WHICH FACE DO YOU REPRESENT?

05- 31- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

WHICH FACE DO YOU REPRESENT?

(Job 20:5) “That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?”

They are the wicked, the scribes and Pharisees, the mockers, the workers of iniquity, the users, the destroyers, the pretenders and we can go on and on… Those are the pictures of the hypocrites and those are the words to describe them and you can picture the works of the hypocrites.

The hypocrites in their giving ministry (Matthew 6:2) “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

The hypocrites in their prayer ministry (Matthew 6:5) “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

The hypocrites in their fasting ministry (Matthew 6:16) “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” (Job 27:8- 10) 8- “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 9- Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? 10- Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?”

KEEP GOD’S WORD IN THE MIDST OF THINE HEART

05- 30- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

KEEP GOD’S WORD IN THE MIDST OF THINE HEART

Proverbs 4: 20- 22   “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21- Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22- For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

You can’t just stop yourself from craving of that fleshly stuff that pushed you into that sin and desires. Notice these 4 important words from verses 20 to 21: “attend” “incline” “depart” “keep”. God wanted for us to: 1) Attend to His words… First phrase in verse number 20; “My son, attend to my words; 2) “…incline thine ear unto my sayings.” 3) “Let them not depart from thine eyes;” 4) “keep them in the midst of thine heart.”

Notice the 2 blessings in verse 22. “Life and Health…” That’s what we exactly wants or needed. You would not care about money and Bank accounts, things, prestige, and even your beauty when you’re sick. All you want is your health. You want to have your good health and your life. You don’t have the time to think of your wealth and goods. You are fighting for your life and just want to be healed and have a good life. It is obvious that David was not just a man of prayer but of the Word. I hope and pray that we will be faithful to God and His Word. (Psalms 1:1-3) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2- But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE

05- 29- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE

(Hebrews 13:3; 7) 3- “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 7- Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

“There has never yet been a person in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering.” Theodore Roosevelt

It’s so easy to remember things and people that are so close to your heart. On the other hand, it is also so easy for us to recall and to dig in, in our memory the bad circumstances in life that happened even from decades ago. The writer of the book of Hebrews has a great message for us. First, he said; “Remember them that are in bonds… and those who suffer adversity…” And then he said; “Remember them which have the rule over you…” This time, he was talking about the pastors and preachers. This Memorial day, as we remember the fallen soldiers of our land and may we also remember those who are in the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords, especially those who have gone before us. Honor them by remembering their families who were left behind.

We are told in the book of Hebrews to do good, to be helpful and to be supportive and also to be respectful. (Hebrews 13:16; 24) “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 24- Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.”

REMEMBER HIM AND REMEMBER THEM

05- 27- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

REMEMBER HIM AND REMEMBER THEM

(Hebrews 6:10- 11) 10- “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11- And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said; “Forget Him who never forgot us? Forget Him who gave His blood for our sins? Forget Him who loved us even to death? Is this possible? Yes, it is not only possible, but it is too sadly a fault with all of us that treat Him like a visitor who has come only for an evening.” (“Morning and Evening” April 26, Morning)

This memorial day, may we will not forget the sacrifices of our soldiers who fought and also, those who are still fighting for our protection and for the freedom of our land. We must also remember the soldiers of the Cross who stood up for Christ in spite of pain, imprisonment in the Name of Christ, persecution and death. But most of all, we must remember the One who sacrificed Himself for our spiritual freedom, for our salvation, for our healing and for our stripes. (Isaiah 53:5) “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Psalm 103:2- 5) 2- “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3- Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4- Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5- Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM

05- 28- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM

(Joshua 4:5- 7) 5- “And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6- That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean 7- Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”

I have a friend who joined the US military few years ago, and I asked him the reasons of him enlisting himself to the military instead of going to College or doing something else. He said, “So they (pointing to my children and other kids who were playing with them at the time) could enjoy their freedom and they could continue playing basketball while we’re out there protecting and fighting for our country. What will happen after several years will just be a memory for them who gave their lives for us and for our freedom in our country? (Joshua 4:21- 22) 21- “And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 22- Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.”

