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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

THE DESIGN AND THE DESIGNER

‘Lift your eyes and look to the heavens…’

Isaiah 40:26




Wernher von Braun, the first director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Centre, who’s known as ‘the father of the American space programme,’ stated in a published article in May, 1974: ‘One cannot be exposed to the law and order of the universe without concluding that there must be a design and purpose behind it all…The better we understand the intricacies of the universe…the more reason we have found to marvel at the inherent design upon which it is based…To be forced to believe only one conclusion—that everything in the universe happened by chance—would violate the very objectivity of science itself…What random process could produce the brains of a man or the system of the human eye?…They [evolutionists] challenge science to prove the existence of God. But must we really light a candle to see the sun?…They say they cannot visualise a designer. Well, can a physicist visualise an electron? What strange rationale makes some physicists accept the inconceivable electron as real, while refusing to accept the reality of a designer on the ground that they cannot conceive Him?’ The devotional you are reading was not the result of an explosion in a printing press. No, if there’s a book, then there must be a publisher. If there’s a building, then there must be an architect and builder. If there’s a work of art, then there must be an artist. ‘Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.’ 

John 1-4, Matthew 14:1-12, Psalm 141 , Proverbs 4:18-19

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

DESERT OF BULLYING

 Pray for all those who suffer bullying and harassment, whether at work, at home or at school, and who fear that things will never improve.  Pray that God will bring someone alongside who can comfort and support.  Pray for healing in their inmost being, so that their damaged confidence and self-esteem will grow back even stronger than before.  Pray that someone will meet them today and tell them how much they are loved by their Father God.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

ARE YOU LONELY?

‘…We’re all connected to each other…’

Ephesians 4:25



In the first chapters of Genesis we read, ‘And God saw that it was good.’ That is, until He created Adam. Then God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone…’ (Genesis 2:18 NIV). Adam was enjoying a great relationship with God, but because he didn’t have a human companion, God said it wasn’t a good thing. God designed you with two voids. One is a void only He Himself can fill. The other is a void only the right people can fill. And you can’t fill either void with things like jobs, houses, cars or money. You say, ‘What should I do?’ 1) Keep your eyes open. Today one in five relationships begins on the Internet. But there’s a built-in danger there; you can be anybody you want to be on the Internet, yet not be known and loved for the person you really are. Furthermore, loneliness can blind you to your own true needs and another person’s lack of character. 2) Pray about it. When Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, was sent to find a wife for Isaac he prayed, ‘O Lord…give me success today…’ (Genesis 24 NIV). And God did. Isaac and Rebekah became one of the great love stories of the Bible. 3) Reach out to others. That may mean taking down the wall you’ve been hiding behind and building a bridge. The Bible says, ‘Do not be interested only in your own life…be interested in…others’ (Philippians 2:4 NCV). There are no perfect relationships, or risk-free ones. It’s in finding an unmet need and pouring yourself into it that you conquer loneliness and discover a new joy in living.

 

Joel 2:12-13, Matthew 4:1-17, Mark 2:18-22 , Luke 9:23-26

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

DESERT OF BULLYING

 Pray for all those who suffer bullying and harassment, whether at work, at home or at school, and who fear that things will never improve.  Pray that God will bring someone alongside who can comfort and support.  Pray for healing in their inmost being, so that their damaged confidence and self-esteem will grow back even stronger than before.  Pray that someone will meet them today and tell them how much they are loved by their Father God

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

LOVE

‘…Let us…love one another…’


 

Love is slow to suspect but quick to trust; slow to condemn but quick to justify; slow to offend but quick to defend; slow to expose but quick to shield; slow to reprimand but quick to empathise; slow to belittle but quick to appreciate; slow to demand but quick to give; slow to provoke but quick to help; slow to resent but quick to forgive. Jerry Cook talks about a church where the people make the following pledge to each other: ‘I’ll never knowingly say or do anything to hurt you. I’ll always, in every circumstance, seek to help and support you. If you’re down and I can lift you, I’ll do that. If you need something and I have it, I’ll share it with you. If I need to, I’ll give it to you. No matter what I find out about you, no matter what happens in the future—either good or bad—my commitment to you will never change. And there’s nothing you can do about it.’ 1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV says love: 1) ‘Believes all things.’ When someone you care about is called into question, love says, ‘That’s not the kind of person they are; that’s not what they meant.’ 2) ‘Hopes all things.’ Love sees people not just as they are, but as they can be through God’s grace. And if you let Him, God will download that kind of love into your heart. 3) ‘Endures all things.’ The word ‘endure’ is a military term. It means driving a stake into the ground. It’s like saying, ‘I’ll stand my ground in loving you.’ Today, take the love that God has given to you, and give it to others. 

