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Getting Stuck is Not a Problem. Staying Stuck is

2019 is almost over, a new year is about to begin, God has something new in store for you! His plan for your life is not for you to reach one level, get stuck and stay there for another year. He plans to increase you, open new doors before you, and take you places that you’ve never imagined. Hallelujah!

God has something big for you in this coming year, something bigger than your mind can even conceive! He’s already planned out big breaks, big opportunities and big ideas. You may have seen God’s goodness in the past, but you have not touched the surface of what God has for you in 2020!

Today, and in the new year, I believe God’s new thing is going to be far greater than you’ve ever seen before. It’s going to be bigger than you imagined. It’s going to be more rewarding than you thought possible. Receive it by faith and declare with authority, “yes, God, I receive this into my life today and throughout this coming year. God I refuse to get stuck where I am. I will move forward because I know You’re a big God, and You have something new coming my way! In the name of Yahshua the Messiah” Hallelujah!

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?”¦”

(Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for a new day, and the upcoming new year with new possibilities and opportunities to glorify You. Father, thank You for choosing me and using me for Your purpose and for your blessings. God, I set my love and focus on You today, knowing that You have something new in store for me in the year to come, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Faith and Love Intimately Connected: What does it mean to love Jesus?

Have you ever been in love? Did you know there is tremendous power in love? It will make you do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. In the same way that a tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep, you’ll be stronger and have more of God’s power operating in your life when you are rooted in love.

Faith works best when rooted in love. 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a picture of what that looks like. Among other things, love is patient and kind. It does not seek its own way. It is not jealous or boastful or proud. It goes on to say that love works alongside faith.

Today, choose love instead of choosing your own thinking. When you do, you are showing that God is first place in your life. You are establishing yourself in His love. Let it be firm within you. Let love build security in you, and empower you to live in victory and kindness in every area of your life!

“”¦that you, being rooted and grounded in love”¦” 

(Ephesians 3:17, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I come to You today, and invite You to take control of my heart and mind. Father, show me how to love the way You love, so that I can be rooted in God-given love, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Patience and Listening: God Still Speaks To You

I just wanted some hamburgers for lunch. 

Me and my boys were in the Walmart attempting to use a gift card. It wasn't working, and I was left with only a bag of quarters my wife had given me. So we put back the roll of hamburger and got some bread and a trifold my other son needed for a school project. 

Then I was prompted by the Spirit to give it another go. I told my sons that we're stopping at a local Food Lion to grab some hamburger. Moments later, I have the hamburger, my bag of quarters, and I'm standing in line. I hate lines. It makes things tedious. However, considering it's the first weekend of the official holiday shopping season, it was expected. I looked around and saw all the other lines and was going to move but God said, "DON'T. MOVE." 

LISTEN: "Your Moment": 3 Don'ts For The Season

I was paralyzed. Why couldn't I move to another line? A God event was ocurring. That's what I call them when the Holy Spirit prompts me with urgent instructions. As I began to scan my area for any anomalies I looked up front and began paying attention to a younger guy and an older woman talk. He was paying for expensive pot roast  she was stunned. In return, she turned to the woman in front of me and paid for her groceries! The woman, unsure of what was going on, turned to me and paid for my hamburger! What an amazing moment! 

Here are some lessons I learned from the experience: 

  1. Be obedient to God's prompting, even when it doesn't make sense to me. 
  2. Be obedient to what God has called you to be – a follower with a pleasant Spirit. I could have easily gotten impatient and aggravated at my day. I didn't, and I thank God I did well! 
  3. Patience is more than an action, but a mental condition. The ability to be patient begins in the mind and is shown in our actions. 

Scripture tells us in James 1:25 that, "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."  

If we continue in what Jesus has taught us through his Word, we will always be free from bitterness, anger, poor spirits, etc. If we don't forget God's Word, and do it, God will bless us. He wants to bless us, but he also needs us to listen to bless us.  

And yes, I made some awesome burgers for Sunday lunch, but learned a lot more from the Spirit. 

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Dealing With Bitter-Root Judgements

What Is A Bitter-Root Judgment? 

“Bitter-root judgments are judgments that we make concerning hurts that we have experienced that we have not surrendered to the Cross.”

Hebrews 12:15:

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled . . .

A root of bitterness comes from unforgiveness and can lead to resentment that corrupts our relationships and our ability to love like Yeshua loves. Bitter-roots grow when we fail to secure God’s grace to forgive. Bitterness and unforgiveness are the driving forces behind re-occurring problems, patterns, and destruction in our lives.

