What's Beauty

Growing up, most girls are overwhelmed by how much "love and admiration" they get especially from men of all ages, sizes and social status.
From the first stage where they develop breasts and start getting pimples, and menstruating, they seem to take special care and give great attention to how they look usually spending lots of time before the mirror as if to ask "mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?"

Intentionally getting "all dressed up & hot" becomes one main reason why they wanna dress to "kill".
Boys, guys, men are always attracted to what they see and start to pursue these girls, ladies and women and satisfy their eyes (lust) to really be sure if what they are seeing outside is what is really beneath. 

I then begin to wonder what one would describe as beauty...

I believe beauty is not only from the outside, there's more to beauty than meets the eye.

What really is beauty? Let's discuss, your comments are welcome, feel free...

#TOTSbyVAETA
#LIFEseries

Getting Them Through The Teenage Years

" Use wisdom n understanding to rule your home..." Prov 24:3

When you’re the parent of a ‘teen in
transition’, it’s important to find the right
blend of correction, instruction, motivation and praise. Instead of focusing on behaviour you don’t want, praise and reward behaviour you want more of. If your child feels like you’re
always ‘on their back’ instead of ‘on their team’ about how they dress, their friends, their music, etc., they’ll resist you at every turn. The Bible says about parenting: a) ‘Children, obey
your parents’ (Ephesians 6:1 NKJV). b) ‘Don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them’ (Ephesians 6:4 TM). Use the carrot
and stick approach. If you’re all ‘stick’ and no ‘carrot’ you’ll provoke them into rebelling, going undercover and cutting off communication. And if you grew up in a home where you were never praised or rewarded, you’ll have to work harder to break the cycle.

Exploding at your teen just teaches them to handle their own anger explosively. Expect to be shocked and be prepared to respond constructively. If you take their mood swings and inconsistencies personally, you’ll end up
reacting in ways you regret. Do you remember your own adolescence and how you felt about your parents’ opinions, tastes and rules? Mark Twain said: ‘When I was fourteen my dad was
so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty-one I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years!’ If you’re raising a teen, here are two Scriptures worth remembering: ‘Love never fails’ (1Corinthians 13:8 NKJV).

‘Use wisdom and understanding to establish your home.’

When The Answer Isn't What You Want

'A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me' 2cor12:7

Paul isn’t referring to the kind of ‘thorn’ you find on rosebushes, but a sharp, pointed stake that inflicts pain. And the word ‘buffet’ means ‘to render blow after blow after blow’. This makes his next statement all the more amazing: ‘I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in…touch with my limitations…I… begged God to remove it. Three times…then He
told me, “My grace is…all you need. My
strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Once I heard that…I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the
gift…Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer…I just let Christ take over!’ (vv.7-10 TM). Paul responded to his thorny situations by doing six things: 1) Admitting
he needed God’s strength.
2) Asking, even
begging, for God’s help.
3) Accepting the
answer when God said, ‘No.’
4) Appreciating it
as ‘a gift’.
5) Acting with confidence and continuing to fulfil his mission.
6) Acknowledging that the problem allowed God to work through him. When the driving force within Paul had been redirected by God, he wrote: ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20 NIV). Paul’s will had been taken to the cross and crucified. Now he operated in the will of God and no longer questioned the path or the price. That’s the place God wants to bring you to!
Halleluyah! Glory to God!

Credit: Eld Daniel Danquah

7 Facts About Sin

So what is SIN? Defining sin can be varied, but basically SIN can be defined as "anything that violates God's will". To get a better view of sin, we could consider these facts about SIN.

7 Facts About Sin

1. All MEN have sinned (Sin is universal)
    Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

2. Sin SEPARATES us from God.
    Isaiah 59:2: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins     have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3. The punishment of sin is UNAVOIDABLE

     Numbers 32:23: But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and        be sure your sin will find you out

4. All SINS of the World were laid on JESUS CHRIST

    Isaiah 53:6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own           way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

5. The BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST washes away EVERY sin

     Revelation 1:5: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten      of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and                    washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6. Sin can be forgiven immediately when we GENUINELY confess

    1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to             cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

      Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and         forsaketh them shall have mercy.

7. There is no sin in HEAVEN (in fact it is not permitted!)

     Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither          whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the                Lamb's book of life.