GO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE

05- 26- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

GO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE

(Matthew 5: 14- 16) “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15- Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

Go Light Your World

“There is a candle in every soul, Some brightly burning, some dark and cold, There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness, Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn, Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world” (Internet: Christian Lyrics on Line) Navigation: Kathy Troccoli

We may be the only light in our home, at work place, in school or community; but for sure, we are the light of the world as God’s children.
“Light gathers to light and darkness to darkness. What God has divided, let us never try to reunite. Just as Christ bore His reproach, let us come out from the ungodly and be His chosen people… We must dissent from all sin and be distinguished from the rest of humanity by our likeness to our Master.” (Morning and Evening- Light and Darkness by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, July 9, Evening)

16- “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

HAPPINESS!!! HAPPINESS!!! HAPPINESS!!!

05- 25- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

HAPPINESS!!! HAPPINESS!!! HAPPINESS!!!

(Psalm 128:1- 2) 1- “A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2- For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be "happy." I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter and to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”- Leo C. Rosten “Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness.”- Leo Tolstoy (Internet, from Happiness Quotes from Wisdom Quotes)
Happiness for me is not the absence of sadness, but the refreshing presence of the One who gave it to us. If you fear the Lord, you will be blessed by the Lord, says the Psalmist. Those are the simple steps to true blessings and true happiness. Fear God, walk in His ways and work hard and work with your own hands.
 (Psalm 144:15) “Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”

“HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER…”

05- 24- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

“HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER…”

(Psalm 1:1- 3) 1- “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2- But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The Lord by His mercy has accepted us in the beloved by our faith in His Son- the Lord Jesus Christ. God wants us to live a holy life, He desires our daily meditation on His Word and God wants to bless us and make us as a showcase of His grace and miracles. Matthew Henry once said: “The more we converse with the word of God the better furnished we are for every good word and work. Or, (2.) Of the promised blessing; he is blessed of the Lord, and therefore he shall be like a tree. The divine blessing produces real effects. It is the happiness of a godly man, [1.] That he is planted by the grace of God. These trees were by nature wild olives, and will continue so till they are grafted anew, and so planted by a power from above. Never any good tree grew of itself; it is the planting of the Lord, and therefore he must in it be glorified. Isa. 61:3” (Psalm 46:4) “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”

JESUS- THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN

MI DAILY DEVOTION 05-23-11

JESUS- THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN

(John 14:5- 6) 5- “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Mr. Seung Woo Byun in his book “CHRISTIANS GOING TO HELL” once said: “However, the devil’s deception did not stop then. The devil continues to deceive people even to this day. In Genesis, the devil used a serpent. Today, he deceives using “money” (II Timothy 6:10), various “evil desire[s]” (James 1:14), “miraculous signs” (Revelation 19:12), and mostly cult beliefs.” But the Bible is very clear about the doctrine of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ who came down from Heaven more than 2,000 years ago is coming back again during the rapture. He is the way, the Mediator, the Messiah and the only way to Heaven. (John 10:9) “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10- The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

“A ONE WAY RIDE WITH PRIDE”

MI DAILY DEVOTION 5-22-11

“A ONE WAY RIDE WITH PRIDE”

(Proverbs 28:25) “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.”

(Proverbs 16:5) “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

Pride has only one destination- going to destruction. It is a one way traffic. Pride is not the way up, but it’s always on its way down. Pride never say “I’m sorry” and will not care about the feelings of others. Pride is insensitive to the need of others and the need for God. Pride is in the heart of disobedience and not on their knees. Pride is “I” “me” “my” and not God first, others second and “I” last. Pride is about hate and not love. Pride is of the devil and not of God. Pride is destructive and not constructive. Pride is refusing to “eat your own words, swallow your own mistakes and chew your own wrong doing”. Pride is refusing the moving and working of the Holy Spirit of God. Pride is rejecting the Holy Bible and the free gift of salvation. Pride is the leader of rebellion that leads the way to destruction. Does pride has “U” or “YOU” have pride? Does pride has “I” or do “I” have pride? (Proverbs 16:18- 19) 18- “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19- Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

3 REASONS WHY THE PREDICTION OF THE RAPTURE TODAY AT 6 PM WAS A BIG JOKE AND NOT BIBLICAL…

MI DAILY DEVOTION 05- 21- 11

3 REASONS WHY THE PREDICTION OF THE RAPTURE TODAY AT 6 PM WAS A BIG JOKE AND NOT BIBLICAL…

(Matthew 24:36; 42- 44) 36- “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 42- Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43- But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44- Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Definition of watch: 1. transitive and intransitive verb observe: to look at and keep your attention on something or somebody over a period of timeAre you coming to watch the game?I watched him as he walked off down the street.Would you mind doing that again? I wasn't watching.