We must forgive. As soon as we experience a hurt we must immediately turn that hurt over to the Lord so that we do not take on a wound. Two of the most important people whom we must forgive is our mother and father (Exodus 20:12).

Bitter-root judgments can be judgments that we made towards our parents because of hurts that we incurred during our upbringing. From the womb certain patterns are formed that opened the door for us to form unhealthy judgments and strong opinions of ourselves and others. Whenever we make a judgement as a result of the hurts that we incurred that we do not bring to the Yeshua we set into motion forces that will cause us to reap in kind the very same judgement that we project upon others. (Galatians 6:7-9).

“Through heartache, I have learned that my strong opinions and my two-cents are best left on the threshing floor. Whenever I am presented with a situation in which I could pass judgement on someone, I choose to withhold my opinion and pray for the person instead. In life we can either take on the role as an enforcer or an intercessor, I choose the latter.”

Not all of us, have had the best parental experience. Some of us have experienced abuse. Some of us have experienced abandonment and neglect. However, to honor our parents is to forgive them and to accept their humanity.

We all have our stories”¦ Hurt is real. Pain is real. Yeshua does not dismiss the wrong done to us. However, we miss God when we demand vengeance”¦. “Well, you say someone has to pay””¦ Yeshua already paid. Yeshua covers the offense, the offender, and the offended with His precious BLOOD — and if we stay in His presence He will bring us to a place of lasting peace.

Romans 2:1-3:

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man–every one of you who is judging. For by whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who practice such things is based on truth. But you, O man–judging those practicing such things yet doing the same–do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God?”

Identifying Bitter Roots:

Bitter-roots can affect your relationships and destroy your future. Often our wounds go down deep. Often it takes the Lord to reveal, heal, and uproot bitter-roots. Pray and ask God to reveal the judgments that you have made against your parents and against others. It may take some time. God will reveal what you need to know when you need to know it.

Look for patterns of fear, doubt, rejection, heartache, jealousy, or anger. These patterns may be from judgments that you have made against others. Notice situations where you repeat the same behavior over and over.

Some examples of bitter-roots that can indicate judgment toward your parents include: perfectionism, addictions, critical spirit, emotionally unavailable, hostility, manipulation, working continually, rejection, uncontrolled anger or rage, bitterness, rejection, and performance orientation.

I have been a believer for 30-years. I had a very abusive childhood. Over the years, God has taken me through layers of forgiveness. God has walked the winding path of wholeness with me. Every time I recall a painful memory, I release the hurt to God. It has been two years since my mother died. Although, my mother is not here to physically reconcile, I speak out forgiveness in my prayers. “I forgive you. I love you. I release you in love and redemption.” I have reconciled every hurt, pain, disappointment, fear, rejection, to the Cross.

“Bitter roots bring about bitter fruit. When we condemn others. We condemn ourselves. We Must Forgive!”

Luke 6:37:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon, and you will be pardoned.”

How To Cancel Bitter-Root Judgments?

There is an old saying: “what goes around comes around” but God calls it “the law of sowing and reaping” (Galatians 6:7-9). We must REPENT, FORGIVE, & RELEASE! We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath. When we harbor resentment, we open the door to the enemy to reap a bitter reward. Yeshua has come to free us from bitterness and re-set our default.  Below are so helpful steps to help us deal with bitter-roots.

Confess your bitter-root judgment. Name whom you judged and what you judged them for. Pray for forgiveness, and repent and renounce your sin.

If others have judged your harshly, forgive them and release your pain to God.

Ask God to meet the needs that were not met in you as a child. Some of the basic needs for adults and children are unconditional love, acceptance, worth and value, security, recognition, nurture, emotional nourishment, and comfort.

Ask God to show you how this bitter root has affected your relationships with others. Pray for God to heal those relationships. Thank God for your answered prayers.

Prayer:

Father, I repent for not speaking life over myself and loved ones. Lord, please forgive me for misunderstanding the high calling and privilege of intercession and to speak words of righteousness — not doubt and fear. Father, please remove all bitter-root judgments that entered my life as a result of harshly judging others. 

Father, I ask that You uproot any bitter-roots in my life that entered through wounds of rejection. Please heal me of all the rejection, pain, trauma, shock, fear, terror and shame. Father, You have not given me a spirits of rejection, bitterness, or shame; but of love, power and soundness of mind. 

Father, please allow me to feel the depths of Your love. Please come and establish Your dominion of peace in my life and manifest Yourself in such a way that I will know that You are with me. 

