Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD July 7, Sunday God LOOMS LARGER Winn Collier You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.  1 Samuel 17:45 1 Samuel 17:41–50 Job 34–35; Acts 15:1–21 Giles Kelmanson, a South African game ranger, described the incredible scene: two honey badgers battling a pride of six lions. Although outnumbered, the honey badgers refused to back down from ferocious predators ten times their size. The lions thought the kill would be simple, but video footage shows the badgers walking away with something like a swagger. David and Goliath offer an even more improbable story. Young, inexperienced David confronted the fierce Philistine Goliath. Towering above his young combatant, Goliath possessed brute strength and unrivaled weaponry—bronze armor and a lethal, razor-edged javelin (1 Samuel 17:5–6). David, a fledgling shepherd, carried only a slingshot when he arrived at the battlefield with bread and c...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 6, Saturday STARTING NOW Anne Cetas Love each other deeply.  1 Peter 4:8 1 Peter 4:7–11 Job 32–33; Acts 14 When my oldest sister’s biopsy revealed cancer in late February 2017, I remarked to friends, “I need to spend as much time with Carolyn as possible—starting now.” Some told me my feelings were an overreaction to the news. But she died within ten months. And even though I had spent hours with her, when we love someone there’s never enough time for our hearts to love enough. The apostle Peter called Jesus’s followers in the early church to “love each other deeply” (1 Peter 4:8). They were suffering under persecution and needed the love of their brothers and sisters in their Christian community more than ever. Because God had poured His own love into their hearts, they would then want to love others in return. Their love would be expressed through praying, offering gracious hospitality, and gentle and truthful conversation—all in the strength G...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 5, Friday PRACTICING WHAT WE PREACH John Blase Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.  1 John 2:9 1 John 2:7–11 Job 30–31; Acts 13:26–52 Pastor and writer Eugene Peterson had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Swiss physician and highly respected pastoral counselor Paul Tournier. Peterson had read the doctor’s works, and admired his approach to healing. The lecture left a deep impression on Peterson. As he listened, he had the feeling that Tournier lived what he spoke and spoke what he lived. Peterson chose this word to describe his experience: “ Congruence . It is the best word I can come up with.” Congruence— it’s what some refer to as “practicing what you preach” or “walking your talk.” The apostle John stresses that if any of us “claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister,” then we’re “still in the darkness” (1 John 2:9). In essence, our lives and our words simply don’t match up...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 4, Thursday EVERY STORY Elisa Morgan Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  Luke 24:27 Luke 24:17–27 Job 28–29; Acts 13:1–25 I opened the whimsically illustrated children’s Bible and began to read to my grandson. Immediately we were enthralled as the story of God’s love and provision unfurled in prose. Marking our place, I turned the book over and read the title once again:  The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. Every story whispers His name. To be honest, sometimes the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is hard to understand. Why do those who don’t know God seem to triumph over God’s own? How can God permit such cruelty when we know that His character is pure and that His purposes are for our good? After His resurrection, Jesus met two followers on the road to Emmaus who didn’t recognize Him an...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 2, Tuesday HOW TO FIND PEACE Amy Boucher Pye Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  Colossians 3:15 Colossians 3:12–17 Job 22–24; Acts 11 “What do you think about peace?” my friend asked as we ate lunch together. “Peace?” I said, puzzled. “I’m not sure—why do you ask?” He answered, “Well, as you jiggled your foot during the church service I wondered if you’re agitated about something. Have you considered the peace God gives to those who love Him?” That day some years ago, I was a bit hurt by my friend’s question, but it started me on a journey. I began exploring the Bible to see how God’s people embraced this gift of well-being, of peace, even in the midst of hardship. As I read Paul’s letter to the Colossians, I chewed over the apostle’s command to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts (Colossians 3:15). Paul was writing to a church he’d never visited but had heard about from his f...

OUR DAILY BREAD July 1, Monday Are YOU HUNGRY NOW? Dave Branon What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  James 2:14 James 2:14–18 Job 20–21; Acts 10:24–48 Thomas knew what he needed to do. Having been born to a poor family in India and adopted by Americans, upon a return trip to India he witnessed the dire needs of the children in his hometown. So he knew he had to help. He began making plans to return to the US, finish his education, save a lot of money, and come back in the future. Then, after reading James 2:14–18 in which James asks, “What good is it . . . if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?” Thomas heard a little girl in his native country cry out to her mother: “But Mommy, I’m hungry now!” He was reminded of the times he had been intensely hungry as a child—searching through trash cans for food. Thomas knew he couldn’t wait years to help. He decided, “I’ll start now!” Today the orphanage he...