DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART. #20.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

Another week gone and time to prepare for the weekend! Have a laugh to get it started…

ONE LINERS
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
Always try to be modest and be proud of it!
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
Borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
Corduroy pillows: They're making headlines!
Boycott shampoo! Demand the REAL poo!
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
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Benny in the Desert
In the great desert lived a band of nomads. Their leader, Benny, had risen to his rank due to his magnificent beard. His people believed a man's strength and courage came from his beard, and thus the man with the biggest beard was their chief.

After leading the band for many years, Benny began to fell uncomfortable wearing the beard, in this hot and dusty land. He wanted to shave it off, so he called his council together to get their advice.

When he said he wanted to shave, the councilmen were shocked. One said, "Do you not remember the ancient legend, Sire. The leader who removes his beard is cursed and made into a piece of earthenware."

Benny had heard this legend, but being a modern man, he scoffed at the tale. Being headstrong, he went ahead and cut and scraped away his once magnificent beard. As the final whisker was cut off, a huge dust storm came up.

It lasted only a few seconds, and when it cleared, there was a man-sized clay vessel where only moments before had stood their leader. The council then knew the legend must be true. Their conclusion? "A Benny shaved is a Benny urned."
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Drunk Confession...
A drunk staggers into a church and sits down in a confessional and says nothing. The bewildered priest coughs to attract his attention, but still the man says nothing. The priest knocks on the wall three times in a final attempt to get the man to speak.

The drunk replies: "Thersh no use knockin' mate, thersh no paper in this one either."
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Ten Rules For Happier Living:
1. Give something away (no strings attached)
2. Do a kindness (and forget it)
3. Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance)
4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel)
5. Laugh often (it's life's lubricant)
6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough)
7. Pray (or you will lose the way)
8. Work (with vim and vigor)
9. Plan as though you'll live forever (because you will)
10.Live as though you'll die tomorrow (because you will on some tomorrow)
- Source Unknown.

PUNS OF THE WEEK FOR MY FRIEND – BLOGOTIONAL, HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH… THEY SHARPEN HIS MIND.
1. He made so many mistakes that he had an err about him.
2. Why did the banana go to the psychiatrist? Because it had a split personality.
3. When vegetables want to converse with petunias, they use a cell phone and cauliflower.
4. Running around your yard for thousands of miles would be quite a feet.
5. Arab musical composers teach their children to play Haydn Sheik.
6. On a lark, the bird watcher was robin the liquor store, even though he couldn't swallow.
7. This is some pretty good tapioca. That's one way of pudding it.
8. A boy told his parents he wanted to raise goats for a living, but he was only kidding.
9. If a horse could predict the weather, it would probably say that the weather is stable.
10. A family went to watch a 007 movie at the theatre, it was a bonding experience.
11. First time hunters were arguing over which kind of animal tracks they had found when they were hit by a train.
12. A man walked into a bar with a lump of asphalt under one arm and said to the bartender - A whisky please, and one for the road.
13. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
14. My brother saved money by shaving his head rather than going to the barber. You might say he was making cutbacks.
15.When the window-shade specialist got married, his bride was also a maid of awner.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT BEING CHEERFUL KEEPS YOU HEALTHY. IT IS SLOW DEATH TO BE GLOOMY ALL THE TIME!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

HAVE A GREAT AND GODLY WEEKEND!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – KNOWING JESUS!

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire,
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
- Amy Carmichael.

Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. - Philippians 3:8–9. cev

Today, it’s all about knowing Jesus, what is better than that? Paul said that he held everything else to be worthless, in comparison with that knowledge, and he was willing to sacrifice everything else in order to obtain it. Paul was willing to give up all of his Jewish privileges, and anything else that came between him and Christ.

C.H. Spurgeon, first words in the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London…. Said this:

I would propose that the subject of the ministry of this Church, as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this building shall be frequented by worshipers… shall be the person of Jesus Christ. I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist; I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist; but if I am asked what my creed is, I reply, "It is Jesus Christ."

My venerated predecessor, Dr. Gill, has left a [theological heritage] admirable and excellent in its way. But the [legacy] to which I would pin and bind myself forever, God helping me, is Jesus Christ, who is the arm and substance of the gospel, who is in Himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth.

Paul had experienced a real conversion, and nothing was going to stop him knowing Christ. We are probably thinking… “Yeah! But Paul was special, we are just ordinary Christians!” Didn’t Paul by giving everything away, his privileges, his position, his status, etc; make himself “ordinary,” I think he did.

There are so many stony ground hearers who receive the Word with joy that I have determined to suspend my judgment till I know the tree by its fruits ... Do you think any farmer would have a crop of corn next year unless he plowed now? You may as well expect a crop of corn on unplowed ground as a crop of grace until the soul is convinced of its being undone without a Savior.

That is the reason we have so many mushroom converts, so many persons that are always happy! happy! happy! And never were miserable. Why? Because their stony ground is not plowed up; they have not got a conviction of the law . . . they fall away . . . That makes me so cautious now, which I was not thirty years ago, of dubbing converts too soon.

