And light Started Shinning

An Emoji devotions for Fri, 20th of August 2021

Topic: And light started Shinning

Highlights: 

God looked at the light and saw that it was good. He separated light from darkness

Genesis 1:4

"You two can't stay together" that was what God said to Light and darkness - Like it's not good for man to be alone but not with light and darkness. We all could see that toxic people could one day repent and change from their bad ways to good ways. There is a time of life we called the day time - This is the time when the sun shines bright and everything comes alive. Today is a happy day because everyone could see the light but when it is night it becomes dark again and movement becomes slow and everyone becomes sleepy. 

Things sometimes gets sticky and sneaks into spiritual phenomenon that indicates  positions where each of us belongs- either in the day or in the night, they are worth thanking God for. The sun is beautiful in a special way. The moon is also beautiful in a special way, but it is different from the sun. The stars are beautiful too, and each star is beautiful in its own special way.

1 Corinthians 15:41 

Everyone loves to see the sun. The moon looks beautiful and yet the Star is twinkles when it is dark. Jesus answered, “Are not there twelve hours in each day? If you walk during the day, you will have light from the sun, and you will not stumble. But if you walk during the night, you will stumble, because you may not have enough light.”

John 11:9‭-‬10 

 There is only one star that outshines the sun and that is the morning star. Jesus Christ is the morning star and He will not make you stumble. Revelations 22:16

I do not know your name or where you are right now but I know that if you surround yourself with Jesus Christ the Light given by God, you will walk in the light and darkness will stay away from you. 

Jesus once said: Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

John 8:12 

Stay away from darkness, stay with Jesus, God can make your light shine brighter when you continue to walk in the light with Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus I give you my life and my soul, please guide me with your shinning light and lead me in the way of everlasting life. In Jesus name

THE SINGING GOD

 

An Emoji Devotional for Wed 18th August, 2021

Topic: The Singing God

Highlights: 

The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.”

Zephaniah 3:17 

The first Being to sing songs is God. God is a Spirit John 4:24 and do sing songs. So His angels do listen to his songs and do back up and adlibs and harmony to his song. By this you will not be surprised why a musician was proclaimed by God to be a man after His heart.  Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, “David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.”

Acts 13:22 

Yes, David was there singing different Psalms in the wilderness with his sheep. He composed many songs like Psalm 23 "You, Lord , are my shepherd. I will never be in need." and was still singing while  he saw his livestock resting on the green grass: "You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water,  and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.

 Psalms 23:2‭-‬3

God saw David from where He is as said "wow this boy cherished me". While everyone was busy in the city complaining about inflation and daily sales, a little boy "David was in the wilderness singing about things he saw His sheep doing using it to unwind the beauty of God's love and kindness towards Him. 

The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Like David do you sing songs of Psalms for God? Do you always reason in your heart how wonderful God is? Do you relate things around you with the kindness of God?

Even when people are not nice, God is singing, without thinking about your sins or their sins. If you listen to God's song then you too will sing beautiful songs of praises like King David sung in Book of Psalms. Don't look at what is happening around, think about God singing in the midst of you and join the harmony.

Remember that David was made King of his Nation without campaigning. When you join the Lord's choir to sing beautiful songs even right where you are, God will arise with joyful celebration over you. And you know what that means when the King of Kings and the Most High God rejoice over you, the whole heaven and earth will rejoice over you.

Psalm Song Prayer: How much longer, Lord , will you forget about me? Will it be forever? Please let's sing together now and let us rejoice together because I know you are in the midst of me and I appreciate your presence. In Jesus name. Amen 

Faith based prayer

 

An Emoji Devotional for Mon 16th of August, 2021

Topic: Faith based prayer

Highlight: 

"and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

James 5:15 KJV

"

God is not interested in duration of your prayers but in the faith accompanying your prayer. When you kneel before your father and say 'I know you can do it', He will answer you. 

Many walked into trouble instead of walking into solution because they believed in prayer itself than God. Mark 2:2-5 

It is impossible to please God without faith Hebrews 11:6; there will be a time you will hit a note in the spiritual moment that will key into the heavenly rhythms. 

Jesus prayed and angels came to him. Until you learn how to pray, it may seem complicated as if prayers are not answered.