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

DESERT OF LONELINESS

 Today is St Valentine’s Day: a celebration of love and commitment for some, but a reminder of loss and loneliness for others.  Pray today for those who have become isolated, either because they live alone, or because they feel unable to find friends and build relationships.  Pray that new groups and networks will spring up to counteract our society’s slide towards individualism, and that the UK will become a place known for friendliness and ...

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

THE CALL TO LEADERSHIP (1)

‘…Rise and stand on your feet…’

Acts 26:16



If God has called you to leadership, you’ll be unfulfilled in any other role. God told Paul, ‘Rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister…’ Notice what the call to leadership requires: 1) Competence. You must recognise your gifts, and then channel your energies into where you’re most likely to succeed. That means acknowledging your limitations and helping equip others to fill them. To do that, you must be secure. 2) Courage. Scott Peck said, ‘The best decision makers are those willing to suffer the most over their decisions but still retain their ability to be decisive.’ Good leaders are not necessarily the cleverest or most creative people, they’re just the ones with the courage to step out and go first. So, ‘…Be thou strong and very courageous’ (Joshua 1:7 KJV). 3) Clarity. Your life’s vision may come at once, but the steps are revealed over time. Don’t allow a lack of answers to leave you paralysed. Be clear about your goal, even though you’re not certain as to the details. 4) Coaching. Without a good coach you’ll never be as good as you could be. If you’re hoping to learn everything from personal experience, all the best; you’ll have to outlive Methuselah! 5) Character. You can lead without character, but you can’t be a leader worth following. Character provides the moral authority to bring together the people and resources needed to get the job done. Your talent has the potential to take you places where your character can’t sustain you. That thought should keep you on your knees.

 

Titus 1-3, Matthew 14:13-21, Psalm 145:1-13 , Proverbs 4:20-22

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

NEIGHBOUR FRIDAY

 Lord, I pray for all those living on my street who are struggling with alcohol or drug addictions, gambling problems, relationship break down and debt.  Help them to understand that You are a Father who never leaves or forsakes them, and that You long for a relationship with them.Could you give copies of ‘The Father’s Love Letter’ to the households in your street, and invite them to come and discuss it together?

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

THE CALL TO LEADERSHIP (2)

‘Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…’

Matthew 28:20





If God has called you to be a teacher in the church, here are three principles you need to live by: 1) Before you feed others, feed yourself. Don’t just go to the Bible for something to say, go for something to eat. Jeremiah said, ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart…’ (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV). People know when you’re saying things that are not a reality in your own life. It’s what Dr. John Maxwell refers to as ‘The law of the lid.’ Nothing rises higher than its leadership! 2) Love people, but don’t cling to them. They are God’s people, not yours! Your assignment to them is for a reason and for a season; when it’s complete, release them into God’s care. Then get a life, and centre it on Christ. 3) Truth is timeless, but methods are temporary. What got you to where you are won’t necessarily get you to where you need to be. To be ‘called’ means you’ll always be moving from something, toward something. If what you’re doing isn’t working, seek God for fresh instructions. If your goal is to fit comfortably within the framework of where you started and make no waves, you’ll never enjoy what God has for you further down the road. You can’t pray for growth and resist change. Do you know why Jesus healed blind people in different ways? So we’d never be able to say, ‘This is the only way.’ Acknowledging that keeps you sharp, keeps you humble, and keeps you credible as a leader.


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Hebrews 1-4, Matthew 14:22-36, Psalm 145:14-21 , Provwebs 4:23-24

TODAY'S PRAYER - FROM PRAYER FOR TODAY MAGAZINE

PRAYER & ME

 Are you feeling that nudge from God to step out and move something forward?  Maybe it’s a group or project you’re leading, or a plan you’ve been thinking about for ages.  Lord, I confess that I feel unsure of myself, but I am sure of You, and today I commit to stepping forward.  Give me courage to risk doing the next thing You’ve called me to, regardless of how it may look to others.