Would you love to discuss more about sin? Let's get talking!

For The Road

Proverbs 10:22 KJV
The blessing of the Lord , it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Little is much with God in it. I'd rather be content with the little I have than become selfishly greedy and covet someone's belongings
or property. All things belong to God who gives so liberally whenever we ask according to HIS will yet I have also realized God rewards hard
work.
While waiting and trusting God to do a miracle,
put your hands to work. Dedicate your skills,
gifts and talents to doing your best, not unto
man but unto God who rewards all.
In my short stay on earth, I have realized complaining does not do much for anyone. After
complaining, there's even more work to be done. Why not cut down the minute for complaining and put yourself to work.
Rest where necessary. Overburdening yourself with too much work when you need to attend to family, friends and other pressing issues can be disabling.
In all of God's work of creation, there's REST.
Finally, be faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 puts it so nicely and on point by saying "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful".

Look To Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us , and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The great cloud of witnesses include patriarchs,
men of faith, the fraternity of believers who have
gone ahead into glory and are keenly interested in
the salvation of men- their response to the
salvation message and they rejoice with the angels
when a soul gets converted. They too were human
and know what things ensnare us but if they were
able to conquer, then we too can- looking into
JESUS, the author & finisher of our faith!
Who do you look up to?

I WANT TO BE LIKE JONAH!

www.onestone.com

Everyone has someone they admire. We all do. There is something about someone one wishes to possess. It even becomes stronger when all we want to do is just to become like that person. Reading the Bible, one character that fascinates and whose gift and blessing, whose grace and anointing I desire is Prophet Jonah!

Interesting huh! One wonders why I choose Jonah when there are many other people one could to be like. Let's look at what Jonah is known for:
1. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach against it because its sins had come up before God.
2. Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish instead of Nineveh.
3. The Lord caused a violent storm. Afraid, the sailors did all they could but to no avail.
4. The sailors cast lots which fell on Jonah - meaning Jonah was the cause of the storm/ calamity.
5. Jonah was thrown into the sea and was swallowed by a great fish.

Oops! What a story!
So why would I want to be like Jonah? Not that I want to end up bringing calamity by running from God, or by running to Tarshish or by being swallowed by a great fish. No! My desire goes beyond that!

Jonah had an attitude. He knew which string to pull to reach an altitude. He could look at his actions and predict its magnitude... but Jonah knew God.

So why do I want to be like Jonah!
1. He was BOLD about his FAITH in God
These days, many are shy to profess their Christian faith and would rather be silent so they would accepted by peers. People know God and by our confessions, we bring Him to the world. Sometimes we may not need to talk much, only our confessions is enough to bring others to Him. The sailors feared and prayed to God! Wow!

2. Jonah prayed in his distress to God.
In the belly of the fish, Jonah remembered God. Oh that we would remember God in times of distress, when all seem lost and there is no hope! May we receive the grace, strength and ability to pray to God when things get so rough and when all available solutions look bleak, halleluyah!

3. Jonah had one of the greatest preaching anointing ever given to men!
Jonah by preaching in a day had the whole nation of Nineveh to repent. Not that some people repented, but the whole nation repented!
The nation of Nineveh even declared a fast - man and animals fasted and prayed that God would forgive them of their sins as they turn away from their wicked ways.

I want to be like Jonah, not because of his disobedience but because of the three reasons above.

Now let's consider this!
Jonah had a powerful anointing to preach. His preaching caused even the king to repent. The whole nation repented. That was his only ministry.
Today, many struggle to have people hear them and have to do many other things to have healing and miracles so people believe. Jonah had no miracle, no healing, no signs and wonders but when he preached God's unadulterated word, a whole nation repented.

I want to be like Jonah, do you?

Much love,
AMinistry Worker

Choose JESUS Daily!

God is great and worthy to be praised. He created us in His own image and did what no one will do -
He gave us HIMSELF! He is with us (to convict us, and lead us to God, the cross, salvation), in us (to
sanctify, transform us into HIS image) and on us (for service).
When God is with you and in you, amazing things happen - if you give HIM the authority to, He will steer you to a great end.

Now let's look at this carefully - John 6:18-21 KJV
"And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. [19] So when they had rowed about five and
twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they
were afraid. [20] But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. [21] Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."