Now I wait a little, and see if people bring forth fruit; for there are so many blossoms which March winds blow away that I cannot believe they are converts till I see fruit brought forth. - George Whitefield.

Paul made a voluntary choice of following Christ, His cross, His poverty, and his criticism; and for these he freely sacrificed all that he had from the world, and all he could anticipate from it. He made this choice so that he would know Him. Knowing Jesus is all about sacrifice. Are you willing to sacrifice everything to know Him?

In Christ We Have:
A love that can never be fathomed
A life that can never die
A righteousness that can never be tarnished
A peace that can never be understood
A rest that can never be disturbed
A joy that can never be diminished
A hope that can never be disappointed
A glory that can never be clouded
A light that can never be darkened
A purity that can never be defiled
A beauty that can never be marred
A wisdom that can never be baffled
Resources that can never be exhausted.
- Source Unknown.

Paul was never satisfied with his knowledge of Christ and always craved more fellowship with him. Do you know Jesus? Do you know Him intellectually, personally & relationally? Our greatest quest in life should be to know Jesus. If you don’t know Jesus and want to get to know Him, you can find what you want, Here.

Loving Father, I thank you that I know your dear son Jesus! I thank you for the love, joy and peace that my Lord and Saviour has brought into my life! I thank you that He took me from a life of misery, to a life of never-ending happiness! I pray that anyone reading this will also know Christ in their life. In the wonderful Name of Jesus ! Amen

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – ALL FOR JESUS.

It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men. - Philipps Brooks.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Mat 28:19-20.

Over a hundred years ago, in February 1885, a group of young men set sail from England to become missionaries in China. They included graduates and ex-army officers and were known as the "Cambridge Seven" because they had felt called to the mission field after attending meetings at that University.

The leading member of the group was Charles T Studd, the son of a wealthy indigo- planter who had retired from India to a large country house at Tidworth in Wiltshire. His father had been converted in 1877 when a friend took him to hear D. L. Moody preaching in London and he immediately gave up his pastimes of racing and hunting, and used his home for evangelistic meetings until his death two years later.

Charles and two of his brothers, Kynaston and George, were all at Eton when their father was converted and they were far from pleased by his efforts to interest them in the gospel. However, unknown to each other, all three were also converted when a visiting preacher went to stay with the Studd family during the summer holidays of 1878. The three brothers excelled at cricket both at Eton and later at Cambridge where they achieved a remarkable record of each captaining the cricket team in successive seasons from 1882 to 1884.

The exceptional skills shown by Charles gained him a place in the England team in 1882 which lost the match to Australia which originated the tradition of the "Ashes" between the two countries. The following winter he toured Australia with the England team that recovered the trophy but in 1884 his brother George was taken seriously ill and Charles was confronted by the question,

"What is all the fame and flattery worth, when a man comes to face eternity?" He had to admit that since his conversion six years earlier he had been in "an unhappy backslidden state." As a result of the experience he stated, "I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worth while living for the world to come."

From then onwards Charles began witnessing to his friends and fellow players and helping his brother Kynaston who had started organising missions amongst students. Soon he had the joy of leading others to the Lord and he prayed for power to be more effective in proclaiming the gospel.

Through the promise contained in Acts 1:8, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me....unto the uttermost part of the earth," he realised that his own zeal and energy were not sufficient and that he had to rely entirely upon God.

Up until that time he had felt content to witness amongst his own associates but after hearing a missionary speaking about the need for workers in China. Charles was increasingly burdened and convicted by verses such as "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalm 2:8).

Although his friends and relatives tried to dissuade him, Charles knew he was being called to the mission field and he sought an interview with Hudson Taylor, the director of the China Inland Mission and was accepted as an associate member.

Studd's decision was followed by six others within a few weeks and as they prepared for the mission field, members of the "Cambridge Seven" spoke at meetings up and down the country with remarkable results. In addition to numerous conversions a great wave of missionary zeal swept through the students of Edinburgh, London, Oxford and Cambridge which was to have profound effects throughout the world in later years.

For C. T Studd those future years were to see him giving away his family inheritance to help the work of George Muller, D. L. Moody, Dr. Barnardo and others and spending ten years in China where he suffered great hardships to reach remote areas where the gospel had never been heard before.

On returning to England he was invited to visit America where his brother Kynaston had recently arranged meetings which had led to the formation of the Student Volunteer movement. During this tour he experienced powerful blessing upon his ministry and the spiritual life in many colleges, churches and other bodies was radically transformed.

From 1900-1906 Studd was pastor of a church at Ootacamund in South India, and although it was a different situation to the pioneer missionary work in China, his ministry was marked by numerous conversions amongst the British officials and the local community.

However, on his return home Studd became concerned about the large parts of Africa that had never been reached with the Gospel and in 1910 he went to the Sudan and was convicted by the lack of Christian witness in central Africa.

Out of this concern Studd was led to set up the Heart of Africa Mission and when challenged as to why he was preparing for a life of inevitable hardship he replied, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

On his first venture into the Belgian Congo in 1913, Studd established four mission stations in an area inhabited by eight different tribes. Then a serious illness to his wife required his return to England, but when he returned to the Congo in 1916 she had recovered sufficiently to undertake the expansion of the mission into the World Evangelism Crusade with workers in South America, central Asia and the Middle East as well as Africa.

