Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Awesome, my Book Daily Devotional Ebenezer will be available from May 21, 2017.  “Now you can put the Holy Spirit back into your quiet time with the Lord each day using Daily Devotional Ebenezer.  Simply put, a one-minute scripture with some of my personal inspirations and prayers.   If you hurry now, you are able to purchase my book at Kellanpublishing.com for a digital copy at a 50% discounted rate, stay tuned …

Word Fast today: Sarcasm

James 3: 8 – 10 (ERV)

“But no one can control the tongue.  It is wild and evil, full of deadly poison.  We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God’s likeness. These praises and curses come from the same mouth.  My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.”

Psalms 141: 3 (ERV)

A praise song of David.

“LORD, help me control what I say.  Don’t let me say anything bad.”

We need an antioxidant to cleanse our words and sarcasm is probably one of the worst forms of speech.  The word sarcasm is derived from the Greek verb “sarkazein.”  It is literally “to tear flesh like a dog.”  Hectic, can you see what it said:  “to tear flesh like a dog.”  This is a vile and painful way of using words.

When being sarcastic we make painful jokes about the other person, my mom always says:  “many a truth is said in jest.”  It is almost common practices and we tend to know how to be sarcastic and use this weapon very well.  Today I want to encourage you and ask you to think about your words and get rid of sarcasm.  Let us focus on building one another up and start by being compassionate and kind always look at encouraging others.  Let not words of cursing come out of our mouths but words of praise and let us focus our attention on not speaking anything bad.

Lord God, please help me control what I say, and don’t let me speak badly. Please, Lord, place a watch before my mouth, my thoughts and my thinking.  Help me portrait Your words, in speech and on actions.  Amen

Winter or my Wilderness Experience

Exodus 2 verse 11 to 15 says:  “One day after Moses had grown [into adulthood], it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen.  He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.  He went out the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, “why are you striking your friend?”  But the man said:  “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?  Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”  Then Moses was afraid and said:  “Certainly this incident is known.”  When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses.  Then Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.”

When I read these words, I can almost relate to what Moses had been going through when watching the people and seeing what they were doing to the Hebrews [his family].  Have you made any mistakes which you wish on many occasions you could change but just don’t get round to it?  I have made an epic mess of my own life on more than one occasion.  Here by the grace of God, go I.

I never really considered that I was making any mistakes at the time and in fact was adamant about my statements etc.  Today it seems really rude and uncalled for.  Now I believe God has brought me to my wilderness experience so that God can work on my attitude, my words, my thoughts and my way of thinking.  God let me go through these difficult times to teach me to honor and have compassion for other people.  I feel that God has brought me to this place to show me that I cannot rely on my own good self but that He was my pillar of strength and that I should always trust in Him.

Do you know how difficult it is to understand life when you are opinionated and judgmental and of the thinking, no one has any brains?  O dear, you are in trouble.  I am still dealing with some issue and it is taking some time to sort them all out.  But God’s Grace is awesome and He is delivering me each and every day. 

Prayer

O my Lord God Jehovah today I pray for guidance, help, and understanding going forward, as I enter my spring period I dedicate my life into Your hands.  Lord thank You for opportunities You have created for me, bless my book and help me be an inspiration to all who I get into contact with.  Amen

Joke for today :-)

A lady placed Omo Detergent on the windowsill, 

a signal to her lover:  "the Old Man is Out."

He would pop in and say hello.

When her husband was home,

 she placed Skip Detergent on the windowsill,

"the Old Man is home."

Skip town :-)

Word Fast: Criticism

James 1: 26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is in vain.

How well do you know me?  If you truly know me, you will say that I am very judgemental and probably a critical person.  I was thinking about this and truth be told you are right with your answer.  Sadly I am so sorry for my bad behavior and I have asked the Lord God to forgive me for being so judgemental and seriously critical.

So today in all humbleness I confess I am judgemental and struggle with a critical spirit.  I also confess that I am not one that actually bridles my tongue and this has brought me enough trouble.

1 Timothy 2: 1 – 2 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

Today I want to pray and dedicate all kings, and people in high places, that the Lord God will guide them and help them from becoming judgemental and critical.  A spirit of this magnitude can just be detrimental to all other people.  May the Lords love and grace surround them, softening their hearts, souls, and minds.