Now watch verse 21 - immediately they took Jesus in, the ship came to land where they were going!
Halleluyah!

Today God is ready to help us reach the shore, away from the storm that rise up against us - He is saying "it is I, be not afraid".

Are you willing to let Him in your ship (life)? The choice is yours - choose Jesus!

Much love!

POWER TO WITNESS!

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts 1:8 (KJV)

What great power the Church received on the day of Pentecost! That power still exists today and has been given to everyone who believes yet unlike the people of Old, our power we have received is laying waste .

The opening verse mentions "power, and witnesses" yet today we have power but are no more witnesses. God is calling you, He wants you to be reminded "you have the power of the Holy Ghost so you can a WITNESS".

You see, when we witness to others, it is not us who do the convincing or conversion - it is the Holy Spirit working through us. HE does everything - He begins by placing a desire in the heart of people where they get a great desire to know the Lord. Then He (the HOLY SPIRIT) sends a Word through someone to the person; sometimes they may not believe or are not settled in their minds/ hearts. Then God sends another person to them to confirm His Word, His love, His grace. This too might be rejected by the person. This does not mean those earlier people have no POWER, they do! The reason why most people may not accept the Word of God at the first instance is purely because you cannot put a seed of corn in the ground today and expect it to bear fruits that same day! SOMETIMES it does!

Let us consider these verses

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 4:35-38 KJV

There are various timelines for soul harvesting; one plants, one waters, one removes the thorns and prunes, another harvests and all receive wages! All the workers at the various stages are important.

In the verses above, John 4:38 reveals what our mandate is "we have been sent to harvest where we have not laboured, others have laboured and we enter into their labours"! Halleluyah!

It is time to arise and get working, the harvest is ready. By witnessing to others about Jesus Christ, the POWER to WITNESS is released and we harvest souls to the glory of God's name.
Arise today and be a WITNESS!

Much love!

10 Reasons David is Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”

10 Reasons David is Called “A Man After God’s Own Heart”
(by Ron Edmondson)

Acts 13:22 says, “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.‘”

The following words describe the heart of David as seen in his own writings:

(All verses New International Version)

Humble – Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Psalm 62:9

 

Reverent – I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

 

Respectful – Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9

 

Trusting – The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

 

Loving – I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1

 

Devoted – You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7

 

Recognition – I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1

 

Faithful – Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

 

Obedient – Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34

 

Repentant – For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:11

David’s example is a great road map for how we are to live our life.

Which of these areas need your greatest attention for improvement?

 

Credit: http://www.ronedmondson.com/about

Known By God

2
GOD KNOWS YOU!
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee …”
Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)

Difficult to believe? You might probably be wondering how true it is that God knew you before you came out of your mother’s womb - when you remember how you struggled to make it through school, write some exams, stayed up late in the night to study and nothing ever got into your head and even spent time going to church and praying but to no avail. Things even became worse than you thought, and the troubles never seem to end.
No matter how hard it is for you to believe it, God formed you in your mother’s belly, crafted you with special love and care, arranged the hair on your head and even knows the number of hairs you have! Amazing, isn’t it?
God has a special interest in you – He has made some investments in you and would never want to see you go bad. He is the one who has given you the grace to go through all you have been through. He wants you to get EXPERIENCE so you could get to the next level He has prepared for you.
God wants you to come into this next position qualified – very qualified. A teacher in any level of academic pursuit would test their students’ knowledge of understanding before promoting them to the next class. He cannot promote them if they do not understand the basics. Sometimes, the student has to repeat the class or rewrite the examination. Promotion does not come but after every successful test where the student comes out with flying colours. God really knows you, is interested in you and would never let you go!

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

All that you have been through, are going through and would go through- is working together for your good. YES, IT IS! This is because you have a deposit of God in you and His fore knowledge of you makes it more interesting. He knows how your end would be! Just believe and rely on Him to show you the way and He will.

Now, let’s take a pause here and do this.