2. intransitive verb keep lookout: to keep a lookout for something that might appear or happenYour job is to watch for anyone coming. be on the watch for somebody or something to look out for somebody or something (MSN Encarta dictionary-On line) 1- “But of that day and hour (referring to His coming which is the rapture) knoweth no man…” No one knows here on earth… and Jesus continued on to say, “no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” No one knows in the heavens both the good and evil angels (principalities and powers in the air which is the second heaven), but God the Father only. Is he God that he knows the time of Christ’s coming? 2- Because the Bible did not say anything about the month, the day and the year and even the hour of His coming. Verse 42- “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” And Jesus did not say that He will destroy the whole world right away, but for sure there will be chaos and accidents like never before since Old Testament times. 3- According to Apostle Paul’s writing in (I Corinthians 15:52) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” There is no Scripture reference about Christians being told to celebrate and have a big party while waiting for His coming. (Matthew 24:44) “44- Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” It’s “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” It will not be base on someone else’s calendar and timetable, but according to the Bible, it will be like “the thief in the night.” You must be ready and must be watching!!! Check out (I Thessalonians 5:13- 18)

"I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT"

Ely R. Sagansay

MI DAILY DEVOTION 05-20-11 "I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT"
(Isaiah 41:4) “Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”

God is in charge of our past, of our present and our future. We are not supposed to be standing on a fallow and shallow ground. Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his book “Morning by Morning once said: “The delight that the mariner feels when, after having been tossed about for many days, he steps again on solid shore is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amid all the changes of this stormy life, he rests the foot of his faith on this truth: “I am the LORD, I change not.” The stability that the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a holdfast is like that which the Christian affords him when it fixes itself on this glorious truth. With God “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) KJV

(Isaiah 41:19- 20) “I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 20- That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

LEARNING BY TRUSTING THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

05- 11- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (John14:26; 15:26)

LEARNING BY TRUSTING THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

26- “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” 26- “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”

God is a God of mercy. God is good. God is patient. God is love. God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient and never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Bible says in (Hebrews 13:8) “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

If we are serving that kind of God, then it’s just right to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit.

A preacher said: “…we could learn from this analogy of the potter and the clay at this point is that God is very merciful; He’s very patient, that when people are flawed or have defects, (sin, we would say), He doesn’t just throw them away and get a new lump of clay, but He continues to work with that same lump of clay, over and over, until finally it’s one that He’s happy with. Now I think we take a lot of delight, a lot of relief in knowing that God works with us. Once He starts to work with us He doesn’t stop; He continues until we’re to the place that He’s content.”

No matter how good the Potter is, if the clay would not yield, nothing will happen. No matter how good God is, how powerful God is, if we don’t yield and cooperate with what God is doing, everything would be a mess. No matter how powerful God is, if you don’t trust the leading of the Holy Spirit, then we would never receive God’s blessing and the Lord cannot work in us and through us. (Proverbs 3:5- 6) 5- “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6- In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

God can’t work in you and through you unless you will put your trust in Him by letting Him work in you. According to STEPS IN DEVELOPING HUMILITY- “The true knowledge of God leads to humility. Humility is not the self deprecation with which many of us are often acquainted. Rather, it is the refusal to trust oneself for fulfillment of needs, looking instead to the Lord.” (Spirit Filled Life Bible, page 754)

Let us be encouraged from the words of Apostle Paul in the Book of (Romans 9:20- 21; 23) 20- “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21- Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 23- And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,”

UNITY IN MARRIAGE

05- 10- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Ephesians 5:21- 25)

UNITY IN MARRIAGE

21- “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22- Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23- For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24- Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

What is the main purpose of unity in marriage? Is it just about sex and the physical unity of the couple as husband and wife? Is it just about their relationship as husband and wife or it’s about their relationship with God? It means marriage is always a love triangle then? Yes it is always a love triangle with God and your spouse. How about the level of support and the set of standard of living in your home? Are you both comfortable with your relationship and in all areas of your life as parents and a married man and woman? Are you fully supported by your spouse in your career, in your studies, or in your business and dreams? Do you receive spiritual, emotional, financial support and other support you needed from your spouse? Those are some of the issues and problems you may have in your relationship as husband and wife. You may have heard of people who refused to support their spouse in their endeavor. Be it in politics, in business or the ministry.