Father, from this day forward, I shall walk in the light of Your love. You have filled every empty place within me. Your love permeates every area of my life. Father, I trust in Your MAGNANIMOUS power to rescue me, heal me, bless me, provide for me, protect me, sustain me, establish me, advance me, aide me, guide me, promote me, deliver me, and give me a delightful inheritance. In Yeshua’s name – Amen.  

Additional Prayer Resources:

Let’s go deeper in prayer. These powerful prayers and resources will equip us to ENTER and POSSESS the Land — and conquer the strongholds keeping us from FREEDOM and FULLNESS in Messiah Yeshua. Please CLICK HERE for powerful prayers and resources.

Additional Audio Resources:

CLICK HERE to listen to this life changing message on Dealing With Bitter-Root Judgments from Win Worely.

For inspirational resources, please visit: TheGodBlog.Org.

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STOP RUNNING. STAND STILL. HERE’S HOW.

When faced with hard times we take off running. We tend to run from anything that’s hard. We run from our problems. We run from responsibility. We run from people we don’t like or have conflict with. We run from our past. We run from anything that makes us uncomfortable.

We don’t seem to face issues and deal with them, we take the easy way out and go down the path of least resistance. But if you’re going to live in victory the way God intends, you have to learn how to face your challenges head on. Notice today’s verse doesn’t say, “keep running until you see the salvation of the Lord.” It doesn’t say, “bury your head in the sand until God delivers you.” No!

Today, God wants us to stand strong, set our faces like a flint, and fight the good fight of faith. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it in your own strength! He’s equipped you with His supernatural power to overcome every obstacle you will ever face, including the one you’re going through right now! Hallelujah!

“”¦stand and see the salvation of the Lord”¦” 

(2 Chronicles 20:17, NASB)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for the gift of strength. Father, please search my heart. Show me any area in my life where I am running or hiding from life’s difficulties. God, help me to stand in faith, and I invite You to fight my battles, and to move mightily on my behalf, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

3 Little Ways To Stand Up For Yourself Every Day, No Matter What

Remember, You Deserve Respect

Since there’s a very close connection between push-over tendencies and low self-esteem, it can help to remind yourself that no one has the right to ignore you, be rude, or deny your feelings. Say that, and then keep the mantra playing in your head wherever you go. “Assure yourself that – without your consent – no one has the authority to invalidate you,” said Leon F. Seltzer, Ph.D., in Psychology Today.

Practice, Practice, Practice

If you think you could use more assertiveness in your life, decide to practice it in small ways on a daily basis, perhaps by trying some of the things listed above. And if it takes a while to sink in, that’s completely OK. In fact, “research now shows that it takes 66 days to form a new habit,” Dr. Chronister says. “Practice asserting your needs daily for 66 days and watch it become automatic for you.”

Set Boundaries

Boundaries are where it’s at if you want to not only stand up for yourself, but to give others a better idea of how they should treat you. After all, “boundaries are simply those actions that you will not take or tolerate from others,” Joshua Klapow, PhD, clinical psychologist and host of The Kurre and Klapow Show, tells Bustle. “What is OK and not OK to you, and what you are willing and not willing to do, say, or hear or accommodate from others, and so on. Once these boundaries are set (and they can change over time) you are now in a position to stand up for yourself.”

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Little Red Riding Hood Exposing The Wolf In Sheep Clothing

Most of us have grown up with many popular fairy tales told to us as children. The legendary story “Little Red Riding Hood” In most versions (although definitely not all of them) there is one common theme: a wolf attacks a young woman through deception.  Like parables, such stories are never intended to convey meaning in every detail. Yet, much of it may draw, even in unsuspecting ways, the reader to precepts or principles pertinent to circumstances behind the story. Such is the following on Little Red Riding Hood.

There is actually a lesson in that theme for God’s people today.

1. The Church. Satan’s wolves do more than disguise themselves as Granny. As Paul warned, they often present themselves as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

“That’s a lie!” said the wolf. “You won’t die!”

2. The Law. One of the most common deceptions by these types of wolves is the claim that the law was done away with. Using selective sections of the apostle Paul’s writings, these wolves deceive people into crying,  “Oh, what freedom you have!”

This was the very same tactic that Satan employed in the Garden of Eden.

3. False prophets. While these people appear to be godly—they come in sheep’s clothing—Christ said that inwardly they were “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). These are people who claim to be children of God—but who don’t teach and live the word.

Another  Fake Jesus Christ was recently arrested and remanded in Uganda on Thursday, November 9th, for belonging and managing an unlawful society by the Magistrate’s court.  According to a report by Uganda’s Newspaper, Daily Monitor, the accused claimed not to be under any authority including the police, local council administration or the president of Uganda. The man purporting to be Jesus was arraigned in court alongside his three followers who preferred to be identified with their alias names.

“Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?”

4. The world. Wake up from your Slumber. Frequently in Scripture believers are exhorted to wake up, to be revived, and they are warned of the dangers of spiritual sleep. Christ warned us “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10:3). The world is under the sway of Satan.

As a believer in Jesus, we are promised a new life covered under the protection of God in which NOTHING can separate us from His love. Rest knowing that no matter what hardship you face, God is your provider and protector!  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of the wolf, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

5. Wealth. These wolves say, “all this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” Christ warned of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19). Your response should be   “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“There was something wolfish about them?”

6. Marriage  How many times have we heard the story of the little red riding hood (aka Christian Sister or Brother) who fell in love with a big bad Wolf?    ‘It wasn’t beauty, it was the beast, she or he says in regret.  Being equally yoked is not meant to inhibit our dating lives. Rather, it is a command designed for protection and honor. Being unequally yoked is more dangerous than you think – and waiting for someone with whom you share the same spiritual heritage is far more rewarding than many believe.

Hey, Little Red Riding Hood, where are you going, so alone, so”¦ alone?

7. Relationship. Without Jesus, you can do nothing. An intimate relationship with God is required. That means fellowship with God daily. The big bad wolf was disguised to trick little red riding hood, but the wolf could not mislead her because Little red riding hood knew her grandmother intimately. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. — John 10:27”

“You can huff and puff but I will not worship you!”

8. Worship.  Shadrach,  Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question. If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with anger toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face turned red and he ordered that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than normal. However,  God commissions His angels to save His chosen ones from calamity, to guard them against “the pestilence that walketh in darkness” and “the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”  

These eight types (or packs, if you will) of “wolves” have plagued Christ’s followers throughout history.

These are just a few of the tricks and deceptions that are used by Satan and his wolves. Some wolves are masters of deception and disguise. They talk like Christians. They use the Bible. They seem like nice people. They are so loving! But they will draw you in to eat you for dinner!

God’s people must learn the lesson of Little Red Riding Hood. Let’s never allow ourselves to fall prey to the Satan’s deceptions.  

The Truth

As you can see, there are many prospective of this classic Fairy Tale. It is not a story intended just for children. The important thing is how do you view this story and how can it help you out of your chaos and onto your true path.

A wolf is just a lesson and lessons repeat. Situations and similarities show up in our lives over and over again. If you are asking yourself why? That part is easy. It is because you have not learned the lesson.

When are you going to get off that hamster wheel and break the cycle? When are you going to learn the lesson so that you can move forward on your path through the woods, to Grandmother’s house?

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Swindon scaffolder with Down’s syndrome named UK’s best apprentice with Down’s Syndrome

A scaffolder with Down’s Syndrome has been crowned Britain’s top apprentice.

Todd Scanlon was given a trial by company boss Martyn Coles — then quickly hired.

Since then the 30-year-old has impressed customers and colleagues with his professionalism, enthusiasm and politeness.

And his “boundless energy” and dedication were rewarded this week when thousands of people voted him the UK’s top apprentice in a public vote.

Martyn, who runs Coles Scaffolding Contractors Ltd in Swindon, Wilts, said: “He has great determination.

“He comes in every day and proves people wrong. Winning the award just shows he can do it.

Martyn added: “I’m not sure why he won the award, but I think it’s mainly because it is thought people with a disability shouldn’t be in our industry.

“He’s just shown that you can do it with the right guidance. He’s just a likeable guy.”

Todd, from Swindon, was one of ­­26 construction workers to pick up a gong at the On The Tools Awards 2019.

On The Tools boss Lee Wilcox said: “He’s a credit to the industry.”

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Today Is The Day To Be Happy

Today Is The Day To Be Happy

Everyone wants to be happy and we always look for people, places and things to make us happy. It’s easy to come up with excuses to delay our happiness. We say things like, “as soon as I get out of this problem I’ll be happy.” Or, “as soon as I lose ten pounds”¦as soon as my business grows”¦as soon as my child or my husband straightens up then I will be happy.”

Put your foot down and decide to be happy right now, there will always be something to keep you from being happy. Let’s get rid of the excuses and make the decision to enjoy life right now, today. God never intended for us to put off our happiness. That’s why David said, “this is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Today, God is saying, “this is the day to be happy; not tomorrow, not when the weather clears up. Not next week, when I don’t have to work so hard. Not next month, when I make it through this difficult time.” No, choose to honour the Lord right now, by making the choice to enjoy your life and be happy in Him. This is the day that the Lord has made, so make it count!