Some people love you with their eyes but faraway in their heart they do not have good minds. If you trust a spiritual leader more than you trust God in the position prayer, you have idolize him or her.  Some people would rather obey spiritual leaders rather than obeying the Holy Spirit

Have you prayed? Where is your communication line before you take action? The Bible says ask until your joy be full. Isaiah 45:11 

Behold, the LORD 's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1‭-‬2

This is why you need to come to God by surrendering your life to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and savior today.

 Let your prayer be praise based. Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD , and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

What are you seeking the Lord for. Seek for Jesus. What you are looking for is not lost. Go on your knees and praise the Lord and confirm your needs through His words written in the Bible. Romans 8:14

Remember as a Christian, you must be baptized in the Holy ghost. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:Romans 8:16 

Prayer: Dear Lord God , I need to trust you more. Please, Give me the grace I need and the Holy Ghost baptism to help me in place of prayer in Jesus name. Amen

Recipes of Endless Love

 An Emoji Devotions for Sat August 14, 2021

Topic: Recipes of Endless Love

Highlights: 

"Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.   

A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it."

 Ephesians 5:24‭-‬25

I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.

Jeremiah 29:11

It takes a covenant man and a covenant woman to live an endless Love. Such marriage are built on the foundation of the word of God. Matthew 7:24 

God’s love is endless, we cannot measure it

in the entire universe not all of it, would fit.

The expansiveness,of the world around us

can’t contain all His love it would ooze and gush. Even in the vastness, of the space above could the totality of it be filled with His love. This is the love deposited in each and every one of us to share to one another. Are you sharing God's endless love endlessly.

Don't let your love end. I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

Ephesians 3:19 

The endless love in you can grow and ooze through Jesus Christ because it takes the Holy Spirit to love endlessly. People may mess your love but When you hand over things to God, He will turn a mess to mercy

how do you want to be loved? Christ died for all. The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.

Christ has also promised everyone who followed his commands His Holy Spirit. Have you yet received the Holy Spirit through salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ? you may have missed a huge love if you are still living a life without the Holy Spirit  

who can give you the living love that never dies, a feeling never to be alone, a feeling of hope and brighter future. 

From today onward let's show love. Let wives show love to their husbands, let husbands do the same, let dad, mum and guardian love their all children the same way and let the children love their parents and guardian. 

When you love, God will see your act of love and bless you because of it. Let us Show love to everyone as God's Spirit permit. Matthew 5:16

Prayer: Dear Lord please give me the ability to show your kind of endless love in my world today. In your name Jesus. Amen

The Source of Joy

 

An Emoji Devotions for Thursday, 12th August, 2021

Topic: The source of Joy

By H. U. Wenger

Highlights: Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” (Psalm 16:1 – 2) 

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:8 – 11)

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:5 – 6)

 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10: 9 – 10)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:4 – 6)

When it comes to show that deep and remaining joy can only be found in God, there are so many highlights in the Bible that it is impossible to mention them all in a short devotional. God is the source of life and life is meant to be full of joy and satisfaction. It is deplorable that we fell away from the presence of God and have exchanged the everlasting joy and fullness of life with tiresomeness and oftentimes a felt senselessness of all of our efforts. The book of Ecclesiastes gives us insight into those feelings of superficiality and vainness and recommends living our lives with joy and gratitude to the creator. As final conclusion the book states: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil”.

Men of all ages circumvented the decrees of the living God, thinking that they would take away the remaining joys. I never forget how one of my teachers bitterly complained that everything joyful would be either immoral or makes fat. With this attitude it is well possible that we will never search for the source of life and never experience the joy of belonging to the most wonderful creator. By making him my one and only good asset, there comes stability and security into my life that surpasses every joy, my senses can possibly give me. The internal assurance to be his beloved child and the knowledge that he has redeemed me with himself through the sacrifice of his beloved son, Jesus Christ, turns everything upside down. Suddenly I can live without fear. I know that this life here is by far not my best life; the best is yet to come when I will visibly live in his presence in his reign of thousand years and finally in his new heaven and earth. If you do not yet have satisfaction in his joy, search for it today. 

Prayer: Dear God, let me experience you as the source of life and joy. Dear Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and that I have searched joy in the worldly things. I repent of all my sins and I pray, please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. You, God are the source of joy, let me be joyful in your presence. Cleanse me through your blood and fill my heart and mind with your Holy Spirit. In your holy Jesus name I pray. Amen. 