The Lord’s purpose in marriage is to honor Him and to honor and be submissive to God and to each other. (Ephesians 5:21) “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

Here in Ephesians chapter 5, we can learn some of the reasons and other basic things to observe and practice so we can keep our marriage and have the unity of spirit and in love. First, we must be followers of God and we must walk in love. (Ephesians 5:1- 2) 1- “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Second, we must not be partakers of the works of the darkness... If you read from verses 3- 6; Paul named some of the sins that destroyed many lives. And the sad thing is; those same sins are destroying millions of homes all over the world right at this moment. Paul said in verses 7- 8; “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”  Paul explained those principles to his followers very clearly as he goes on in verse 8, he said; “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” He was telling them that they don’t belong to the spirit of darkness but they are the children of light. Thirdly, we must have the fruit of the spirit and learn to reprove and rebuke the work of darkness and have no fellowship with them. You don’t agree with their sinful acts. If you notice, Paul was actually trying to tell us that everything starts from our heart. The love of God and the love for God started from the heart of God to our heart. The desire to hate sins and darkness… (Ephesians 5:9- 11) 9- “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10- Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11- And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

GOD’S GREATEST PROMISED IN THE BIBLE

05- 09- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (John 15:13)

GOD’S GREATEST PROMISED IN THE BIBLE

13- “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

In this world, we have what we called the greatest athlete, the greatest man, the greatest singer and we can go on and on… But the question is; until when and what’s the assurance that that man’s greatness will last forever and will never change. In the Bible, Paul talked about the greatest love of God and this love of God is forever. (I Corinthians 13:13) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” In the Scriptures, Apostle Paul also talked about the greatest promised of God. And Paul was talking about the promised of salvation. (Romans 10:9- 13) 9- “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11- For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12- For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The good thing about this salvation is; we can be sure of this great promised of God from the Bible about our salvation. The good thing about the salvation that God has promised us is that; we can be sure of it too. There are those who preached about salvation by good works, through religious rituals and other means. And they tell the world that no one can be sure of it, but the Bible said we can be sure of it. In (I John 5:10- 13) Apostle John gave us his very clear points about salvation and the reasons why we can be sure of it: 1- We believed and we have a witness, in verse 10- “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 2- God has given us the record and that record is in His Son. In verse 11- “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” 3- We have the Son of God in our heart. He dwells in our heart when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. In verse 12- “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 4- The Bible said so, in verse 13- “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” So, not only that God has the greatest promised for us which would be our salvation and it was given to us through the death of His Son for free to anyone who wants to accept Him in their heart. And we can be sure of this salvation by grace through faith and repentance. The best thing for us to know is that, we are secured and that salvation is secured in the hands of Christ our Savior and in the hands of God the Father. In (John 10:27- 30) 27- “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28- And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29- My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30- I and my Father are one.”

SANCTIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

05- 08- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Thessalonians 4:3- 5)

SANCTIFICATION IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

3- “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4- That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5- Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”

I know that many of our readers may wonder what this word (sanctification) means. It‘s a theological word or term that I myself was confused and did not have any clue about the meaning of it when I was new in my faith. We may even think that “sanctification” is the next door neighbor of the author. But this has a special place in the heart of God because that is His will for us, “to be set apart”.

Dr. H.L. Willmington said in his book, Willmington Guide to the Bible: “… In like manner he has only one will for saints and that is that they be sanctified! Here Paul, of course, refers to a daily growing in grace and maturing in the faith.”

God’s will for us Christians is to be set apart for God. The theological word for being “Set Apart” is Sanctification. (II Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (I Thessalonians 4:3) “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”

The Greek word for Sanctification is Hagiasmos which means a separation, setting apart. It’s fundamental force being to separate from the world and consecrate to God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God. It may be things, places, persons, days, seasons or objects that people used for worship. (Exodus 13:1-2) “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (verse 2) “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”

To sanctify Jehovah means to put Him in a category by Himself, to acknowledge Him as God, to recognize Him as supreme, sovereign, with a unique claim on all of His creation. When Christ sanctifies Himself (I John 17:19), He means that He consecrates Himself to His mediatorial work as a Redeemer. (Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary, page 751). The word saint comes from this root word. If you are a saint it means you are a sanctified individual. (Romans 12:1-2) 1- “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

A MOTHER’S LOVE AND FAITH

05- 07- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (II Timothy 1:3- 5)

A MOTHER’S LOVE AND FAITH

3- “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4- Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5- When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.

For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith
And a Mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above... - Author Unknown.

