SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017 CALMING ANGER TEXT: PROVERBS 15:1 BIBLE TEXT: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). An angry person feels very grieved and displeased about someone or something. Anger causes some people to do bad things that they would later regret. Sometimes anger leads to quarrel, fight or murder. It has broken many friendships and other relationships. That is why Horace said that, "Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you." The biblical story of Abigail, the wife of Nabal, depicts the effective way of calming anger. David would have killed Nabal and all the males in his family for insulting and dishonouring him if Abigail had not humbly gone to appease David (1 Samuel 25: 22). Avoid anger like a plague. Be careful with angry people. Be silent when you are confronted by an angry man. Be calm and answer such a one in a pleasant way. "Let your speech be alw...

Two Infinitely Strong and Tender Truths  by John Piper “ . . . declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:10) The word “sovereignty” (like the word “Trinity”) does not occur in the Bible. We use it to refer to this truth: God is in ultimate control of the world from the largest international intrigue to the smallest bird-fall in the forest. Here is how the Bible puts it: “I am God, and there is no other. . . . ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9–10). And: “[God] does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35). And: “He is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me” (Job 23:13–14). And: “Our God is in the heavens; he does...

Don't Fret—Rejoice! by Joyce Meyer - posted March 11, 2017 Rejoice in the Lord always…again I say, Rejoice!...Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in…everything, by prayer and petition…with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. —Philippians 4:4,6 Twice in this passage the apostle Paul tells us to rejoice. He urges us not to fret or have any anxiety about anything but to pray and give thanks to God in everything—not after everything is over. If you wait until everything is perfect before rejoicing and giving thanks you won't have much fun. Learning to enjoy life even in the midst of trying circumstances is one way to develop spiritual maturity. Live in the fullness of the joy of the Lord by finding something to be glad about besides your current circumstances. You must learn to derive your happiness and joy from the Lord who lives inside you. Decide you will not fret or have anxiety about anything but will give thanks and praise t...

Gird up March 11, 2017 Wherefo seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. - Hebrews 12:1 YOU that discern the prize of your high calling, and who are endeavoring to press along the line toward the mark, "gird up the loins of your mind";... strengthen and fortify your purposes and efforts; renew your determination; redouble your diligence; cast aside the weights of unnecessary worldly cares; increase your zeal; and, as the Apostle Paul also urges, run with patience the race set before you. Run, not like one who is merely beating the air, but like one who has a purpose in view, and who, in desperate earnest, is determined to make his calling and election sure.

Walking in Freedom PUBLISHED IN DAILY DEVOTION Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. James H. McConkey relates an interesting incident which occurred after the American Civil War: Shortly after the Civil War, a northern woman came to the South to visit some friends. She stopped at a little wayside hotel for entertainment. There she was waited on by a coloured woman who had been a slave. The service was careless, listless, and inattentive. As this went on, the northern woman became nettled. Finally she burst out: ‘Auntie is this the way you treat people who have set you free?’ The woman made no reply but left the room. By and by she returned. Her whole demeanour was changed. Her figure was erect, her eyes were flashing and her voice was full of tears as she cried out with great emotion, “Oh, Missus, is we free? Is we really free?” The Emancipation Proclama...

Mayday! David McCasland Psalm 86:1–13 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Psalm 86:7 The international distress signal “Mayday” is always repeated three times in a row—“Mayday-Mayday-Mayday”—so the situation will be clearly understood as a life-threatening emergency. The word was created in 1923 by Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio officer at London’s Croydon Airport. That now-closed facility once had many flights to and from Le Bourget Airport in Paris. According to the National Maritime Museum, Mockford coined Mayday from the French word m’aidez, which means, “help me.” Throughout King David’s life, he faced life-threatening situations for which there seemed to be no way out. Yet, we read in Psalm 86 that during his darkest hours, David’s confidence was in the Lord. “Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me” (vv. 6–7). David also saw beyond the immediate danger by askin...

He Will Break Every Chain Post by Joel Osteen One time, I to a gentleman who had been an alcoholic for 30 years. It was all he had known. Growing up, he watched his father and grandfather struggle with alcohol. It looked like this addiction would keep getting passed from generation to generation. He tried to stop but wasn't able to, and now he was just accepting it. One day he was so miserable, he said, "God, I can't do this anymore. Please send somebody to help me." He specifically prayed, "God, send me a counselor." It just so happened that he turned on our Sirius XM channel. He would listen for hours and hours every day. He said to me, with tears running down his cheeks, "Joel, you became my counselor. You were the answer to my prayer." For the first time in 30 years, he's been sober for 8 months. He couldn't do it on his own, but God broke the chains. God cut through the bars of iron. There may be things that have held you ba...

The Power of Speech By Billy Graham • March 11 HomeDaily DevotionThe Power of Speech women Submit yourselves therefore to God . . . —James 4:7 You have a tongue and a voice. These instruments of speech can be used destructively or employed constructively. You can use your tongue to slander, to gripe, to scold, to nag, and to quarrel; or you can bring it under the control of God’s Spirit and make it an instrument of blessing and praise. The 20th-century version of James 3:3 says, “When we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we control the rest of their bodies also.” Just so, when we submit to the claims of Christ upon our lives, our untamed natures are brought under His control. We become meek, tamed, and “fit for the Master’s service.” Prayer for the day I would be under Your control, Lord Jesus Christ. Take away the pride that keeps me from complete submission

Open Heavens 11 March 2017:-  WHEN HIS VOICE THUNDERS – Saturday March 11th 2017 Memorise: For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beatendown, which smote with a rod. Isaiah 30:31.Read: Psalm 29:3-9 (KJV) 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. Bible in one year: Genesis 46-47, Isaiah 57, Hymn: Sing hymn 4 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is...