 

The Greatness of Lowliness

 

An Emoji Devotions for Wed 11th of August, 2021

Topic: The greatness of lowliness

By H. U. Wenger

Highlights: 

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”(Proverbs 3:34) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5b – 6)

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9 – 10)

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.” (1 Samuel 12:13 – 14)

Humility is nothing our time is teaching. 

I attended a coaching seminar, and I learned how to teach people to put themselves into the best light and to subtly highlight their achievement without overtly bragging. I do understand that this is somehow required in our competitive business world. Humbleness equals here weakness and psychologically it is viewed as self-belittling and putting oneself down. In the teaching of the Bible it is, however, not at all what lowliness or humility means.

At the core of the biblical understanding of meekness is the conviction that none of my achievements and accomplishments has the power to praise myself. Much more it praises my creator who has gifted me to do such outstanding things. Jesus mentions in John 15:5 – 6:  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” In other words, whatever we do without him remains nothing, even if it will look good and finds human praise. Deeds against the will of God are contempt for God and will ultimately get punished as the story of David and Bathsheba reveals, even if the sin against God and fellow humans gets forgiven. 

The most humble man that walked the earth was at the same time the greatest and the only perfect human being, the son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In John 13 we are shown how Jesus went up and washed the feet of his disciples. With it he did something, which was way below his status as their master and teacher. When he was finished with it he said to them: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 

If you want to be admired by people, boast with your accomplishments and you will be envied. If you crave for authority, respect and grandeur, live in humility before the Lord according to the prophet Micah, Chapter 6, Verse 8:  “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you have humbled yourself even to the death on the cross for my redemption. Teach me how to humble myself under the obedience to your word. I am craving authority in sharing your gospel and your word. I have nothing to boast about, but with Paul I want to say, by the grace of God I am what I am. Amen.        

Being of one Mind

 

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 10th August, 2021

Topic: Being of the same mind

by H.U. Wenger

Highlights: 

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Romans 12:16 KJV)

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Romans 12:16 NIV)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:3 – 5)

Who is the greatest among us? Wherever there is a group of people, it is a very natural question that unconsciously pops up in the mind of the persons involved. What place do I have in this group? Am I bottom? Am I top? What is my role in the group? The Bible tells us to be of the same mind towards one another, or to live in harmony with one another. Could it be that there is a reason why the New International Version chose a more neutral phrase for the same Greek expression? The King James Version is closer to the Greek text. Be of the same mind has a connotation of consolidation of institutional powers. One person or a group of persons decrees how everybody has to think and whoever dares to think otherwise violates the unwritten law. Unfortunately the pattern is way too common in religious groups. The people in power are not allowed to be challenged or questioned. Whatever they decree is law for the group and delinquency is severely punished. Our highlight and the context thereof depict a pattern that is totally opposite to the slavery of mind. 

Being of the same mind, concerns above all the quality of relationship. Do I look down on the people around me, or do I hold them in high esteem regardless of their social status? In 1991 I went to Colorado for a study in counseling. The first intern I got assigned to was a woman, who was about seven years younger than me. I was disappointed, asking myself what a younger woman could possibly teach me. I was not humble at all I did not value her above me. In fact I looked down on her believing that I could not learn from her. Boy, did she correct my attitude even in my first session with her. I got totally humiliated, not by her, she treated me with respect and high esteem, but by the Lord, who showed me how conceited and selfish I was. I am telling you that story to show how easily we can fall into the trap. I would not have any problem to list many more of my failures. Being of one mind means: to have a higher esteem for the other person than for myself. I may think very different about many issues. That is fine. When it comes to the thinking about the people around me I should be of one mind towards the other, the mind Christ Jesus has towards me, the mind that asks not for my best interest, but for the best interest of the other. 

How can I be of service or of help for the other person? This is the question that helps to live out the mindset of our Lord. My own experience tells me that this comes not naturally. So easily we regard ourselves above others. We need to put our thinking under the obedience of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, you came into our world as the son of the most high, but you served all of us and saved us. Please let me be of the same mind towards all of my fellow human beings. Help me to see and to treat everybody around me with a higher esteem than I have for myself. Let me be salt of the earth and light to the world. Amen