Beauty & The Gospel ISSUE NO 7 VOL 3

Beauty & The Gospel MADE PERFECT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

how to recover from watching PORNOGRAPHY

THE DEADLY DECEIT IN MATERIAL DESIRES Â ISSUE NO 7 VOL 3 AUGUST 2020

3 Lies We Believe about Serving

Are you dressed for the occasion?

VISION ROMANS 15:20-21 20 Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture], “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”

MISSION 1 CORINTHIANS 1:17 17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be [b]made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

MINISTER MONICA I am a Christian Influencer who encourages, motivates and equips others through the Word of God.

EV . ANGUS & JILL BUCHAN

KENDRA DUBLIN

servants of God, lover of Jesus Christ , parents , grandparents and soul harvesters.

I am an energetic free spirit that loves life. In my spare time i love to do puzzles.

PROPHET G

MR & MRS LWAMBWA

PASTOR NTSAKO

servant of God, businessman, father and husband. I love making people laugh! and traveling.

Pastor and Deaconess with a passion for young people and bringing marriages back to the cross .

married to one wife, Tiyiselani. I enjoy cooking and learning new stuff. I'm mostly passionate about serving God

MARLYN ROJAS

PASTOR BONGANI

BOLANLE ENANG

Honored to serve. Ordained Minister, founder of Radiant Woman International, and Author of DISTORTED.

i am a loving husband and father of two. I love studying the Word of God.

Family Life Enthusiast, Author and Convener of Signature family building workshops|

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

CHEF MILCA

APOSTLE FUMANE

Chef, wife , mother , Pastor, transformational Speaker and Relationship coach.

Author of Manna Daily Devotions book. The founder and overseer of Seobi Ministries International in Vereeniging, South Africa

GOODNESS

DANIELLE VONOFAKIDIS

I'm philanthropist, author, public speaker, businesswoman, and an artistic person.

Gracefully set apart and anointed by Him as a Prophetess.

I am a daughter of the Most High God, an artist, entrepreneur, and small business owner. I do all creative design work for individuals & businesses.

TSHEGO MOLEKOA

KARABO LEKWAPE

Preacher of the Gospel in all forms and ways Business Analyst Spoken Word Artist Health enthusiast!

Is the daughter of the Most High. Who believes that without God you are nothing. She completed her Degree in BCom Accounting and is currently studying Post Grad in Financial Accounting.

DR ANDRÉ & JENNY ROEBERT pastors , parents, lovers of Jesus Christ and His Word.

Founders of Faith Tv

CRYSTELDA NAIDOO An avid nerd and an unapologetic dreamer from Durban, South Africa. Has launched a Christian lifestyle blog - Selah Blogger.

THENDO NETSHIVHUNGULULU Holds a B.Psych (Hon) in psychology from Midrand Graduate Institute. She is passionate about people from all walks of life and their mental well-being.

Becoming a CONTRIBUTOR

EMAIL US AT: BEAUTYANDTHEGOSPEL@ GMAIL.COM

THIS IS FOR YOU!

We at Beauty & The Gospel are big on Master Jesus,the Christian lifestyle and spreading the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. We cannot do it alone.

We believe we are all gifted with different gifts by our God. We would love to have you on board . Whether it be Beauty, Fashion, Finanace , Mental Health , Business, Rehabilitation, cooking etc.

DUE TO THE MAGAZINE BEING FREE, THERE IS NO COMPENSATION!

Beauty & The Gospel

CONTENTS

STOP FOCUSING ON THE FEW

Business's God given vision Allowing God to be the CEO THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS father of John the baptist

Are You Parenting OR Paying rent?

HEALTH & FITNESS change is possible today!

Who Is the Angel of the Lord in the Bible?

COOKING WITH CHEF MILCA Teaches us how to cook Salmon Restoration is found in stillness MENTAL HEALTH Adjusting to the "NEW NORMAL" DEVOTIONS BY KAY REMEMBERED BY GOD That brings a change in DESTINY

EXCLUSIVE A miracle a miracle baby born out of 7 miscarried baby boys.

Who at the age of 23 published her book titled "ABOVE & BEYOND".

CREATIVE IN CHRIST WITH LETTERS TO KALLAH

ISSUE NO 7 VOL 3

editor's note Your majesty WE NEED EACH OTHER Hebrews 10:25 TPT 25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect[a] meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.

In the times we are in it’s not as easy as it was before the pandemic, to just rock up at church or someone’s house for a cup of tea or meet up for lunch. The world has changed so have our ways of doing things. When the Holy Spirit poured out these words to Apostle Paul, He knew such times would come in the form of a pandemic, persecution and loneliness etc, but has commanded us to not neglect meeting together.

Today, meeting together is not confined to the physical (thank you Lord Jesus) but by the wisdom of our Lord, we can meet in many ways e.g. zoom , fb live , facetime and Whatsapp calling etc , we really have no excuses unless we live in remote areas where one has never even seen a phone.

Apostle Paul spent some time of his ministry in jail and persecution, but he knew the importance of meeting up(fellowship) because the truth of the matter is, WE NEED EACH OTHER! Hence the Lord Jesus said He wouldn’t leave us alone but would send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

By the way, we have added new content under Christian lifestyle. Glory be to the Holy Spirit for making this possible!!!

tsakani mhlongo editor-in-chief Photo by @mentalist_photography Styled by @vintage__vybz

IT’s always and honor to work on this magazine for the Body of Christ and glory for my King. Write us your comments and thoughts to our email: beautyandthegospel@gmail.com it might just be printed!

If you happen to be a new reader, WELCOME ABOARD BELOVED. That’s it for now, till next time, you’re loved by Him and I.

VOL. 7| AUGUST 2020

B&TG NEWS CHRISTIANS IN THE KNOW!

OVERVIEW: ‘I Was a Walking Dead Man’: Ex-New York Drug Lord Finds Jesus Source: www.stream.org Herman Mendoza was once a New York drug lord with the world at his fingertips. With millions of dollars, women and worldly possessions, Mendoza thought he had it all — until his arrests and detainments led him on a path to discovering God and transforming his life.

Mendoza, author of the new book Shifting Shadows: How a New York Drug Lord Found Freedom in the Last Place He Expected, is now a Christian pastor in New York City.

And he recently told “The Pure Flix Podcast” about his foray into narcotics, explaining that he started experimenting with drugs as a teenager. But it wasn’t until Mendoza’s 20’s when he couldn’t find employment that he really dove deep into the drug trade, following in the footsteps of his brothers. “I was married and living with my wife and I was laid off from a job that I was working at,” Mendoza said. “And so I was desperate for money.”

Remarkably, Mendoza’s brother saw his prayers answered.

“I gave my life to the Lord … there was no other recourse,” Mendoza said. “I said, I need to try God, I’ve tried everything else. … I had millions of dollars, I had all these things, but it was never satisfying.”

Rabbi Claims “End of the World” is Near After Revealing “Hidden Bible Code” The Church Has Left The Building’: Wave Of Revival Hits Southern California, Shows No Sign Of Stopping DISCLAIMER B&TG NEWS is a Christian news segment that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world.

Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. We do not exclusively create our own content.

Any views or opinions presented on this segment are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Beauty & The Gospel.

Six Christian Families In India Receive Ultimatum To Renounce Their Faith Source: www.persecution.org

Six Christian families have received an ultimatum from the Latehar District Police of Jharkhand state to either renounce their Christian faith or prepare to leave the village.

The police have given the Christians a single month to respond to this demand.

The police issued the ultimatum after the six Christian families went to the police station in response to a brutal attack by radical Hindu nationalists on July 5.

According to Joginder, a village meeting was convened to discuss the six Christian families who refused to give up their Christian faith. As a result of this meeting, the village leaders decided that they would chase the Christians out of their homes and the village if they didn’t “re-convert” to Hinduism.

When the Christians refused this order, villagers attacked the Christian families gathered at the meeting.

U.S. Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo Affirms Abortion ‘Isn’t A Human Right’ Source: www.liveaction.org

Speaking at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo iterated the Trump administration’s pro-life position, telling the audience that the administration continues to oppose international abortion groups’ efforts to declare abortion a human right.

“Abortion quite simply isn’t a human right,” Pompeo said. He added, “It takes a life,” and said “this administration appreciates and knows that our rights come from God, not government.”

Pompeo argued, “America sets the tone for the rest of the world in this respect, and our administration has defended the rights of unborn like no other administration in history.”

Pompeo touted the administration’s “100% prolife foreign policy,” which includes reinstating the Mexico City policy, which means, Pompeo said, “not a single dime of American taxpayer money will ever go to a foreign NGO that performs active abortions anywhere in the world.”

Pompeo quoted the Bible in affirming that life begins at conception. Reciting Psalm 139 (“You knit me together in my mother’s womb”), he stated, “This is when life begins, full stop.” While Pompeo chose to quote from the Bible, his assertion that life begins at conception/ fertilization is not a religious one. It is a biological fact.

90 Days Of Prayer For World Revival Launching In PE On August 1 www.gatewaynews.co.za

From August 1 to October 31 Christians in Port Elizabeth are invited to come together at the crosses at Fountain Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Walmer Heights from 5pm to 6pm on Sunday to Friday and from 3pm to 4pm on Saturday to pray for the great revival that many believe is on God’s heart for this season.And believers everywhere who cannot meet at the PE venue are invited to join the “Revival Is Coming” campaign by spending 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes or an hour daily in prayer, wherever in the world they are, calling on our Heavenly Father to intervene and demonstrate His power over the earth.

Blessing Marunga, a Zimbabwean-born Christian education pioneer and member at Fountain Vineyard, shared with Gateway News this week how God laid the vision for the prayer campaign on his heart.

He said weekly prayer points will be sent out during the 13 weeks of the campaign. They will include specific topics like leaders, countries, the Church — around a theme of revival. The number of prayer points each week will be kept to a minimum “so that you can be more focused and just trust God”.

Anybody wanting to be part of the “Revival Is Coming” 90-days of prayer should WhatsApp “revival” to +27 78 944 1391.

The Church Has Left The Building’: Wave Of Revival Hits Southern California, Shows No Sign Of Stopping Source: www..charismanews.com

Rabbi Claims “End of the World” is Near After Revealing “Hidden Bible Code” Source: https://endtimeheadlines.org/

A rabbi has come out making an erroneous claim that the “end of the world” is near after allegedly cracking a bible Code that reveals the doomsday alert.

According to a report from Express, This Bible code, also known as the Torah code, is an alleged set of encoded-words hidden within the Hebrew text of the Torah, that according to its proponents, have seemingly predicted significant historical events.

Christianity and Judaism share the first five books of the Bible, which also make up the Torah – known as the five books of Moses, and a number of rabbis, priests, mathematicians, and professors have claimed within the original Hebrew versions of these sacred texts are secret messages left by God. These rabbis attribute some of the largest events in history to have been prophesied in these texts, including the election of Donald Trump, the Holocaust, the destruction of the World Trade Centre on 9/11, and the shooting-

down of the Ukrainian airliner by Iran in January.

The hidden code is said to have been cracked centuries ago by mathematically selecting letters from the texts which appear to create words, but was populated by the documentary ‘The Torah Codes: End to Darkness’ by filmmaker Richard Shaw in 2015.

Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson – who featured in Shaw’s film – continues to study the so-called code, regularly uploading his findings to YouTube which appear to offer insight into world events. But in January he went one step further, uploading a video to his 10,000 subscribers claiming Iran will develop a nuclear weapon in 2020.

Perhaps more worryingly, in one of his latest videos he claims the the end times are predicted for 2021, adding that the prophecy can be found in the Book of Leviticus.

Rabbi Glazerson said in January: “It is a very interesting and significant table.

“Hoping we will soon have Messiah coming and he will finish and burn out the enemies of Israel.

Source: A wave iswww.worthynews.com hitting Huntington Beach, California, and exploding across the sand. Except in this case, the water comes from an eternal source, and the driving force is Holy Spirit power.

The longtime prayers of God’s people are being answered even now as Saturate OC (Saturate Orange County, California) plans and conducts weekly revival services, spurred on by a prophetic word. Saturate OC cofounder Jessi Green who, with her husband, Parker, moved to the area from New York City in expectation of a move of God, says on the ministry’s website that God spoke clearly: “There’s a 50,000-person harvest in Huntington Beach during Summer 2020. Pray for workers.”

“It’s easy to pray for revival,” she says. “It’s really really hard to say yes to mundane obedience. It’s hard when plans get cancelled.

When Christians call you terrible names. It’s hard, but yet easy. You get God in-exchange. It’s hard to explain. The whole Joy through suffering begins to make sense.

Jesus becomes really real and you figure out quickly why the disciples gave up everything – nothing else satisfied. You can’t fake this kind of faith – trust me I tried! …

Revival is happening because people are smashing down idols!”

FEATURED

A RECIPE FOR REPENTANCE by: Josh Squires

There are fewer deceptions that are more confounding than that of false repentance. When someone pretends to confess and turn away from sin, but in the depths of his heart means only to appease anger and escape consequences, it leaves in its wake an especially sensitive kind of confusion and pain.

Repentance is a key part of the Christian life. It never feels good — and if it does, you’re doing it wrong — but it is necessary.

“Do they really mean it?” is a question that I’m asked frequently. My response is that I do not know for sure, and I am vulnerable to deception.

something for which you have to be on the lookout. The more you feel like you have to go find it, the less likely it is authentic.

However, genuine repentance tends to be more like mountains on the horizon than a pit on the path — that is, it tends to be easily discernible and not -

Why Do We Repent?

“My bad.” Those words got me out of more trouble as a young man than any other two-word combination I can imagine.

FEATURED

Guys especially have a tendency to think that repentance almost solely consists of admitting a fault. Once the fault has been admitted, even if in the most lexically concise way possible, the assumption is that everyone should just get over it and move on.

However, when repentance is given the short shrift, so is the relationship that is supposed to be repaired. Our repenting of sin is the first step toward rebuilding trust with those whom our sin has harmed or affected. If we seem irritated or rash in our repentance, then the wound which that sin created can stay open and become infected with bitterness.

More than that, the reason that we prioritize repentance is because our Lord and Savior tells us to (1 John 1:9). The gospel is on full display when we repent.

Its light shines forth for us as we perceive our moment-to-moment need of a gracious Savior, and it penetrates into the painful darkness of others as it illuminates the route to restoration grounded in the good news of a holy God. As Tertullian once said, “I was born for no other end but to repent.”

The famous seventeenth century pastor Thomas Watson wrote a treatise on repentance with six “ingredients” to show us what genuine repentance looks like.

1.Sight of Sin By this, Watson means that we rightly perceive ourselves as sinners. How often have you heard the phrase, “I know I’m not perfect but . . . ” which in nearly every circumstance means, “when it comes to this, I’m perfect!”

Genuine repentance starts with the understanding that we are

desperate sinners whose sin touches nearly everything we do (Romans 3:10). It means that we should not be surprised when we find it necessary to repent, nor should that exercise undo us.

2.Sorrow over Sin This ingredient is the element of lament for our sin as we see its effect on ourselves, on others, and on God. As David cries, “The sacrifices of God are . . . a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17).

This is the element which is most easily observed and therefore most often counterfeited. As Watson observes some are sorrowful “not because sin is sinful, but because it is painful.”

3.Confession of Sin Again Watson writes, “Sorrow is such a vehement passion that it must vent. It vents itself at the eyes by weeping and at the tongue by confession.”

Confession should focus on oneself and one’s own sin. It should not look to mitigate, excuse, rationalize, or blame.

Genuine repentance takes ownership of the pain that our sin has caused both in its particulars and generalities.

While preferred that confession is always voluntary on the part of the penitent, it is not uncommon for confession to flow from the fact that the Lord has graciously let us be caught in our sinful ways. However, if confession results only from the times that we are involuntarily caught in our sin, then this is no repentance at all. I cannot count the number of philanders, gossips, addicts, and gamblers whose confessions became a serial event — always confessing to exactly what they’d been caught doing and no more.

Our confessions, while they do not have to go into exacting

detail, must not leave grand portions of our sin concealed.