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

(Psalm 118:24, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for this day that I can be happy. Father, thank You for another opportunity to sing Your praises and be excited in You. I refuse to let people, places or things dampen the happiness You have blessed me with today. God, I set my mind and heart on You. I rejoice and am exceedingly glad in You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

Positive quotes: Happy sayings to make you smile and appreciate life today

In a world obsessed with fame, fortune and success it can be easy to dwell on what we don’t have rather than what we do.

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go” — Oscar Wilde

“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others” — Martin Luther King Jr.

“Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur everyday than in great pieces of fortune that happen but seldom” — Benjamin Franklin

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” — Dalai Lama

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you” — Princess Diana

“For what it’s worth, it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be” — F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Find ecstasy in life. The mere sense of living is joy enough” — Emily Dickinson

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Spiritual Maturity: Steps to Growing as a Disciple of Christ

Spiritual Maturity: Steps to Growing as a Disciple of Christ

Life has taught me that just because God puts a dream in your mind, it doesn’t mean it’s going to come to pass without any opposition. God wants to grow us up. He wants us to mature. He wants to prepare us to handle the blessing He has in store.

Like Joseph in Genesis, he didn’t have a whole lot of wisdom when he had his life changing dream. He was young and immature, and God had to do a work in his life to get him ready. Maybe he shouldn’t have told his brothers about his dream that they would one day serve him! As you can imagine, his brothers were not nearly as excited as he was. Joseph had to go through some things to grow up and be ready for the blessing and promotion God had in store.

Today, like Joseph, you may have a dream in your heart that seems a million miles away, but you may have to go through the pit and the prison before you get to the palace. This is called the growing or maturing process. During the growing process, keep yourself focused on Him and allow Him to do His work in your life. Keep a humble attitude of faith before Him, and He will lead you and guide you into the dreams, goals and destiny He has prepared for you!

“You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

(Matthew 5:48, AMPC)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for working Your growing process in my life. Father, I will focus on You during this growing season. I submit myself to You, knowing that the process to victory may be hard and long. However God, I know You have a life changing plan in store for me, which will propel me to my God-given success, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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5 tweets that help you help others on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

5 tweets that help you help others on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

“Sexual violence against women and girls is rooted in centuries of male domination. Let us not forget that the gender inequalities that fuel rape culture are essentially a question of power imbalances.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134). The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence; furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden. For 2014, the official Theme framed by the UN Secretary-General’s campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, is Orange your Neighbourhood. For 2018, the official theme is “Orange the World:#HearMeToo” .

This year’s theme is “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Rape.” For the next two years, a campaign from the U.N. Secretary General will focus specifically on rape in its efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. 

According to U.N. figures, one in three women and girls experience some form of physical or sexual violence in their lives. The U.N. estimates that approximately 15 million adolescent girls have experienced forced sex during their lifetimes. Based on its data from 30 countries, only 1 percent of these girls ever looked for professional help. 

“Too many of us fail to name or challenge the rape culture that surrounds us,” U.N. Women said in an statement about this year’s theme.  

U.N. Women encourages people to get directly involved in preventing sexual violence by learning about rape culture, listening to survivors, and talking about consent. 

For this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, here are some tweets that show you how to do exactly that. 

1. Stand up

https://twitter.com/WFP/status/1198952338939101184

2. Know the definition of consent as there is no excuse for sexual violence

https://twitter.com/UN_Women/status/1198928076966641664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1198928076966641664&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle%2Fviolence-against-women-2019-united-nations%2F

3. Support survivors

https://twitter.com/europeaid/status/1198856273565044736

4. To feel safe, women and girls have to look at everyday objects differently. Understand the burden women carry to avoid violence

 

https://twitter.com/UN_Women/status/1198897874626646017

5. Stop victim-blaming and body-shaming. What women choose to wear or not wear is not consent for sexual harassment, violence, bullying, body-shaming or victim-blaming.

https://twitter.com/UNDP/status/1198904157954031616
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I’m Still Learning. When To Be Silent In 20 Situations

I found this somewhere and it made me think.