The Lord wants us to have the 3 major things in our spiritual journey as well as in our life as a Christians which are “faith, hope and love”. Matthew Henry said; “The entail of religion descended upon Timothy by the mother’s side; he had a good mother, and a good grandmother: they believed, though his father did not, Acts 16:1. It is a comfortable thing when children imitate the faith and holiness of their godly parents, and tread in their steps, 3 Jn. 4.— Dwelt in thy grandmother and thy mother, and I am persuaded that in thee also. Paul had a very charitable opinion of his friends, was very willing to hope the best concerning them; indeed he had a great deal of reason to believe well of Timothy, for he had no man like-minded, Phil. 2:20. Observe, 1. We are, according to St. Paul, to serve God with a pure conscience, so did his and our pious forefathers; this is to draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, Heb. 10:22. 2.” (The Bible Collection)

(II Timothy 1:7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN AN EXCELLENT MOTHER

05- 06- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Proverbs 31:10; 26- 28)

A VIRTUOUS WOMAN AN EXCELLENT MOTHER

10- “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 26- She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27- She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28- Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

These are some of the people who wrote, made a comment or said something about their mother or about mother’s day. They are the people who became great and famous and people who made history. (Some of the quotations were taken from Yahoo search.)

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." - Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." - Marion C. Garretty (Quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul)

"There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that capital I have made my way." - Andrew Jackson, U.S. President

"Is my mother my friend? I would have to say, first of all she is my Mother, with a capital 'M'; she's something sacred to me. I love her dearly...yes, she is also a good friend, someone I can talk openly with if I want to." - Sophia Loren, Actress

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." - William D. Tammeus, Editorial page columnist for The Kansas City Star

"There is but one way to eliminate juvenile delinquency - that is by providing each child in America with competent parents." (J. Edgar Hoover)

"A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest." - Irish Proverb

"You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be - I had a mother who read to me." - Strickland Gillilan, Poet and Humorist

It is very true; mothers have a special place in the heart and mind of their children. It’s a spot that not one could understand and no one could take upon but his or her mother.

(Proverbs 31:30) “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

PRAYER IS ASKING AND BELIEVING

05- 05- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

PRAYER IS ASKING AND BELIEVING

59- “And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60- That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 61- Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”

People sometimes would say that they don’t need to pray because God knows their needs anyways. But prayer is not merely asking for something you need from the Lord, it’s communicating and building a good and intimate relationship with our Savior. Communication is important to the health of any relationships; especially for husbands and wives, parents and children and even at work. As believers, to have an intimate relationship with God the Father, we need to pray. It’s almost impossible to have a close relationship with someone you rarely communicate with. And for a good relationship to be more intimate, it needs to be primarily positive communications. If you want to deepen your relationship with your spouse, then learn to establish and open a positive communication with your spouse. That’s what we’re supposed to do with our relationship with God.

When you read God’s Word, you let God talk to you and when you pray, you are talking to God. I don’t know what you would feel if your husband or your wife don’t or won’t talk to you for no reason. You eat on the same table, shared the same bed and the communication is cut off because there is no signal? Is it because your spouse made a bad decision or made a mistake and you used it against your spouse? And as a couple, you’re sitting on the same couch, sleeping in the same bed and driving with your spouse next to you… quite, because you just don’t want to talk. You would not be happy with your relationship if you keep your ears closed. Just imagine if we’re not talking to God about our problems, about our needs, about what He did to us and if we’re not thankful to Him. If it hurts us or if we’re not pleased because our spouse won’t talk to us; I believe God would not be pleased if you will not pray.

Andrew Murray said: “Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is its most essential part.” Andrew Murray 1828-1917.

(Isaiah 56:7)”Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”

(Matthew 6:6) “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 open”

(Jeremiah 33:3) “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

PRAYER- GOD’S RESOLUTION TO HUMAN PROBLEMS!!!

05- 04- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Kings 8:37- 40)

PRAYER- GOD’S RESOLUTION TO HUMAN PROBLEMS!!!

37- If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 38- What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 39- Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 40- That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.”

Our Nation observed National Day of prayer on May 05 which is really great and we need it. This portion of MI DAILY DEVOTION is in relation to the observance of this special day. I hope and pray that this will be a constant practice for us and must be our life as God’s children.

P- Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17; 25) 17- “Pray without ceasing.” 25- “Brethren, pray for us.”

R- Repent, restore, rebuild and get revived by the Holy Spirit of God. (I Kings 8: 33- 34) 33- “When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 34- Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.”