4.Shame of Sin “Blushing is the color of virtue,” says Watson. All sin makes us guilty, and that guilt is only removed at the cost of the blood of God himself, who voluntarily took on flesh and lived a perfect life never once ceding to temptation, though tempted by the prince of lies himself. He voluntarily clothed himself in that very sin and took on the wrath of God — hell itself! — at Calvary. If that does not make us ashamed when we sin, nothing will! May there be in our communities of faith more blushing and less boasting when it comes to sin (Ezra 9:6).

5. Hatred of Sin “Christ is never loved till sin is loathed.” Genuine repentance reflects something of God’s wrath. God’s anger burns at sin, and for those who do not trust in Christ alone for salvation, they will experience this firsthand upon death. It is not just a historical anger but an eternal one. When we get angry at our own sin, we are reflecting something of God’s holiness and purity to those around. This hatred of sin in oneself, when genuine, is never too far from the surface.

It usually only takes a little agitation to yield significant expression. When someone’s anger is focused primarily on others’ sins and not his own, it’s typically a sign that repentance is a mere performance.

6.Turning from Sin Scripture tells us that we must not only repent but that we must also actively turn from the sins we commit (Ezekiel 14:6).

ROTUBIRTNOC

VAIN BABBLING written by:

ANGUS & JILL BUCHAN Jill and I found Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour on the 18th of February 1979, just two years after settling in Greytown, Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, South Africa. Originally from Zambia, we bought a piece of land on which we planned to farm crops and livestock. We had

As followers of The Way (a term given to the early

very little to start with but even as brand new

Christians), we need to be aware of the drastic

Christians, we were content with our farm, which we

changes that are taking place in society and in the

later called SHALOM.

world at large. But our reference needs to always be the Bible, not the latest news found in the media, on

1 Timothy 6:20-21 This was a serious concern that the Apostle Paul had for his young charge Timothy, a warning to him to keep far away from some of the believers who had strayed from the faith by talking rubbish and contradicting God’s Holy Bible, by vain babbling.

There seems to be such a spirit of fear in the world today, and the concerning factor is a lot of it is being spread by believers who seem to be straying from The Way, by false knowledge. Speaking more about man’s opinions, which they quote readily as the truth, and disregarding the words of Almighty God - which in fact is the absolute truth. This danger is causing many to lose heart and even to go astray!

Therefore you and I need to avoid useless gossip, which is worthless and at the end of the day just boils down to man’s opinion, with no scriptural base at all.

The TPT translation puts it so clearly by saying that we

television or worse still, on the lips of negative gossip mongers. This false knowledge is making us very despondent and depressed! Sadly to say, more than half of it is blatant lies, originating from the very pit of hell itself.

So how do we overcome this situation that the world seems to be bogged down with? Well, Paul says quite clearly in Titus 1:9 (NKJV): "Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict." We do not have to argue, we just have to say to all the negative comments that are flowing out like a polluted river into innocent people’s minds: "BUT GOD!" At the end of the day, it’s what the Bible says that counts and nothing else. Jesus promises us that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV). Now that’s good news!

need to “escape from the empty echoes of men”, and from the perversion of twisted reasoning! The TPT translation says that because of these babbling words some have even wandered from the true faith.

Jesus Bless you, Angus and Jill Buchan.

monthly devotions Karabo Lekwape, is the daughter of the Most High.

Who believes that without God you are nothing. She completed her Degree in BCom Accounting and is currently studying Post Grad in Financial Accounting.

Throughout her journey of life, she saw Gods amazing works and would advise that people ensure that they are running their race with God.. Pure Grace..

Introducing to you, monthly devotions by : KARABO karabo.lekwape

HE KNOWS BEST! John 13:7 "Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on".

Prayer: Father, many things may not make sense today but help me to hold on to you, obey your voice and do what you say I must do because you know best.

Amen.

Some things in your lives happen for a reason. Sometimes you may be told by God to do something, maybe to let go of your treasured possession - give it to someone, maybe things may be upside down in your life, nothing is working out and you don't understand why its happening but i say to you, never resist, just keep the Faith, hearken to His word and do as He says. It may not make sense now, but it will later. Even though it doesn't make sense, as long as its from God, do it, accept it, move on and trust In Him.. Why? Besides the fact that He knew you and loved you before you existed, like a parent..

HE KNOWS BEST!!

REMINDER

ARE YOU DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION SHEPHERD HILL COMMUNITY

There is no doubt that JESUS IS

The soon coming of the Lord

COMING AGAIN SOON. Most of the

shouldn't make any true child of

events JESUS said would precede His

God, washed by the blood of the

coming are already happening

lamb, panic because it is the return

before our very eyes and the COVID-

of our father.. It shouldn't make

19 hit is a major one that got the

those who perhaps aren't very sure

world unprepared. So shall His

they are ready for the return

coming be. Pilots and drivers will

of Christ live in condemnation-

suddenly disappear while in motion.

Romans.8:1...or even feel terrified

You can imagine the kind of chaos

by any reminder about the coming

that will be felt globally.

of the Lord.

All you need is some help urgently

Read this:

to understand that the life of sin

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not

will perish in hell forever.

your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."

The coming of Christ is very

2 Chronicle.15:7.

important because if it doesn't happen, we are most miserable

Waiting for the coming of the Lord

according to 1 Corinthians.15:19.

JESUS shouldn't keep you

The anticipation of the coming of

complacent and complaining, or in

Christ gets you daily prepared to

terror; it should rather excite you to

receive Him in your garment washed

be and do more for His Kingdom.

by the blood of Jesus Christ and reaching out to people around you

Living each day with a stronger hope

to be ready for this heroic day...In

of His coming, keeps your hope for

Luke. 14:22-23, Jesus demonstrates

other things alive. If you have lost

His uncommon kindness waiting for

hope in other things, re-ignite your

the house to be filled. In other

hope of His coming which in turn

words giving everyone the

will inspire you into Kingdom-

opportunity to make his way into

rewarding activities.

His kingdom.

If the evil COVID-19 met the world

Dear friends while we go about our

unprepared, the soon coming of

secular work and businesses with

JESUS shouldn't meet us

every sense of seriousness, we must

unprepared. The Bible says, the

never forget that suddenly JESUS

Lord shall return suddenly 'like a

WILL RETURN. Therefore, stop post-

thief in the night'- 2 Peter.3:10.

poning that act of kindness,

witnessing to the unsaved, or

Our opening scripture records, that

anything you must do for the

although 'All Things Are Now Ready'

Kingdom of GOD. Why? There's a

for the party, the Lord wants to see

reward coming and JESUS Himself

His house(Kingdom) filled with more

said so in the very last chapter of

people, male and female, young and

the Bible- Revelation.22:12. To make

old, before He returns. Are you

heaven and not have any reward is

dressed' for the occasion, ARE YOU

to have wasted the opportunity of

PREPARED FOR HIS COMING?

living on earth.

Receive grace in Jesus Christ name, to do all you need to do before the Lord returns.

HOW TO

addiction

RECOVER FROM WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY PAUL MAXWELL

A lot of Christian advice about porn addicts is unhelpful — meaning, it doesn’t contribute to real progress in repentance, healing, restoration, and recovery. Most of all, it fails to address the issues that underlie porn use. Often, Christian advice either has its head in the clouds of theology and biblical references, or is a list of superficial how-tos, and gets knocked beneath the sand of real life — of failure, and the struggle to hope.

How is the gospel relevant to failing and trying again? And failing and trying again?

And failing and trying again?

We too often allow unattainable ideals to dictate what we allow ourselves to say — the issues we allow ourselves to address with the congregation, with the struggler, with the mirror. Are we allowed to talk about what Christ can do (and what we can do) right after pornographic indulgence?

Or do we look to the clouds and hope for the best? “Why think about how God meets you in the midst of failure? You shouldn’t even be in an ‘after pornography’ situation.” But often many are and because God can and does act in the moment of regret.

"IT IS IN THE MOMENT AFTER PORNOGRAPHY INDULGENCE THAT SATAN DOES HIS FINEST WORK"

It is often in the moment after the closed

addiction

door, the darkness, the screen-light, the hidden act — after pornography indulgence — that Satan spins his most eloquent web: menacing patterns of thinking; bargaining with a disapproving and distant God; twisting us in on ourselves in self-hatred. It is in the moment after pornography indulgence that Satan does his finest work. It is in this moment that we need God to do his finest saving.Here are some specific ways to search for grace the moment after the dark act of pornography indulgence: 1. Know your Enemy.

As soon as you indulge, you either plunge into self-hatred, or into self-avoidance.

Satan is satisfied either way. Both paths believe his accusations (Matthew 16:23; 2 Corinthians 7:10). Recognize that you have a powerful personal agent who is singularly focused on your destruction (Job 1:7; Ephesians 2:2; Jude 1:19). Every experience you have — your thoughts, your hatreds, your impulses, your emotions, your plans, your ideas — must take into account that Satan is at work.

The sooner you forget that, the easier it is to believe hidden, subversive, subtle, destructive lies. When Jesus tells the Pharisees that their father is the devil — the great liar — it is of course no surprise that they don’t know that. Satan wants them to forget that he is their father, because evil gains power when it is forgotten (John 8:44). Don’t forget: After you indulge, you are still mid-battle with a tenacious, evil person bent on stealing your life, and he has not yet gotten it.

2. Fight self-hatred.

There is no question: Pornography is the twisted manipulation of innocence for the raw crave of erotic appetite. To have a grieved conscience is a good thing. But when Judas realized “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” it is not surprising that “he departed, and he went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:4–5). It’s a common feeling: to want to punish ourselves for betraying the innocent. In twisting innocence, we twist ourselves. It is not a surprise that suicide rates are high among pornography users. “I’m not as good as Christian preachers and bloggers want me to be.” To warp human dignity, in the end, only warps the user more — psychologically deforming to self-hating; contorting into self-disgust. We abhor, criticize, despise, and detest ourselves.

Wallowing in self-deprecation and feeling like paying penance to God for sin is a sad and ironclad torture. It is false, and it is a wicked oppression. But grace does have a word on this.

It is no wonder David uses such deeply physical metaphors when he pleads with God for grace over sexual sin: “blot out my transgressions,” “wash me,” “cleanse me,” “in sin did my mother conceive me,” “purge me,” “wash me” (again), “blot out my iniquities,” “create in me a clean heart.”

(Psalm 51:1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10). It’s a simple, roaring plea: “It’s in me. Get it OUT!” “Stop me.” “I hate it.” “I hate me.” “Bleach me.”

God gives us a liturgy of sorrow and hope stretched out in the same howl.

Fight, with David. Scream that, with David.

addiction

Replace the groan of human self-hatred with an unbroken war cry of divine love.

If you are tempted to wallow, don’t let your (good) intuitive hatred of sin lead you to hate yourself. Be patient with yourself, because God is patient. He is fighting for your life (Genesis 32:24; John 10:10). He has not forgotten you. He has not left you. Keep fighting with him. Keep gasping for the air of divine life — the LifeGiving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45).

3. Fight the haze.

Right after indulgence, a haze kicks in.

Jesus knows. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Purity is a feast on luminescent virtue. What is impurity? It is feasting that becomes self-isolated, avoiding of God and man and self, numbed, dazed, deadened, desensitized. Sexual impurity induces a spiritual cataract. Again, the feeling is common — browser history cleared, slogging through the rest of the day, lumbering from task to task, from person to person — meaningless, personless, passionless. This experience is integrated into the fabric of pornography indulgence.

There’s usually nothing to be done, if we’re honest, except ride the wave — the muddle, the daze. Keep praying (Ephesians 6:18). Keep gasping for air. Stay awake.

Keep breathing. Morning mercies can be the emotional reset button we need when we spend our daily emotional cache on pornography (Lamentations 3:22–24). The lamenter is gasping. He prays what he cannot do. “The Lord is my portion . . . therefore I will hope in him.”

(Lamentations 3:24). Really? Will you hope in him? Prayer is an act of hope. The prayer is the lamenter’s portion of the Lord’s work. Keep taking a step forward.

Keep taking a breath. Without repeated indulgence, the haze will eventually wear off.

4. Guard others.

Pornography is a training session in the skill of using others for personal pleasure.

Just be aware that you are now inclined to use people in close relationship the same way you use those in pornography — with selfish motive, with neglectful attitude, unrepentantly. Pornography puts relational blinders on us — it deeply impedes our ability to love others well.

So, the best course of action is to walk as if we have physical blinders on: Tread slowly, and assume that we are currently very vulnerable and prone to treat those around us as subhuman. After indulgence, it is vital to keep in mind that those not on the screen deserve the respect and dignity that we just failed to show those on the screen.

Pornography soothes its users into a drama, a character, a story with a script and lines and actions: one person for pleasing, one person for being pleased; one person making sacrifices, another receiving sacrifices; one subhuman, one god. It takes self-control to remember that pornography is a false story — to fight the false drama which pornography gives to us, we must actively think less of -

ourselves and more of others: to remember

addiction

human dignity, the love of Christ for those around us, our not-God-ness. The Spirit works in us to keep the flesh from ruling us (Galatians 5:17) — the Keeper protects others

Sometimes, we desire evil anyway. And in

from the conse-quences of our thinking that

that case, we serve as an example to

we are God.

ourselves.

5. Confess to a friend.

Here are some actions to

Confess sin to a friend who will not excuse

choose from:

you, but equally as important, who will not crush you. Sometimes, when looking for help

§ Get Covenant Eyes or X3Watch for all your

to get up after pornography indulgence

devices.

(Proverbs 24:16), others only push back

§ Don’t let a single unaccountable

down. Find the friend that gives hope that

browser app remain on your phone.

heals when they hear confession. The

§ Delete in-browser apps that allow

purpose of confession is “that you may be

backdoor access to unaccountable internet

healed” and “pray for one another” (James

use.

5:16). Of course, the value of “the prayer of a

§ Delete pictures you have saved.

righteous person” is that it “has great power

§ Tell a friend about the backdoors and

as it is working” (James 5:16). Power to do

cheat-codes you have in your back pocket. If

what? To “cleanse us from all

you don’t plan at all, you’re

unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confession to

planning to fail.

a friend (most appropriately, a same-gender friend) is not a barrier between the sinner

7. Know your God.

and Christ, but a means of fixing brokenness.

Remember this: God loves you so, so much.

The wise sinner confesses to those who

More than anything: “God, help us to cast all

will not “crush the afflicted at the gate”

our anxieties on you, because you care for

(Proverbs 22:22) nor “call evil good and good

us” (1 Peter 5:6–7).

evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Consider attending a

He does not abandon the sinner. He does

regular Samson Society meeting in your area.

not depart from the indulger. Wait in his love. “Build yourselves up . . . in the Holy

6. Use your clarity for good.

Spirit”: “keep yourselves in the love of God,

Yes, there might be a haze after indulgence.

waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus

But there can also be a flood of clarity — the

Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 1:20–

hindsight of regret. “When Judas . . . saw that

21).

Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind” (Matthew 27:3). Judas’s clarity took him down

Know the difference between the

a wrong path. But you can use your clarity to

God-mask Satan would wear to deceive you:

get back on the right one. Likewise, Paul

disgusted, distant, unavailable,

writes about Israel’s rebellion, “Now these

disinterested, and remember the face of

things took place as examples for us, that we

your real God: loving, patient, working,

might not desire evil as they did” (1

unsurprised, unrelenting, unwavering in his

Corinthians 10:6).

grasp on you. He won’t let you go.

MENTAL HEALTH

“ADJUSTING TO THE NEW NORMAL”.

WRITTEN BY : THENDO NETSHIVHUNGULULU

Ok, so I am going to go ahead and say what

It looked like a ghost-town; the roads were

everyone has probably thought on many

the emptiest I had ever seen.

occasions in the past few months: this is not normal! The COVID-19 pandemic that the

The fact that I was not allowed to enter the

entire globe has been facing has literally

shops because I had forgotten my mask

changed everything for us. I first realized the

at home was wildly irritating, not to mention

absurdity of our current situation when I

the procedure that comes with

ventured out to do some shopping for

decontaminating before getting back into

essential goods during the early days of

my home. Like it or not, this is our new

lockdown.

normal.