I don’t know what you have been through, and what you are going through right now but I want to give you this special and rare opportunity to make this decision in your life. It is about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior. Though He knows you and would never let you go, you have to make a decision today to make Him the Lord and savior of your life. That’s when His plans and purposes for your life can come true. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. It’s okay trying to do it and fight life’s battles on your own. Hand it over to Jesus! Confess Him as your Lord and Personal Saviour today and He will take you through.
Kindly say these words loudly “Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for coming to die on the cross to save me from sin and its power. Today, I accept you as Lord of my life. I believe you came to die for my sins. Right now, I confess you as Lord and Master of my life. Forgive all of my sins and take control of my life. Steer it to that bright future that you predestined for me even before time began. Amen.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”
John 1:12
God bless you so much for accepting Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You have become a child of God. God’s seed that makes you His son is in you. In fact, it was in you but it has now been rejuvenated to live for Him and fulfill His purpose.  Now you can boldly say “all things are working for my good because I love God and have been called according to His purpose.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:29.

God knew you in advance before you knew yourself. Surprised? It’s true. He wants you to be like His Son Jesus Christ. That is why He gave you the power to become His Son too. (See John 1:12, Romans 8:29)
William Burkitt puts it this way: To be conformed to the image of his Son; That is, to be made like unto our Lord Jesus in affection and disposition, in life and conversation, in the temper of our minds, and in the actions of our lives; like unto him in his sufferings, in the cause of his sufferings, righteousness-sake and well-doing; in the kind of his sufferings, reproach, hatred, outward violence, and death itself; and in the manner of his sufferings, with meekness and patience; and like unto him in his glory; suffering with him, we shall be glorified together.
Praise God! Good news! You too can be like Jesus!

Our Father!

4
“OUR FATHER…”
Children have a way of appealing to get attention and get their needs met. They cry, become silent or disturb in order to get attention. It is then that their needs are met. Some children have realized that unless they cry, their needs would never be met.

As sons and daughters of the Creator of the Universe, we are royalty; we have royal blood. We are not mere men and women who have to kowtow to the harsh conditions we sometimes have to go through in order to have an answer to our requests (needs and wants) – which according to economists are insatiable.
Talking to God does not need any special posture, condition or uniform. All you need to is ask.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8
Often, we forget who we are and forget that the Creator of the Universe is our Father. He is the one who has the greatest store of every treasure or resource that has ever been created. Remember, he is the Creator. He is not a supplier, if He is, then some of the resources and things we need might get out of stock that He has to go to the manufacturer for those things to be produced, then He supplies.
In this situation, He is the Creator. He has the keys to everything you so desire. All you need to is ask.
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7: 11.

There is something peculiar about children that we must consider here:
Children have outmost faith that their parents can and will provide them whatsoever they ask for. Whether the parent has the ability or not, children do not consider that as a factor to receiving what they want and trust their parents to provide.
Do you remember when you were a child? Do you remember what request you made that was way beyond the capacity of your parents? Did you consider whether your parents were able to provide them or not?
As a child, I remember asking my father to buy an aeroplane for me on his way back from his journey. So interesting! I guess you even asked more gargantuan things than this. In my request for an aeroplane, I did not even consider whether it was possible or not. All I had to do was ask.

Surprisingly, as children of God, we doubt if God is able to provide these things that we ask Him and are “kind and gentle” in our requests. We even give God grace periods when the answers to our requests delay for some time – thinking “well God has so many children on earth and it’s not easy providing for so many people” or “God has to find some for me, what if He is busy at this time?”.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God (our senior brother) says ”with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”
Matthew 19:26
(See also .Gen 18:14; Job 42:2; Jer 32:17; Zech 8:6; Luke 1:37; 18:27).
Consider it possible and it shall be yours.

A true story is told of a woman who visited her pastor and in their discussion, the woman told the pastor she had never seen hundred thousand cedis (now ten Ghana cedis as a result of the redenomination of the Ghanaian currency in 2007) in her life. The man of God asked her how much she wanted. She said she wanted ten million (now hundred Ghana cedis). The pastor asked her to go home and expect God to bring her the money. She went home and told her husband, who was a non Christian about her conversation with her pastor. The husband chided her and said why didn’t she ask for a greater amount, say hundred million? (The husband was drunk at the time).
Two days later as the woman was preparing supper, a man came to the house with a suitcase. He called her by name and asked her if she was the relative of a certain woman. She responded in the affirmative and the man told her he had been sent to her. The man then enquired what she needed and opened the suitcase; which according to the woman was stacked with neatly arranged currency. The woman said she needed nothing, and that she was not in want. The man insisted there was something she needed and that brought him to the place to seek her. The woman became so furious and abusive. She asked the man to leave and that she needed nothing.
The man then asked of her husband and she told him her husband was in the backyard. She asked if the man wanted to meet the husband, to which he responded in the negative. The man then asked the woman to escort him as he had to go. The woman agreed and as they were going, the man vanished. It was then that her conversation with the pastor came fresh into her mind. It was then that she realized God had indeed sent an angel to her to bring her money – just as she asked.
I pray you never miss it when God sends your answers to you in Jesus’ name. I pray your eyes be opened and your spirit alert to receive the things that God brings your way without dispute. You may never know…!
Our Father, who is in Heaven, knows all that we need yet He wants us to ask Him. He does not want us to ask that we might spend them on our lustful desires (See James 4:3) but  that we should also ask in faith, nothing wavering (See Hebrews 10:23). He is able to do it!

