A Devotional Life

Joel 2:28-32. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! We can take a few minutes to reflect and capture those moments in 2020 that we felt some joy or comfort, no matter how little, and thank God for them... Thank you, Father God for 2020, and for those moments that Your light was shone in darkness, and those moments when we were encouraged... and that You keep on keeping us. We are so grateful! In the Old Testament journey of the Israelites, we see a constant cycle where the Israelites keep turning away from God's ways. And when they do, God forsakes them (2 Chronicles 15:2). Then they get exiled. They cry to God. God saves them. And then they repeat the cycle. The book of Joel is a similar story of the Israelites' exile cycle. God forsakes them. They cry out to God and He 'took pity' on them (v18), He is merciful. And more than that, he promises a day when He will come, and He paint...

Isaiah 9:1-7. Out of the ashes, from a very dark place in the history of Israel (nearly 800BC, Assyrian captivity) came a word of hope. Usually, God would send His rescue government through a priest (Moses) or a judge (Deborah) or a king (David). But this time, He had a bigger, better plan - to send His Son Jesus for us (John 3:16) who fulfils these promises in us. Promise: A hope, spiritual and physical (v2-5): v2 Salvation (darkness to light) v3 The Holy Spirit (increased joy) v4 Freedom v5 Justice Promise: A relationship to demonstrate His sovereignty and love. Where He calls us in fellowship by His Spirit to experience His wonder and might (transcendence), but also His everlasting love and peace (immanence). (v6) Promise: An everlasting government because His office is perfect - He is a Priest, who is a Judge, who is a King and who is God. W...

To every soul who fought for a just cause, And in so doing laid down their lives, You fought like my Saviour! You fought like my Lord! May your selfless act be forever cherished, And may your memories be forever loved. 💕🌹 John 15:13 #RemembranceSunday

Psalm 8. In the passage, the Psalmist reminds us of the majesty of God in creation, and the glorious inheritance we have through the cross of Jesus. v2 You have ordained strength to the weak in order to silence the enemy. v3-5 You have ordained (crowned) glory and honour to man (much more than you ordained to other works of your hands) in order to demonstrate your love (how ‘mindful' you are for us). v6-8 You have ordained (made to have) dominion in order to show the majesty of your cross (because you have put all things under his feet). And for Your bloody, wonderful, glorious cross - which defeated Your enemies (including death), demonstrated Your love for us, and caused us to reign as co-heirs with Christ (Eph 1:18-23), we say O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! Reflect & Pray What change has th...

1 Corinthians 13:4-7. At the start of the lockdown, my Pastor encouraged my small group to make a list of things we wanted to improve on during lockdown. In my list was "To love more like Christ". I don't have a list of people I dislike or anything (hope not haha), but I know it's easy to slide as days go by. And, I am re-learning it's something to actively seek daily. May we be encouraged in this: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT). Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (Also see the NKJV and MSG translations) 2 Timothy 1:7. ...

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. Reminded of Paul's encouragement in the passage: 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord , because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit ... 14 ...that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you... 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us ... 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. ...an encouragement to stand firm: Remember you are loved by God. v13, 16. His love for us is eternal. We are chosen by God, sanctified by the Spirit, united in Christ. 1 John 3:1 - identity first, WE ARE LOVED. Rom 8:39. John 15:13, 17:22. ...

Today is remembrance of my Mum. Mum passed away on 20th June 2019. She had much impact in my life, for which I am thankful for. I have shared below a tribute I gave for her funeral on 19th July 2019. "...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,..." words from 1 Corinthians 13 the only passage Mum ever made me memorize. Thank you, Father God, for Mum. Mrs Catherine Chioma Madu was not only a mum and friend to me, but she was also a teacher - both spiritual teacher and literally school teacher. Mum taught me in primary 3 and primary 5. In primary 3 it wasn't fun receiving Mum's discipline when I forgot. my homework. In class, she would often say: "Don't mummy me. In school, I'm your teacher." Mum loved children, she taught so well that her students were always the best, but it mean...