By now many of us are missing the little

They wanted to go back to their normal

things we used to take for granted.

when God was trying to bring them to something new. Usually when we feel fear

Sitting down for a meal at my favourite

we reach for the familiar. We would much

restaurant. Impromptu braais and dinner

rather go back to our old ways, our former

parties with friends and family. Attending

struggles, instead of looking forward into

school, and everything that comes with it.

what God has already destined for us. Faith

Church services, I long to hear the pastor

always looks forward.

instructing me to tell my neighbour that God loves them; I also miss the fellowship

The Israelites had no context for what they

that happens in the foyer after church. And I

were facing, they had never escaped Egypt

am sure that some of you might even be

before, there was no rule book or set of tips

missing that annoying colleague who never

they could use when they realized that

seemed to make it on time for meetings,

Pharoah and his chariots were chasing after

ever. Truth is, you do not realize how much

them. All they could do was trust

you miss normal until normal is gone.

God. In the same manner, many of us have no context for what we are facing with this

Our world has changed and will not be

pandemic. We have never lived in a

returning back to the way it used to be

pandemic before. We have never

anytime soon. We now have to shift our

experienced this level of uncertainty, fear

mind set and adjust to our new normal. I am

and anxiety. However, Moses’ response to

reminded of the Israelites in Exodus 14 when

the Israelites hundreds of centuries ago as

they were being led out of captivity in Egypt.

they were in the process of adjusting to their

Now you need to understand that Egypt had

new normal still rings true today. He said: “Do

become their normal, for many years

not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the

captivity is all they knew. Can you imagine

deliverance the LORD will bring to you

how mind-boggling that must have been,

today” (Exodus 14:13). Too often we let

having to leave all you know behind in the

uncertainty rob us of our peace; we allow

hope that what is being promised is better.

fear of the unknown to take hold of our

The Israelites were not just coming out of

minds. I realized the moment I was

Egypt (the place) but they were coming out

reminded of the God I serve, a God who is

of what was their normal. Interestingly

almighty and mighty to save. The

enough, when things got tough, when it

moment I stopped murmuring and

looked like what they were promised was

complaining I remembered that He is able

out of reach, they became afraid. They

to split the sea; my feet are firm on solid

complained to Moses saying it would have

ground! So as we all adjust and navigate our

been better to stay in Egypt than to die in

way through this new normal let us hold fast,

the wilderness.

stand firm, and remember that faith looks forward.

TIPS FOR ADJUSTING TO CHANGE: 1. Stay connected: with social distancing being encouraged it is important to remember that distance doesn’t separate people, silence does. So find different ways to ensure that you remain connected to your loved ones, it may take some creativity but it is possible.

2. Create pockets of joy: when things are feeling as uncertain as they are it is important to celebrate anything that puts a smile on your face, no matter how big or small. So whether it is walking your dog, baking something new, or dancing along to your favourite concert do more of those things that bring you joy.

3. Give yourself a break: things can feel very overwhelming when you are living in a pandemic so give yourself some grace and take things a moment at a time.

Sometimes we become so focused on reaching the next target that we forget to take care of ourselves, your own mental wellbeing should be your main priority.

About Thendo Netshivhungululu

4. Remain positive: easier said than done

Thendo Netshivhungululu resides in Pretoria,

when the news keeps reporting alarming

South Africa. She holds a B.Psych (Hon) in

facts, in your quest to be informed

psychology from Midrand Graduate Institute.

remember to keep a positive attitude.

She completed her internship in Clinical Psychology at The Wits Curcuit and is completing her masters through Medunsa.

EXCLUSIVE

MS DIVINE KEREN A miracle a miracle baby born out of 7 miscarried baby boys. Who made promise at a young age to serve King Jesus with her life!

An Author , Public speaker , writer and spoken word artist. Who at the age of 23 published her long awaited book titled "ABOVE & BEYOND". Read , laugh , cry and learn!

Q. Who is Jesus Christ to

Q. How and when did you get

you?

Born Again?

A. King Jesus is

A. I was born again by the age

everything and more to

of 8. This was a few months

Divine Keren: a faithful

before my family and I moved

friend, a trustworthy

to South Africa. I remember it

companion, a fortress in

like it happened yesterday.

the storm etc. I’d run out

Everything occurred in the

of roles if I were to create

living room of my godmother,

a list. But one thing is for

Mama Bea. She had organised a

sure, one thing He has

prayer meeting with my mom,

never been: is absent.

and after their session was@beautyandthegospel

EXCLUSIVE

through, I was sat on the couch,

Reminding men and women, that

Evidently, the Holy Spirit proved

where I repeated the prayer of

despite the unpleasant status quo

[once again] to be stronger than

salvation and consciously gave

they may be experiencing, the

my flesh, and the book finally

my life to Christ.

Lord is able to do a new thing. It

reached completion.

doesn’t just stop there, but aside Q. Things you wish you were told

from starting afresh, their

Q. Talking about the above

about your walk with Jesus

testimony can also serve as the

promise, at age 22 you released

Christ?

catalyst for somebody else’s

your first book “ABOVE AND

A. I wish I had been told earlier

deliverance.

BEYOND” which you began

that having a relationship with

writing at age 17. What is it about

Him, was more than just about

Q. At a very young age you made

and hope it imparts to the reader?

following rules and precepts. It is

a promise to God to glorify Him

A. Above & Beyond is more than

only with time that I realized, that

with your career before age 23,

just a memoir about my mother’s

falling in love with Jesus is not a

this is very powerful. Take us

fertility journey. The testaments

sentence to a religious life; it is

back to that day. What provoked

written therein, share lessons

rather, accepting the invitation to

this and the challenges that you

about shifting one’s perspective

an intimate experience. When my

went through for this promise to

away from the struggles and

faith began to mature in the Lord,

be fulfilled?

towards the finish line. My prayer

I transitioned from solely going

A. This particular decision really

and intention, is that it imparts

by the book, to having

started to kick in during my

hope and uncalculated peace in

communion with the Author, like

early teenage years. I had heard

the hearts of those who almost

a man speaks to his friend face to

many resolutions from women

placed a full stop where God was

face.

such as: ‘Getting married before

only getting started.

turning 30’, ‘Buying a car at 21’ Q. Keren, you are the miracle

etc. I wanted to realize my own

baby after 7 miscarried baby boys

too; but instead of attaching the

by your mother, meaning you are

goal to a personal dream, I

the 8th baby (biblically meaning

decided that this particular

new beginnings). How did this, to

achievement of writing a book at

date impact your life?

a young age, would be my

A. It truly humbles me till this

thanksgiving offering unto God

day, to realize that God would

for all He had done for me. What

just a motto for my

use my birth as a vessel, to end

provoked this desire, was the

the cycle of miscarriage in my

evidence of his faithfulness. For

career alone, but it

mother’s story.

giving me life, I wanted to give

Today, when I reflect upon this

myself away so He could use me.

wonder, I trust that He can do the

The challenges I faced in the

same with someone else’s life.

process, are too many to be listed.

This is what drives the motivation

But the most mountainous of

behind my writing, spoken word

them all, was fighting with

and public speaking:

the grip of procrastination.

"Christ being the centre of my craft is not

also applies to my lifestyle in general"

@beautyandthegospel

ABOVE & BEYOND

EXCLUSIVE

Lastly, the book can be likened to

A. Christ being the centre

a mirror that allows the reader to

of my craft is not just a motto for

take accountability for his/her

my career alone, but it also

own decisions, while trusting God

applies to my lifestyle in general.

to fulfil his end of the bargain.

This simply means, glorifying the Father through the works of my

Q. You say that: “spoken word is

hands. I do my best to implement

your calling”. How did you know

these words in my life simply by

this was your calling?

involving God in the entire

A. I knew this was my calling

process of all my undertakings.

because that is where everything began. It was through words that

Q. You have a poem titled

I had my first encounter with God

“LETTER TO LEAH”. What

and once again through words

inspired this poem and what

that I shared about this

testimonies you’ve received

encounter with people. Without

through it?

words, I wouldn’t have found my

A. It was my personal meditation

voice in poetry and without God’s

of the book of Genesis chapter

word, I wouldn’t have found ME.

29, that inspired the words and the meaning behind this poem.

Q. Christ is the centre of your

We can all relate to the story of

craft. What does that mean to

Leah – the supposed ‘antagonist’,

you and how do you implement

standing in the way of Jacob’s

that?

love for Rachel – and her exhausting fight against unreciprocated love.

When I was writing this poem, it was to pay homage to women who have ever gone against their counterparts in the name of confirmed validation. However, to my surprise, apart from the ladies, even men reached out to me to share their healing experience, whilst listening to the poem. I’ve even heard incredible testimonies about people’s @divinekeren

restored confidence happening while hearing the track in their car!

@beautyandthegospel

EXCLUSIVE

Q. How important is it for one to

And one of my personal

A. It is very important for

STAY IN THEIR LANE?

aspirations, is to be amongst the

Christians of all respective fields

A. Authenticity is key for impact.

actors on the political scene,

to make use of the media to

It’s difficult to follow someone

who improve the lives of men and

represent the Kingdom of God. If

who is only a copy and paste

women around the world by

we do not positively influence

version of an original design. Be

making the right decisions.

those around us, it’s only a matter

yourself, and the world will

of time before they are led astray

adjust; but don’t adjust for the

Q. Having achieved all this at

by the false mirage this world

world to accept you.

such a young age, how do you

makes life to be.

remain humble and rooted in King Q. How can one find their

Jesus?

Q. What does this verse mean to

purpose?

A. When I remember what

you: Romans 12:2?

A. Firstly, I am a firm believer

the Lord has done for me; the

A. I love this question because

that there is no purpose outside

kind of gutter He took me from;

this scripture in particular, is

God. I think the top requisite

there’s no way I can even try to

currently the year’s theme in my

would be accepting direction

boast about where I am. My

church, RFC Int’l. To me, this

from our Destiny Keeper Himself.

highlights are only an evidence of

verse means that you can choose

Another advise I would highly

God’s grace.

to either be transformed by God

recommend is paying attention to

or conform to the standards

one’s inherent gift (potential;

Q. INDEED, Yeshua qualifies the

of this world. There is no middle

talent) and passion. These are the

unqualified. How has this truth

ground. The war between these

common vehicles through which

impacted your life?

two battlegrounds, happens in

we discover our uniqueness

A. From a realist’s point of view,

the mind. If we cannot bring our

and what we were born to do.

it would take someone with a

minds into submission to God’s

humble background,

word, we automatically become

Q. You are currently studying for

insurmountable odds and limited

victims of the devil’s

your masters degree in

resources like me, a long while

misconceptions.

diplomacy. Tell us more about it

before acquiring even a small

and why diplomacy?

share of the prosperity people

Q. If Jesus were to visit you for

A. After completing my

who’ve ‘got it all’ dream about.

one day, what would you say to

undergraduate and honours

Yet like Jesus said: ‘with men, this

Him and how would you spend

degree in International Relations,

is impossible. But with God all

the rest of the day with Him?

I decided that I would explore the

things are possible’. And my life is

A. On a serious note, I would love

subset of the discipline:

testament of His hand

to just dance with Him. I would

diplomacy. I have always been

qualifying the unqualified.

love ask Him what it’s like in

intrigued about the art of

Heaven and how He feels

negotiation and the

Q. How important is it for

watching over me. Additionally,

representation of states within

Christians to be found in the

what He has found pleasing and

the global arena. Reason being,

media industry and impact others

unpleasant from my walk and in

there are a lot of elements that go

with the Gospel?

what areas of my life I need to

into making a decision. @beautyandthegospel

rely on His Holy Spirit more.

EXCLUSIVE

BY THE WAY..

Q. What message do you have to the Church, regarding the end

1. On the weekend you will

times?

find me..PLAYING WITH MY

A. I would like for the Church (i.e.

NEPHEW

You and I included) to envision herself as the bride that she is. And to be reminded that the time we have left, is an opportunity to prepare for the groom and make room for the King. Let us never forget the mandate of soul winning in everything that we do. The return of Jesus is not something that

2. Legacy is ...LIVING A LIFE THAT GLORIFIES THE KING 3 . Can’t live without ....GOD AND CHICKEN WINGS 4. I dream of... STARTING MY OWN TV SHOW AND GETTING MARRIED TO AN AMAZING MAN…

should be dreaded. Rather, it should be anticipated with joy. The ‘fear and trembling’ within the context of a life of worship, is not being terrified of Jesus. It is living in

5. 2020 is.... MY YEAR OF TRANSFORMATION 6. What people don’t know is that I.... HATE CHEESECAKE

reverence of His grace Q. When people hear the name DIVINE KEREN. What do you want them to know?

A. I want them to know that my life is a living testimony and that I am not my own. I want the world to see Jesus in me and realize that He can be embodied in art.

Q. How can people get in touch with you and access your work?

A. The best place where I can be found, is on my website, www.thepsalmsofkeren.co.za.

7. Daily mantra: WHAT IS YOURS WON’T HAVE TO BE FORCED 8. Best advice ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received came from my older sister Grace, when she explained: if a pregnant woman cannot be jealous of the one who just gave birth, neither should we envy the blessings of our neighbours because that simply means that God is roaming around their neighbourhood, and everybody who’s close, is next in line for a miracle.

Aside from this, I am available on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as Divine Keren. You can find my book ‘Above&Beyond’ on Amazon and my poetry tracks on Soundcloud and YouTube, under the same name. @beautyandthegospel

rotubirtnoc

QUALIFIED

BY; KENDRA DUBLIN

If you are feeling like you aren’t qualified to do God’s work, keep reading this article.

The first event we see in the Bible is the creation followed by the story of Adam and Eve. When God brings the earth into existence, forms and brings life to Adam, he is born with knowledge. We know that he's born with knowledge because the second God brings the animals to Adam, he names them. Although he had just been birthed, unlike a baby, he could speak and name an animal that he had never seen. The first thing I want you to know about being qualified is that God brought you into existence. He brings a soul forth that is needed for a certain time-period. So, when your parents get together, they are only cultivating the physical part but it's not until that soul submits itself to the zygote, that a man or woman can be alive. Since God made you, He has prepared you for something great therefore you are qualified.

As time goes on, we know that Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree and they realize they are naked. They cover themselves with fig leaves, but that wasn’t good enough. God did something different. God shows us He qualified us again because He gives Adam and Eve animal skins for covering.

@iamkendradublin

Yes, you have some consequences of your sins

in the sign of what was to come. The law

but He’s still with you. When Eve had her first

came and what did the Israelites have to use

son she said, “God helped me bring forth a

for sacrifices to atone for their sins? Animals.

man.” As time progressed, we see them

Adam and Eve had to be covered properly to

giving their sacrifices and offerings to God. If

stay in communion with God. Not only was it a

God wasn’t with them, they wouldn’t have

sign of the law but of the ultimate sacrifice of

known to do these acts of worship. Their

Jesus. God sacrificed

relationship had not been severed. Which lets

unto himself an animal to save them because

us know they are still qualified to live

they didn’t know what God had planned

righteously because their lives go far beyond

through Jesus. That was another sign of being

their disobedience.

qualified in God as He set into motion the redemption of mankind.

