Foursquare Gospel Church Igbosere (Chapel of Blessing)

OUR DAILY BREAD November 1, Sunday EVEN A TACO John Blase If anyone gives even a cup of cold water . . . that person will certainly not lose their reward.  Matthew 10:42 Matthew 10:37–42 Jeremiah 24–26; Titus 2 Ashton and Austin Samuelson graduated from a Christian college with a strong desire to serve Jesus. However, neither felt called to a traditional ministry in the church. But what about ministry in the world? Absolutely. They blended their burden to end childhood hunger with their God-given entrepreneurial skills, and in 2014 launched a restaurant that serves tacos. But this isn’t just any restaurant. The Samuelsons operate from a buy-one-give-one philosophy. For every meal bought, they donate money to provide a meal specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of malnourished children. So far, they’ve made contributions in more than sixty countries. Their goal is to be a part of ending childhood hunger—one taco at a time. Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 are not c...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 31, Saturday STICKS, BRICKS, AND GOD Arthur Jackson The  Lord  gave and the  Lord  has taken away; may the name of the  Lord  be praised.  Job 1:21 Job 1:18–22 Jeremiah 22–23; Titus 1 After praying about what God was calling them to do in the next phase of their lives, Mark and Nina determined that moving to the urban core of the city was what they needed to do. They purchased a vacant house and renovation was well underway—then came the storm. Mark wrote in a text message to me: “We had a surprise this morning. The tornado that came through Jefferson City, took out our renovation—down to sticks and bricks. God is up to something.” Uncontrollable storms are not the only things that surprise us and create confusion in our lives. Not losing sight of God in the midst of misfortune, however, is one of the keys of survival. The weather catastrophe in Job’s life that resulted in his loss of property and the death of his children (Job ...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 30, Friday EVERYONE NEEDS A MENTOR Alyson Kieda To Titus, my true son in our common faith.  Titus 1:4 Titus 2:1–8 Jeremiah 20–21; 2 Timothy 4 As I walked into my new supervisor’s office, I was feeling wary and emotionally raw. My old supervisor had run our department with harshness and condescension, often leaving me (and others) in tears. Now I wondered,  What would my new boss be like?  Soon after I stepped into my new boss’ office, I felt my fears dissipate as he welcomed me warmly and asked me to share about myself and my frustrations. He listened intently, and I  knew  by his kind expression and gentle words that he truly cared. A believer in Jesus, he became my work mentor, encourager, and friend. The apostle Paul was a spiritual mentor to Titus, his “true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). In his letter to Titus, Paul offered him helpful instructions and guidelines for his role in the church. He not only taught but modeled ...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 29, Thursday A TRUCK DRIVER’S HANDS Sheridan Voysey We have different gifts, . . . if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  Romans 12:6, 8 Romans 12:3–8 Jeremiah 18–19; 2 Timothy 3 The news came as a shock. Having already survived prostate cancer, my father had now been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. To complicate matters, my father is my mother’s full-time caregiver, attending to her own chronic illnesses. With both parents needing care, there would be some difficult days ahead. After flying home to be with them, I visited my parents’ church one Sunday. There, a man named Helmut approached me, saying he’d like to help. Two days later, Helmut visited our home with a checklist. “You’ll need some meals when the chemotherapy starts,” he said. “I’ll arrange a cooking roster. What about the mowing? I can do that. And what day is your rubbish collected?” Helmut was a retired truck driver, but to us he became an angel. We discovered he often helped others—sing...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 28, Wednesday WHO’S IT FOR? Mike Wittmer He poured it out before the L ord.   2 Samuel 23:16 2 Samuel 23:13–17 Jeremiah 15–17; 2 Timothy 2 The picture made me laugh out loud. Crowds had lined a Mexican avenue, waving flags and throwing confetti as they waited for the pope. Down the middle of the street strolled a stray puppy, appearing to grin as if the cheering was entirely for him. Yes! Every dog should have its day, and it should look like this. It’s cute when a puppy “steals the show,” but hijacking another’s praise can destroy us. David knew this, and he refused to drink the water his mighty warriors had risked their lives to get. He had wistfully said it would be great if someone would fetch a drink from the well in Bethlehem. Three of his soldiers took him literally. They broke through enemy lines, drew the water, and carried it back. David was overwhelmed by their devotion, and he had to pass it on. He refused to drink the water, but “poured it out b...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 27, Tuesday CHOOSING HOPE Lisa M. Samra But as for me, I watch in hope for the  Lord .  Micah 7:7 Micah 7:2–7 Jeremiah 12–14; 2 Timothy 1 I am one of millions of people worldwide who suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a type of depression common in places with limited sunlight due to short winter days. When I begin to fear winter’s frozen curse will never end, I’m eager for any evidence that longer days and warmer temperatures are coming. The first signs of spring—flowers successfully braving their way through the lingering snow—also powerfully remind me of the way God’s hope can break through even our darkest seasons. The prophet Micah confessed this even while enduring a heart-rending “winter” as the Israelites turned away from God. As Micah assessed the bleak situation, he lamented that “not one upright person” seemed to remain (Micah 7:2). Yet, even though the situation appeared dire, the prophet refused to give up hope. He trusted that ...

OUR DAILY BREAD October 26, Monday PRAYERS ON LA PLAYA Xochitl Dixon Let them praise the name of the L ord , for his name alone is exalted.  Psalm 148:13 Psalm 148 Jeremiah 9–11; 1 Timothy 6 During a trip to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary, my husband and I read our Bibles on the beach. As vendors passed and called out the prices of their wares, we thanked each one but didn’t buy anything. One vendor, Fernando, smiled wide at my rejection and insisted we consider buying gifts for friends. After I declined his invitation, Fernando packed up and began walking away . . . still grinning. “I pray God will bless your day,” I said. Fernando turned toward me and said, “He has! Jesus changed my life.” Fernando knelt between our chairs. “I feel His presence here.” He then shared how God had delivered him from drug and alcohol abuse more than fourteen years earlier. My tears flowed as he recited entire poems from the book of Psalms and prayed for us. Together, we praised God and r...