Be Tasty in Spirit of God

 An Emoji Devotional for Sun, 14th August 2022

Topic: Be Tasty in Spirit of God

Highlights: 

But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.

Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing.

To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

You see, we are not like those hucksters—and there are many of them—who preach just to make money. We preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's authority. And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

You should also know this, fellow readers*, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good.

They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that. To be tasty in the Spirit of God means there is sweetness all over you. You know that when people are pleased to meet you, they have seen salt and sweet spirits around you and want to be partaker of that sweetness. When this happens, it shows you have plenty of love in you to give. Somehow if people notice that your love is stale, they may have to leave because they found not really the love they think was there.

Do not mistake people looking for love if they don't do God's will and if they are not ready to be change through the love of Christ, St. Matthew 5:13 says that "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. If someone come to look for love and they actually do not love Christ, the salt in you will lose its flavor in their tongue. Your sweetness may become worthless to them. But do not let this bother you at all or make you become cold like one of them. After all, 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." In the world you will encounter so many ungodly men and situation but remain cheerful, do not let anyone to make you feel like insipid. Do not let people of the world change you from Manna to Marrah. Be wise.

Our Lord Jesus said "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

If you continue to be sweet and tasty in the Spirit of God, walking in love unconditionally, you will love in the realm of fulfilling God's promises concerning your life. "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” Romans 8:28

There is a Spirit of Belial in the air, moving throughout the world, using economic meltdown and people who have grown harshness in them to turn the work upside down. Remain true to the world of Christ. "Be cheerful, I have overcome the world". I believe that this message can change your life forever because being tasty is not a sign of weakness, but rather, it is indeed a life of fulfilling greatness of God here and here after. For God first loved us and Christ died for all. Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Holy Spirit of Christ, teach me how to me how to be tasty in the Spirit of God. Lord Jesus Christ, please increase my renewal every hour in the regeneration power of your blood. In Jesus name. Amen.

Face God

 An Emoji Devotional Tue 9th of April 2022

Topic: Face God

Highlights:

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18

People love to face each other when talking heart to heart. But when talking to God, they tend to face their problems. Somehow it's like someone facing the other way, telling God, see this problem and that problem is why I'm calling you.

People have been giving God responsibilities to carry but did not really give God due attention. "Come now", is a word that cannot be negotiated. It shows who the boss is and the specific action to take....

"Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,
         In ten thousand rivers of oil?
         Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
         The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
         And what does the LORD require of you
         But to do justice, to love kindness,
         And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:7-8

It is somehow a sin to God when you face other sides talking to the heavenly father. It makes one garment to be very red as scarlet.  But God wants you to face him humbly to receive instructions.

If you already have what you wish to do in your mind and point God to the direction of how you want it done for you in your way, then who is then the boss? God is no one's servant. We are supposed to humbly listen attentively and follow instructions from our Heavenly Father. If you call God your father, then it's time to obey him and retouch your ways with due attention to what the authority dictates. I pray may we not take God's friendliness for granted.

Prayer: Father please forgive me for taking you for granted in any way. May I not take your friendliness for granted in my life. May I humble myself towards you and respect you all the days of my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Lord it Over The Lords of The Violent

 An Emoji Devotional for Fri, 5 August 2022

Topic: Lord it Over The Lords of The Violent

Highlights: 

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. Matthew 20:25

And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. Matthew 11:12

A terrorist does not have any languages other than violence. If you want to take down a terrorist, you have to take down their leader using higher violence. As a child of God. So much fascinating to hear Jesus declaring to his own in Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Christians would be as sheep surrounded by a flock of hungry and raging wolves, in contrast, Serpents are considered to be wise because of their ability to live in every continent and every part of the world and due to the appearance of pondering their actions as they prepare to strike, people are afraid of them. According to Wikipedia The behaviour of snakes and their facial features (e.g. the unblinking, lidless eyes) seemed to imply that they were intelligent, that they lived by reason and not instinct, and yet their thought-processes were as alien to humans as their ways of movement.