God qualifies his people knowing who they are and what they will do. He knows where

When God does a work, He prepares it. Did

they will be because God looks unto Himself

God make man on day 1 of the creation? Of

as the beginning and end. He sees what they

course not. He put the sun, moon, stars, land,

will do, and He's already planned to elevate

animals, ocean, and vegetation in place for the

them. And that's amazing because too often

preparation of man. He knew we would need

we don't think that God has prepared us but

the earth to be functional to His creation of

when we start to go through the scriptures

man. He doesn’t do anything haphazardly.

and examine the people in our lives, we

God’s mission is fully thought out and set in

realize God has prepared everything in

stone.

advance for us to win. He sees us when He places us in our mother's womb. He sees us

After they sinned, Adam and Eve were kicked

when we are born. He sees us at death. He

out of the garden. But we know that God was

sees us when he tells us, “Well done thy good

still with them. When we sin, we don’t have to

and faithful servant”. He sees it all and He has

run away from God. It’s the time to get closer

prepared everything in advance for us which

to Him. We will shy away from Him, but the

qualifies us. God must show the world who He

distance isn’t what God wants. God says I’m

is, and He has to keep his promises and show

right here with you.

his glory. Nobody’s sins are too much for God.

rotubirtnoc

God had already prepared the proper covering

God planned me before I became an

God forgive me, but he has prepared us to

alcoholic. For seven years I was an alcoholic,

overcome. He has worked everything out for

and I couldn't get over the shame and guilt of

our good. Romans 8:29.

my sins. I couldn't get rid of myself. Even after drinking on a daily basis, driving drunk

Consequently, when we look at the Bible and

multiple times, having sex with multiple guys

the many lives that we read about he shows

before marriage, God wanted to use me;

us just how much he has lifted us. God calls

before I even had the thought of sin. God saw

David knowing that he would take Bathsheba

me today. He saw me in the future and knew

and kill her husband. God knew that when

that I would come back to him. I am qualified

David became king, he would struggle with

through my birth, Jesus and my testimony.

things that he had not struggled with before;

from the power to women, but God

Worrying about being qualified or not, is not

qualified him before he committed those sins.

from God. It’s a pride thing. It’s a control thing.

It’s a shame thing. God says look now, I've

When we see Abram, God called him before

already prepared you; stop acting like that.

he slept with his wife's maidservant trying to

Stop acting like I didn't give you life! Stop

put into motion the promise that God gave

acting like I didn't give you the Holy Spirit!

him. God did not tell him to go about it that

Stop acting like I didn't give you victory! God

way. God knew all his mess ups and still raised

has qualified you so move forward. Listen to

him up before he committed those sins.

God, examine yourself, study and meditate on His words and develop into the person that He

God called Peter early in his ministry knowing

wants you to be. Yes, you have sinned but that

that he would deny him. God knew that he

is not the beginning or the end of your story.

was prideful, would curse you out and try to

Acknowledge what you've done and allow

kill you, but God still qualified him before he

God to show you who you are in Him.

denied him. And who do we see in less than two months preaching on the day of

And make sure you get started today because

Pentecost? Peter!

TOMORROW IS TOO LATE TO BE GREAT.

God qualifies the Samaritan woman. Although His mission was His own people, He knew He had to take a detour to save and uplift her.

After her encounter with Jesus, she went to her village to talk about her experience with Him and many were saved. She was called even before she had one husband.

KENDRA DUBLIN

rotubirtnoc

We will often say, I've been so terrible how can

ROTUBIRTNOC

FROM THE APOSTLE'S DESK Should I go back to church, DURIING OR POST COVID-19? PART 2 In the wonderful name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Welcome back to part 2 as I continue with this revelation from God Almighty.

I, under normal circumstances would or could have not written this.

Quickened by the Power of the Holy Spirit, who gives us messages through dreams, visions, quickening, prophesies, the Word of God, Leadings, check in your Spirit, inner knowing, revealed this to me.

These were released and quickened in my Spirit: 1. Fear is the result and the absence of Faith.

2. Remember the children of Israel, during their 40-year wilderness period, those bitten by snakes and their antidote. Moses lifted up a bronze snake and put it up on a pole (shadowing the cross). Those who were bitten would look up at the bronze snake and were healed, Numbers 21:9. History has a tendency to repeat itself. ks is dead.

Apostle Fumane Esther Seobi Mahlatsi I was born in the Priesthood Family. I Am the 4th Generation of active 5 fold Ministers.

A teacher by profession with Honours In Psychology Degree and a business woman.

A wife for 30 years, an author of Manna Daily Devotions book, a mother of four, and a founder and an overseer of Seobi Ministries International in Vereeniging...

We also ought to Look up at the cross, Speak the Word, keep the Faith, eliminate fear and doubt. Psalm 91:5-7 KJV says, “A thousand shall fall by thy side, ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Nor pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor forthe destruction that wasteth at noonday.” As you drive or walk, do chores or about to fall asleep, speak, decree, declare and meditate on these verses upon your life, the lives of your dear ones, your beloved country and our leaders and those essential front line workers during this pandemic.

Assume the gatekeeper’s position and activate your intercessory gift.

3. Jesus during his death ascended to Hades and took the keys of death.

4. Jesus reigns above all diseases, even those yet to be invoked. He is our ultimate, our only healer and deliverer.

5. The BLOOD OF JESUS HEALS US OF ALL MANNER OF DISEASES. Take it, drink and apply it in Faith.

By His stripes we are healed.

6. The fire of the Holy Ghost consumes all our enemies. We decree and declare the Holy Ghosts' consuming fire upon this dreadful disease in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

7. Isaiah 54: 17 and 15 NIV, No weapon/disease FORGED AGAINST US shall prosper, and whosoever attacks us will surrender to us in Jesus Christ mighty name. Amen. Remember this is our HERITAGE and VINDICATION FROM OUR LORD, take it as is and apply it by faith. Faith without works is DEAD.

WHY GO TO CHURCH When a child is born in every Christian home, it’s an exciting, happy moment for both parents, grandparents and the entire family at large. Then, within few months, sometimes within days; the parents take their baby to the church to be christened. Babies are not baptized, they are prayed for by laying of hands and in some cases, even sprinkled with water by the Priest in the process of being dedicated to God. Each child is a gift from God, parents enter into a covenant with our Father in heaven to raise their child in a “Godly” manner. To raise their children under the auspices of Christians’ norms, morals, standards and values. Attending Sunday school classes and as they grow older, other church programs available within the church structure. Until they are educated, self-reliant and ready to enter into courtship and get married in a church, have children and also grow them in a church system. A church is and must be a nucleus of every family. As Jesus Christ is also the nucleus of our lives, a church should be and be treated also, as such.

When a car is broken or it needs a service, it is taken to the garage or dealership where it was bought to be fixed. So is a church also for its members and the immediate community. A church must be a lifeline, one stop center for the community, where I can personally say, people go to “recharge their batteries.” A church must provide shelter and food for the needy and destitute and also offer various job opportunities for its members.

" A church is and must be a nucleus of every family.

As Jesus Christ is also the nucleus of our lives, a church should be and be treated also, as such."

There must be various departments for members and society various needs.

Those who need counselling for all manner of problems, healing, marital and deliverance services, must be offered.

Apostle wrote this to Timothy in 2Timothy 3:1 KJV, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Well, aren’t we in the perilous times? We most definitely are. This is the right time for the church to resume its “centerpiece position” and be a central point of refuge.

Where people, in tragedy, in need, abused; will be taken care of in totality meaning: physically, spiritually and emotionally. We all need churches as our backbone, to stabilize and confidently hold us standing upright in one piece.

We read in Psalm 100:4 NLT, “We must enter His gates with thanksgiving, go to his courts with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name.” A church is a place of fellowship with other Christians, praising, worshipping, giving thanks and learning the Word of God and putting it into practice thus transforming our lives

It is a place where baby Christians, still being fed spiritual milk as in 1Peter 2:2, are nurtured into fully grown matured disciples of the Lord. Jesus Christ in His Great Commission statement in Matthew 28:19, said that we must make disciples (not followers) of all nations.

Hebrews 5:14 AMP SAYS, “But solid food is for the (spiritually) mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish (discern in KJV) between what is morally good and what is evil.” “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” Ephesians 4:14.

Until we Pastors; overseers of churches, can develop and produce mature Christians who can stand firm in the gap, Evangelizing and winning more souls for the Kingdom of God, we are still playing church.

MY CONCLUSION.

* I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent God who reigns supreme. Lucifer and his agents aren’t. * I believe that the plan of the enemy (the Antichrist) is to shut down churches. Breed doubt, eliminate prayer, worship and praise, pull us far from our Master Jesus Christ.

He seeks to use the virus to accomplish his master plan. * I believe that the enemy's strategy is to instil fear through this disease and cause people not to gather in Faith. * I believe that baby Christians; will be adversely affected and may slowly drift away from their Faith and diminish into the World of Television and Entertainment through unending movies that are pro dragons, magic spells, speaking incantations, the beast and his signs, thus slowly preparing their minds to accept the *MARK OF THE BEAST*

* Imagine the generation of babies born in a church free society, growing up watching television channels with all of the above being laid on their tables on daily basis. Where gathering of the saints in a church environment is non-existent, just paint that picture in your mind. This is enough to make my stomach turn.

As we are in the perilous times, we can say that drastic times calls in for drastic measures.

The church of Christ should wake up from its slumber and assume its position of being the nucleus of its immediate society. Jesus Christ in Matthew 21:12-14, after cleaning the church; by knocking over tables of the money changers and those who sold items, turning His church into a den of thieves. Made a perfect example of what and how His House should be and be called, a House of Prayer.

He also said in Luke 4: 18-19 NLT. “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’S favor has come.”

The Church’ Groom; Jesus Christ of Nazareth, read to us in Luke 4:18-19 what His Bride is expected to do.

Ask yourself this question, is the bride living up to the groom’s standards? What did we do and where did we go wrong?

Let us be awaken into realization that a church must be a nucleus, a LIVING lifeline and backbone for the society. If the church is closed, asleep, not focused on practicing the Word of God, simply means that the entire society is also closed, asleep and Wordless.

Turning it into a mature, breeding and feeding ground for lucifer and his agents. In whichever plan or decision, we make, let us work towards a positive mindset, that is governed by the Mind of Christ.

Shalom,

" Jesus Christ of Nazareth, has instructed His Bride, the church, which is His body, to remain open and burning as ONE lamp as He is coming very soon."

In finally opening the doors of our churches and TAKING our rightful position within our different societal structures. Knowing who we are in Christ Jesus and applying the POWER THAT IS IN THE WORD, THE DUNAMIS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST our Lord and Savior.

I know for a fact that, I can declare and decree IN FAITH, the BLOOD OF JESUS over South Africa, other African countries, America and the World at large, join me in this. Amen.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth, has instructed His Bride, the church, which is His body, to remain open and burning as ONE lamp as He is coming very soon.

Let us not be caught asleep without our oils as in the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, in Matthew 25:1-13.

LUKE 18:8, WHEN JESUS CHRIST COMES, WILL HE FIND US IN FEAR OR IN FAITH. Should you be called home now, will you leave with a mind influenced by the Word or by fear?

My brothers and sisters, RAPTURE is imminent, Jesus Christ is coming back very soon. BE PREPARED spirit, body and soul.Until we meet again. Be focused and rooted on the Word.

Apostle Fumane Esther Seobi Mahlatsi

ROTUBIRTNOC

STOP FOCUSING ON

T H E

F E W As God elevates me and pours out His abundance of favor over my life and I begin to flourish, I have noticed what I call, “The Few”.

The few are those who make us feel as though we are not, called, chosen, anointed and appointed by God to do great works for His kingdom (A lie from the pit of hell). The few hides behind closed doors and curtains secretly waiting for our demise. Yet, they don’t understand the Lord gave us a promise, “ The Lord shall cause thine enemies who rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face; they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways” Deuteronomy 28:7 (KJV). Though “The Few” may speak negatively against us and hurt us with their actions if we remain in God, His promise to protect us from our enemies (the few) will come to pass.

A few examples of “The Few”

@monicatheophilus founder @amomentwithmonica, minister, prayer warrior , writer and contributor at beauty&thegospel magazine .

The envious: Never rejoices when the Lord blesses you. Wish you lived in lack than in abundance from the blessings of the Lord.

@beautyandthegospel

ROTUBIRTNOC

The jealous: belittles your success, in competition with you, feeds you false complaints to mask how displeased they really are.

The narcissist: disregards your feelings, seeks to bully, or intimidate you. Attempts to make you feel shameful or guilty.

The “you’re being prideful”: hates when you share your testimony, makes you feel as though you aren’t humble, wants you to keep quiet about whatever the Lord is doing in your life because it makes them uncomfortable.

“You are doing too much” “Did the Lord really tell you to do that?”

“You should humble yourself more” “Why would God do it for you and not for me” “You could have done better” “You should have done it like this or that” “I do not understand why you’re so blessed” The few can be in your inner circle,

The hateful/bitter: offensive, annoyed, harbors anger against you just because, and is extremely resentful. Many times, it is inner turmoil they have in themselves and want someone to blame.

your family or brother/sister in Christ.

The critic: Lacks constructive criticism, seeks to tear you down with hurtful words, never has anything nice to say.

When the Lord exposes, “The Few” it

Therefore, always allow the Lord to give you the spirit of discernment so you are not walking blindly into the enemy’s trap.

will break your heart, but forgive.

FORGIVE! Or else you will become them. Choose to love and set them free. Trust that the Lord knows your

Catch phrases you will hear from “The Few” as you blossom in the Lord:

sorrows since He was betrayed by Judas. He WILL heal you.

@beautyandthegospel

ROTUBIRTNOC

Now that we have identified “The Few” and their harmful effects we need to know why we should stop focusing on them. When we focus on “The Few” we become angry, burdened, saddened, depressed, suicidal, and hurt individuals.

These emotions can cause us to harden our hearts and block us from experiencing the presence of God because we cannot tap into His divine presence with sin in our hearts. It can also hinder us from living a purposeful life since hurt individuals are not able to pour into others, instead they bleed on them from the bad experiences they have gone through.

I cried when I read in the Bible that God denied Moses from entering the promise land. I could not believe the very same Moses who God chose to lead the people out of Egypt, had numerous encounters with God and even saw His back was the one told NO. I didn’t find it fair at all. I asked God why every time I remembered Moses because I genuinely wanted to know. I read Moses story in 2016 at the age of 19 and now four years later at 23 years old, the Lord finally responded. He said daughter, “He focused on the few.”

Then a few moments later the Lord helped me to expose the few I was focusing on that was causing me to be in a funk.

All I could do was cry. Yes, I was brokenhearted, but I could not carry “The Few” with me any longer. It would deter me from my Abba.

Now, I focus on how faithful the Lord is and continues to be even when I am attacked, talked about, and ridiculed by “The Few.” Yes,Moses made it to heaven, but after everything he was not allowed to go into the promised land and see the fruits of His labor. I cannot allow that to be me. I want to fulfill everything the Lord Has planned for me and I want the same for you. So beautiful child of God get up, lift up your head, know where your help comes from (the Lord) and weep no more. Focus on Him now and dance in His presence, sing unto Him because He is for you.

Love Monica, Be Encouraged.

@beautyandthegospel

OF DREAMS IN THE BIBLE

written by: Mary Fairchild ,

God used dreams in the Bible many times to communicate his will, reveal his plans, and to announce future events.

However, biblical dream interpretation required careful testing to prove it came from God (Deuteronomy 13).

Key Bible Verse And they [Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker] replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”

“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”

Genesis 40:8 (NLT) Biblical Words for Dreams In the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, the word used for dream is ḥ ălôm, referring to either an ordinary dream or one that is given by God. In the New Testament, two different Greek words for dream appear. The Gospel of Matthew contains the word ónar, referring specifically to message or oracle dreams-

(Matthew 1:20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22; 27:19). However, Acts 2:17 and Jude 8 use a more general term for dream (enypnion) and dreaming (enypniazomai), which refer to both oracle and non-oracle dreams.

A “night vision” or “vision in the night” is another phrase used in the Bible to denote a message or oracle dream. This expression is found in both Old and New Testaments (Isaiah 29:7; Daniel 2:19; Acts 16:9; 18:9).

featured

INTERPRETATION

The first two categories include message dreams.

Another name for a message dream is an oracle. Message dreams typically do not require interpretation, and they often involve direct instructions that are delivered by a deity or a divine assistant.

Joseph’s Message Dreams Before the birth of Jesus Christ, Joseph had three message dreams concerning upcoming events (Matthew 1:20-25; 2:13, 19-20). In each of the three dreams, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph with straightforward instructions, which Joseph understood and obediently followed.

In Matthew 2:12, the wise men were warned in a message dream not to return to Herod. And in Acts 16:9, the Apostle Paul experienced a night vision of a man urging him to go to Macedonia. This vision in the night was likely a message dream. Through it, God instructed Paul to preach the gospel in Macedonia.

Symbolic Dreams Symbolic dreams require an interpretation because they contain symbols and other nonliteral elements which are not plainly understood.

Some symbolic dreams in the Bible were simple to interpret.