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:6-13 (KJV)

All you need to is ask!

ANY OTHER MAN

Judges 16:17 KJV
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

Samson was no ordinary person. His birth, life and mission were determined before he was born. He had a specific mission to fulfill that he could not just let go by.
Despite this great attributes, Samson did not value what he had. By disobedience and quest for adventure, Samson had Delilah get the secret of his power!
The devil is always looking to steal, kill & destroy so jealousy guard what you have. Never allow the enemy to get hold of your secret. He might make you look odd, plain, not part of the group &anti-social but remember, that makes you special.
If you bow to those circumstances, you'd become like any other man-ordinary & unimportant!
Maintain your integrity, honour God with your life and He'll honour you in due time!

Names of God

Let them praise the name of the Lord : for he commanded, and they were created. Psalm 145:5 KJV

HE created all things, HE has all power in His hands, HE controls the times and seasons and there is nothing that is hidden from HIM. HE is all knowing, all powerful and everywhere! Everyone has one name or another for HIM. How do you call the Creator? Here are a few names we.know HIM by:

1. Elohim - God
2. Adonai - Lord
3. Jehovah/Yahweh - I am
4. Jehovah Maccaddeshem - The Lord thy santifier
5. Jehovah Rohi - The Lord my shepherd
6. Jehovah Rophe - The Lord our healer
7. Jehovah Adon Kao Ha'arets - Lord of Earth
8. Jehovah Bara - Lord Creator
9. Jehovah Chatsahi - Lord my Strength
10. Jehovah Chereb - Lord the Sword
11. Jehovah Eli - Lord my God
12. Jehovah Elyon - God Most High
13. Jehovah Gador Milchamah - Mighty in Battle
14. Jehovah Ganan - Lord our Defense
15. Jehovah Go'el - Lord my Redeemed
16. Jehovah Hamelech - Lord King
17. Jehovah Hashopet - Lord my Judge
18. Jehovah Helech 'Olam - Lord King Forever
19. Jehovah Hoshe'ah - The Lord who Saves
20. Jehovah Jireh - Provider
21. Jehovah Kabodhi - Lord my Glory
22. Jehovah Kanna - Lord Jealous
23. Jehovah Keren Yish'i - Horn of Salvation
24. Jehovah M'Kaddesh - Santifier
25. Jehovah Machsi - Lord my refuge
26. Jehovah Magen - Lord my Shield
27. Jehovah Ma'oz - Lord my Fortress
28. Jehovah Mephalti - Lord my Deliverer
29. Jehovah Misqabbi - Lord my High Tower
30. Jehovah Rohi - Shepherd
31. Jehovah Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts
32. Jehovah Shalom - Peace
33. Jehovah Shammah - The Lord Present

God's attributes are unending; they show and describe His greatness - no wonder no man can fully understand God's greatness and power and dominion! So do you know God? What attributes / names would you ascribe to His greatness?

1 John 1:7

1 John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Nothing cleanses, heals and restores like the blood of Jesus. This day I pray that you are cleansed, healed and restored by the blood of Jesus. Receive it now in Jesus name.
Start praying!

Much love,
AMinistry Worker

Crowns For Soul Winners!

REWARDS FOR SOUL WINNERS!