The Bible says;

1. Be silent In the heat of anger — (Prov 14:17)

2. Be silent When you don’t have all the facts — (Prov 18:13)

3. Be silent When you haven’t verified the story — (Deut 17:6)

4. Be silent If your words will offend a weaker person — (1 Cor 8:11)

5. Be silent When it is time to listen — (Prov 13:1)

6. Be silent When you are tempted to make light of holy things — (Eccl 5:2)

7. Be silent When you are tempted to joke about sin — (Prov 14:9)

8. Be silent If you would be ashamed of your words later — (Prov 8:8)

9. Be silent If your words would convey the wrong impression — (Prov 17:27)

10. Be silent If the issue is none of your business — (Prov 14:10)

11. Be silent When you are tempted to tell an outright lie — (Prov 4:24)

12. Be silent If your words will damage someone else’s reputation — (Pro 16:27)

13. Be silent If your words will damage a friendship — (Prov 16:28)

14. Be silent When you are feeling critical — (James 3:9)

15. Be silent If you can’t say it without screaming it — (Prov 25:28)

16. Be silent If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family — (1 Pt 2:21-23)

17. Be silent If you may have to eat your words later — (Prov 18:21)

18. Be silent If you have already said it more than one time — (Prov 19:13)

19. Be silent When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person — (Prov 24:24)

20. Be silent When you are supposed to be working instead — (Prov 14:23)

“WHOEVER GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND TONGUE KEEPS HIS SOUL FROM TROUBLES”

(Prov 21:23).

May the grace of the Lord grant you & me understanding.

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I’m Laughing With God

Heaven is a happy place, full of joy and laughter, not only from it’s human inhabitants but also from God. Have you ever thought about God laughing? Right now, God is on the throne. He’s not mad. He’s not worried about Brexit or the economy. He’s not upset with you and me about our sins or weaknesses. God is full of joy and happiness laughing on the throne, according to Psalms 2.

Psalm 37 also tells us that He’s laughing because “He can see the destruction of the enemy coming.” In other words, the reason God laughs is because He knows the end of the story. He knows the final outcome. The good news is that you and I win. God always triumphs, He is a winning God! It’s like watching the football highlights when you already know the outcome. You already know your team is going to win. No matter how far behind the winning team falls, no matter how bad it looks for them, you know the result and wouldn’t get upset. You wouldn’t be worried. Why? You’ve got inside information. You know the final outcome.

Today, God is saying to us, when it gets tough, and things don’t look like they’re going to work out, we know that with God we are on the winning team! Laugh with Him, don’t get sad and down because of life’s difficulties. Laugh, because like God, we know the enemy will be destroyed, and it won’t be long before God’s favour, strength and victory will last forever! Hallelujah!

“He Who sits in the heavens laughs”¦”

(Psalm 2:4, AMPC)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I won’t stress, I will rest and trust in You. Father, thank You for bringing victory in every area of my life. Thank You for giving me a reason to laugh. Thank You for accepting me on Your winning team. Thank You for the promise to destroy the enemy for ever from my life. God, give me opportunities today to share Your joy and love with those who are sad and miserable around me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Is Keto Christian?

The Ketosis (Keto) Diet has taken the nutrition world by storm and shows no signs of weakening. In its most basic form, it is a diet with a high percentage of fat and protein with limited carbohydrates. It has sometimes been characterized as the “paleo-diet”, as it supposedly represents the diet eaten by primitive humans.

Of course, Christians know there never were any primitive humans so the idea of mimicking their diet is absurd. We were created by God in His image. It’s easy to move on from this factual reality and dismiss the entire Keto Diet as a bit of science fiction with no basis in reality. That’s a mistake. The Keto Diet demonstrates God’s astonishing design of the human body.

Start at the Top

The Bible is clear that God knew Adam and Eve would sin before He shaped Adam from the clay of the earth. He prepared humanity for the struggle of surviving in a fallen world by structuring our bodies to run on either meat or plants. We are omnivores, as demonstrated by our teeth. Some are built for biting meat, and some are suitable for grinding grain. Our digestive systems also processes either type of food.

Everything we eat gets chewed up–by the appropriate teeth, of course–and passes through the stomach into the small intestine where the nutrients are absorbed. At this point the body treats meat and protein differently from carbohydrates. Based on what it needs to digest, the body creates specific enzymes to convert what is available into fuel for muscles and metabolic activity.

The End of Science

Any excess energy gets stored by the body as fat, again demonstrating God’s wisdom in designing a system that saves in times of plenty in preparation for possible lean times ahead. Of course, most of the Western world no longer encounters lean times, leading to an epidemic of obesity. This problem has gotten worse in spite of the attempts of food scientists to create low- and zero-calorie snack foods.

Limiting calories by itself is ineffective because God designed the body to slow its metabolic rate when it reaches into fat reserves for energy. This is a fantastic strategy for survival that also reduces the effectiveness of dieting to lose weight. However, when the body is getting a high percentage of fat and protein and needs more energy from fat reserves, it reaches for them without slowing the metabolism.