When Jacob’s son Joseph dreamed of bundles of grain and heavenly bodies bowing down before him, his brothers quickly understood that these dreams predicted their future subservience to Joseph (Genesis 37:1-11).

Jacob’s Dream Jacob was fleeing for his life from his twin brother Esau, when he lay down for the evening near Luz. That night in a dream, he had a vision of a ladder, or stairway, between heaven and earth. The angels of God were ascending and descending on the ladder.

Jacob saw God standing above the ladder. God repeated the promise of support he had made to Abraham and Isaac.

He told Jacob his offspring would be many, blessing all the families of the earth. God then said, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.

For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:15).

The full interpretation of Jacob’s Ladder dream would be unclear if not for a statement

by Jesus Christ in John 1:51 that he is that ladder. God took the initiative to reach out to humans through his Son, Jesus Christ, the perfect "ladder."

Jesus was “God With Us,” come to earth to save humanity by reconnecting us in relationship with God. Pharaoh’s Dreams Pharaoh’s dreams were complicated and required skillful interpretation. In Genesis 41:1–57, Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat, healthy cows and seven skinny, sickly cows. He also dreamed of seven plump ears of corn and seven shriveled ears. In both dreams, the smaller consumed the larger. None of the wise men in Egypt and diviners who usually interpreted dreams could understand what Pharaoh’s dream meant.

Pharaoh’s butler remembered that Joseph had interpreted his dream in prison. So, Joseph was freed from prison and God revealed to him the meaning of Pharaoh’s dream. The symbolic dream predicted seven good years of prosperity in Egypt followed by seven years of famine.

King Nebuchadnezzar's Dreams The dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar described in Daniel 2 and 4 are excellent examples of symbolic dreams. God gave Daniel the ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. One of those dreams, Daniel explained, predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would go insane for seven years, live in the fields like an animal, with long hair and fingernails, and eat grass.

featured

Message Dreams Biblical dreams fall into three basic categories: messages of impending misfortune or good fortune, warnings about false prophets, and ordinary, non-oracle dreams.

Pilate’s Wife’s Dream Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus the night before her husband delivered him to be crucified. She tried to influence Pilate to release Jesus by sending him a message during the trial, telling Pilate of her dream.

But Pilate ignored her warning.

Does God Still Speak to Us Through Dreams?

Today God communicates primarily through the Bible, his written revelation to his people.

But that’s not to say he can’t or won’t speak to us through dreams. A surprising number of former Muslims who convert to Christianity say they came to believe in Jesus Christ through the experience of a dream.

Just as dream interpretation in ancient times required careful testing to prove that the dream came from God, the same holds true today.

Believers can prayerfully ask God for wisdom and guidance regarding the interpretation of dreams (James 1:5). If God speaks to us through a dream, he will always make his meaning clear, just as he did for people in the Bible.

featured

A year later, as Nebuchadnezzar was boasting to himself, the dream came true.

@milca.hendricks

CHEF MILCA HEALTHY FOOD FACT Research suggests that people who eat fish regularly especially baked or grilled versions may live longer than those who eat more of other protein sources.

DISH: Grilled Salmon fish with sweet potato, served with carrot and cucumber shavings, olives, radish, sweet potato puree and lemon butter sauce.

Salmon is one of the most expensive fish yet so incredibly tasty and heathy for you.

Heath benefits of salmon

Salmon is crucial for immunity with its combo of omega 3, selenium, and vitamins A and D which are keys for improving -

immunity, both in the short and long term.

Can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

It’s a great source of protein Can boost your brain; salmon is full of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins B12 in addition to Selenium and choline. All of these help improve brain function, cognition and neurological health.

It helps lose weight A key to having strong bones

GRILLED SALMON FISH WITH SWEET POTATO INGREDIENTS

CHEF'S SIDE NOTE SALMON is a good source of potassium; an important mineral for balancing blood pressure and benefiting heart health.

100g Fresh salmon 1 sweet potato 1 carrot ½ cucumber 5 olives 1 radish 1 garlic 1 lemon 2,5 mg nutmeg lettuce parsley

Methods

Marinate your salmon with crushed garlic, salt and pepper, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Cut your sweet potato in 5cm/1cm length, then blanch them.

Wash your lettuce. Make carrot and cucumber shavings. Finely slice your radish.

Make sweet potato puree. Afterwards make sauce using butter and lemon; once done, add your finely chopped parsley in the sauce. Grill your salmon.

Sautee your sweet potato with butter, salt and black paper.

You are Ready to plate!

STAY SPIRITUALLY FIT AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY.

contributor

On today’s menu I’ve got a “fine dining dish” for you.

Devotions by the anointed Dr André and Jenny Roebert

Stand Firm Against the Devil Message taken from James 4:7 (AMPC) James 4:7 (AMPC): "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you."

What do you do when you're facing a spiritual attack, and it feels as though the devil is getting the upper hand? The Bible tells us to submit ourselves to God so we can stand our ground against the devil, and give him his marching orders! When every part of our lives is in submission to God, the devil has no authority or opportunity to harass us. Instead of fretting, we are to stand our ground in God's Word, and push the devil right out our lives. As a result, he doesn't retreat slowly, but flees in stark terror - like a dog with his tail between its legs. That's the mental picture you ought to have when you resist the devil. When he whispers into your ear, remind Him of what is written in the Word of God and command him to get out of your way.

The Bible says you have received authority over the devil and his demons. From today, keep your life submitted to God, stand strong on His Word, and don't give the devil an ounce of territory that doesn't belong to him

HEALTH & FITNESS change is possible

TODAY

WRITTEN BY: TSHEGO MOLEKOA

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible!

I remember it so vividly as though it was yesterday when the Lord began speaking to me during my personal prayer time about being a wellbalanced Christian. This was in 2015 when He spoke about the importance of leading a lifestyle that all round was reflection of my stance and faith in Him. I think as a young Christian woman my focus had always been on the "Spiritual" (allow me to use those inverted commas) element as opposed-

to holistically surrendering my life to the Lord.

He spoke about my financial life and decisions which were not so good nor were they led

by Holy Spirit. Another important element He spoke of was my health, which at the time was nonexistent because I hailed from a place of bad eating habits, lack of exercise and somewhat a level of ignorance.

After having been overweight and unhealthy my entire I thought that’s how I would lead my life and to some degree I was comfortable with being uncomfortable at my size.

Thanks be to God who opened up my eyes and made me realize just how much He cares about every detail of our lives. He cared about the bad eating decisions and lack of exercise because to some degree that would cause me -

not to live my life to the fullest and for His glory.

He spoke concerning the fact that as a Christian woman I should give no hold or ground for the enemy to use against me especially as a preacher of the gospel. The scripture concerning the Prophet Daniel in the book of Daniel 6:4. (So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him) was amplified in a way I had never seen it before.

So that evening I prayed and surrendered all areas of my life to Christ, even the things I-

THE HEALTH & FITNESS SECTION

was struggling with and part of those was a lack of a healthy lifestyle. My prayer that evening was simple but I believe powerful, I asked for the ability to make these changes so that in my lifestyle others could realize that CHANGE is POSSIBLE TODAY and attempt to also live a healthy life for His glory.

God is definitely faithful, and as and when we ask in accordance to His will, He answers us in practical ways.

In Matthew 7-11 Jesus said “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

I found that my Ask for strength to change this bad lifestyle into one that gave Him glory was answered by a new form of strength, resilience, determination and focus that I had never had before. That very night if not the next I was led by Holy Spirit to open up a new Instagram account named CHANGEISPOSSIBLETODAY for the basis of being accountable concerning my health goals. I remember the very first post I put up on that account was a picture with a quote by Niela Ray written 'I already know what giving up feels like. I want to see what happens if I don’t.'

I then wrote ‘15 August 2015...

Determined, Lord Carry me through this journey!’

@beautyandthegospel

This was completely a response of Faith, this was me stepping out of the boat of comfort as in Matthew 14:29 (He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus) and walking on waters in the midst of a storm.

I had to believe and trust that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in us. I had to trust that He would not call me to walk a path that He wouldn't empower for. I had to keep my eyes focused on Him even when people thought it was not possible to lose so much weight and be healthy from where I had started. I had faith fueled from conversation with the Lord during my prayer session and I knew that God is Faithful.

That’s when the journey started.

In beginning I was completely radical and I was able to give up all junk food, all sweets, chocolates, biscuits (things that I consumed on a daily basis). I believe for my journey I needed to let go of these things so that I could attain my personal weight loss goal. It wasn’t easy after having turned to food for comfort I had to face my reality and turn instead to the arms of a loving Father. Later I incorporated exercise and of course I never stopped praying/ When I was doing well I prayed giving thanks to the Lord and when I was struggling I prayed asking for Strength from Him - I still do even to this day. God is a good and Faithful Father, this journey has proven that point in my heart.

THE HEALTH & FITNESS SECTION

It has been a good journey not void of ups and downs, celebrations and disappointments but God has been faithful and that empowered me to lose 40kg and to lead a completely new lifestyle.

I would say that healthy is not a particular body weight but healthy is a particular lifestyle. God desires to see us flourish in all areas of our lives so that we can do the work He has called us to do while it us still day, for night time comes where no man will be able to work. Our health is important because we need these bodies which a temples hosting His presence in order to fulfill kingdom mandate, in the church, society and market place at large.

So what I have learned is this, Healthy is free for those who desire it but Costly (not necessarily monetary) for those who strive for it. Similar to salvation, For God so loved the world that He gave (unto us a Son was given) His only begotten Son... However at the same time once you have accepted Jesus into your life the journey towards being made a disciples will Cost you everything. Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Now, that is a completely different element as opposed to accepting Him. Being a disciples is costly and part of the cost is" denying yourself ".

I am sure the disciples wondered and counted this-

cost as they followed Jesus and had faith to be his disciples.

Health is given to us by the Lord but leading a healthy lifestyle is up to us, as a response of faith. It will cost you denying yourself of certain things, it will cost you making certain choices, it will cost in some instances beating your flesh through exercise. Many people would rather walk away because it is easier to simply live a life that is void of restrictions.

As we start out this journey of understanding health and speaking concerning the subject I thought it be good to share my testimony perhaps someone, somewhere out there desires this but doesn't know where to start.

I think God is a pretty good place to start. Let's Seek Him and find solace in His will for us to lead healthy lifestyles for His Glory.

Trust me Change Is definitely Possible Today, after all with God all things are possible!

CHANGE AND HEALTH ENTHUSIAST oa Tshegofatso Molek

@beautyandthegospel

HEALTH TIP #1

'' I think God is a pretty good place to start.

May we Seek Him and find solace in His will for us to lead healthy lifestyles for His Glory''

ROTUBIRTNOC

BEFORE & AFTER I DO Written By: Pastor Pascal & Annah Lwambwa

FRIENDSHIP IS THE BASIS OF MARRIAGE -Friendship is one the characteristics of a healthy marriage and should also be the foundation of a lasting marriage.

-Couples that have a great friendship have a higher percentage of overall satisfaction in their marriage. Couples that are friends look forward to spending time together and doing things together. When you build a friendship in marriage, your marriage will be strengthened, and you will be able to build emotional and physical intimacy. Friendship in marriage helps you feel safe and allows you to be yourself without feeling judged. There is honesty and openness in a marriage that is built on friendship.

Building a friendship in marriage does not just happen, it requires effort from both of you and this is how you can achieve that: 1. Time: Spending quality time together is extremely important to maintain a good and healthy marriage. The more time you spend together the closer you become. This is the time you spend alone as a couple away from the kids, work or anything that can take your attention away from each other.

Date night is a must! Being married does not mean you have to stop dating!

ROTUBIRTNOC

Make it a point to set aside 1 day every month for date night. . You can go watch a movie, have a candlelit dinner at a restaurant or even at home, organize an indoor picnic on the floor of your living room...there's so much you can do and it doesn't have to cost you a lot of money.

What matters is spending time together!

Weekends away as a couple are also a great way of reconnecting and keeping the fire burning in your marriage. Couples often get caught up in work, ministry or business that they neglect each other. A little time away in the middle of nowhere can be refreshing and will definitely solidify your marriage!

2. Communication: Share Everything Communication remains as one of the most important components of a successful marriage. It’s important for couples to create an environment of open communication in their marriage.

Every couple needs to take time out to talk about how their day was and the interesting things that happened in their day. Talking about the children, sharing experiences and emotions or anything that needs to be addressed is very important in every marriage. This allows you to stay informed and involved in each other’s lives and keeps you both on the same page.

3. Trust: Be Transparent Don’t hide anything from each other, be open and honest. Every marriage should apply the open book policy. You should know everything about your partner, and they should know everything about you.

There shouldn't be things that you find out about each other from people outside of your marriage. Be honest about each other's past, present and future. This will build trust and where there is trust, there is security. Everyone feels safe with someone that they can trust!

The book of Proverbs 31:11 speaks about The Virtuous Woman… " The heart of the husband safely trusts her, so he will lack no gain" Your partner should be able to trust you with their heart and their secrets, and you should protect them at all times.

4. Find Common Interests Have fun and laugh together, try new things together and show interest in the things your partner likes! Everyone needs to make an effort, meet each other halfway and compromise. If you are not an adventurous person and your partner enjoys hiking, river rafting, trying new food for example, you have to be willing to try these out. Watch each other's favorite programs even if you don't necessarily enjoy watching theme husband can watch romantic movies or soapiest with his wife, and a wife can watch sports with her husband. The effort and sacrifice will go a long way in your marriage. It will make your partner appreciate you even more!

5. Be Your Partner's Cheerleader Cheer on each other's success and celebrate each other's achievements! If your partner receives an award at work or graduates, make a big deal out of it and celebrate them by taking them out, buying a gift or organizing a celebration party with friends and family!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with telling your partner how good they look and how sexy they are! Your partner should not hear it from outside, be the one to tell them how good they look before they go out! If they have a new hairstyle, compliment them!

Always emphasize the good that your partner does and show them that you notice, and you appreciate them! Be your partner's biggest and number 1 fan!

ROTUBIRTNOC

BUSINESS SECTION

A

B U S I N E S S ’ S G O D G I V E N V I S I O N WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE VONOFAKIDIS - CREATOR OF THE MARBLE PANTONE

BUSINESS SECTION

A business’s God given vision “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.”

- 1 Corinthians 14:3 The Lord gave me this scripture one day during my quiet time, I asked Him ‘what is the purpose of The Marble Pantone?’, ‘What do you want me to do here Lord?’

I felt led to start looking into how I could prophesy into my daily work, into my clients, my followers and I wrote out a vision statement for my business to help myself when I would feel purposeless or when tough times arose: “The Marble Pantone is an authentic voice that would strengthen, encourage & comfort people, so that I may transact & instill confidence that leave people better than I found them.”

I knew I needed to find a way to communicate with more than just visuals, because this is what I do, I visually communicate through design, in all its forms, advertising, branding etc. I felt I needed to do more, I wanted to share my experiences, my stories, the little things I was learning about running my own business as a complete newbie.

I started doing videos on my IGTV where I would share my stories about how to practically start-up a business, how I dealt with admin, then I started sharing more of my spiritual journey on how God helps me overcome obstacles, and slowly started incorporating Biblical references. Because my audience is anyone & everyone, you never know who is listening. It's often challenging to not chase away people with harder hearts to the gospel. I started praying and asked God to help me with this.

“I am the Vine. You are the branches.

If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can't do anything without Me.” (John 15:5) When it is God’s will, naturally, the seeds that fall on good soil will grow deep roots, and the heart who receives & accepts, will bear much fruit.

That’s when the Holy Spirit gave me the parable of the four soils (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15).

Jesus shared the gospel through stories, Jesus told parables because He wanted to change lives and that’s how I was going to reach people, by doing as I see my Father do, by sharing my stories.

As the enemy would have it, you hit snags, the response isn’t always as expected, you don’t see growth, frustration arises, your faith gets tested, but if we look back at the parable there are four problem soils. It's important to remember that we aren’t responsible to make the fruit or the seed grow. (1 Corinthians 12:3) You are just asked to spread the seed (Acts 22:14-15).

However, we are responsible to keep the soil in good condition.