Supported by his wife's work of home, Studd built up an extensive missionary outreach based on his centre at Ibambi and although she made a short visit to the Congo in 1928 that was the only time they met again since she died in the following year.

Two years later, still labouring for the Lord at Ibambi at the age of seventy, Charles Studd died, but his vision for China, India and Africa had expanded to reach the whole unevangelised world. - Biography.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to surrender all for Jesus, that I may bring glory to His Name. I ask this in the wonderful and majestic Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

PRO HART 1928-2006...WITH JESUS.

Your prayers for the family are deeply appreciated.

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – A BAPTISM OF LOVE, A PASSION FOR CHRIST.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you,

being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. - Eph 3:14-19.

The goal of Scripture is an intensely personal love for Jesus possessing your whole being. The goal of redemption is your love-relationship, your love-life with Jesus. Christian living is living in love with Jesus. Prayer communion is looking lovingly into Jesus' eyes, thrilling to Jesus' voice, resting in Jesus' arms.

Christ's passionate lovers have bejeweled the history and heritage of the church. No Christian is greater than his love. Few today realize the intense devotion to Christ in the early church and in our sainted martyrs. The Holy Spirit can develop in us just as ardent devotion as He did in those days.

A. W. Tozer once said, "The great of the kingdom has been those who loved God more than others did." Those who have really looked into the face of Jesus cannot but be captivate by His love. Too often our love for Jesus is sadly impersonal.

We believe in His Person, we worship His Person, but we relate to Him far too impersonally. There is too much distance, a tragic remoteness in our fellowship. True, He is our infinitely holy God and we are but sin-deformed creatures before Him. He is our Sovereign King, and we bow before His majesty.

But He is also our Savior who loved us with such everlasting love that He forsook heaven's throne to become the incarnate Son of Man, to die for us, to redeem us for Himself and make us the special and eternal object of His love. Indeed, He came to make us collectively His bride and personally His beloved.

Let's humble ourselves before Him. Let's confess how cool and casual we too often have been in our expression of love to Him. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to give us a new baptism of love for Jesus. We need the Spirit's help to love, Jesus as we should.

Perhaps we have had too little of the Spirit's fullness to enable us to love with the personal ardor Jesus desires. All other passions build upon or flow from your passion for Jesus. A passion for souls grows out of a passion for Christ. A passion for missions builds upon a passion for Christ.

When Hudson Taylor was once asked what was the greatest incentive to missionary work, he instantly replied, "Love of Christ." William Booth's passion for helping the underprivileged, the derelicts of society, and for world evangelization was built upon his passion for Christ.

The most crucial danger to a Christian, whatever his role, is to lack a passion of Christ. The most direct route to personal renewal and new effectiveness is a new all-consuming passion for Jesus. Lord, give us this passion, whatever the cost! - ABLAZE FOR GOD.

My God, I love Thee; not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet because who love Thee not
Are lost eternally.

Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails, and spear,
And manifold disgrace,
And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;
Yea, death itself; and all for me
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,
Should I not love Thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heaven,
Nor of escaping hell;
Not from the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever-loving Lord.

So would I love Thee, dearest Lord,
And in Thy praise will sing;
Solely because Thou art my God,
And my most loving King. - Francis Xavier, 1506-1552.

Loving Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit baptise me in your wonderful love, and let me have a passion for Christ in my life. I ask this in the wonderful and majestic Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

PRO HART CLINGS TO LIFE.

Please pray for our brother in Christ, Pro Hart, and for his family...

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed Outback artist Kevin "Pro" Hart is clinging to life in Broken Hill NSW.Hart's family was maintaining a bedside vigil last night, but held little hope for the 78-year-old, who has been critically ill with motor neurone disease since late last year and is now unable to move his hands or legs.

His condition deteriorated last week, and doctors decided to cease medication on Friday. Hart's son, John, said yesterday that he did not expect his father to live much longer.

"There is only one outcome to this and he will go in his own time," he said. "We are preparing for the worst." Read on...

Many thanks,
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY – BAPTISM, IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

"May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God's presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of my self as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love." - Andrew Murray.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. - Act 2:1-4.

As I shut the door of the office after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It seemed to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at His feet.

I fell down at His feet, wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet in tears. I must have continued in this state for a good while. I returned to the front office, but as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Without any recollection that I had ever heard the subject mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to come in waves of liquid love; it seemed like the very breath of God. I wept aloud with joy and love. - Charles Finney.

Loving Father, baptise me in your Holy Spirit, and let me experience Pentecost in my life. I ask this in the wonderful and majestic Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG - ARE WE MAKING THE HOLY SPIRIT SAD?

Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins. Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. - Ephesians 4:30-31.

Don't make God's Spirit sad! But how do we do that?

By harbouring bitterness, unleashing anger driven rage, fighting with others, and slandering their name, while plotting to harm them. These things are the exact opposite of the qualities the Spirit is seeking to produce in our lives

God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. - Galatians 5:22-23.

