#WordForToday || BE CONTENT

Read: Philippians 4:10-20
[I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. ~ Philippians 4:11]

"Learn to manage what you already have and you'll be blessed with the reponsibility of more."
   ~ S.H || #QuoteOfTheDay

So I know this is not your "All day; Everyday" kinda 'topic', but I'm led to share this with you today. Hoping that you will be blessed by it, and become content from inside out! Let's stop the comparisons, the complaints, and the covetousness!!!

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Contentment is hard to attain. Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content (Phil. 4: 11). It was not a natural character trait for him. For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of his writing to the Philippians, he was in jail in Rome. Charged with sedition, treason, and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Ceasar himself. Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard. It seems to me that Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person; given the circumstances, and considering his status. Instead, he wrote to the Philippians stating that he had learned (and mastered) CONTENTMENT!

How did he learn this? One step at a time, until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments like that of a prison. Indeed, he learned to accept whatever came his way (v.12) and to receive with thanks whatever help or support fellow Christians could give (vv. 14-18). And MOST IMPORTANTLY, he recognised that God was supplying ALL that he needed (v.19).

Contentment is not natural for any of us. The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, complain, and covet. Few of us are in a 'predicament' such as Paul's, but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content!

Stop cursing the darkness, and light some candles!!! From your heart, shed light on your situation and live a life of Contentment! It begins from within!

Pray this:
O Lord, give me the grace to be CONTENT with what You give to me.
No, more than that, let me rejoice in ALL You send my way,
For it is Your choice! And more importantly, I submit to Your will.
Amen!

#FoodForThought:
"Contentment is not possessing everything, but giving thanks for everything you posses."

 ~ Shirley Hills (S.H)

Photo Insert: This mom and son photo is living proof that life is what you make of it even while being CONTENT with what you have!

#HappyHolidays, and enjoy the #NewWeek!
Xoxo 😊😊

QS.😚

INNOCENCE & IGNORANCE

 
[Read: Romans 5:12-21]
“As sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” - - (Romans 5:21)
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Some people avoid going to the doctor because they don’t want to find out that anything is wrong with them. Some people avoid going to church for the same reason. But ignorance of our sickness doesn’t make us healthy, and ignorance of our sin doesn’t make us innocent.

Do you know that Roman law is considered to be the source of the idea that ignorance of the law excuses no one? But the concept however, originated much earlier – When God gave the Law to Israel, He established that even unintentional sin required a sacrifice for forgiveness (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 45: 18-20). In his letter to Christians living in Rome, the apostle Paul addressed the issue of ignorance or lack of understanding. When people were ignorant of God’s righteousness, they made up their own (Rom. 10:3)

When we live according to our own standards of right or wrong, we might feel good about ourselves, but that doesn’t make us spiritually healthy. Only when we are measured by God’s standard of righteousness (Jesus) do we know the condition of our spiritual health. None of us can achieve the righteousness of Christ, but thankfully we don’t have to. He shares His righteousness with us (v.5:21) the good news about finding out what is wrong with us is that the Great Physician will make us well.


Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Great Physician, You know my heart.
I bow before You now, and ask that you show me.
Any attitude or action that doesn’t please You.
Make me clean, Make me well.


Foot Note:
God is The 'Measurer' and Healer of my spiritual health.



Have a great week ahead friends.
QS || xoxo

SLACKER?

SLACKER? [#WORD_FOR_TODAY]
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Read: [Proverbs 6: 6-11]
“How long will you slumber, O sluggard?” – Proverbs 6:9
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While studying the book of Proverbs last night, I came across the above scripture and remembered my days in Bible school. My mind went flashing back to one of my teachers (Pastor Adebusola) who suggested we change the description of a lazy person (as in the scripture – ch. 6:6,9) from “sluggard” to “slacker”. Ah, now he was speaking my ‘lingo’, and I found it quite interesting and funky (coming from the early-50s-aged man of God). I immediately started thinking of all the people I considered to be “slackers”.