A- “Acts” in your prayer is necessary. A- Adoration, C- Confession, T- Thanksgiving, S- Supplication. (I Kings 8:30) “And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.”

Y- Yearn and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit of God and the Word. (I Kings 8:58; 61) 58- “That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 61- Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”

E- Examine yourself. (II Corinthians 13:5) 5- “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

R- Re-focus your aim and your vision. (Hebrews 12:2) “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.”

A GODLY COUNSEL FROM A GODLY MOTHER

05- 02- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Proverbs 31:

A GODLY COUNSEL FROM A GODLY MOTHER

1- “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2- What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3- Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4- It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5- Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6- Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7- Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

Most interpreters are of opinion that Lemuel is Solomon; the name signifies one that is for God, or devoted to God; and so it agrees well enough with that honourable name which, by divine appointment, was given to Solomon (2 Sa. 12:25), Jedediah—beloved of the Lord. Lemuel is supposed to be a pretty, fond, endearing name, by which his mother used to call him; and so much did he value himself upon the interest he had in his mother’s affections that he was not ashamed to call himself by it. One would the rather incline to think it is Solomon that here tells us what his mother taught him because he tells us (ch. 4:4) what his father taught him. But some think (and the conjecture is not improbable) that Lemuel was a prince of some neighbouring country, whose mother was a daughter of Israel, perhaps of the house of David, and taught him these good lessons. Note, 1. It is the duty of mothers, as well as fathers, to teach their children what is good, that they may do it, and what is evil, that they may avoid it; when they are young and tender they are most under the mother’s eye, and she has then an opportunity of moulding and fashioning their minds well, which she ought not to let slip. 2. Even kings must be catechised; the greatest of men is less than the least of the ordinances of God. 3. Those that have grown up to maturity should often call to mind, and make mention of, the good instructions they received when they were children, for their own admonition, the edification of others, and the honour of those who were the guides of their youth. Now, in this mother’s (this queen mother’s) catechism, observe, I. Her expostulation with the young prince, by which she lays hold of him, claims an interest in him, and awakens his attention to what she is about to say (v. 2): "What! my son? What shall I say to thee?’’ She speaks as one considering what advice to give him, and choosing out words to reason with him; so full of concern is she for his welfare! Or, What is it that thou doest? It seems to be a chiding question. She observed, when he was young, that he was too much inclined to women and wine, and therefore she found it necessary to take him to task and deal roundly with him. "What! my son? Is this the course of life thou intendest to lead? Have I taught thee no better than thus? I must reprove thee, and reprove thee sharply, and thou must take it well, for,’’ 1. "Thou art descended from me; thou art the son of my womb, and therefore what I say comes from the authority and affection of a parent and cannot be suspected to come from any ill-will. Thou art a piece of myself. I bore thee with sorrow, and I expect no other return for all the pains I have taken with thee, and undergone for thee, than this, Be wise and good, and then I am well paid.’’ 2. "Thou art devoted to my God; thou art the son of my vows, the son I prayed to God to give me and promised to give back to God, and did so’’ (thus Samuel was the son of Hannah’s vows); "Thou art the son I have often prayed to God to give his grace to (Ps. 72:1), and shall a child of so many prayers miscarry? (The Bible Collection)

THE STRUGGLES OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS

05- 01- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

THE STRUGGLES OF THE SINGLE MOTHERS

1- “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2- And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3- Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4- And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5- So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6- And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7- Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”

These are some of the things that single mothers are going through right now: Fear, Failures and financial difficulties. I know that even the married, the singles and the believers are going through the same struggles.

Fear of her future and the future of her children. We have single mothers in our churches, neighborhood or at work. Some of the single mothers that you know may be living in fear. Pray for them and spend time with them. Offer some helps like doing the household chores.

The failures of the single mothers are known to many as bad luck or due to bad decisions. They became single mothers because of failures in marriage due to divorce or separation which is very common everywhere. There are those who failed in their career or failed due to depression caused by the death of a husband or a partner. One of the sad things that can happen (God forbid) is sex outside of marriage. There are single mothers who were raped, abused or due to pre-marital sex.

There are single mothers who are going through financial difficulties because of hospital bills, burial expenses and the financial responsibilities at home for their children. The woman in our text went through the same problems.

Augustine said: “Let God cover thy wounds.” And that is very true, let God covers your pain and sorrow with His love and comforts and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. But you really have to put your trust in the Lord. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6- In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Start it now and exercise your faith.”