And the snake was wiser than all of the beasts of the field which the Lord God had made. And the snake said to the woman: "Is it true that the Lord God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

The snake was wise, it met the woman and not the man and also sneak information out of her to know if she's aware of God's instruction on the tree. Jesus ask us to be this wise to live among the violent people in the world with wisdom of slipping awareness of kindness into their mind to make them rethink and reason what is right. It could not be done by argument but by being gentle as dove.

Doves are very gentle and loving and always appealing in their look. Because of their gentility, doves are a great bird for younger children. This tells about humility.

The world is complicated. The Lords of the violent (evil people) will lack patience and understanding and they are desperate but the wise and gentle will rule over them by exhausting them to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus.

By backup power of Holy spirit. A Christian will suffer the violent enemy to accept peace by force by Calling Jesus the Prince of Peace into any case before matter arises. Judges 6:24, Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27

Prayer: I call Jesus the 'Prince of Peace' into my state of troubled heart today. Amen

The Good-Loop and The Angel

 

An Emoji Devotions for Sun July 31, 2022

Topic: The Good-Loop and The Angel

Highlight: 

Nothing is impossible for God!”

Luke 1:37

The above verse is a Good-loop for everyone  on the surface of the earth. But How many people do stay in that good-loop? 

Do you desire to get well? This is also a Good Looping opportunity Jesus gave to us all i. John 5:6. 

Some have seen the good loop but they need the help of God like the man beside the River of Bethesda. What he said was a reality of what is happening to almost everyone. The sick man said "Sir, I do not have a man, that when the water has been stirred, he might put me into the pool; and while I am going, another descends before me." John 5:7

His loop is a healing pool but he can't hoop because he was down by sickness but he understood that his loop was a healing pool. He stood around so maybe someone could hoop him in the good loop.

So What's your good loop?

The woman with an issue of blood in Matthew 9:21 said to herself “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” This prevailing thought would have been nursed for a very long time in her heart before she prevailed to take the step. I am sure she would have ran out of luck on many times on several occasions which could have lead to giving up on the good loop. You see the good loop brings us the fulfilment of our dreams. Maybe Peter had once reached for his sword on sighting her trying to touch Jesus. The woman later found the opportunity to be healed in Matthew 9:22. 

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Ruth 1:16 , if you add a letter "T" to Ruth it will be Truth. The "T" could represent the cross you will carry or otherwise carry you before you enter the Good-loop. Remember that the Good-loop is your hoop to fulfilment. 

It will be hard for you to stay in the Good-loop if you listen to what people and the media says and you follow their ways. Only God's word in the Holy Bible (and faith giving books) can make you stay in the loop.  The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.

1 John 2:17

If the devil tried to sway Jesus Christ out of the Good-loop in Matthew 4:4 how much more humans like us.  

To stay in the Good-loop may be frightening 

I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe.

Psalms 23:4 

Where can you find Good-loop? Its In-Jesus-in You. You have to be born again. You have to bear the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 God's Spirit makes us loving(loop), happy(loop), peaceful(loop), patient(loop), kind(loop), good(loop), faithful(loop), gentle (loop) and self-controlled (loop). (All the good loop will help you to stay intact to ascend on the day of reckoning when miracles and destiny glorification will happen)

Galatians 5:22 

There is an angel of hope following everyone who stays in the good-loop. Don't let the angel give up on you. Colossians 1:27

Stay in Good-loop no matter what,  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Prayer: Jesus please lead me to Jehovah. It is written in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. Amen. 

When your confidence is out of this world

 

An Emoji Devotional for Fri July 29, 2022

Topic: When your confidence is out of this world

Highlight: 

Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”

Matthew 3:17 

You have been doing well no matter how you see yourself. Your strength is out of this world and so your confidence. So pat yourself and say I'm grateful for who God made me to be in this world. That is why you are different. You have first class confidence like Moses who spent 40 days on the Mountain so to receive instructions from God. Who would believe you if you say God asked your Noah to build an Ark to save the world. Don't mind them. It is God who called you, not them. I heard that Goliath is out there ranting on your people that he will take over the throne from your God if no one could challenge him. Funny enough, none of your country men could bat an eye or say something. I know you are the David and Goliath is in trouble but first kill those Lions and wild bear who would not allow the lambs to live in peace.