Like men and women who fail to teach and discipline their children. Or a guy who refuses to help around the house (most of them usually say house chores are for the ladies, not guys). Or those teenagers who neglect their studies and play Internet games all day and night long. If we are honest to ourselves, we’ll see that we are all susceptible to this. What about being a “prayer slacker” (1 Thess. 5:17-18), or a “Bible-reading slacker” (Ps. 119:103; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), or a “non-exercising-of-our-spiritual-gifts slacker” (Rom. 12: 4-8), or a “non-witnessing slacker”??? (Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts1:8). If we are not doing what we know God wants us to do, we are certainly “SPIRITUAL SLACKERSS”. In fact, if we refuse to obey God, we are ‘sinning’.

Listen to these challenging and convincing words from the book of James: “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17, NLT) Today, let’s not be spiritual slackers. God is Watching!

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The WorldCup Brazil2014 comes to an end soon…some teams have slacked…only the ‘fittest’ have survived to the ‘Final’ stage…and one team at the finals must ‘surely’ slack cos there can only be one ‘Winner’! In the ‘Tournament of Life’, will you emerge ‘Winner’..??? Think on this, and don’t slack! STOP THE LAZINESS, be in Church tomorrow!
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Keep in Mind:
When we know what God wants us to do,
but then, we refuse to obey,
We're ignoring the voice of God ,
and sinfully choosing our way.

Shalom! Happy Saturday!
QS || xoxo :)

HAPPY 4/7 AMERICA! KEEP YOUR TRUST IN GOD!

July 4th


LEAST POWERFUL PEOPLE
Read: [1 Corinthians 10:1-13]


During one of my recent reads, I stumbled on a very unusual list called THE 100 LEAST POWERFUL PEOPLE which appeared in one of the articles of the online publication 24/7 WALL STR. Among those selected were corporate executives…yes, sports figures, politicians and celebrities who shared one common characteristic – they used to be powerful. Some were victims of circumstances; others made poor business decisions, while others lost their influence because of moral failure.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul draws a somber lesson from Old Testament history. The people Moses led from slavery in Egypt toward freedom in the Promised Land kept turning their backs on God who had delivered them (v. 1-5). Idolatry, immorality, and grumbling were among the things that brought them down (v.6-10). Paul points to their collapse as an example to us, and sounds this warning: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (v.12).

Every follower of Jesus Christ can stand firm, on God’s promise: “He will see to it that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible for you to bear it” (v.13; PHILLIPS). All of us have the power to influence others in their faith – How tragic to squander it by yielding to a temptation that God has empowered us to resist.


Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Lord, there are temptations to sin everywhere. Help me not to give in. Make me sensitive to see the ways out that You provide.
I want my love for You to be real, and to encourage others in their faith’s journey.
In You I put my Trust!


Foot Note:
Over time, I have come to the realization that the best way to escape temptation is to run to God! For in God we Trust!

Happy 4th of July America!
In God we Trust!

Have a great day friends
QS. | xoxo

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AN EXERCISE IN GODLINESS

July 3


AN EXERCISE IN GODLINESS

Read: [1 Timothy 4:6-11]
“Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things”. – 1 Timothy 4:8


The New Year is often the time when we resolve to take better care of ourselves – to exercise, eat right, and perhaps shed some of the pounds we gained over the holidays. The year’s half way gone now, how many of us have kept to our ‘Fitness Quest’ till now…??? Never mind!...I’m ‘guilty’ of that too! (Lol)

Paul says, “Exercise profits a little” (1 Timothy 4:8), so I struggle to be as fit as I can be. I try to eat right, more or less though I do love fried chicken. I lift weights and take walks, but I know that my body is not long for this world. Its strength is fading.

It’s better to concentrate on godliness, because it holds promise for this life and the life to come (v.8). Contrary to the old adage, we can take something with us after all.