No wonder it makes him sad!

Loving Father, help me by the power of your Holy Spirit, to be more like Jesus, that I might demonstrate His character in my life. In the wonderful Name of Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART. #19.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

Oh boy! What a busy week that was! Thank God it is Friday and the weekend is here. Time to catch up on family and friends, time to catch up on those little chores around the house, time to read that book, time for a BBQ, and time to meet up with God’s family at Church on Sunday! Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!

Here’s a good way to kick off your wonderful weekend…
ONE LINERS
I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
I get enough exercise just pushing my luck.
I just got lost in thought, it was unfamiliar territory.
I poured Spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.
I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I
used to have a handle on life, and then it broke.
I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out.
I won't rise to the occasion, but I'll slide over to it.
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AUSTRALIAN EMPIRE

John Howard, the chirpy Australian Prime Minister, flies to England for a meeting with the Queen. Over a cup of tea, Howard brings up his grand new plans for his country.

"Your Majesty, mate, can we turn Australia into a kingdom, in order to increase its force in the world market?"

The Queen shakes her head and replies, "One needs a king for a kingdom, Mr Howard and unfortunately you are most certainly not a king."

Not to be dissuaded, Johnny asks, "Would it be possible just to transform Australia into an empire then?" "No, you chubby-faced chap," snorts the Queen, "for an empire you need an emperor, and you are most certainly not an emperor."

Howard thinks for a moment and then asks if it is possible to turn Australia into a principality. The Queen replies, "For a principality, you need a prince, and you Mr Howard are definitely not a prince."

Pausing for a sip of her tea, Her Majesty then adds: "To be quite honest, having met both you and several other Australians, I think Australia is still best suited as a COUNTRY."
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FOR ALL MY CANADIAN FRIENDS!

You know you’re a Canadian when . . . .
1) You only know three spices - salt, pepper and ketchup.
2) Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled in with snow.
3) You think sexy lingerie is tube-socks and a flannel nightie with only 8 buttons.
4) You owe more money on your snowmobile than your car.
5) The local paper covers national and international headlines on 1 page, but requires 6 pages for hockey.
7) At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles as a meat processing plant.
8) The most effective mosquito repellent is a shotgun.
9) Your snow blower gets stuck on the roof.
10) You know which leaves make good toilet paper.
11) You find -40C a little chilly.
12) The trunk of your car doubles as a deep freezer.
13) You attend a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewellery and your Sorrels.
14) You actually get these jokes and forward them to all your Canadian friends.
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GOODNESS OF GOD
One of God's faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, "While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America.

When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God."
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PUNS OF THE WEEK FOR MY FRIEND – BLOGOTIONAL, HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH… THEY SHARPEN HIS MIND.
1. On a lark, the bird watcher was robin the liquor store, even though he couldn't swallow.
2. This is some pretty good tapioca. That's one way of pudding it.
3. Have you ever been to Engagement, Ohio? It's between Dayton and Marysville.
4. The frog went unnoticed in the milkshake because it blended so well.
5. You can't trust a tiger. You never know when he might be lion.
6. A garbage man digging through the trash says - Man, am I down in the dumps today.
7. If you don't pursue your dream of being a great and compassionate landlord, does that make you a lesser lessor?
8. When the Nomadic tree senses danger it packs up its trunk and leaves.
9. Rosemary was always late delivering packages. This prompted the head of International Herbs & Spices to call her supervisor, demanding to speak to the parcel sage about Rosemary and time.
10. When you get a transfusion in a Taiwanese hospital, you receive Taipei blood.
11. Jack and Jill is the best nursery rhyme as others pail in comparison.
12. The truly enlightened have homes with two Karma garages.
13. My favorite allergy song is Blowin' in the Wind by Peter, Pollen, Mary.
14. The math teacher was hungry, but all she had to eat was a piece of pi.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT BEING CHEERFUL KEEPS YOU HEALTHY. IT IS SLOW DEATH TO BE GLOOMY ALL THE TIME!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

HAVE A GREAT AND GODLY WEEKEND!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – A BALANCED POSITIVE CONFESSION!

If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile-driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time -- a tremendous whack! - Winston Churchill.

You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. - Psalm 23:1. CEV

A city in the Netherlands had a problem with litter. The sanitation department tried doubling the littering fine and even increasing the number of litter agents who patrolled the area, but to no avail. Then someone suggested that instead of punishing those who littered, they could reward people who put garbage in trash cans. A plan to devise a trash can that could dispense coins when litter was inserted was rejected as too expensive.

But it led to another idea: the sanitation department developed a trash can that played a recording of a joke when refuse was deposited! Different cans played different kinds of jokes, and the recordings were changed every two weeks. Citizens went out of their way to put garbage in trash cans, and the streets were clean again. - Discipleship Journal.

Lately, I have read so many articles concerning the positive confession doctrine, and I would have to agree that most of these preachers are in the extreme, and that many of them are preaching outright heresy. The problem is that there is a balanced positive confession; the Bible is full of them. But the enemy uses these preachers to distort the truth, and so lead many astray.