Why Keto Works

This is why a reduced-calorie diet with a high percentage of them coming from protein and fat works better. The body continues burning calories at a normal rate. Better yet, since the body has adapted to digesting fat by producing more of that type of enzyme it is never hungry for more calories as long as it has reserves of fat to burn. The person eating a keto diet maintains their metabolic rate and does not experience the hunger pains typically associated with a low-calorie approach to weight loss.

The physiology of a keto diet has nothing to do with what “primitive man” supposedly ate and everything to do with God designing a physical body flexible enough to survive the rigors of a fallen world with unreliable sources of food. It’s like a car that can run on either gasoline or diesel fuel and which adapts to run better based on which fuel it is given. A keto diet exploits the benefits of God’s design for the benefit of the person who wants to lose weight.

Scriptural Guidance

The Bible seems to be silent on specific guidance regarding the keto diet, and perspectives gained by inference can be misconstrued and unreliable. The most relevant reference to meat is in Peter’s vision recorded in Acts 10: 9-16. However, this clearly has more to do with salvation coming to the Gentiles than the physiology of the human body. The importance of the spiritual meaning is also obvious in the reference to meat in 1 Corinthians 3:2.

The clear instruction by God to Ezekiel in chapter 4 of that book starting in verse 9 is similarly about something other than a diet with a high percentage of calories from protein and fat. “Ezekiel bread” is intended to teach a lesson about surviving during the coming famine. While it teaches an important lesson about the nutritional quality of sprouted grain, it is not an instruction about eating meat.

Conclusions

This lack of specific instruction seems to put the keto diet into the category of behavior discussed by Paul in Romans 14: 13-21. We are allowed to follow our own understanding in matters such as this, but we should not use that liberty to cause another follower to stumble. A situation where eating a keto diet would cause someone else to stumble in their faith is hard to image, but it certainly should be avoided.

Similarly, while losing weight on a keto diet we should not criticize overweight believers for enjoying a donut. Encouraging them is certainly a loving gesture, and testifying about the effectiveness of keto in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight also demonstrates love. Most of all, understanding that keto is nothing more than utilizing God’s design of the human body helps everyone depend on Him for all things, and nothing can be better than that!

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How Come Iniquity Was Found In Lucifer?

This is a very important question: how come iniquity was found in Lucifer? He was created good. All the virtues of godliness were found in him. He was perfect in his ways, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. How come iniquity was found in him?

The point here is that Lucifer did not just become defiled by iniquity without a cause. There was a cause that triggered the process of iniquity in him. Before we unfold the mystery behind what triggered iniquity in Lucifer it is important to point out here that the garden of Eden was God’s garden. Ezekiel 28:13;

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God”¦”

The phrase “Eden the garden of God” clearly presents us with the fact that the garden of Eden is God’s garden and not the “garden of man”. It exclusively belongs to God. However, because of God’s goodness, He placed the man He had created into the garden as part of His divine plan. Adam’s family was expected to grow large and spread out the garden of Eden thereby making the whole face of the earth an extension of God’s garden. God planted the garden and placed the man He had formed in it. Genesis 2:8;

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

Angels including Lucifer are not expected to visit this garden, except by instruction from the Most High. It should be noted that cherubs are like official announcers of the presence of the Most High. This then implies that Lucifer being a cherub goes with the Most High whenever He visits the garden. Consequently, by this means Lucifer had access into the garden of Eden. Ezekiel 28:13;

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone wasthy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.”

Interestingly, it is revealing and shocking to know that on one of Lucifer’s visits to the garden of Eden he ate out of the forbidden fruit. This he did out of his free will and had his wisdom corrupted with the knowledge of evil. So he became defiled and iniquity was found in him. Ezekiel 28:15;

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

We have to appreciate the fact that there is a limit to the knowledge of God’s creatures. Lucifer was in the garden of Eden and he ate out of the forbidden tree, disregarding the instruction of restriction that has been placed on the tree. Notice that the beginning remarks of Ezekiel 28:13 was a proclamation rather than an exclamation since God is omniscience. What God meant was “Hey Lucifer I know you have been to my garden and have eaten out of the fruit of the forbidden tree”. We also need to appreciate the fact that the execution of “freewill” is not a sin but the result obtained from its process is what matters. It should be noted that, no creature of God can deal with the knowledge obtained from this tree in righteousness, discerning what is good from what is evil by cleaving unto the good without errors. Additionally, anyone whether man or angel that eats out of it has set his heart to become a judge like God to know what is good and what is evil. 

