Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD May 24, Sunday  TALKING TABLES Kirsten Holmberg Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  Acts 2:46 Acts 2:42–47 1 Chronicles 22–24; John 8:28–59 Loneliness is one of the greatest threats to our sense of well-being, affecting our health through our behaviors on social media, food consumption, and the like. One study suggests that nearly two-thirds of all people—regardless of age or gender—feel lonely at least some of the time. One British supermarket has created “talking tables” in their store cafés as a way to foster connection between people. Those looking for human interaction simply seat themselves at a table designated for that purpose, joining others or indicating a desire to be joined. Conversation ensues, providing a sense of connection and community. The people of the early church were committed to shared connection too. Without each other, they would likely have felt very alone in the practice of their faith, which was still new...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 23, Saturday KEEPERS OF THE LIGHT James Banks For God . . . made his light shine in our hearts.  2 Corinthians 4:6 John 8:12–16 1 Chronicles 19–21; John 8:1–27 They call them “Keepers of the Light.” At the lighthouse on the cape of Hatteras Island just off the North Carolina coast of the United States, there’s a memorial to those who’ve tended the light stations there since 1803. Shortly after the existing structure was moved inland because of shoreline erosion, the names of the keepers were etched on the old foundation stones and arranged into an amphitheater shape facing the new site. That way—as a placard explains—today’s visitors can follow in the historical keepers’ footsteps and “watch over” the lighthouse as well. Jesus is the ultimate light-giver. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). That’s a radical thing for anyone to claim. But Jesus said it to affirm His r...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 22, Friday TAKE YOUR TEARS TO GOD Amy Peterson My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the  Lord  looks down from heaven and sees.  Lamentations 3:49–50 Lamentations 3:49–66 1 Chronicles 16–18; John 7:28–53 Last summer, an orca named Talequah gave birth. Talequah’s pod of killer whales was endangered, and her newborn was their hope for the future. But the calf lived for less than an hour. In a show of grief that was watched by people around the world, Talequah pushed her dead calf through the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean for seventeen days before letting her go. Sometimes believers in Jesus have a hard time knowing what to do with grief. Perhaps we fear that our sorrow might look like a lack of hope. But the Bible gives us many examples of humans crying out to God in grief. Lament and hope can both be part of a faithful response. Lamentations is a book of five poems that express the sorrow of people who have lost their home. They’ve be...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 21, Thursday THE KNIFE ANGEL Sheridan Voysey Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  Isaiah 2:4 Isaiah 2:1–4 1 Chronicles 13–15; John 7:1–27 When knife crime rose across the United Kingdom, the British Ironwork Centre came up with an idea. Working with local police forces, the Centre built and placed two hundred deposit boxes around the country and ran an amnesty campaign. One hundred thousand knives were anonymously surrendered, some still with blood on their blades. These were then shipped to artist Alfie Bradley, who blunted them, inscribed some with the names of young knife-crime victims, plus messages of regret from ex-offenders. All 100,000 weapons were then welded together to create the  Knife Angel —a twenty-seven-foot-high angelic sculpture with shimmering steel wings. When I stood before the  Knife Angel,  I wondered how many thousands of wounds had been prevented by its existence. I thoug...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 20, Wednesday THE SMILING JESUS Elisa Morgan God . . . has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.  Hebrews 1:9 Hebrews 1:8–12 1 Chronicles 10–12; John 6:45–71 If you were to play the part of Jesus in a movie, how would you approach the role? That was the challenge faced by Bruce Marchiano, who played Jesus in the 1993 Visual Bible movie  Matthew . Knowing that millions of viewers would draw conclusions about Jesus based on his work, the weight of getting Christ “right” felt overwhelming. He fell to his knees in prayer and begged Jesus for—well, for  Jesus . Bruce gained insight from the first chapter of Hebrews, where the writer tells us how God the Father set the Son apart by anointing Him “with the oil of joy” (1:9). This kind of joy is one of celebration—a gladness of connection to the Father expressed wholeheartedly. Such joy ruled in Jesus’ heart throughout His life. As Hebrews 12:2 describes it, “For the joy set befor...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 19, Tuesday WHERE CHOICES LEAD Glenn Packiam The  Lord  watches over the way of the righteous.  Psalm 1:6 Psalm 1 1 Chronicles 7–9; John 6:22–44 With no cell service and no trail map, we had just our memory of a fixed map at the trailhead to guide us. More than an hour later, we finally emerged from the woods into the parking lot. Having missed the turn-off that would have made for a half-mile hike, we took a  much  longer trek. Life can be like that: we have to ask not simply if something is right or wrong, but where it will lead. Psalm 1 compares two ways of living—that of the righteous (those who love God) and that of the wicked (the enemies of those who love God). The righteous flourish like a tree, but the wicked blow away like chaff (vv. 3–4). This psalm reveals what flourishing really looks like. The person who lives it out is dependent on God for renewal and life. So how do we become that kind of person? Among other things, Psalm 1 ur...

OUR DAILY BREAD May 18, Monday THE GIFT OF PEACE Estera Pirosca Escobar You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation.  Luke 2:29–30 Luke 2:25–35 1 Chronicles 4–6; John 6:1–21 “I believe in Jesus and He is my Savior, and I have no fear of death,” said Barbara Bush, the wife of former US President George H. W. Bush, to her son before she died. This incredible and confident statement suggests a strong and deep-rooted faith. She experienced God’s gift of peace that comes from knowing Jesus, even when faced with death. Simeon, a resident of Jerusalem during the first century, also experienced profound peace because of Jesus. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went to the temple when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to be circumcised as required by the law for a newborn boy. Although not much is known about Simeon, from Luke’s description one can tell he was a special man of God, just and devout, waiting faithfully for the coming Messiah, and “the Holy ...