There is a REWARD offered to soul-winners! Rewards are spoken of in the New Testament under the figure of crowns, which will be gained or lost, according to our faithfulness or otherwise. These are:

1.the incorruptible crown, for those who live a disciplined life (1 Corinthians 9:25);

2. the crown of life, for those who patiently endure trials and testings (James 1:12);

3. the crown of glory, for those who faithfully care for the flock (1 Peter 5:2-4);

4. the crown of righteousness, for those who love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8);

5. the crown of rejoicing, for all who are faithful soul-winners (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

So there is quite definitely a reward for soul-winning. Go, spread the Gospel, great rewards await you!

Credit: Francis Dixon

LOVE TAKES TIME

Love takes time.
It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying...

Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.
Love means believing in someone, in something.
It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.
Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are by-products of dedicated love.
They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.

Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.
Love involves much careful and active listening.
It is doing whatever needs to be done, and saving whatever will promote the other's happiness, security, and well-being.
Sometimes, love hurts.

Love is on a constant journey to what others need.
It must be attentive, caring and open, both to what others say and to what others cannot say.
Love says no with empathy and great compassion.
Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender.

When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.
Love is reliable.
Love is a choice and commitment to others' true and lasting happiness.
It is dedicated to growth and fulfillment.

Love is not selfish.
Love forgives, knowing the intentions are good.
Love does not attach conditions...
Genuine love is always a free gift.
Love realizes and accepts that there will be disagreements and disturbing emotions...

There may be times when miles lay between, but love is a commitment.
It believes, and endures all things.
Love encourages freedom of self.
Love shares positive and negative reactions to warm and cold feelings.
Love, intimate love, will never reject others.
It is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.
Love is a commitment to growth, happiness, and fulfillment of one another.

KOHINTA - Waiting Upon The Lord!

KOHINTA - Waiting Upon The Lord.

Credit: captainkimo.com

Kohinta is an Akan² word which means "to hide" and is used to describe a time of waiting before God in fasting & prayer to renew faith, commitment, zeal and also to reconnect with God. It is in these times that Christians receive renewed abilities to mount up wings like eagles.
The Eagle is the king of all birds - strong, aggressive, fearless and with great vision among many other qualities; it is also very skillful and does not eat dead meat!

The Eagle experiences a period when its feathers become weak and therefore makes it weak and unable to act and be like the way it was made to be.

"By the time an eagle reaches the age of 30 or so, its physical condition has deteriorated to the point that survival is difficult: its talons lose their flexibility and cannot properly grip prey, its beak becomes dull and bent, and its wing feathers grow thick and heavy, sticking to its chest and impairing its flight. The bird then retreats to a mountaintop, where over a five-month period it sequentially knocks off its beak by banging it against a rock, plucks out its talons, and then plucks out its feathers, each stage producing a regrowth of the removed body parts that "renews" the eagle and allows it to live for another 30 to 40 years."¹

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:28-31 KJV

As we carry on with life's activities, there comes a time when we feel so spiritually, emotionally and physically dry and weak. The stress and demands at work, societal and family issues, financial and educational challenges often make us faint and become weary that we are sometimes afraid we would lose all that we might have toiled for! It is in these times that we, like the eagle need to take a break, retreat and seek the Lord to renew our strength and receive more grace and anointing to carry on with life - doing the Master's will; becoming better!

Waiting on the Lord renews strength, improves physical and spiritual vision, emboldens, and make one aggressive for God in winning the lost and doing the work of the King of kings.

Kohinta - Wait on the Lord!

Footnotes
¹ Life of an eagle ( www.snopes.com/critters/wild/eaglerebirth.asp)

² Akan - a tribe in Ghana and a language spoken by the tribe.

The Key

A Man went to work in a far away country, He worked for his entire life without payment until he got frustrated when he asked his boss he always told him “I will give you, your payment when the time is right.
One day, he woke up and he told his boss that he was tired of working without payment and wanted  to go home.
The boss gave him a box with a key inside as his payment. The man left with disappointment in his heart knowing all the life time he had worked for just a box of keys! What will he show to his family? and many other thoughts were the questions he pondered over as he went along.
Reaching a river side, he decided to throw the keys in the river and continue his journey amidst lots of frustration and great anxiety over the reaction of his family on his arrival with nothing tangible to show for his many years of working away from home!
Arriving home, he found his family waiting for him and a mansion close to where he left his former house.
Surprised, he asked whose house it was. His family told him his boss came every month since he started working to oversee the building of the house until it was finished but he never gave them the key because he wanted it to be a surprise to him.