After Lucifer had eaten out of the forbidden fruit, something stirred up in him. He became knowledgeable in evil. His heart and thought became changed. It was after eating this fruit that he knew he was fair and beautiful and thought he deserved a better status. Ezekiel 28:17;

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

Lucifer became very proud and even thought within Himself to be like the Most High. Prophet Isaiah puts it succinctly in Isaiah 14:13-14;

“13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

The resultant effect of eating out of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is that it makes the heart believes that it can be like the Most High. The statement from the foregoing can be buttressed with what the Lord said about man after eating out of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Genesis 3:22;

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever”

This effect was what generated the evil desire of rebellion, jealousy and prideful competition in Lucifer. It made him think he could be like the Most High. This was why Lucifer said, “I will be like the most High”. 

It is apparent from the foregoing that Lucifer had an experiential knowledge of the destructive nature of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was this same knowledge he applied in tempting the Eve. So this was why he (Lucifer) asked Eve the following question as found in Genesis 3:1;

“…hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

Eve responded to Lucifer’s question with the following words (Genesis 3:2-3);

 “2 …We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” 

Because Lucifer ate out of the tree firstly, he knew the effect of this tree. He knew that anyone who eats out of the tree will not die a physical death but will definitely die spiritually, he also knew for a fact that it’s a tree that makes one become as “gods” knowing good and evil. So his words to the woman were (Genesis 3:4-5);

“4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” 

Are Lucifer’s words true? Of course they are because he has an experiential knowledge of the destructibility of the tree. As a matter of fact, his words were confirmed by the most high as seen in Genesis 3:22;

“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil…”

Apparently, iniquity was found in Lucifer because he was the first to eat out of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Consequently, the evil desire of prideful competition stirred up in him. The gravity of this offense is beyond what words can describe and it was what led to the banishment of Lucifer away from the presence of the most High.  

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No More Self-Pity Or Comparisons – Only Joy

Throughout the year I have been doing the “power of hope revival” around the UK, and we have seen many souls baptised into the body of Christ. Everywhere there are people who need hope, their joy has gone. Did you know God has given you everything you need in order to enjoy your life? Think about that for a minute. What is keeping you from living life to the full? You may not be in the home you want. You may not have the exact job you would like. Maybe you’re single and really want to be married. If you focus on these temporary things, it opens the door to comparison, frustration and self-pity. 

Having big dreams is important. It’s good to want to increase, but if you start comparing yourself to others it will steal your joy. If you don’t learn to be happy where you are, you’ll never get to where you want to be. But if you’ll choose to be happy, refuse self-pity and refuse to complain, then you are sowing good seeds for God to take you where He wants you to be in your future.

Today, let God direct your steps. He will give you a future and a hope. Take joy in knowing that He is working all things together for your good, according to His divine plan. Stay in faith, focus on Him and obey His commands. Soon, you’ll see those new doors open, so you can walk boldly into the place of blessing God has in store for you!

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

(Romans 12:12, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I have decided to put my hope and trust in You. Father, I know that You are working all things together for my good, I’m desperate for real consistent joy. God, I refuse self-pity, I refuse comparing myself with others. Lord, I choose joy and Your divine plan that You have prepared for me now and always, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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“God Will Deal With The Trouble Makers”

Has there been people in your life that have caused you trouble? Like the youth say, “they just keep getting in your face.” In the Bible, Hezekiah was faced with enemies coming against him, causing him trouble, trying to keep him from his destiny. But Hezekiah didn’t get upset. He just kept abiding, kept being faithful and putting God first. In 2 Kings 19 God said, “Hezekiah, I Myself will come against this enemy. He will receive word that he is needed at home, and I will cause him to want to return and he will be defeated.”

Today, when you abide in God, He says, “I Myself will come against your enemies. I Myself will come against that sickness. I Myself will come against those who oppose you.” It says God is the one who caused Hezekiah’s enemy to turn around. That means God can cause that unfair boss to take an early retirement. God can cause that neighbour that’s giving you so much trouble to decide to pack up and move. God can cause that classmate to be transferred to another school. No matter what’s coming against you, keep abiding in God. Put His Word first place in your life. Honour Him in all that you do. Let Him fight your battles, and bring you into the land of victory He has prepared for you!

“With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles…”

(2 Chronicles 32:8, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I bless You and praise You today because You are good! Father, thank You for Your good and precious promises. I submit my ways to You, and vow to abide in You no matter what”¦ I surrender my will to You, knowing that You are working in my life. God, thank You for fighting my battles as I keep myself in covenant with You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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