Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD  January 20, Saturday  MY HELP! Arthur Jackson My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:2 Psalm 121 Bible in a year: Genesis   49–50; Matthew 13:31–58 For decades the renowned Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has blessed multitudes through their soul-refreshing gospel songs. One example is their recording from Psalm 121 titled “My Help.” Psalm 121 begins with a personal confession of faith in the Lord who brought all things into existence, and He was the source of the psalmist’s help (vv. 1–2). Just what did this mean? Stability (v. 3), around-the-clock care (vv. 3–4), constant presence and protection (vv. 5–6), and preservation from all kinds of evil for time and eternity (vv. 7–8). Taking their cues from Scripture, God’s people through the ages have identified the Lord as their source of “help” through their songs. My own worship experie...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 19, Friday BY THE SPIRIT’S POWER Marvin Williams What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.  Zechariah 4:7 Zechariah 4:1–7 Bible in a year: Genesis 46–48; Matthew 13:1–30 What do you do when there is a mountain in your way? The story of Dashrath Manjhi can inspire us. When his wife died because he was unable to get her to the hospital to receive urgent medical care, Manjhi did what seemed impossible. He spent twenty-two years chiseling a massive gap in a mountain so other villagers could get to the local hospital to receive the medical care they needed. Before he died, the government of India celebrated him for his achievement. Rebuilding the temple must have looked impossible to Zerubbabel, one of the leaders of Israel who returned from exile. The people were discouraged, faced opposition from their enemies, and lacked resources or a big army. But God sent Zechariah to remind Zerubbabel tha...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 18, Thursday DEALING WITH DELAY David C. McCasland So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.  Genesis 45:8 Genesis 45:1–8 Bible in a year: Genesis 43–45; Matthew 12:24–50 A global computer system outage causes widespread flight cancellations, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers at airports. During a winter storm, multiple auto accidents close major highways. The person who promised to send a reply “right away” has failed to do so. Delays can often produce anger and frustration, but as followers of Jesus, we have the privilege of looking to Him for help. One of the Bible’s great examples of patience is Joseph, who was sold to slave traders by his jealous brothers, falsely accused by his employer’s wife, and imprisoned in Egypt. “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:20–21). Years later, when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, h...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 17, Wednesday GROWING GRATITUDE #Lisasamra For from him and through him and for him are all things.  Romans 11:36 Romans 11:33–36 Bible in a year: Genesis 41–42; Matthew 12:1–23 Would you like to cultivate a greater sense of gratitude? George Herbert, a seventeenth-century British poet, encourages readers toward that goal in his poem “Gratefulness”: “Thou that hast given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart.” Herbert recognized the only thing he needed in order to be thankful was simply an awareness of the blessings God had already given him. The Bible declares Christ Jesus as the source of all blessing in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and for him are all things.” “All things” encompasses both the extravagant and the mundane, everyday gifts in our lives. Everything we receive in life comes directly from our heavenly Father (James 1:17), and...

OUR DAILY BREAD  January 16, Tuesday  THE POWER OF PRAYER Amy Boucher Pye Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us.  1 Samuel 7:8 1 Samuel 7:7–14 Bible in a year:  Genesis 39–40; Matthew 11 One day, when I was deeply concerned about the welfare of one close to me, I found encouragement in part of the Old Testament story of Samuel, a wise leader of the Israelites. As I read how Samuel interceded for God’s people as they faced trouble, I strengthened my resolve to pray for the one I loved. The Israelites faced the threat of the Philistines, who had previously defeated them when God’s people didn’t trust in Him (see 1 Samuel 4). After repenting of their sins, they heard that the Philistines were about to attack. This time, however, they asked Samuel to continue praying for them (7:8), and the Lord answered clearly by throwing their enemy into confusion (v. 10). Though the Philistines may hav...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 15, 2018 Monday PURSUING UNITY David C. McCasland Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all.  Colossians 3:11 Colossians 3:9–17 Bible in a year: Genesis 36–38; Matthew 10:21–42 Growing up during the 1950s, I never questioned racism and the segregation practices that permeated daily life in the city where we lived. In schools, restaurants, public transportation, and neighborhoods, people with different shades of skin color were separated. My attitude changed in 1968 when I entered US Army Basic Training. Our company included young men from many different cultural groups. We soon learned that we needed to understand and accept each other, work together, and accomplish our mission. When Paul wrote to the first-century church at Colossae, he was well aware of the diversity of its members. He reminded them, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, cir...