Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD January 28, Sunday JOY Alyson Kieda I sing for joy at what your hands have done.  Psalm 92:4 Psalm 92 Bible in a year: Exodus 19–20; Matthew 18:21–35 I’m fast approaching a new season—the “winter” of old age—but I’m not there yet. Even though the years are galloping by and sometimes I’d like to slow them down, I have joy that sustains me. Each day is a new day given me by the Lord. With the psalmist, I can say, “It is good to praise the Lord . . . proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night”! (Psalm 92:1–2). Even though my life has its struggles and the pain and difficulties of others sometimes overwhelm me, God enables me to join the psalmist in “[singing] for joy at what [His] hands have done” (v. 4). Joy for blessings given: family, friends, and satisfying work. Joy because of God’s wondrous creation and His inspired Word. Joy becaus...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 25, Thursday TRUE HOPE James Banks The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Romans 8:16 Romans 5:1–11 Bible in a year: Exodus 12–13; Matthew 16 Not long ago I visited the Empire State Building with a friend. The line looked short—just down the block and around the corner. Yet as we entered the building, we discovered the line of people stretching through the lobby, up the stairs, and into another room. Every new turn revealed more distance to go. Attractions and theme parks carefully route their crowds to make the lines seem shorter. Yet disappointment can lurk “just around the bend.” Sometimes life’s disappointments are much more severe. The job we hoped for doesn’t materialize; friends we counted on let us down; the romantic relationship we longed for fails to work out. But into these heartbreaks, God’s Word speaks a refreshing truth about our hope in Him. The a...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 26, Friday Holy, Holy, Holy Julie Ackerman Link Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”  Revelation 4:8 Revelation 4 Bible in a year: Exodus 14–15; Matthew 17 “Time flies when you’re having fun.” This cliché has no basis in fact, but experience makes it seem true. When life is pleasant, time passes all too quickly. Give me a task that I enjoy, or a person whose company I love, and time seems irrelevant. My experience of this “reality” has given me a new understanding of the scene described in Revelation 4. In the past, when I considered the four living creatures seated around God’s throne who keep repeating the same few words, I thought,  What a boring existence! I don’t think that anymore. I think about the scenes they have witnessed with their many eyes (v. 8). I consider the view th...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 24, Wednesday GOD OF LIFE Jeff Olson Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.  Psalm 104:1 Psalm 104:1–12, 24–30 Bible in a year : Exodus 9–11; Matthew 15:21–39 A few winters ago, my hometown experienced an unusually long blast of bone-chilling temperatures that finally gave way to the warmer weather of spring. For two weeks straight, the outside thermometer dipped well below the sub-zero degree mark (-20 C; -5 F). On one particularly bitter cold morning, the sound of chirping birds broke the silence of night. Dozens, if not hundreds, sang their hearts out. If I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn the little creatures were crying out to their Creator to please warm things up! Bird experts tell us that the multitude of birdsongs we hear during late winter mornings are mostly male birds, attempting to attract mates and claim their territories. Their chirping reminded me that ...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 23, Tuesday A “YES” OF LOVE Dave Branon Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  1 John 3:18 1 John 3:16–24 Bible in a year: Exodus 7–8; Matthew 15:1–20 On August 21, 2016, Carissa posted photos on social media of a devastating flood in Louisiana. The next morning she included a note from someone in the flooded area pleading for help. Five hours after that, she and her husband, Bobby, sent out a call for others to join them on their 1,000-mile trip to provide help. Less than twenty-four hours later, thirteen people were on their way to serve those whose homes had been severely damaged. What motivates people to drop everything and drive seventeen hours to move appliances, do demolition work, and provide hope in a place they’ve never been before? It’s love. Think about this verse, which she posted along with her call for help: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him an...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 22, Monday IT’S IN THE ATTITUDE Anne Cetas Consider it pure joy . . . whenever you face trials of many kinds.  James 1:2 James 1:1–12 Bible in a year: Exodus 4–6; Matthew 14:22–36 Regina drove home from work discouraged and tired. The day had started with tragic news in a text message from a friend, then spiraled downward in meetings with co-workers who refused to work with any of her ideas. As Regina was talking to the Lord, she thought it best to put the stress of the day aside and made a surprise visit with flowers to an elderly friend at a care center. Her spirits lifted as Maria shared how good the Lord was to her. She said, “I have my own bed and a chair, three meals a day, and help from the nurses here. And occasionally God sends a cardinal to my window just because He knows I love them and He loves me.” Attitude. Perspective. As the saying goes, “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90...

OUR DAILY BREAD January 21, Sunday PROMISES, PROMISES Adam Holz He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.  2 Peter 1:4 2 Peter 1:1–9 Bible in a year: Exodus 1–3; Matthew 14:1–21 My youngest daughter and I have a game we call “Pinchers.” When she goes up the stairs, I’ll chase her and try to give her a little pinch. The rules are that I can only pinch her (gently, of course!) when she’s on the stairs. Once she’s at the top, she’s safe. Sometimes, though, she’s not in the mood to play. And if I follow her up the stairs, she’ll sternly say, “No pinchers!” I’ll respond, “No pinchers. I  promise .” Now, that promise may seem a little thing. But when I  do  what I say, my daughter begins to understand something of my character. She experiences my consistency. She knows my word is good, that she ca...

Theme of the Year: Our Year of New Heights (Lev. 26:13 & Phil. 3:13, 14) Theme of the Month: New Heights (Lev. 26:13 & Phil. 3:13, 14) Topic: New Mind for New Heights (Romans 12:2) Mind is the human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination. The mind is the starting point of everything a man does and becomes in life. It plays a very important role in in the whole being of a man. Keeping the mind in right condition for effective and productive reasoning is sole responsibility of man. The Bible admonishes in the book of Romans 12:2 thus: “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”. The word of God renews the mind when it is studied regularly, believed and adopted as standard for living. The mind is a battle field for the Spirit of God and the devil as both ...