He then remembered the keys he had thrown in the river and that he couldn't find them since the water had taken them away. He could not open the doors and the windows either because they were firmly secured!

Note:
Sometimes we think we have laboured for nothing when serving God, yet God has given us Jesus as a key to an everlasting life that we shall have a rest. He is a master key to unlock that problem, to fixing that mistake, to fulfilling that dream. People may say you are a mess but to God you are a message full of grace. His mercies comes new every morning. What will we gain to have everything but miss the kingdom of God.

Don't lose that KEY!

Concept Credit: Deacon David Gbogbo; The Church of Pentecost - Oyarifa District.

Draw Nigh!

Draw Nigh!
James 4:8 KJV
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
With so many things happening fast and daily chores work & its related activities taking a big chunk of our time, its possible that our relationship with God will be strained. Nevertheless He is calling us back. Don't be shy, come home. Confess your sins, talk to Him, He is waiting keep talking; that's #PRAYER
Draw nigh to God today!

7 Reasons Why The Church Must Witness

Jesus Christ is the founder of the Church. The Church was bought and redeemed with His blood and the main aim of the Church is to be like JESUS!
The Church is not a building to be beheld but the body of believers who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour and in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. The Church has been called to be like Jesus, who in his earthly ministry proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and had many signs and wonders following His ministry that many people believed in His name. Those who believed, He gave them power to become children of God (See John 1:12).
Every Christian has been called to witness about Christ - in fact it is one of the most basic and important responsibilities of every Christian.
Why must the Church witness about Christ? What is the importance of telling others about Jesus?

Let's find 7 reasons why the CHURCH must witness in:
John 3:19 KJV
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil"

1. There is darkness (SIN) in the World.
2. There is LIGHT (JESUS) in the World.
3. There is a condemnation (ETERNAL DAMNATION / HELL) to those who do not believe the LIGHT).
4. Men love darkness rather than LIGHT. They rejected the LIGHT.
5. The deeds of men are evil.
6. There is ETERNAL LIFE to those who believe in the LIGHT.
7. God's heartbeat is for all to be saved and have eternal life (John 3:16).

BONUS
*° It is a command!
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It is our responsibility to draw the nations of the World to the LIGHT and we NEED to ACT NOW. It is our major assignment. Get up and go forth. There is a lot of work to be done!

The CHURCH is called to witness!

Borne up in Prayer!

Lu 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Praying for others is very important. It helps them to stand in the midst of difficulties, especially when the devil and the  storms if life try their faith, loyalty, and devotion to God. A prayer for them helps them stand firm and strong.
Whenever a friend's name pops into your head, it is God reminding you to pray for that person.

Jesus prayed for Peter, who have you prayed for?
Pray for someone today even as someone prays for you too! God bless you.

The Introduction

THE INTRODUCTION

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:" Exodus 3:14

Asamoah Gyan hugging Ghana Black Stars Manager - Akwasi Appiah after scoring a goal.

Have you seen that Melcom advert on TV with Asamoah Gyan and the little girl?
In that advert, Asamoah Gyan, the captain of the Ghana Black Stars went into a shopping mall and met a little girl who was wearing a jersey with Asamoah Gyan's name on and watching a football match the Black stars had played previously. Impressed, Asamoah stands behind her and asks "do you like Asamoah Gyan?". Without looking back, she nodded in the affirmative. Asamoah Gyan then said to her "I am ASAMOAH GYAN." Surprised, the girl looks back and refuses to accept no matter how many times Asamoah Gyan proved himself in every means possible.
Let me share with you  what the Holy Spirit has been showing me concerning that advert.
Like the little girl we behold in awe the magnificence of God which seems unreachable, then God himself presents himself to us as Jesus. He asks us, 'do you like God ' , and we go like yes we do, then He exclaims with honour 'I am God' , but that truth seems to us too good to be true. He goes ahead and proves Himself several times to be God, yet we respond like the little girl with a rather cynical look...but in all these I hope we won't wait till Judgement day to find out that Jesus is God with us men, unlike the little girl it's an advert but on Judgment day it would be real. Even on that day Jesus would still be worried about losing those who did not believe, yet it would be their fault not His, because He was always there.
Think about this carefully, God bless you.

Credit: Mr. Lawrence Aboagye Okai with AMinistry Worker