How can we do that? by staying in God’s Word, praying and listening to God. So, when we tell our stories, whether it be in a personal capacity or as a business, we can trust that it will fall on good soil, if we ourselves have stayed close to the vine (John 15:5).

“But still others received the seed that fell on good soil. They are those who hear the message and understand it.

They produce a crop 100, 60 or 30 times more than the farmer planted.” Matthew 13:23 Pray for God to soften the hearts of those you speak to, so that you may leave people better than you found them.

Free & flourishing in Christ Jesus.

Danielle Vonofakidis My name is Danielle Vonofakidis, I am a daughter of the Most High God, an artist, entrepreneur, and small business owner. I live in Cape Town and I do all creative design work for individuals & businesses.

I hope to inspire others with this article by encouraging them to add a God-given purpose & vision to their business ventures, in order to motivate them to persevere during hard times.

ROTUBIRTNOC

@beautyandthegospel

“PARENTING IS A HEAVENLY ASSIGNMENT AND WE ULTIMATELY REPORT TO GOD.” Bolanle Enang – The Family Life Enthusiast ARE YOU PARENTING OR PAYING RENT? Parenting is a heavenly assignment.

God is the foundation of the family. So, only He can tell you if you got it right or not. That sounds extreme, right? No, it is not. Think about this for a moment and let it sink in that your sense of value and judgement of whether you are doing it right or wrong does not depend on you or your friends. It is important that you breathe as a mom or dad. Take up your role with gusto and confidence but do not forget that you take your appraisal and key performance indicators from Above. As we love our families, we love deeper by leaning on and learning from God. I had a university lecturer who dictated notes to us; and, parent and pay rent sounded so similar that my handwritten notes were filled with mistakes. I always think about that law lecturer with a chuckle and tinge of amusement. How he fooled us! As I began my journey of family life, these words flowed to the surface of my mind again: parent and pay rent. As a parent, are you really there, present and enjoying your family or simply living to pay rent or mortgage or any pressing bill and expenses?

BOLANLE ENANG | FamilyLife Enthusiast| Author| Convener of Signature family building workshops -The Table & Parent Talks| Accredited Facilitator: Evergreen Parenting| Family Wellness Consultant

ROTUBIRTNOC

Parenting is an active word. Paying rent is what many of us do unconsciously. As long as the bills are covered, we break our backs to do all we can and can neglect what is most important without knowing. The simple things of life are there for us to enjoy. We definitely in.

Is laughter a thing in your family? Listen mom, if that sound has disappeared from the corridors of your life and home, it is time to switch that switch right back on. Are you parenting or simply paying rent?

Laughter is medicine to the soul. (Proverbs 17: 22) Laughter is that chuckling sound that rumbles from one’s belly, roaring through your throat, spilling out with tears running down the face. Can you feel the tickling effect it has on you as you think of laughter?

Take a moment and practice laughter. It works wonders. It releases the tension within and without you. It changes the atmosphere in your home. Families who laugh together, love together. They grow together and stay together.

Today is a good time to turn things around in your home. The more you connected with your family, the less you will need to correct.

Hugs are also loving ways of releasing the joy hormone in your child. The power of touch and the release of laughter can turn the atmosphere in your home around completely. As a parent, you can pray that the sound of laughter and the loving touch of Christ fills your home from today. Let us live life in a way that we can look over and be glad that we truly lived and fully.

ROTUBIRTNOC

@MARLYN ROJAS Ordained Minister, founder of Radiant Woman International, cofounder of Sisters International, CEO of Inner Radiance Designs and Author of DISTORTED.

RESTORATION IS FOUND IN STILLNESS As I love to say: I will be short, brief, concise, precise, and to the point. I will also try to keep it simple.

Rushed by the morning alarm? Rushed into the shower? Rushed into your clothes? Rushed your breakfast? Rushed into Traffic? Rushed into your place of business? Rushed into meetings?

RUSHED, RUSHED, RUSHED… But was your PRAYER moment, sitting still, RUSHED AS WELL? If it was, then there was no STILLNESS in that – socalled-moment- of being STILL. Do you get it? EVERYTHING MAY BE RUSHED, except that TIME with the FATHER.

When we all begin to look at our God, our Lord, Our Shepherd as the first UNRUSHED PRIORITY- the rest will feel as if it was slowed down and taken care of.

Why? Because He Restores our SOUL in STILLNESS.

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides the Still Waters, He Restores my SOUL… (Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV) He LEADS: The Lord leads by the still waters; place of peace, self-examination, reflection, a resting place, quietness, and refreshing.

And only in that place HE CAN RESTORE OUR SOUL. Be Still and KNOW that I am God… (Psalms 46:10 NKJV) In being STILL, you are now able to KNOW the Father. Know Him for who He is and not just for mere things He has given you. Know your identity in Him. Keeping in MIND that to “KNOW” anyone or anything it takes ACTION on your behalf.

Action of preparation, studying, praying, fasting, and spending time to build a relationship with the LORD. 2020 will go down in history for being devastating, hurtful, the worst year, and cruel to many. My condolences for the many lost. But I ask you, did you consider the fact that many were FOUND?

ROTUBIRTNOC

" The Lord leads by the still waters; place of peace, selfexamination, reflection, a resting place, quietness, and refreshing."

Did you consider the fact that it’s the first time in a long time that you’ve been STILL- and that only now God may catch your attention - “FINALLY” (I can imagine He will say). There are SOULS (mind, will, and emotion) that He was finally able to reach as a good Father looking for His lost child. As a Good Shepherd seeking its lost sheep.

When we are finally able to be LED by Him and to HIS STILLNESS, we are RESTORED in KNOWING HIM MORE. We are Restored -to turn back, refresh, repair- into the relationship He wants us to REMAIN IN. BE STILL and BE RESTORED TODAY! LET HIM RESTORE YOU BACK TO HIM!

WITH LOVE HONORED TO SERVE, MARLYN ROJAS,

BY GRACE ORDAINED MINISTER AT THESSALONICA CHURCH, UNDER THE SPIRITUAL COVERING, OF REV. DAVID SERRANO.

3 LIES WE BELIEVE ABOUT SERVING WRITTEN BY MELISSA B. KRUGER

WANDERING IN UNBELIEF It’s difficult to steward our time, talents, and treasure well in a world that invites us to selfsatisfaction and self-fulfillment. Perhaps the most countercultural thing we can do is to humbly serve others without thinking of ourselves.

However, there are a few lies that keep us from service.

Lie 1: “I Don’t Have Time in This Season” Whatever season you’re in, I’m sure you’re busy.

Your days overflow with demands from work, friends, family, and errands to do. It’s easy to raise the white flag in surrender and tell ourselves we’ll just have to wait to serve others at another time.

Right now, we’re too busy, overwhelmed, and worn out. What we need is a Netflix binge, not more opportunities to serve. We assure ourselves that in the next season we’ll have more time to serve others.

However, I’ve found that there’s never a perfect season for serving others. While there are some seasons that particularly stretch us, usually we’re pretty good at filling any free parts of our schedule with something we enjoy. We may think next year will have an abundance of time, but it actually may have less time because of unexpected struggles or trials.

Here’s the reality: service to others comes at a cost to ourselves. We surrender how we’d like to use our time in order to give it away to others. It’s not an easy choice to make. It forces us to lift our eyes off ourselves and onto Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. He gave his life in service to you and me. We can be radical in how we use our day today because we know eternity awaits.

Lie 2: “My Service Doesn’t Matter”

In my current season, I spend a lot of time

While we might assume it’s easier for the wealthy

traveling and teaching the Bible to women. My

to give, it was the rich ruler who left Jesus very sad

time on the road means I’m not always able to

because he couldn’t imagine giving away his

bring a meal to a hurting friend or volunteer in

wealth (Luke 18:18–20). In contrast, the poor

certain ways. I know it may sound exciting to travel

widow was commended by Jesus: “Truly, I tell you,

and teach, but sometimes I struggle with the

this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

feeling that my work really doesn’t matter. Since I

For they all contributed out of their abundance,

can’t always see the effects, I question if the hours

but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live

of preparation are worth it. I wonder if anyone

on” (Luke 21:3).

even remembers what I said after I leave. I can look at some of my other friends who serve in

Jesus knows what it costs you to give from what

more tangible ways in our community and think to

you have. He’s not asking you to give because he

myself, They are the ones doing the real ministry.

needs your money. He’s asking you to give because it’s good for your soul. The faithful act of

You may feel the same way about your service.

giving builds faith. It also builds joy, for as anyone

Maybe you deal with chronic pain that prevents

who gives generously can tell you, “It is more

you from many forms of service, but you faithfully

blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

pray for others daily from your couch. Perhaps you patiently listen to the struggles of others and offer

Walking by Faith: Good News for Grace-Filled

wise counsel. Perhaps you’ve taught the same

Living

children’s Sunday school class for thirty years at

As we walk by faith, we become people who give to

church and know all the children by name. Your

others. We share our time, our talents, and our

service may seem hidden or insignificant, but God

treasure to care for those in our church and those

sees your efforts and knows your deeds done in

in the world. Not only do we give, but we do so

humility. Many small acts of service build a vibrant

cheerfully, generously, sacrificially, and lovingly.

church, change the surrounding community, and

Our attitude matters as we give. It’s the overflow of

impact the world.

a heart that delights to share with others out of the abundance we have received.

Lie 3: “God Doesn’t Need My Money” When it comes to giving our money away, it’s

How sacrificial is my giving? What is it costing me

tempting to think it doesn’t really matter. If God

today to serve others?

owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10),

I tend to want to run from these words of Jesus: “If

why does he need our money? Of course God

anyone would come after me, let him deny himself

doesn’t need our money, but he does use our

and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke

money as a means by which he accomplishes his

9:23). I long for comfort and ease, and cross

purposes. More than that, money acts as a

bearing sounds difficult and painful. We may feel

barometer for our faith. We give because the Spirit

like we’re being consumed, but we do not lose

is alive in our hearts. As we are increasingly

heart. Even if the outer self is wasting away, our

changed into the image of Jesus, we increasingly

inner self is being renewed day by day (2 Cor.

reflect the generosity of our Savior, and that

4:16).

overflows into monetary giving.

We’ve been blessed to be a blessing. In whatever We may think to ourselves, I’ll give more when I

way we serve with our time, talents, or treasure, let

have more. However, it’s important to realize

us do so with generosity, cheerfulness, sacrifice,

that it’s difficult for both the rich and the poor to

and love. As we reflect the love we’ve been given,

give.

our service shines to the watching world.

ROTUBIRTNOC

THE SONG OF

ZACHARIAS

Pastor , loving Husband, father and a lover of the Word of GOD!

Luke 1:67-79 Our God has given us a mighty Saviour from the family of David his servant. Long ago the Lord promised by the words of his holy prophets, to save us from our enemies and from everyone who hates us. God said he would be kind to our people and keep his sacred promise. He told our ancestor Abraham, that he would rescue us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear, by being holy and good as long as we live. You, my son, will be called a prophet of God in heaven above.

You will go ahead of the Lord to get everything ready for him. You will tell his people that they can be God's love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky. On us who live in the dark shadow of death this light will shine to guide us into a life of peace.

The character of Zacharias Luke 1:6 “Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded.

He was righteous before God, the word for righteous in the Greek is dikaioi –this is actually a reference to one’s character or action,his character was innocent and his actions were-

“ ARE THEY REALLY SHOWING PEOPLE THE WAY TO GOD OR TO THEIR OWN HEARTS AND POCKETS".

@beautyandthegospel 22

saved when their sins are forgiven.

Background Zacharias was a man of God indeed he was priest and his wife was born also from the house of a priest, they were both devoted servants of God Luke 1:5 “When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest by the name of Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah.

His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.”

ROTUBIRTNOC

that of a man who is righteous before God because he walked in the commandments of God, he followed God with his actions when God commanded he just obeyed so obedience is at the heart of actions ,when people walk in the way God wants them to it pleases Him. As Christians we should be reminded that our walk should be guided by God 2Corinthians. His commandments were key to his obedience. He kept God ‘s ordinances (the Greek word for ordinances is dikaiomasinby implication it means decision or an equitable deed, when we make decisions that are guided and informed by God he is pleased and we become blameless before others and Him. Blameless – the idea of the word is that he was with no fault, because he walked in all the precepts of God ,this is a clear indicator that God wants to build our characters to his pleasure we just have to allow him by being obedient. When God is the one who builds the right characters within us even if people can try and find fault with us they will never find it.

He had a good reputation and his character was not questionable even though he was childless he did not stop being faithful to GOD.

This is a prophecy that was to come true through Zacharias ‘s son (God ‘s timing is perfect timing). The job of Elijah if we recall was to call the people and the kings to repent and come back to God, he even fought with the prophets of Baal.

The job of John the Baptist was also to call the Israelites to repent because the kingdom is at hand, he was even beheaded for calling Herod’s relationship adulterous. He was telling the truth at all times (SO CALLED prophets OF today are they really truthful people, ARE THEY REALLY SHOWING PEOPLE THE WAY TO GOD OR TO THEIR OWN HEARTS AND POCKETS).

Then we see the man of God actually doubting that at his age he could be able to be a father i. AS HUMAN BEINGS WE ARE PRONE TO HAVE DOUBTS SOMETIMES ii. SEE HUMAN NATURE TELLS US TO DOUBT (is human nature a thing we can be able to overcome?)

Even if we have doubts God is powerful and he can do all that he wants Luke 1:37 “Nothing is impossible for God!". Due to the doubt the angel says to Zacharias you will be mute until the birth of your son Luke 1:19-20 “The angel answered, "I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. So, you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens.

But everything will take place when it is supposed to."

THE SON IS NOW BORN The son is now born, and he is now circumcised on the 8th day and given the name. His father speaks saying he shall be called John. Luke 1:57-66.

Zacharias spoke and people were astonished by that fact and they feared and wondered what the child will become.

The first part of the song Zacharias praises God and honours him. This is because God has offered them redemption through the Messiah. He is joyful to hear this because this was news, he was long waiting for verses 72-73. The horn is symbol a of salvation power and strength Psalm 132:17, the role David ‘s seed is going to play hence “the horn of David”. The results of salvation offers a chance for those saved to serve God in holiness and righteousness verse 74-75.

@beautyandthegospel

THE BIRTH OF HIS CHILD IS THEN ANNOUNCED TO HIM Luke 1:8-25 It was on the day that he was to administer in the temple.

The angel of God appeared to him and started talking to him delivering the Good News.

Gabriel says to the old man of God he will have a son “who will go before him in the spirit of Elijah. These were the words uttered +500 years before by the prophet Malachi 4:5-6.Gabriel says to the old man of God he will have a son “who will go before him in the spirit of Elijah. These were the words uttered +- 500 years before by the prophet Malachi 4:5-6.

The first part closes with a clear indication that deliverance is not one but two way we are saved to serve not to slack.

The second part of the song Verse 76 -79. After speaking about the redemption, he now goes to refer to his son and what role he plays in the work of the redemption.

Gabriel said the son will go before the Messiah in spirit and power of Elijah. Luke 1:17 this was fulfilment of MALACHI 4:4-5.

HIS MISSION WAS GREAT AS IT WAS TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH (REMEMBER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANT SALAVATION OF SINS MATTHEW 1:21) Â Christ also testified to the work and purpose of John and his preaching) Luke 7:2428). John would constantly preach that people repent as the kingdom of God is at hand and the light of God is coming into the world.

At last, the song of Zacharias speaks of deliverance that only God can offer, so this is reason for him to sing a song to God and praise him for all that he does for him. Sing Africa sing even through this pandemic there still is reason to sing God is still God. Roman 5:8 God gave all so we can be saved from the clutches of sin and be free in Christ from sin so be joyful and sing in the name of Jesus and sing so he can be glorified in your singing.