You are Joseph who keep believing that one day dream would come true. Is it not coming through soon? The King would still have a dream which only you could interpret. Only if you remember that your confidence is out of this world, maybe you can remind your enemies that the lion has nothing on you. They tried to kill you because you were God fearing but it's your enemies that went down in the lion's belly. 

You are not just afraid of fire, so to speak, they asked you to bow down for a graven image. I trust you will not do such thing. You told the troublesome King that "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me." Psalm 138:7 as if that was not enough, you know the fire has nothing on you, you went in and came out with the fourth man who is the Son of God. You have touched the hem of his garment and you were made whole. 

Today is the day I recognize you as the man and woman of faith. Tomorrow is in God's hands. Remember, But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13 

So Remain in Confidence till the return of Jesus. So that your story will be told to the next generation. 

Prayer: 

I remain Confident, and believed to always see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. In Jesus name. Amen

Enemies be Planting Weeds among the Wheat

 

An Emoji Devotional for Wed, July 27, 2022

Topic: Enemies be Planting Weeds among the Wheat

Highlight: 

That night, while everyone was asleep, the man’s enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left.

Matthew 13:25 ERV

That's life is, there are so many reasons why life should be so sweet for you but enemies just there making things difficult for people. It was just like that since the beginning of the world. When Eve was just having fun in the garden and the Serpent pretend to be catching along, introduced her to the forbidden things. Before anyone could realized what they were doing, they were both infected and the enemy had went it's way. 

When the enemy comes to us, they come subtly to push people into something bad. You can't deal with the enemy with an ordinary eyes because all men are sleep walking. We don't even know when things slip into our mind. Suddenly when our eyes were clearly opened such things just popped up and start bothering us and sometimes turn to thorns in the flesh. 

Our Lord promised us not to worry ourselves about the things troubling us, that the grace of God will see us through even as those things trouble us, he is watching and waiting for an opportunity to separate those troubles from our dear peaceful lives and then burn those things troubling us that we would not see them again. Matthew 13:30

It may be hard to concentrate and be happy with things troubling us for long. But if we can maintain our focus in faith, no matter how difficult it is to trust God, We shall come out of the problem victorious at the end. (cf Psalms 146:5)

"With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow."

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6

Prayer: My Father in Heaven, no problem, I will trust you with all my heart. So help me to clear my doubt when trouble comes my way. In Jesus name. Amen

Herod's fierce Chase against Little Jesus

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon, July 25, 2022

Topic: Herod's fierce Chase against Little Jesus

Highlight: 

When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men.

Matthew 2:16 

The angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus and the three wise men worshipped him and took gift to him. King Herod heard about this great visit and inquire of the Wise men in town. He told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I also want to go and worship him.”

Matthew 2:8. Herod had intention to slay the King of Kings to secure his Kingdom but God revealed his intentions through His angels to the wise men. Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.

Matthew 2:12 

After the wise men had gone, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Hurry and take the child and his mother to Egypt! Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is looking for the child and wants to kill him.” That night, Joseph got up and took his wife and the child to Egypt,

When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men.

In this death of the children the precious death of all Christ's martyrs is figured; that they were infants signifies, that by the merit of humility alone can we come to the glory of martyrdom. that they were slain while Christ escaped, signifies that the bodies of the martyrs may be destroyed by the wicked, but that Christ cannot be taken from them.

After King Herod died, an angel from the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph while he was still in Egypt. The angel said, “Get up and take the child and his mother back to Israel. The people who wanted to kill him are now dead.”

Matthew 2:19-20

Prayer: Protect me, Lord God! I run to you for safety, In Jesus name. Amen