Another problem is that we pay far too much attention to these people, let God deal with them! If Christians are easily fooled by this stuff, then they have a problem in their relationship with Christ, and they do not know the Word. Did Jesus not say that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth?

The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. - John 16:13.

The enemy will distract us by listening, or reading about these extremists, that we miss the true positive message that God has blessed us with;

We are bought out of darkness into light. We, who have faith in Christ, come to life… I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life. - John 5:24.

We are brought to faith by the strength of Jesus alone, not by our own efforts… You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. - Eph 2:8-9.

Not by our own goodness… Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. - Phil 3:8-9.

But by His wonderful love and kindness… But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you. - Eph 2:4..

Our inheritance is abundant and secure, because He came to give forgiveness… He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. - Luke 24:46-47.

In a dream, Martin Luther found himself being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of Luther's sins, and held it before him. On reaching the end of the scroll Luther asked the devil, "Is that all?" "No," came the reply, and a second scroll was thrust in front of him. Then, after a second came a third. But now the devil had no more. "You've forgotten something," Luther exclaimed triumphantly. "Quickly write on each of them, 'The blood of Jesus Christ God's son cleanses us from all sins.'" - K. Koch.

You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe. You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, LORD. - Psalm 23. (A psalm by David).

This is what I call BALANCED POSITIVE CONFESSION, and I firmly believe we need to let this positive confession be on our lips constantly, and not allow the enemy to distract us from God's truth!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak your word of truth positively and balanced. Help me not to be distracted by the enemy, and by those who make profit from your word. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – “Do they know me, John?”

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it's been found difficult and not tried. - G.K. Chesterton.

The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." - Mat 25:40.

D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation.

"All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!" - Source Unknown.

I have a Pastor friend who lives in Scotland, he is in his late seventies now, but many years ago he told me his testimony;

He was the Pastor of a local Pentecostal Church in one of the bigger cities in Scotland. John was in his early thirties, and life for John and his wife was pretty good, his ministry was sought after, his Church was growing, and people from all around Scotland were coming to hear his exegesis on the book of Ephesians, which he taught with exceptional skill and anointing.

One Sunday afternoon while he was praying, he heard the Lord say to him… “John you are well known and very popular here, people from all over Scotland are coming to hear you preach, but I want you to go over to the window and look out.”

John went to the window and looked out, opposite his Church was a large public housing estate, where hundreds of underprivileged people lived, most of them were unemployed, and to say that their lives were in difficult circumstances would be an understatement.

The Lord continued to speak to him… “A lot of people know you, but do these people know me, John?” He started to weep when he realised what the Lord was saying to him, and thus began a new phase of his ministry, of reaching out to the people across the road from his church. Many of them came to know Christ and came into the Church, where they were discipled, and taught Christian principles to implement into their new lives.

It wasn’t a popular ministry, for it was to cause John to suffer repercussions from his congregation and denominational leaders, because there were those who didn’t want the “dregs of society,” to spoil a “successful Church.” He was asked by his board to stop this ministry, but it was mostly because of divorced people who had came into the Church, and the board didn’t want them as members.

These people who had been violently abused by their spouses, neglected and shunned by others. They were people who had never had a chance in life, until Jesus came along, loved them, forgave them, and accepted them into His family. When John refused to have them barred, the executive of his denomination withdrew his credentials.

John suffered a mental breakdown through all of this, but was to recover eight years later, and with the Lord’s help, to plant a new Church in the same city, with the people the Lord wanted him to minister too. This Church began to grow as John preached the “Full Gospel.”

It is now a leading witness in the city, and a testimony to the love of God, and what He could do through one man. The Lord also sent him around the world preaching the “Full Gospel,” as an evangelist and prophet, and he still preaches today.

When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."

Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." - Mat 25:35-40.

It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians. - Source Unknown.

God bless you John, you are truly one of God’s heroes!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to share the good news with those who need it most. Bring them across my path Lord, that I may minister your love, forgiveness, and acceptance to them. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY MEG!

We prayed that you would have a wonderful and blessed 40th today, and that you would have many more to come! Av'a G'day an God bless ya!

All our love,
The family!
xoxoxoxoxo

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – WHY WORRY?

Worry is wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's opportunities with yesterday's troubles. - Source Unknown.

Can worry make you live longer? - Mat 6:27. CEV

God is a help in trouble. In worry you are on your own. When you worry, which do you worry about, what might happen or what might not happen? Whichever, turn it around, to relieve anxiety. That's common advice in Scotland. For worriers, the Scots have a proverb: "What may be, may not be." - Source Unknown.

A while back, I watched Edward De Bono on television, and he was talking about simplicity, especially in business, and governments, and the necessity to set up departments for making things simple.

It started me thinking about my life as a Christian, and the need to simplify, in order not to confuse people who enquire about Christianity. As an example, it absolutely amazes me that whenever I go into a bookshop, I see so many books concerning WORRY!