YOURS IN CHRIST PASTOR BONGANI GAMA

-featured-

LETTERS TO

CREATIVE IN

CHRIST

KALLAH

(Q) Who is the Lord Jesus

(A) I would say that I was

(Q) How did the name

Christ to you?

basically told about the most

“LETTERS TO KALLAH” come

(A) This is the question I am

important things, but like I said,

about and what does it

answering last. It took me a

you have discover it for yourself,

mean?

while to think of an answer for

which is, you can’t live for yourself

A) I love this question! First of all,

this very big question, just

and please God at the same time,

my name is Kaylah, and most of

because there are so many

you have to die to self. This is

my friends call me either Kaylie

answers to give. In every season

something I am learning every

or Kallah. However, I didn’t think

Jesus means something

single day, especially because I

of that after I actually chose the

different to me, because one

got married a couple of months

name. I googled “the bride of

learns something different

ago which stretched me even

Christ” and the word “Kallah”

about Him in every season.

more in this everyday. But I can’t

came up. Meaning of Kallah:

However, there is a foundation

do it in my own strength. I can’t

Bride, to conceal the head/ face,

that I always lean on which is,

live for the world and its

to complete, perfect, to crown.

that He is always constant,

pleasures, but only what pleases

The Kallah is one who is closed

loving, truthful, my solid rock,

the Father. We as humans fail

off to the world, except to her

helper, kind, compassionate,

everyday, but that is why I am so

Maker/ husband. And that’s how

graceful and the list goes on. In

thankful for His grace and

I came up with the name.

this season I am experiencing

guidance.

Letters to the Bride (Kallah). It is

Him afresh, peaceful, refreshing

“and have put on the new

letters from our “Maker” - Jesus -

and as the whole Truth; that

[spiritual] self who is being

to His bride - which is us. I

there is no other Truth except

continually renewed in true

simply just want to be His hand

Him.

knowledge in the image of

and feet through my lettering.

(Q) How and when did you

Him who created the new self

Q) You write prophetically.

get Born Again?

—Colossians 3:10 AMP

How does that manifest?

(A) I was very fortunate to have

(Q) You do Calligraphy artistry

A) That is the main focus of

grown up in Christian home

for THE GLORY OF GOD. How

Letters to Kallah. Usually when

with parents who love and fear

did you get into Calligraphy,

someone would ask for a

the Lord, always wanting to

when and why did you decide

custom design, I usually ask if

please Him and to become like

to do it for THE GLORY OF

they want to give me a passage

Him. So I could say, I had and

GOD?

of scripture that they would

still have some great role

(A) I started dabbling in

want me to write or if I can ask

models, however, I do believe

calligraphy in my gap year, where

God what He wants to

that there has to come a point

one of my close friends did it at

specifically tell him/her,

where you need to discover God

first for fun and pulled me into, to

especially if it’s a present for

for yourself; not believing in God

give it a try. I had no idea that it

someone. Most of the time it

because you have to but

could be so therapeutic,

would be prophetically. I would

because you want you. I made

beautiful, peaceful and exciting. I

usually just sit, get quiet and ask

that decision when I did a gap

started with Letters To Kallah in

God to drop a passage/ verse in

year after high school, I can’t

2019 simply because I felt so

my heart and I would go

necessary remember how, but I

deprived from being creative and

searching for it. After some

know in my heart that I am His

wanting to express it that I

prayer and confirmation, I

and He is mine. (Song of Songs

decided to start a calligraphy

would write it down, sometimes

6:3)

page to spread His Word,

just two words, other times the

(Q) Things you wish you were

occasionally challenge people’s

entire verse. I like to not give too

told about your journey with

ways of thinking and MOSTLY

much away that it will lure the

King Jesus?

wanting to encourage them.

person to go read it for -

@letterstokallah

themselves and ask God

But that is the beauty of process

(Q) Last words and plans for

personally what He wants to say

and not giving up. I used to take

2020?

through that verse. I am so

other calligraphers work and try

(A) Plans for 2020:

thankful to God that through

to do it exactly as they did it. The

We are living in some uncertain

some feedback that people

more I tried it, the better I

times, so for now I am taking it

have given me, is that it was just

became at it, and the more I got

day by day. Due to me being

what they needed in that

to know my own writing style

recently married, I am focusing

season or that God has been

and look. My music instructor

on my husband, focusing

talking to them about that

once said, “practice makes

to better myself as a wife, friend

specific topic. It’s amazing!

permanent”. It’s not practice

and follower of Christ. There

(Q) What do you pray your

makes perfect, because no one is

might be a pandemic

work imparts to the receiver?

perfect and we can’t do

happening around us, but we

(A) Mostly that God sees them,

everything perfectly, but the

can’t sit back and do nothing.

knows them and cares for them.

more we practice, the more it will

The Lord wants to say things to

That He knows their hearts

become permanent. I love that -

us, teach us, and our eyes, ears

desires. I want them to feel like

so encouraging. I enjoy giving

and heart need to be open and

the bride of Christ - worthy,

attention to every single detail,

alert to receive/ understand it.

loved, known, and cherished.

from the type of font I use, the

We can no longer be asleep. We

That the Word is fun and has so

type of page to the thickness of

need to wake up and be ready

many hidden treasures and

the letters I color in and

for what He wants us to do. So,

mysteries waiting to be

especially doing everything in

for now, I am focusing on being

revealed. But mostly, that God

excellence – doing it unto Him.

a wife, doing social media for a

desires an intimate relationship

Q) Would you say this is an act

couple of business, reading,

with them, and that these

of worship?

doing research and trying to

words that are being written

A) Definitely. I believe that

finish my second degree in

would be an invitation and

everything that you do unto the

pastoral counselling. I need

awakening to join in this feast

Lord is Worship. Our obedience

some more discipline in that

with Him.

and willingness are our Worship

area.

Q) What are the 3 things that

unto Him.

Last words:

are not known about

(Q) If you were granted one

I am busy with the book of

Calligraphy?

lifetime opportunity, what

Colossians and I just want to

A) Firstly, It takes a lot of time,

would it be?

share a few verses that really

patience, practice and effort.

A) I am unsure about answering

stood out for me.

The important thing to

this question as I have never

“Let the peace of Christ [the

remember about calligraphy

thought about it. However, to

inner calm of one who walks

is this: at its core,it’s art. It’s

travel all around Europe and

daily with Him] be the

not writing.

Israel for a year with my husband

controlling factor in your

You can use any type of pen

sounds pretty amazing, or to lead

hearts [deciding and settling

and paper

worship with some of my favorite

questions that arise]. To this

There is no specific style or

worship leaders.

peace indeed you were called

font.

Q) When people hear the name

as members in one body [of

Q) Can one learn it or is it a

LETTERS TO KALLAH. What do

believers]. And be thankful [to

gift?

you want them to know?

God always].

A) Oh yes, you can definitely

A) That the Lord wants to write

cultivate it. I remember being

them a letter and romance their

"Whatever you do [no matter

terrible at calligraphy, but the

hearts every single day. That

what it is] in word or deed, do

more I practiced, the more I

there is more to Scripture than

everything in the name of the

became better at it. The other

what meets the eye, He wants

Lord Jesus [and in

day I looked at a few designs I

you to dig deeper and find those

dependence on Him], giving

made a few years ago, and boy

treasures.

thanks to God the Father

were they awful, I was embarrassed actually.

through Him."

BY THE WAY > You’re never too young to...learn to lead and to love > Can’t live without? Jesus, My husband, veggie spice, music, hand cream, family and nature > Current favourite creative…...? Art Refined (go follow) > What people don’t know is that I? Love to interpret dreams / that I absolutely love pizza and love giving puns > When I remember what the Lord has done I will never…….? Turn my back on Him and be ungrateful > Best advice ever received?

Surrender to the process. Worship in the waiting.

BRINGING ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

featured

THE DEADLY DECEIT IN MATERIAL DESIRES

by Sheila Dougal As I sat in a Bible study recently, the leader asked our group how we heard Jesus’s voice and how we follow, like he says in John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

One woman sitting next to me measured the voice of God in the many blessings of her life — a new house purchased without difficulty, an old house sold without stress. She was now enjoying life in her dream home in the warm, dry climate of her dreams. And all thanks to a painless move.

Beauty & The Gospel

She gave evidence for how smoothly her life was moving along, like dominoes falling perfectly in order.

As I sat there listening, I couldn’t help but feel troubled. I knew that not a few women around us were following Christ through troubled marriages, battles with cancer, or the grief of lost babies. Some faced the drone of unceasing financial hardships — the exact opposite of how some of us define God’s blessing on our lives.

AUGUST 2020

featured

And yet we who are struggling can listen for

the oppressive evil tyrant are blessed with

Jesus’s voice with desperation and longing.

comforts and provisions, sun and rain,

We can desire to follow him as much —

houses and air conditioning every single

perhaps more — than the materially blessed

day. God is sovereign, and he radiates goodness and pours out unearned

Blessing’s Bluff

blessings of all kinds every day. He blesses

A smile and an open Bible can press

all with his common kindness.

down so hard on raw hurt when we measure God’s blessing with material prosperity. The

The formula God’s blessing = life comfort is

effect is something I’ve heard expressed by

a deadly one. And it’s not an isolated issue

many and have seen dramatized in

either. Unfortunately, the equation seems

“Christian” movies. You can know you’re

to be ingrained into so much American

blessed by God when everything goes well for

Christianity, and it’s part and parcel of

you.

the prosperity gospel that false teachers in our nation export to the world. And when

Just trust God while you do A + B and, as long

I’m not careful, the plank that is the

as you have enough faith, you should get C

prosperity gospel protrudes from my own

every time: the life you’ve always wanted.

eye.

It’s a simple formula for the “blessed” life, with Jesus on top!

Bruised and Blessed God’s common kindness reaches us all, but

But owning a nice house with a spacious

it takes saving grace to turn to Jesus when

kitchen, or driving a shiny car with no dents,

marriage is hard, when a woman — my

or basking in financial abundance and

friend — loses three babies, or when a

easygoing circumstances are not reliable

young missionary is told he has end-stage

evidences of God’s blessing in this age. The

cancer.

formula might look attractive in a movie, but it contradicts both the Bible and the real-life

The Bible doesn’t offer a formula, but

experience of many struggling saints who are

points us to a Savior—a battered, crushed,

faithful in the challenges, insecurities, and

beaten, bruised, bloodied Savior. And the

pains of everyday life.

special blessing of God’s presence is with those who are walking in suffering, the

Deadly Equation

same road Jesus himself walked. He is

As I thought about what that nice lady had

present in the path of pain and trial and

said about how blessed she was, Jesus spoke

heartache. God was present in Joseph’s

to me though his word:

pain:

“He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the

Joseph’s master took him and put him

unjust.” (Matthew 5:45).

into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was

What the lady next to me said is true in a

there in prison. But the Lord was with

sense — she is blessed by God. But so is the

Joseph and showed him steadfast love and

greedy miser who sits in his penthouse with

gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of

wealth he earned through a harsh abuse of

the prison. (Genesis 39:20–21)

power. Both the good lady next to me and -

Beauty & The Gospel

AUGUST 2020

featured

God was present in David’s darkness:

So with God’s help, I remove my selfcentered, American-dream plank and its

Even though I walk through the valley of the

sinful impulse to want a god who makes me

shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are

the center and not him. My plank must

with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort

come out first. And with God’s help, I toss

me. You prepare a table before me in the

aside the lie that we find God’s blessing in

presence of my enemies; you anoint my head

easy circumstances, or in health, or in

with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:4–5)

financial prosperity. And with God’s help, I’ll keep the path, holding firmly to the hand of

God is present with us in today’s suffering:

my Good Shepherd.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial

----------------------------------------------------------

when it comes upon you to test you, as though

Sheila Dougal is a wife, mom, R.N. and full-

something strange were happening to you. But

time student at Grand Canyon University

rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings,

pursuing her FNP. She writes at her blog

that you may also rejoice and be glad when his

about her hope in Jesus, the real-life struggles

glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the

of marriage, parenting, depression, nursing,

name of Christ, you are blessed, because the

and publishes occasional poetry.

Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12–14).

Beauty & The Gospel

AUGUST 2020

ROTUBIRTNOC

Remembered

by GOD

You have challenges as an individual, things are not going right at home, your marriage is about to collapse, we are in a crisis as a country and the universe at large. This is hopeless, it's just getting worse day by day. My God will remember us, we are coming out victorious!

Scripture reading: Luke 23:42 “Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

1Samuel 1:19 “Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord and returned and came to their house at Ramah.

And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.”

The God we serve is not a man to lie, nor a son of man to change His mind.

Someone somewhere remembered you today, but nothing happened or changed in your life, because to a human being, to remember simply means to bring something back to mind.

On the other hand, when our God remembers us, He acts on our behalf. He takes over a situation, He bring answers, He wipes our tears, He deliver us, and give us victory.

For so many years that Hannah was barren, mocked and made to look or feel less of a woman.

She had a loving husband, but because she had no child, she considered herself as a woman of sorrow (1Sam 1:15). As much as the husband loved her, he was of no help in this situation.

Not even the priest, this was the worst situation.

But there's someone who is above a husband and priest. His name is Jehovah, He remembered her. To Him nothing is impossible, when He remembers you, things change.

He is still the same God who remembered Hannah, He shall remember you.

Let us humble ourselves before God and say to Him: “God remember us”!

The sinner who was crucified with Jesus, he understood the power of being remembered by God. He said I might be a sinner, I never been to church, maybe he killed people, he was a thief, not a believer like me and you, but above all, He asked Jesus to remember him. And he was remembered and entered the Kingdom of God.

You shall not die before time; God will remember you. Your story will change, He is still on His throne. Let's unite and pray for our country and the world.

God will remember and rescue us. The universe will know that He alone is God and there is NO OTHER!

PASTOR NTSAKO BALOYI

a servant of God, husband to Tiyiselani Baloyi and home made chef

@beautyandthegospel

monthly devotions

karabo.lekwape

IMPACT & IMPARTATION Check what is in your hand, and make sure you impart it and impact other people with it and see if your Heavenly Father will not reward you. Bring a change in someone’s life!!!

“But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So, whenever he went into his brother's wife, he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.” ~ Genesis 38:9 We should come to a point where we understand that what God has blessed/ will bless you with or deposited in you, whether it’s a gift, money etc, is not for your own benefit but for the benefit of His kingdom.

Onan did not want to impact and impart what God was about to bless him with because he knew it would not be his, instead he wasted it away. Instead of wasting what God has given you, you should utilize it to the fullest, ensure that you make an impact in the lives of those around you.

Isn’t that a wonderful thing?

saved by grace,

Karab0

J U D A H ' S

W I F E

REVIEW BY: CRYSTELDA NAIDOO

A

“…a single person, when inspired by HaShem and committed to the task for which Adonai had formed him, could change the world.”

This beautiful novel is set in the silent years between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We are very quickly introduced to Leah and her family with characters that will immediately evoke strong emotions. As a young girl, Leah has grown up watching her mother be beaten and terrorized by her liberal and position-seeking father. Leah’s world exists around ensuring that her father is pleased and selling cheese at the market and her view of God is much like her view of her father;

strong and angry. We’re then introduced to Judah, a young Levite whose father is well known in Jerusalem. Judah’s home life is immediately a stark contrast to Leah’s as he raised with a strong sense of family and a stronger commitment to upholding the Laws of Moses. Our main characters cross paths a marriage is arranged as the family sets out to leave Jerusalem for a small town because they could no longer freely worship Adonai under the current occupation.

During the course of the novel we get to see Leah grow from a child, knowing little about the world outside her father’s brutality, to a woman -

who experiences pain and revelations and is maturing under the guidance of God. We experience her fear of sending her husband into battle and how her ideas of family have been influenced by her need for self-preservation. We also get to journey through the battles that Judah and his brother’s wage as the idea of following God’s purpose resounds through the entire novel. Being a fan of Angela Hunt’s Dangerous Beauty series, I started reading Judah’s Wife with no prior knowledge on the Maccabees.

The female characters that are generally excluded in the story as well as additional characters are fictional and fleshed out for the purpose of the book and Hunt’s research can be found within the novel.

The book is beautifully written and even the supporting characters are strong and add to main theme that we follow a Living God who is not distant and angry, but cares for and responds to us. When we are committed to our God and following His voice, be it a strong call or a quiet whisper, we have the ability to change the world one decision at a time. This book is a great read and I would recommend the series to anyone that is looking for Christian fiction that is based on scripture and biblical characters.