Godliness may sound dull, scary, and unattainable, but the essence of godliness is simply self-giving love – caring more for others than we care for ourselves. This kind of love is hard to come by, but it’s one that grows in the presence of love. We grow loving and more lovely by sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him, talking things over – gaining in likeness to the One who is love (1 John 4:8).

Life is a journey into love, it seems to me, and there’s nothing so beautiful as a godly soul. Physical exercise is good, no doubt, but there is something far, far better: It is love.


Keep in Mind (Prayer):
That I may love Him is my soul’s ambition –
Love Him with all my mind and strength and heart,
Seek out His will and choose it, in submission,
And with the joy He only can impart.

Foot Note:
Love is godliness in action.

#KeepLoving!
Have a great day friends!

QS || xoxo 

A NEW DAY

July 2

A NEW DAY!

Read: [ Psalm 118: 19-29 ]
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24 #Word_For_Today!

In an early morning meeting I recently attended, the person who opened the gathering began by praying, “Lord, thanks for today. It is the beginning of a new day that has never existed before, and we are grateful to be alive to behold it.” Although the idea seemed obvious, that prayer got me thinking about a couple of different things. First, because each day is a new opportunity, it will be filled with things we cannot accurately anticipate or even prepare for. Therefore, it’s important that we recognize our limitations and lean heavily on God – intentionally choosing to live in His grace and strength rather than relying on our own resources.

The second thing that occurred to me is that the newness of each day is a gift worth celebrating. Perhaps this concept was what prompted the psalmist to declare, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). No doubt we face many unknowns each day – and some could be difficult. But the treasure of each brand-new day is so special that David was led to write; “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Every new day is a precious gift. May we thankfully embrace each one with confident trust and humble celebrations.

Keep in Mind (Prayer):
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best –
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest



Foot Note:
Each new day gives us a new reason to praise God. Don’t miss out on the benefits that come with doing so.

Have a great day friends!

QS || xoxo :)

BACK TO MY WRITINGS!!! I know it's been ages since I 'cared' about this blog! My love for 'QS' is back! Ride along with me...on my #WORD_FOR_TODAY...some writings of encouragements based on the Word of The Almighty God, Jehovah Yahweh! Also, I shall be sharing with us some things I have been up to lately...it's more like playing 'Catch Up'... Join me!


July 1.

THE OFFERING PLATE
 
Read: [2 Corinthians 8:1-9]
“…See that you abound in this grace also.” – 2 Corinthians 8:7

Brother Edward Alabi, a pastoral assistant and one of my House-care fellowship leaders, often said that he disliked preaching about financial giving to the members of the satellite fellow ship. He said his previous job required fundraising, so he didn’t like putting any unnecessary pressure on people. But one day, when he was teaching through 2 Corinthians, and he came to chapters 8 and 9, he couldn’t avoid the topic of giving. What I remember most about that sermon was the illustration he used. He placed an offering plate on the floor, stepped into it, and stood there as he shared with us the importance of giving our whole selves to the Lord, not just our wallets.

Those two chapters in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians give us a number of attitudes and actions that we are to display in our giving to the Lord;
- Give yourself to the Lord first (ch. 8v5)
- Give, remembering the example of the Lord Jesus (ch. 8v9)
- Give according to your means (ch. 8v11-12)
- Give enthusiastically because of God’s love (ch. 9v2)
- Give generously, not grudgingly or because of outside pressure (ch. 9v5-7)

Next time the offering plate comes around at church, imagine yourself stepping into it. It will help you to excel in the grace of giving (ch. 8v7).

Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving Yourself for me on the Cross.
Because of Your Love, I give all of me – my heart, my time, my funds, my will;
All to You. I love You.

Foot Note:
When we give ourselves completely to the Lord, all lesser giving becomes easier.


HAPPY JULY!!!

QS. || xoxo