Rows upon rows of self-help books, on how to avoid worry, and some of them are very pricey! (Especially to a Scotsman!) Even in Christian Bookshops I see the same thing; it astounds me that so many people are charging us a lot of money, to tell us something that was taught about in the Bible thousands of years ago!

To act out the principle of turning prayers over to God, we took a paper bag, wrote "God" on it, and taped it up high on the back of our kitchen door. As I prayed about matters such as my career, my role as a father, my abilities to be a good husband, I would write down each concern on a piece of paper. Then those pieces of paper would go in the bag.

The rule was that if you start worrying about a matter of prayer that you've turned over to God, you have to climb up on a chair and fish it out of the bag. I don't want to admit how much time I spent sifting through those scraps of paper. - David Mackenzie.

Many years ago, I got rid of a lot of my reference books, and started concentrating on the teachings of Jesus… So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Rom 10:17. I find it confusing to say the least, that so many people complicate the Gospel, in fact it was distracting me from Him, and no doubt I was distracting others.

Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen difficulties.

What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellow-men, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity. - Morning Glory.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I find His teaching so easy to understand, and yet so many people try to turn them into some kind of intellectual exercise. Jesus came as a common man, lived as common person, spoke the common language, and turned religiosity on its head!

I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds? Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes?

Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them.God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?

Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?" Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today. - Mat 6:25-34.

Why don’t we simplify our walk with Him, and live the way He wants us to, by listening to what He says, and putting it into practice.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to simplify my walk with Christ, by taking on board the teachings of Christ, and implementing them into my life. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY – HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:16-17.

In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.

Virgil's first experiences with sight were confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, "One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible."

To truly see Jesus and his truth means more than observing what he did or said, it means a change of identity. - Terry Seufferlein Norman.

Dear friend,
NO ONE can become a Christian, unless they are “Born Again” by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ says... “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:7. The necessity is absolute...you must be “Born Again!” Nothing will take the place of the “New Birth,” neither Water Baptism, nor Confirmation will take this place.

NO PERFORMANCE of religious rites will take the place of the New Birth. A great many people are depending on the fact that they say their prayers, read the Bible, go to Church, join in the sacraments, and perform other duties. None of this will take the place of the New Birth. You can be religious in every teaching, and yet be lost to God forever.

CULTURE, nor REFINEMENT, nor OUTWARD CORRECTNESS of life cannot take the place of the New Birth. The trouble is not merely with our outward life; the trouble is in the heart, in the deepest depths of our inward life. Our attempt to simply reform our outward life will not save us.

Suppose I had a rotten apple, I could take it to an artist and have him paint it until it was the most beautiful looking apple on canvas that you ever saw, and then have him coat it with varnish; but it would just be rotten to the core as ever. One bite into it would be a bite of decay. The trouble is that without Jesus Christ, you are wide of the mark in the heart.

Mere culture, refinement, respectability, morality, is simply a painted coating of varnish on the outside. Change means, going down to the very deepest depths of your being. “Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ John 3:3.

Are you Born Again? Now I think a good many will say, “No I am not. Can you tell me what I must do right now, to be Born Again”... I can.

Our Lord Jesus Christ preached, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15. REPENTANCE is turning from sin to God. The gospel message has power in it to revolutionise your life. In the Bible we read, “As many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His Name.” John 1:12.

WE ARE BORN AGAIN by God’s Holy Spirit, through His Word, the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. When you ask Jesus into your life, He transforms you through and through in a moment! It does not matter to Him if you are the world’s biggest sinner, if you open the door of your heart, and let Him come in to rule and reign in your life, you will be made a New Creation by God Himself.

Loving Heavenly Father, I repent of all the things I have done wrong, my sins. I ask for forgiveness and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. With my confession, your Word tells me that I am a new creation; I am “Born Again.” I thank you that Jesus is now my Lord and my Saviour. In His Name I Pray. Amen.

If you have said this prayer, please tell someone that you have become a Christian, and ask them to help you join a Bible believing Church.

Be Encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG –HE IS THE LIVING GOD!

I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." - Daniel 6:26-27.

His Kingdom endures forever, it shall never be destroyed, and His reign will never end! He is our deliverer, and works miracles in heaven and earth! What a mighty God we serve!

If a foreign King in the days of the Old Testament, can recognise how grand and glorious our God is, surely those of us who have received His grace through Jesus can rejoice in Him, and give him praise! We serve a great and living God!

He saved Daniel, and He will save you! Call on His wonderful Name, and taste His grace today!

Loving Father, you are glorious and awesome. Your rule is true, righteous, and eternal. You keep your promises and generously send forth your blessings. You alone are truly holy, awesome in your splendour and might. I praise you, and thank you in the mighty Name of Jesus! Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT FRIDAY - A JOYFUL HEART. #18.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Pro 17:22.

Another week is about to flash by, and we have hardly begun this one. I don’t know whether its just me, or is the weeks flying by? And what a week this has been, I have been suffering from severe gout; I have not been able to g’out, but never mind… Sunday’s coming! Hallelujah!