@selahblogger

|

K I T C H E N

F E A T U R E

chef scott seasoning each dish with L.O.V.E Growing up I have had a lot of career paths that I was interested in doing, but never I never thought I would consider being a Chef. I always tell people that for me it’s more of a calling then just a career, you need passion to make it big in this industry. In my last years of high school, after a lot of research then concluded that I’m potentially growing passion for cooking and I might consider it as something I would make a living out of. And I can surely say that it has been a successful journey thus far. God has taken me to places I’ve never dreamt of and yet I still believe there is more to come.

A speciality is limiting when it comes to my field, hence I’ve decided to become an all rounder in what I do. I trying by all means to improve my weaknesses in the kitchen and also grow more at where I’m good at.

@ S I R _ S C O T T _ G A N E N A N G

P R I V A T E

K I T C H E N

C H E F

It is a very difficult answer for a Chef, because everything good becomes my favorite dish.

“Seasoned with Love” is the slogan of my company and by that I believe all the dishes or recipes I create, will have an amazing taste.

Red Wine Lamb Shank with pommes puree, glazed baby and sautéed baby marrow and gem squash.

Lamb Shank C O O K E D

B Y :

C H E F

S C O T T

* 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

1 minute.

finely chopped

6. Return the shanks back into

* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin

* 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

the pot; season with 1

olive oil divided

finely chopped (divided)

teaspoon coarse salt and 1/2

* 4 - 6 lamb shanks trimmed of

* 2 bay leaves

teaspoon ground pepper.

excess fat

* Salt and pepper to season

7. Sprinkle with flour, toss well

INGREDIENTS

* 1 large white onion diced

and cook for 4-5 minutes to

* 6 cloves garlic minced

Method

* 2 large carrots sliced 1/2-inch

1. Wash and pat dry lamb

8. Add stock, wine, puree,

thick

shanks with paper towel.

tomato paste, bullion and

* 1 pinch coarse salt and

2. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a

herbs.

freshly ground pepper

heavy based pot.

9. Cover and bring to a boil,

* 1/4 cup flour

3. Sear two shanks in the hot

then reduce heat to low and

* 2 cups beef stock

oil until browned on all sides.

simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours,

* 1 1/2 cups red wine like

4. Transfer to a plate, tent with

stirring occasionally, until the

Merlot Pinot Noir, or a Chianti -

foil to keep warm, set aside.

meat is falling apart.

* 400 tomato puree

5. To the pan juices, sauté the

10. Garnish with parsley and

* 2 tablespoons tomato paste

carrots and diced onions until

serve with mashed potatoes or

* 2 beef bouillon cubes

softened, (about 3 minutes),

rice

crushed

then add garlic and cook for-

brown.

BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE written by: Marshall Segal

Contentment is not simply about settling for what we have, but trusting in what God has said. Both anxiety and greed rise in our hearts as God’s words fall.

When the author of Hebrews wanted to teach his readers about contentment, he told them an old story with a familiar refrain. He quieted their fears and quenched their greed by reminding them what God had said.said”?

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). Which prompted Charles Spurgeon to ask, Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death, will not the internal corruptions and the external snares, will not the trials from above and the temptations from beneath all seem but light afflictions when we can hide ourselves beneath the -

"THEREFORE, WE CAN

BE

COURAGEOUS

WHEREVER HIS HAND

LEADS US, FLEE THE

SHINY PROMISES OF

SILVER, AND

REJOICE IN WHAT WE

HAVE. MOST OF ALL,

WE CAN REJOICE THAT

WE HAVE HIM."

“BOTH ANXIETY

AND GREED RISE

IN OUR HEARTS

AS GOD’S WORDS

FALL.”

bulwark of “he has said”?

The seed of unnecessary fear in the heart of a Christian is forgetfulness — an inability to remember and trust what the God of the universe has said and done. No one has ever had any grounds to accuse God of not following through on his word. Not even one phrase in any sentence in any statement he has ever made has failed (Joshua 21:45).

We will only be truly content with what we have when we know that we have him. And we will remember that we have him when we hear and believe his voice God Has Said When God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” he was speaking to Joshua before little Israel went up to take the whole land of Canaan by force. A nation of nomads was about to invade a land filled with enemies bigger and stronger than themselves.

Not one army, but many (Joshua 3:10) — and not our turf, but theirs. Israel’s only confidence was that God had told them to go. He had said.

What did he say? The foreign land you are about to enter is already yours (Joshua 1:3). No enemy, no matter how many or how strong, will be able to defeat you (Joshua 1:5).

And most promising of all: “I will not leave you or forsake you.”

‘I Will Never Leave You’ This great promise will fall flat if we think mainly in terms of geography and not fidelity. Of course God will never leave us because he’s everywhere all the time. “If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”

(Psalms 139:8). But we see God’s fidelity in the very next verse, “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me” (Psalms 139:9–10). If you are his, he will not leave you; he will lead and protect you.

When Joshua stared out into impossible circumstances and enormous opposition, God said, “I will not leave you or forsake you. . .

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5, 9).

When the author of Hebrews saw what followers of Jesus would face, and how they would be tempted to wander, he went back to those same words (the only time this promise is quoted in the New Testament), “He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

You will never be alone. No matter how desperate and alone you feel, no matter how much opposition you face, no matter how precarious your circumstances become, he has said, I will be with you. His presence can calm any fear — if we don’t forget that he’s there, he’s near, and he’s attentive.

What You Don’t Have The author of Hebrews, however, wasn’t warning about Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

His readers, who were Jewish converts, were facing intense persecution, but from within their own nation — from their own communities, even their own families. And as the scorching friendly fire fell, an even more threatening enemy emerged within their hearts: their own cravings and desires.

He says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). When Western Christians today read, “Be content with what you have,” we might assume the Christian has enough. We may hear, “Don’t long for more than you need.” But many of these young converts were being thrown out of their families, cut off from all provision and protection.

To follow Jesus was to embrace abandonment and accept poverty. So, many of them were being called to be content with what they did not have.

Discontentment suddenly doesn’t seem so unreasonable. Some of them went without food — for Christ. Some of them had only the clothes on their back — for Christ. Some of them lost their homes — for Christ. Some of them “joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property, since [they] knew that [they themselves] had a better possession and an abiding one” (Hebrews 10:34).

If they could be content with what they had, and didn’t have, how can we not learn to be content with what we have?

Grace Enough Be content with what you have. Are there six more terrifying words in a culture like ours? They certainly land on me like six sharp cannon blasts.

Don’t let your heart endlessly pine for what you might have one day, but cultivate satisfaction in what God has given you for today.

The word for content is the same word in 2 Corinthians 12:9, when Jesus says to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul responds, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Paul’s message is not like so many contentment gospels:

If we keep flirting with money, we will make ourselves sons of Judas, who traded God himself for thirty pitiful pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). But even before he died, Judas knew he had been had (Matthew 27:3). He had grossly overestimated money and misjudged the love that no amount of silver could buy: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Could he not see how murderously unhappy the Pharisees were (Luke 16:14)?

Still he couldn’t shake his cravings for more, even if they cost him everything. If we could feel the horrible realization he felt after trading Jesus away for money, would we not race to give away every possession necessary to have God? Would we not gladly have however little in this life to gain him in the next and forever?

If the Lord gives you less, make lemonade.

Rather, he says, If Christ gives you less, boast in your less, because you get to see more of him in your less. His grace is sufficient to cover any deficiency in us. If God is that big, and grace that sweet, then we are able to say what the vast majority cannot say: “If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:8). We will not be simply appeased, but pleased, because our deepest joy does not rise and fall with what we have (Philippians 4:11).

How Silver Kills a Man If we want to be content with what we have, however, we have to be free from the love of money. As Paul warns, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10). And through this craving, many have forfeited contentment and forgotten what God has said. Intimacy with God loses its value as we fall deeper in love with our currency (and all it buys for us).

Content and Courageous What does contentment sound like? True contentment does not sound cheap, shy, or docile because it often requires profound strength and lionhearted courage. Hebrews continues, “He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5–6). As he looks out on this small army of Jesus-followers, facing want and need and worse, he turns from Joshua 1 to Psalm 118, which goes on to say, It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. (Psalm 118:8–9) When you are tempted to worry about how much you have, set your mind on what he has said. If the true God is your God, he goes with you. He knows what you need (Matthew 6:32). And knowing all you need, and all you will face, he will never leave you nor forsake you.

FEATURE-

WHO IS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD IN THE BIBLE?

''The angel of the Lord typically appeared to people during a time of crisis in their life''

BY: MARY FAIRCHILD

The mysterious angel of the Lord appeared dozens of times in the Old Testament, usually as a supernatural messenger, but sometimes as a fierce executioner. Who was he and what was his purpose?

Angel of the Lord

Altogether, the Bible makes more than 50 references to "the angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament.

The angel of the Lord is also referred to in Scripture as: The angel of God, commander of the army of the Lord; inHebrew: malach Yehovah (the angel of the Lord), malach habberith (the angel of the Covenant); in Greek, from the Septuagint, megalhs boulhs aggelos (the angel of the Great Counsel).

In most instances, the angel of the Lord appeared to Bible characters when something dramatic and meaningful was about to happen, generally with serious consequences, whether good or evil, and often in some way related to God's plan of salvation.

God or Jesus in Disguise?

In his appearances on earth, the angel of the Lord spoke with the authority of God and acted as God. It's easy to become confused about his true identity because the writers of those Bible books switched between calling the speaker the angel of the Lord and God. Bible scholars clear things up by suggesting those visits were actually theophanies or manifestations of God in a physical body.

But why didn't God just show up as himself?

Because no human can see the face of God and survive: "But," (God) said (to Moses), "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." (Exodus 33:20, NIV) Many scholars think the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament was a pre-incarnate appearance of the Word, or Jesus Christ, as a Christophany. Bible commentators caution readers to use the context of the passage to decide whether the angel of the Lord was God the Father or Jesus.

If the angel of the Lord was the Son of God, he actually wore two disguises. First, he posed as an angel, and second, that angel appeared as a man, not in true angelic form. The adjective "the" before "angel of the Lord" indicates God disguised as an angel. The adjective "an" before "angel of the Lord" means a created angel.

Significantly, the term "an angel of the Lord" is used only in the New Testament.

The angel of the Lord typically appeared to people during a time of crisis in their life, and in most instances, those characters played a major role in God's plan of salvation. Usually, the people did not realize right away that they were talking to a divine being, so we can assume the angel of the Lord was in the form of a man. When people realized he was an angel, they trembled in fear and fell to the ground.

Angel of the Lord to the Rescue Sometimes the angel of the Lord arrived on the scene to bring rescue. He called to Hagar in the desert when she and Ishmael were cast out, and opened her eyes to a well of water. The prophet Elijah also got a visit from the angel of the Lord when he was fleeing evil Queen Jezebel. The angel provided him with food and drink.

Twice the angel of the Lord was seen in fire.

He appeared to Moses in a burning bush. Later, in the time of the judges, Samson's parents offered a burnt sacrifice to God, and the angel of the Lord ascended in the flames.

On two occasions, people had the boldness to ask the angel of the Lord his name. After wrestling with Jacob all night, the angel refused to tell Jacob his name. When Samson's parents asked the mysterious visitor his name, he replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. " (Judges 13:18, NIV).

Sometimes, instead of help or a message, the angel of the Lord brought destruction. In 2 Samuel 24:15, the angel inflicted a plague on Israel that killed 70,000 people. In 2 Kings 19:35, the angel put to death 185,000 Assyrians.

The best argument that the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament was the Second Person of the Trinity is that he did not appear in Jesus' incarnation. While created angels did visit people in the New Testament, the Son of God fulfilled his earthly mission in human form as Jesus Christ, through his death and resurrection.

ROTUBIRTNOC

Trust IN THE LORD

GOODNESS

E

veryone goes through trials and tribulations and find it so hard to believe that they will pass. We always need to know that all things work together for good for those who trust and love the Lord. That is why we need to put our trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-8 [5]Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

[6]Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

[7] Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

[8]Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

What is to trust?

It is to have confidence in something or someone.

Another meaning it is to depend in something or someone.

What is to lean?

To rest or rely for support, comfort, etc: with on, upon or against.

What is understanding?

Reason or intelligence, ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge.

Going back to the scripture, with all the meanings we just got, it simply means that we must have full confidence and be dependent on the Lord. We must not rely on our own intelligence and ability to grasp the full meaning of whatever that is happening in our lives.

I know when a sermon is been preached about trusting in the Lord, we tend to have-

I'm philanthropist, author, public speaker,businesswoman, and an artistic person. Gracefully set apart and anointed by Him as a Prophetess.

questions such as who should trust in the Lord? Why must we trust in Him? The list goes on.

1.Who should trust in the Lord?

All those who have knowledge of who God is and the position He holds in their lives. All children of God who have been adopted through Christ Jesus to become Sons.

Galatians 3:26 [26]For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

John 1:12 [12]But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

ROTUBIRTNOC

"that we must have full confidence and be dependent on the Lord" Romans 8:14 [14]For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 2.Why must we trust in the Lord?

He is our Creator. He knows everything that is happening in our lives because He knew us while we were still in our mothers' womb. Therefore, He has plans for us not harm us but prosper us. We learn nothing when things are good but we gain strength and learn more when things are a bit shaky.

Psalms 125:1 [1]Those who trust in the lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

Exodus 14:14 [14]The lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Must read Isaiah 40:27-31

●

●

3.How do we trust in the Lord?

By not leaning on your own understanding.

By not using your own wisdom and understanding to solve things.

By not using your own strength trying to figure out solutions.

● ● ●

Jeremiah 1:5 & 29:11 [5]“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 58:8 [8]“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

John 14:1 [1]“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

NB: Lean on prayer, worship and His Word Philipians 4:6 [6]Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Romans 12:12 [12]Rejoice in our confident hope.

Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 [17]Never stop praying.

John 4:24 [24]For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Joshua 1:8 [8]Study this Book of Instruction continually.

Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Isaiah 26:4 [4]Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

5.Results of trusting in the Lord.

In whatever we do we need to have confidence that God is with us and depend on Him through all situations we come across because He will help us conquer.

Must read Psalms 37:3-9

●

●

Jeremiah 17:7-8 [7]“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the lord their hope and confidence.

[8]They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

GOODNESS NTOMBELA

4.When must we trust in the Lord?

We trust in the Lord in everyday of our lives. Even when: ~You are jobless ~You don't have food in the fridge ~You are sick, and it seems like there's no hope of healing ~You are hated by your family, friends or even neighbors.

It doesn't matter the situation.

[11]For I know the plans I have for you,” says the lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. @beautyandthegospel

Advertisement

we are not ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

Beauty & The Gospel

Merchandise

WE ARE BORN TO MAKE JESUS FAMOUS

Call 079 4057 641 or Visit @ beautyandthegospelmerch

Devotions by the anointed Dr AndrĂŠ and Jenny Roebert

Build on Him Message taken from Revelation 3:17 (TPT) Revelation 3:17 (TPT):Â "For you claim," I'm rich and getting richer - I don't need a thing." Yet you are clueless that you are miserable, poor, blind, barren, and naked!"

There's a vast difference between how we measure success and how God measures it. We tend to build our standards on comparisons. To us, whatever appears bigger, grander, and more beautiful - must be better. Yet God's standard for greatness reaches past what is outwardly displayed. It goes deep into what is not seen by others - into the motives and intents of our hearts. If they measure up to, and reflect His own, He considers them more valuable than all the wealth and riches this world has to offer. The way we think and act when others aren't watching holds more weight to Him than our outward displays of generosity and excellence - when they are based on incorrect or insincere motives. Being honest, pure, and completely dependent on Him at the core of who we are, is what makes us rich. Unless this is the foundation of the good works we produce, our efforts - no matter how grand - are of little value to God's Kingdom. When they go through the fire of adversity, they will have nothing to sustain them.

Only things birthed from, and built on the heart of God will remain vital and true. Let the Lord be the master builder in your life - He'll produce fruit that is truly rich, according to His heavenly standards.

Advertiser's are most welcome for very affordable prices email : beautyandthegospel@ gmail.com