THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FREEDOM BY / / PUBLISHED IN DAILY DEVOTION Today’s Scripture: Romans 8:20-21 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Booker T. Washington, in his book, Up from Slavery, describes the scenes among the blacks on the night of the Proclamation of their freedom. “There was no sleep that night,” he says. “All was excitement and expectancy. Early in the morning we were all sent for. The Proclamation was read and we were told that we were free and could go when and where we pleased… there was great rejoicing, followed by wild scenes of ecstasy. “But,” he goes on to say, “The wild rejoicing did not last long. By the time the coloured people had returned to their cabins, there was a marked change in their feelings. The great responsibility of being free seemed to ta...

Refreshing Spring Rains Amy Boucher Pye Hosea 6:1–4 He will come to us like the . . . spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3 Needing a break, I went for a walk in the nearby park. As I headed down the path, a burst of green caught my attention. Out of the mud appeared shoots of life that in a few weeks would be cheerful daffodils, heralding spring and the warmth to come. We had made it through another winter! As we read through the book of Hosea, it can feel in parts like an unrelenting winter. For the Lord gave this prophet the unenviable task of marrying an unfaithful woman as a picture of the Creator’s love for His people Israel (1:2–3). Hosea’s wife, Gomer, broke their wedding vows, but Hosea welcomed her back, yearning that she would love him devotedly (3:1–3). So too the Lord desires that we love Him with a strength and commitment that won’t evaporate like the morning mist. How do we relate to God? Do we seek Him mainly in times of trouble, searching for answers...

Grateful and Aware of God’s Love by Joyce Meyer - posted March 21, 2017 March 21, 2017 Grateful and Aware of God’s Love by Joyce Meyer - posted March 21, 2017 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! - Psalm 106:1 God is always good to us, always faithful to us, always working so diligently in our lives. He is always doing something for us and acting in our best interest, so we need to respond by letting Him know we appreciate His abundant goodness. For example, “Lord, thank You for a good night’s sleep,” or “God, I thank You that my visit to the dentist didn’t hurt as much as I thought it might,” or “Father, thank You for helping me make good decisions today,” or “Lord, thank You for keeping me encouraged.” We can thank God silently in our hearts, and we can also voice our thankfulness aloud because that helps us stay conscious and aware of God’s love, which He demonstrates through His...

REPENTANCE IS ESSENTIAL TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017 REPENTANCE IS ESSENTIAL -JEREMIAH 14:13-22 KEY VERSE: " We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee" (Jeremiah 14:20). A particular tribe in Africa has it in their proverb that if one realises his fault early before the cult of elders, he would not be asked to kneel down for long. The excuse that Jeremiah the prophet tried to give to God in defence of his people’s sins and their attendant deplorable state was not tenable before God. Enough warnings had been given to them about the prevalent false prophets who prophesy lies and the deceits of their heart. Yet, these people bluntly refused to heed His warning. The judgment of God had taken its full course on both the deceiver and the deceived. Swords and famine had swung into operation in Jerusalem. God in His love now directed the prophet to mourn the more grievous experience of famine and sword that would...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, 21ST MARCH. WE'RE LIKE HIM. RHAPSODY OF REALITIES TUESDAY, 21ST MARCH. WE'RE LIKE HIM . Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). The latter part of our opening verse, referring to Jesus, says, as He is, so are we in this world. If we’re as He is, then it’s important to find out from the Word who Jesus is; how did He live when He walked the earth? The Bible tells us that He healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out devils. Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” His life was an unending stream of the miraculous. He walked on water. He talked to deaf ears, and they were unstopped. He spoke to blind eyes and they opened. He talked to lame legs, and they were restored. He was such a marvel. A...

Satisfaction in Him By Billy Graham • March 21 • Topics: Creation HomeDaily DevotionSatisfaction in Him standing in field I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. —Psalm 17:15 Is it not logical to believe that the only one who can recreate us is the One who created us in the first place? If your watch were out of order, you wouldn’t take it to a blacksmith. If your car needed overhauling, you wouldn’t go to a machine shop. Our spiritual problems can be solved only by the God who created us originally. He created us in His own image and likeness; today, by the grace of His Son, He can recreate us in the likeness of His resurrection. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are recreated and become partakers of His life. Prayer for the day There is so much that is out of order in my life, Lord. Remake all the parts that need the infinite healing of your re-creation.

IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE – Tuesday March 21st 2017 IT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE – Tuesday March 21st 2017  Memorise: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 Read: 2nd Kings 4:1-7 (King James Version) 1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from hi...