Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD March 4, Sunday WHEN GOD FILLS US Adam Holz You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Psalm 16:11 Psalm 16:5–11 Bible in a year: Numbers 31–33; Mark 9:1–29 “What had I done?”  It should have been one of the most exciting times of my life. Instead, it was one of the loneliest. I’d just gotten my first “real” job after college, in a city hundreds of miles from where I grew up. But the thrill of that big step quickly faded. I had a tiny apartment. No furniture. I didn’t know the city. I didn’t know  anyone . The job was interesting, but the loneliness felt  crushing . One night, I sat at home with my back against the wall. I opened my Bible and stumbled onto Psalm 16, where verse 11 promises God will fill us. “Lord,” I prayed, “I thought this job was the right thing, but I feel so alone. Please fill me with a sense of Your nearness.” I offered variants of th...

OUR DAILY BREAD  March 3,  PRECIOUS TO GOD James Banks Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:11 Genesis 1:26–31 Numbers 28–30; Mark 8:22–38 His name was David, but most just called him “the street fiddler.” David was a disheveled, older man who was a regular fixture in popular places in our city, serenading passers-by with unusual skill at his violin. In exchange for his music, listeners would sometimes place a dollar in the open instrument case before them on the sidewalk. David would smile and nod his head in thanks as he continued to play. When David died recently and his obituary appeared in a local paper, it was revealed that he spoke several languages, was the graduate of a prestigious university, and had even run for the state senate years ago. Some expressed surprise at the extent of his accomplishments, having assessed him on the basis of appea,rance alone. Scripture tells us that “God created mankind in his ow...

OUR DAILY BREAD March 2, Friday Phone Zone PRAY CONTINUALLY.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 Bible in a year: Numbers 26–27; Mark 8:1–21 One of the benefits of cell phones is that we now have virtually unlimited access to others. As a result, many people talk on the phone or text even while driving—sometimes resulting in terrible car crashes. To avoid such disasters, many areas of the world have made distracted driving illegal. In the United States, highway signs are popping up to remind drivers of special cell phone zones where they can pull off the road to safely talk and text to their heart’s delight. While it is a good idea to restrict mobile phone communication for drivers, there is another kind of communication that has no restrictions: prayer. God invites us to call on Him whether we are coming, going, or sitting still. In the New Testament, Paul’s words advise each person who wants to communicate with God to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). P...

OUR DAILY BREAD March 1, Thursday WE WON’T BREAK Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  Matthew 6:27 Matthew 6:25–34 Bible in a year: Numbers 23–25; Mark 7:14–37 As a native Californian and lover of all things sunny, I shy away from all things cold. I do, however, enjoy beautiful photos of snow. So I couldn’t help but smile when my friend from Illinois shared a winter picture of a sapling outside her window. Admiration turned to sadness when I noticed its bare, knotted branches bowing under the heavy fringe of sparkling icicles. How long could those bending boughs endure before breaking under their icy burdens? The heaviness threatening to crack the tree’s limbs reminded me of my shoulders, hunched beneath the weight of worries. After Jesus affirms that the greatest treasures are not earthly or temporary, He encourages us to release our anxious thoughts. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe loves and provides...

OUR DAILY BREAD February 28, Wednesday LOST BUT FOUND Leslie Koh Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.  Luke 15:6 Luke 15:1–9 Bible in a year: Numbers 20–22; Mark 7:1–13 When we discovered that my mother-in-law had gone missing while shopping with a relative, my wife and I were frantic. Mom suffered from memory loss and confusion, and there was no telling what she might do. Would she wander the area, or hop onto any bus thinking it would take her home? Worst-case scenarios spun through our minds as we began to search for her, crying out to God, “Please find her.” Hours later, my mother-in-law was spotted stumbling along a road, miles away. How God blessed us in being able to find her. Several months later, He blessed her: at eighty years of age, my mother-in-law turned to Jesus Christ for salvation. Jesus, comparing humans to lost sheep, gives us this illustration: “Suppose [a shepherd] has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine...

OUR DAILY BREAD February 27, Tuesday THE RELEASE OF FEAR Amy Boucher Pye Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.  Mark 6:50 Mark 6:45–53 Bible in a year : Numbers 17–19; Mark 6:30–56 Our bodies react to our feelings of dread and fear. A weight in the pit of our stomachs, along with our hearts pounding as we gulp for breath, signal our sense of anxiety. Our physical nature keeps us from ignoring these feelings of unease. The disciples felt shockwaves of fear one night after Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding more than five thousand people. The Lord had sent them ahead to Bethsaida so He could be alone to pray. During the night, they were rowing against the wind when suddenly they saw Him walking on the water. Thinking He was a ghost, they were terrified (Mark 6:49–50). But Jesus reassured them, telling them not to be afraid and to take courage. As He entered their vessel, the wind died down and they made it to the shore. I imagine that their feelings of dread calmed...

OUR DAILY BREAD February 26, Monday FEARLESS GIVING Xochitl Dixon Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Malachi 3:10 Malachi 3:8–12 Bible in a year : Numbers 15–16; Mark 6:1–29 When my son Xavier was six years old, a friend brought her toddler to visit and Xavier wanted to give him a few toys. I delighted in our little giver’s generosity, until he offered a stuffed animal my husband had searched several stores in different cities to find. Recognizing the high-demand toy, my friend tried to politely decline. Still, Xavier placed his gift into her son’s hands and said, “My daddy gives me lots of toys to share.” Though I’d like to say Xavier learned his confident giving from me, I’ve often withheld my resources from God and others. But when I remember that my heavenly Father gives me everything I have and need, it’s easier to share. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to trust Him by giving a portion of all He had suppl...

Mrs. Tolu Busari PASTOR'S CORNER Theme of the Year: Our Year of New Heights (Lev. 26:13 & Phil. 3:13, 14) Theme of the Month: Oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). Topic: Oracle of God’s Goodness God’s goodness is infinite. God is consistently good to His creatures from creation till now and till eternity He will be faithfully good to us. As we speak the mind of God, we must consistently talk about His goodness with deep sense of appreciation. Our salvation comes as a result of His goodness. In order for the yet to be saved to believe in the Almighty God, we must speak about His goodness for the unbelievers to know what they are missing for not giving their lives to Christ. It is important to set aside time to reflect on God’s goodness to us — which is what we do in this church every last Sunday of the month. Of course, thanking God for His goodness to us must be daily in our individual lives. No matter what you might be going through right now, God ...