Speak Gently

Speak gently. Let no harsh word mar

the good you may do here.

Speak gently to the young, for they

will have enough to bear;

pass through this life as best they may,

’tis full of anxious care.

Speak gently to the aged one

Grieve not the care-worn heart,

whose sand of life are nearly run,

let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly to the poor,

let no harsh tone be heard.

They have enough they must endure

without an unkind word.

Speak gently…’tis a little thing

dropped in the heart’s deep well;

The good, the joy that it may bring

eternity shall tell.

— Author Unknown

Meditation: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. – Ephesians 4:29

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

It’s in Your Face

You don’t have to tell how you live each day,

 You don’t have to say if you work or play,

A tried, true barometer serves in the place;

however you live, it will show in your face.

The false, the deceit you bear in your heart

Will not stay inside, where it first got a start.

For sin and blood are a thin veil of lace;

what you wear in your heart you wear in your face.

If your life is unselfish,

if for others you live,

for not what you get,

but for how much you can give;

If you live close to God,

in His infinite grace,

you don’t have to tell it,

it shows in your face.

Meditation: As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. – Proverbs 27:19

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

How To Define Your Purpose (Part 1)

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.– Colossians 1:19

In the past few days we have considered various thoughts on purpose. Subsequently, we will bring our meditation closer home by examining how you can centre on your own purpose and define it in easily understood words that will have direct meaning to you and, perhaps, others.

As we have learnt, the word of God is the only resource where you can discover your purpose. Seeking it elsewhere is an effort in futility. And there is Someone who is the personification of God’s word, He is Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate fulfilment of the word of God. He is the consummate man. The Bible says all things consist in Him; that means without Him there is nothing that merits its name. He is the centre of the universe; He is at the core of everything created.

Jesus is the perfect example of humanness. He is 100% God, yet 100% man. His life is the perfect example of “live-ing.” And in Him all the purposes of humankind on earth are captured. He is the embodiment of all human missions. There can be no identification or fulfilment of purpose outside what He came to do. And, among other things, He came to demonstrate how we should fulfil the assignments that God has allotted to each of us on earth.

Therefore, if you desire to identify and define your own purpose, you need to study the life of Jesus vis-à-vis what are written “in the volume of the books” about what He came to do on the earth.

That is what we will be considering in subsequent editions of this devotional, so that you too can be able to discover your life purpose and put a name to it. Are you ready?

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort.

Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

For More Information Contact: The Real Building Manual written and inspired by The Master Carpenter of Life – The Holy Bible.

Meditation: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. – Ecclesiastes 9:10

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

The LORD’s Baseball Team

Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team.

The Lord’s team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named ‘Love.’

Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because ‘Love never fails.’

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.

Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws.

The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player.

Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, ‘He sure doesn’t look like much!’

Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his centre fielder let very few get by.

He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; the roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence for a home run!

The Lord’s team won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn’t win the game. Freddy answered that he didn’t know why.

The Lord then explained, “If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you Home.”

Meditation: For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Purpose: Sent to the Oppressed

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…He has sent Me…to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
– Luke 4:18

The oppressed are another group for whom Jesus came to earth. He announced in the passage above that He came to set them at liberty so that they too can enjoy the benefits of living and aspire to self-actualisation like every other person. Just as Jesus came for these people, likewise are a number of individuals living today called to the oppressed; to rescue and set them at liberty.

People found themselves in oppression for various reasons, because of their sins, wrong choices, poverty, less-privileged background, ignorance of their rights, weak personality, among other factors. Whatever the reason may be, God does not desire that anyone die in oppression and subjection. He was concerned enough that this should not be the case; hence His sending Jesus Christ to their rescue. Even before Jesus came, God had always called certain individuals who were willing enough to fight for the liberation of the oppressed; and with the departure of Jesus, God is still calling willing individuals to fulfil this calling.

A wanton subjection of another or oppression of any kind is an injustice; because God did not create any man to dominate other men. On the contrary, He created man to exercise dominion over every other creature He made. Oppression is one of the devil’s distortions of divine order at the fall of mankind. But God never wanted it, and it doesn’t have to be.

Do you get greatly disturbed seeing people being cheated, denied or subjected to any form of inhuman treatment? Perhaps, you were called to the oppressed. It is easy for people with this particular calling to conclude that they presently have no clout or wherewithal to make a difference. That is one of the lies the devil uses to dissuade such people from fulfilling their calling. The truth is, you can always do something with what you have and where you are. As long you can talk, write, or express your sentiment in other ways, you are equipped to do something.

No matter how little, take steps to confront oppression and injustice and you will be amazed at how God can back someone who dares to stand up for Him.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

Why?

When I received this, I thought, ‘I don’t have time for this… And…this is really inappropriate during work.’ Then, I realized that this kind of thinking is exactly what has caused lots of the problems in our world today.

We try to keep God in church on Sunday morning… Maybe, Sunday night…And, the unlikely event of a midweek service.

We do like to have Him around during sickness. And, of course, at funerals. However, we don’t have time, or room, for Him during work or play. Because that’s the part of our lives we think we can, and should, handle on our own. May God forgive me for ever thinking that there is a time or place where

HE is not to be FIRST in my life.

We should always have time to remember all HE has done for us.

Why is it so hard to tell the truth but yet so easy to tell a lie?

Why are we sleepy in church, but suddenly wake up immediately the sermon is over?

Why is it so hard to talk about God but yet so easy to talk about nasty stuff?

Why is it so boring to look at a Christian magazine, but yet so easy to look at a nasty one?

Why is it so easy to delete a godly e-mail, but yet we forward all of the nasty ones?

Why are the churches getting smaller but yet the bars and dance clubs are getting larger?

Meditation: He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? – Matthew 15:3

You will succeed in Jesus Name!