So there, our fast today is on being critical, let go of the past and stretch you forward to a new being.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

Still on word fast: stop being ungrateful

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Are you still rejoicing in the Lord?  Giving thanks in all your circumstances?  Hmm, I do believe we have fallen off the wagon.  Complaining about everything, never really being grateful for what we have.  Some people are so spoilt they have so much and don’t ever say thank you.  It amazes me to watch people that are really well off and are so blessed with so much to see how ungrateful and menacing they have become.

Then I have seen people that don’t know where their next plate of food is going to come from and they are joyful and kind and always so happy.  Always thanking you for the little they receive.

So today I won’t complain because I am really grateful for everything I have.  In everything I will rejoice in the Lord for blessing me with a beautiful day, loads of fun and time to sit in the sun and enjoy peace and quiet.  Thank You, Lord.

Be blessed, you are my blessing!

Word Fast for today: moaning and groaning

James 3: 2 “For we all stumble in many ways.  And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”

“… he is a perfect man,”  What a statement, to my mind I am so far from perfect it scares me.  My lives journey has been really interesting and I have been through so many different kinds of situations which in turn have made who I am today.  The one thing I truly regret is my really low self-esteem and my deadly self-talk.

Now because I struggle tremendously with a really negative self-talk.  I would, for instance, ask someone to do something for me and this person would agree and say “yes, I’ll do it now.”  From my point of view “now – means now.”  This specific person gets up and goes and sits in their bedroom and acts as if I never gave any instructions.

This makes me so angry it is like sticking a poker up …. you know somewhere. But because this person does not obey me I then start to complain and moan and groan and by the end of the day, I am so livered I want to commit a serious crime.  Thank the Lord I have not reached that point.

Proverbs 18 verse 21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  So for today, I have decided to stop the moaning and groaning and when someone doesn’t do as I ask to get up and do it myself.  It wouldn’t kill me, I will survive.  As part of my program, I am also asking the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to help me in becoming aware of my negative thoughts and take them captive unto the Lord.

Some scriptures to help me through today are Isaiah 58 verse 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”  and also Isaiah 58 verse 9 “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, “HERE I AM.”  If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness.” 

Keeping to my fast of negative talk and really deadly words my focus is on Psalms 34 verse 1 “I will bless the LORD at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, O LORD my God, today I am fasting my negative and deadly words, I am also fasting my words of self-condemnation.  Holy Spirit I dedicate my life back into Your hands and pray please lift me up.  In the powerful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen

God’s Intention

My intention is to align my “Free-will” with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  I intend to make a difference in my own life.  Nothing anybody says about or to me is able to influence my good sense.  I am destined for greatness and I will make it.

I am no victim of my circumstances and all things are working together for my own good because I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, soul and mind.  God has not given me a spirit of fear because greater is He that is in me than he that is in this world.

I am kind, understanding and I am friendly.  People enjoy listening to my voice as I am positive, and I encourage people to the best of my abilities.  I will not allow any negative words to come from my heart or mouth.  I will take my mouth captive and watch my words.  God gave me the ability to control my own life.  I am in God’s hands and I align everything I do with Him.  I bring each and every moment of my life into God’s presence and ask for His supernatural guidance, His supernatural grace, and His supernatural love.  My life is filled with abundance and I am working in conjunction with the Lord moving forward.

My mind is being renewed day by day and my thinking is becoming better and better.  My positive attitude is rubbing off on people all around me and we are all growing stronger.

Today the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins, and He rose again on Sunday, I am free, I am accepted and I am His.

On Radio Gospel today

Good morning
I hope you will join me today on Rainbow Gospel Radio today, we all are preparing for this Easter Weekend it is my hope and prayers that you will have a blessed Easter.

https://www.pickradio.net/rainbow-gospel-radio

#Lord #Jesus, when will it be my day?

1 Samuel 16: 13

“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.  Samuel then went to Ramah.”

When David was working in the fields looking after the sheep he never thought that he would be anointed with oil and become a King.  He also didn’t know that the LORD would touch his life and change it forever.  It just happened on a day, something that he never thought of.

