisdom and ability to govern and administer the house of Pharaoh and his people. God gave him the wisdom, ability and skills to know where, how to and when to gather up all the [surplus] food that will be required to help Egypt survive the times of famine. We must ask God for His wisdom to know where the opportunities are in this season; when, where and how to invest and sow our time, resources and skills and gifts.



• Famine during the reign of King Claudius - Acts 11 (please read chapter for complete ion): There was a famine in the land of Antioch during the reign of King Claudius. At this time, God provided for the disciples living in Antioch, however, they in turn, provided and helped each other according to their capability and how God blessed them. verse 29 - 30 reads "29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul". We must learn that when God prospers us in this recession, we should not embrace a selfish nature and hold onto it all. We are blessed to be a blessing, thus we should reach out to others and help them to rise above the waves of recession. In doing so, the true nature and colours of God's love will come shining through, bringing glory to His holy name.

On that note, I encourage us all not to be carried away on the waves of fear because of the continuous news about the world's global recession. Declare and decree that "you are NOT participating in the world's recession", for you reside in God's economy. In doing so, you are hiding yourself under God's rock, under his wings and in the shelter of the name of Jesus Christ, where he will not only provide for you and your family but prosper you until you become extremely prosperous.

However, when God prospers you, do not forget to be a blessing to those around you, helping them rise above tides recession; making God famous along your way.


Much Love
Remi Banjo

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Continous Praise...

“I WILL bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Psalm 31:1

If most of us were asked the question such as “do you give praise to God ?” Our answer most definitely will be “yes, of course I do”.

If they asked us further, "did you remember to praise God the last time you went through that fire, that wilderness, lost your job, your home, your wallet, or when the car broke down, or when you lost that contract, and so on? Our answer might just be... "oops... eerm, I’m not entirely sure, I did pause for minute, too consumed starring at the problem at hand to give praise all the time, but I eventually got back on the praise train"

I guess we have all been there (pointing finger to self), where at some point in time or the other, we have been too overwhelmed with what we were going through, that we forget to praise God, continuously. In the verse above, the Psalmist David declares that "His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This teaches us that PRAISE, is and should remain a constant and continuous thing that we do.

The most important key that opens new doors,

closes old ones and advances us in our

walk with God is Praise.

I read a book the other week, and it taught and re-affirmed to me that praise indeed, is the lost key to victory. It is the most important key that can bring us out of any trials and tribulations.

Yes, there are times when we don’t even feel like praising God, and all we want to do is hang our heads down and cry. However, we must learn from the man who went through disasters most of us would not even wish on our worst enemy, disasters that we only experience from a very far distance. I am talking about Job.

In one single day, Job lost all his material possessions through unthinkable calamities. Yet he did not give up on praising God. Praise was still coming forth from his heart, and falling off his lips.

Let’s take a closer look at the great man, Job and his devotion to praising God, regardless his immediate reality. In one day...

• He lost all his oxen, sheep, servants, carmels and all life stock as we read in Job 1: 13 – 17.
  


• The same day, he lost his sons and daughters as they were eating and drinking in their eldest brother’s house. Job 1:18
  


• and in the process of them getting killed, he lost his house as well, for a great wind came from the wilderness and knocked that over killing his sons and daughters.

That entire calamity happened to Job in ONE DAY. In fact, bad news was queuing up at his very front door, each to deliver their message of doom. Yet, though deeply grieved, (which he displayed by shaving his head) he still found the strength from within, to praise, worship and bless God!!!

Job 1:20 - 21 reads: “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Please read the whole of Job chapter 1 for completeness.

At this point, I must ask, how many of us will stare adversity right up in the face - eye ball to eyeball and keep confessing the goodness of God? Selah...

What did we loose that has suddenly stopped or kept us from praising God and giving him all the glory? Did we loose our jobs, houses, car broke down, even loosing a loved one? Whatever it is, no matter how difficult or heart wrenching or unfair the situation might be, I encourage us all NOT to give up praising God. It is that praise that is the key to the victory that we seek.

A few more reasons why we must praise are:

• Praise turns our focus to God: When we don’t feel like praising, that is the exact time to jump up and praise, for it turns our focus away from our circumstance, situations and problems and turns them towards God. When we focus on our problems, we focus on ourselves and get stuck at that junction. When we focus on God, being the good God he is, he elevates us from whatever we are going through.
  


• Praise helps to keep us to be humble: When we praise we humble ourselves to seek refuge at God’s feet. When we praise, with reckless abandon, we don’t care how we look to others or how they perceive us. We are humble enough to know that God is bigger than any of our problems.
  


• God inhabits our praises: The dictionary defines inhabit as thus: to live or reside in or to dwell in, or to exist or to be situated within. From that definition it is not surprising the devil will want to keep us busy with many distractions. He wants to keep us from giving God praise. When we praise, God resides within our praises, and in his presence, there is no sorrow, heartache or problems.

God wants us to turn our hearts, minds and souls towards him, regardless of our situation or reality. When we focus our eyes (physical and spiritual) on God, and not on our problems or on our blessings (being obsessed by them), we will see all the glorious and wonderful things God is has already done for us, is currently doing and that which he has in store to do.

We will see with our own eyes the victory we already have in Christ Jesus, which means... that problem or situation is a whole bunch of nothing, after all.

So, today, I encourage us all as we start the week and indeed every single day, to put on our garment of praise. Let us praise and Dance like the psalmist David, declaring that "We WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in OUR mouths.”

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD"

Psalm 150:6

Have an awesome time, loosing yourself with reckless abandon, in praise and worship to God, the king of glory, from first the mornings light and indeed, throughout your day, making him famous along the way.

Pssst... Thanks Believer for the inspiration to conjure up this post...

Much Love

Remi

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