ONE LINERS
42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.
Death is hereditary.
Join the Army, meet interesting people, and kill them.
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
Friends may come and go, but enemies tend to accumulate.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Genius does what it must, talent does what it can, and you had best do what you're told.
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
It IS as bad as you think, and they ARE out to get you.
A day without sunshine is like, night.
------------------------
BELL RINGER
The Church is still looking for a Bell-Ringer after the tragic death of the armless bell-ringer.... After interviewing several more people the bishop was about to give up when another armless man banged on the door with his head , the newspaper ad firmly clenched between his teeth.

The bishop removed the slip of paper and the man was able to tell him that his armless twin brother had applied the day before and met with an accident. Afraid of what could happen the bishop began to object but to no avail. "Give me one chance please....."

He then began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. Suddenly, while rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below. The stunned bishop immediately rushed down the stairways. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before.

As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, "Bishop, who was this man?""I don't know his name," the bishop sadly replied, "but he’s a dead ringer for his brother."

COLDWATER
A man went to visit his 90 year old grandfather and while eating the breakfast of eggs and bacon prepared for him, he noticed a film-like substance on his plate. So he says, "Grandfather, are these plates clean?" His grandfather replies, "Those plates are as clean as cold water can get them, so go on and finish your meal".

That afternoon, while eating the hamburgers his grandfather made for lunch, he noticed many little black specks around the edge of his plate, so again he asked, "Grandfather are you sure these plates are clean"? Without looking up from his burger, the grandfather says, “I told you those dishes are as clean as coldwater can get them, now don't ask me about it anymore".

Well, later that day, they were on their way out to get dinner. As he was leaving the house, grandfather's dog who was lying on the floor started to growl and would not let him pass. "Grandfather, your dog won't let me out". Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching, his grandfather shouted, "Coldwater, get your butt out of the way!"
----------------------
FAITH
In April 1988 the evening news reported on a photographer who was a skydiver. He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes. On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went berserk.

The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without his parachute. It wasn't until he reached for the absent ripcord that he realized he was freefalling without a parachute.

Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun. But tragically, he had acted with thoughtless haste and deadly foolishness. Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on.

Faith in anything but an all-sufficient God can be just as tragic spiritually. Only with faith in Jesus Christ dare we step into the dangerous excitement of life. – Source Unknown.

PUNS OF THE WEEK FOR MY FRIEND – BLOGOTIONAL, BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH… HE CRIES.
1. If you Russia round and Ukraine your neck don't Crimea river.
2. I czeched on the prague-ress of my geography.
3. A practical Czech is considered to be Praguematic.
4. Television sets in Britain have to cross the English Channel. 5. Occasionally in the Caribbean there's a total calypso the sun.
6. In Ireland you're more likely to get a Pat answer.
7. When Irish boys carry their little brothers, they get a Pat on the back.
8. People in Switzerland can't learn to ski without a lot of alp.
9. When Mongolians walk they like to take big steppes.
10. How Long is a Chinese man.
11. A new country decided to conduct a flag poll.
12. If you send a letter to the Philippines put it in a Manila envelope.
13. A business man who wanted more ties bought some in Thailand where ties are very collar full.
14. When there are auto accidents in Sudan the vehicles go the Khartoum.

SO ONCE AGAIN LET US REMIND OURSELVES, THAT BEING CHEERFUL KEEPS YOU HEALTHY. IT IS SLOW DEATH TO BE GLOOMY ALL THE TIME!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remind myself that Jesus died to set me free, help me Lord to live that life, and be determined in Him to have a joyful heart, in Jesus wonderful name I pray, amen!

HAVE A GREAT AND GODLY WEEKEND!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

NEW BLOG DISCOVERED!

I have just discovered a new Blog... Ordinary Means, and it has a terrific monthly MP3 Podcast which I have just listened to. Give it a go, here are the details...

How healthy is your church? This month, the Ordinary Means guys discuss what it is that makes a church healthy and why healthy does not mean boring.

And while you’re listening, be sure and pop over to the blog and add your questions and comments. Later this month, we’ll be posting a special podcast devoted specifically to answering some of the questions we’ve received.

I am looking forward to this!

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY – FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS.

Fellowship with God means warfare with the world. – Charles E. Fuller.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. - 1 Cor 1:9-10. ESV

Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a "gratitude lunch." With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as "just a friend." They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months.

She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn't stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys. When you've got something great to be thankful for, having a "gratitude lunch" is a great way to celebrate. - Today in the Word.

Paul is emphasizing the integrity of the Father here, as he appeals to the people who were causing division in the Church. He clearly tells them that they were brought into fellowship with Jesus, by the Father, who is FAITHFUL to His PROMISES…

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Phil 1:6; He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. - 1Thes 5:24.

Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily.

"How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful." - Beyond Hunger.

There are a number of places in His word, that God has promised to bless His followers, and His faithfulness binds Him to fulfill His promises; therefore he will do it. On the basis of this, Paul calls upon the authority of the name of Jesus and encourages them to be in agreement with the teachings, in order that there would be no division amongst them and that if they complied with this they would be PERFECTLY UNITED in their minds and thoughts.

"To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one?" (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!"

Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth."

Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel. - Charles H. Spurgeon.