As I read this verse which was shared with my by Pastor Roebert, it touched me so that it is a real feeling and need I have in my own life.  I too want to experience a touching of the LORD my God in my own life. 

These couple of weeks have been grueling on our side, many things have happened.  My aged mom was so to speak evicted from her home, a friend suddenly died, my electricity bill R19,845.  One thing after another, my stepdaughter lost her job.

Today I pray that the supernatural favor of the Lord will rest upon my own life and the lives of the people I have told you about.

We don’t know when the LORD God will touch our lives, and it is my heart’s desire that HE will touch my life and open the floodgates of heaven in my own life.

#Describing #Jesus's #Crusifixion

1. As Christians all around the world this weekend we commemorate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that takes place on Good Friday, Easter Weekend.  Before His death preceded by torture from which the Lord Jesus eventually is crucified.  First He is beaten with a whip one of many assaults that would weaken and hurt Him.
2. The Lord Jesus’ hands are tied to a wooden log, where He was beaten with a whip – which was made of several strips of leather with small metal balls or tiny bones at the ends of the whip.
3. We know the soldiers put a crown of thorns on His head. The soldiers probably pushed the crown of thorns deeper into His head, which could have damaged and penetrate blood vessels and nerves in His head.
4. Historians who investigated the death of Jesus, said as he carried the cross, he only carried the patibulum, the crossbeam that could possibly weigh up to about 27 kg. Jesus would have possibly dragged it because if his arms were tied to it, he would have likely fallen.
5. According to contemporary versions of the crucifixion, a crew of three soldiers would have been Jesus, He would have been placed onto the crossbar of the cross. One would sit on the chest of the prisoner that he cannot move, while another would hold his legs, and a third would have nailed his hands onto the wooden beam.
6. Some historians reckon Jesus is different from what is said in the Bible, nailed to his wrists. But the American medical researcher Frederick Zugibe did experiments proving nails which were driven through his palms, would carry his body weight.
7. The Roman cross was T-shaped, without a point protruding above the horizontal bar. The bottom would already be planted in the ground. The crossbar has a cavity in it so it could fit on top of the vertical beam. Two soldiers lifted the points while a third soldier would support the person who was been crucified.
8. As far as Jesus' feet were nailed to the cross. Zugibe believe the feet were tied side by side, with the soles flat on the vertical beam and the nails through the tarsal bone. It was the most practical method for the soldiers who carried out the crucifixion.
9. Several paintings depict Jesus' feet, which is nailed under an extra wooden beam. This appears in the 9^th century and there is no historical evidence of the use. Jesus died to quickly to have a crossbar as it could have an extra wooden beam - it would only have prolonged His torture.
10. There are several theories about the ultimate cause of death. According Zugibe, who researched the subject for over 30 years, Jesus died of cardiorespiratory failure due to shock caused by bleeding, intolerable pain and dehydration.
11. The Bible says the soldier pierced Jesus' chest with a spear to make sure he was dead. Blood and water flowed from the wounds. The water came from the pleura; a membrane surrounding lungs which formed liquid during the lashes. The blood would flow from His pierced heart.
12. The classic image of the cross - to a point above the T-shape - might have been inspired by a notice nailed to the top of the crossbar. It contains the entry: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." In Hebrew, Greek and Latin. (The Latin abbreviation INRI.)

God please work out the best plan for my life.

Zechariah 3: 10 “In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.”

God, please work out the best plan for my own life, I read this message and I want to be able to invite my neighbor to sit under my vine and fig tree.  I need Your unconditional favor and love for me.  I don’t see this happing in my life right now, but Lord God I am going to trust and believe that Your word will not return to You voided.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.  Lord, I am thanking You for working out the good and best plan for my life.  Yes, I am trusting in You Lord unconditionally.  Lord, please help me keep a guard on my mouth and keep my mind focused on You Lord.

Help me to stay focused on You and teach me to be patient and look to You for the guidance.  Don’t allow me to fall and not get up again.  Please help me.

Clement of Alexandria said “All our life is a celebration for us … God is always everywhere.”  I am believing You Abba Father to help me and bless me supernaturally.  Amen

Cake diary: Spider-man Cake

Oh yippy, I am done with this cake, it was great fun, 2 tiers, marble cake, I am sure they are going to love it.  Enjoy!!!