What a pattern for the Church of today to follow. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all be in agreement with the teachings of Christ? Our fellowship with Him would be so much more appealing and wholesome! What an encourager our God is! Hallelujah!

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. "I feel it all," he replied, "but God knows I've tried to do my duty."

On that day the minister's heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, "Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?" Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes. "Ah, this heals the ache I feel," he said. "Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher."

Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa's most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish Kirk. Lord, help us to be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you. - Source Unknown.

We need no more to make us joyful, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is an ever-flowing, and an over-flowing fountain of grace, that provides all our needs.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be in agreement with my fellow Christians in the teachings of Christ, help me to make the effort for perfect unity, and I thank you that my fellowship with Jesus will be richer because of it! In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - FELLOWSHIP IN THE CHURCH.

Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays." - Andrew Murray.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42.

It was no coincidence that our text was written in this order; TEACHING leads to FELLOWSHIP; fellowship leads to COMMUNION; communion leads to PRAYER; prayer leads to fellowship with Him.

The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members. - William Temple.

I once was asked by a friend, what my ‘proficiency’ was in Church Planting (we are in our 12th Church Plant in 22 years), and I replied: “Acts 2:42-47.” These are the verses that have underpinned our ministry.

Yes membership in a confessing body is fundamental to the faithful Christian life. Failure to do so defies the explicit warning not to forsake "our assembling together." His understanding of this prompted Martin Luther to say, "Apart from the church, salvation is impossible."

Not that the church provides salvation; God does. But because the "saved" one can't fulfill what it means to be a Christian apart from the church, membership becomes the indispensable mark of salvation.

"So highly does the Lord esteem the communion of His church," Calvin wrote," that He considers everyone a traitor and apostate from religion who perversely withdraws himself from any Christian society which preserves the true ministry of the word and sacraments." - Charles W. Colson.

If we have solid teaching (especially the teachings of Christ), then the rest of the principles follow; resulting in; awe, many wonders, miraculous signs, unity, giving, joy, excitement, sincerity, praise, worship, happiness with all the people, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved! What a wonderful God we serve!

When it was built for an international exposition in the last century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it, he took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it. He knew it was destined for greatness.

Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. His famous tower was built in in 1889.

In the same way we are struck by Jesus' loyalty to another structure--the church--which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers. But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when he returns. - John Berstecher.

WE ARE THE FAMILY OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD , LET US FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER, FOR HIS GLORY!

Loving Father, I thank you for your word that teaches us that fellowship with each other is important. Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to continue to live out all of these principles. In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – WALK IN THE LIGHT

I want the whole Christ for my Saviour, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field. -- John Wesley.

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. - 1 John 1:6-7. ESV

Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. "Why," he exclaimed, "when I went a-courtin' I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark." "Yes," the hired man said wryly, "and look what you got!" - Source Unknown.

To “walk in the darkness,” means to live the life that the ungodly live, doing those things that are against God’s Word, in other words, live in sin. Such people do not “have fellowship with him,” i.e., they are not born of God…

Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? Is Christ a friend of Satan? Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don't? - 2 Cor 6:14-15. CEV

Those who have fellowship with God, experience His daily grace, and live lives of holiness in His daily presence. What a wonderful blessing! Praise the mighty Name of Jesus!

Fellowship in the N.T. basically means sharing and self-sacrifice with other believers. As N.T. scholar J.R. McRay has noted, "Fellowship in the early church was not based on uniformity of thought and practice, except where limits of immorality or rejection of the confession of Christ were involved." - Christianity Today.

To “walk in the light” means to believe God’s truth as revealed in His Word, and to make an honest and continual effort by His grace, to follow in word and accomplishment. The “blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin” refers to the ongoing work of sanctification within the believer, and the continual purification for our unintentional sins. This constant purifying allows us to have intimate fellowship with God. Praise His wonderful Name, what a mighty God we serve!

In 1818, Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of "childbed fever." A doctor's daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there he made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to wash his hands.

Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers--about one in fifty.

He spent the vigor of his life lecturing and debating with his colleagues. Once he argued, "Puerperal fever is caused by decomposed material, conveyed to a wound. . .I have shown how it can be prevented. I have proved all that I have said. But while we talk ,talk, talk, gentlemen, women are dying. I am not asking anything world shaking. I am asking you only to wash...For God's sake, wash your hands."

But virtually no one believed him. Doctors and midwives had been delivering babies for thousands of years without washing, and no outspoken Hungarian was going to change them now!

Semmelweis died insane at the age of 47, his wash basins discarded, his colleagues laughing in his face, and the death rattle of a thousand women ringing in his ears.

"Wash me!" was the anguished prayer of King David. "Wash!" was the message of John the Baptist. "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me," said the towel-draped Jesus to Peter. Without our being washed clean, we all die from the contamination of sin. For God's sake, wash. - Boyce Mouton.

LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT.

Loving Father, thank you for your daily grace and presence in my life, and for the precious blood of Jesus my Lord and Saviour, that enables me to have a wonderful, and abundant fellowship with you. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk in the light. In Jesus lovely Name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY