Noah ugbe jnr

Amen

I have a very GOD!
Do you👉?

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)

The atmosphere was just right, a warm evening like I love them. My friend and I sat outside with other friends, amused, as they bombarded us with questions, they couldn’t keep to themselves. “You are young and healthy; you’ve got your life ahead of yourself. What is it that you need in this Jesus thing?” They couldn’t grasp how we could find joy in Christ, nor what pleasure we could take in our new-found faith.

Christianity, contrary to what some may think — or even practice — is not about a stack of religious instructions that promise to make you pious. Following Christ is a privilege developed out of a relationship of love, freedom, passion, and joy. When you recognize your need for the Savior, and accept His sacrifice for you, it is far more than anything this world can offer.

This powerful relationship goes both ways. In the third chapter of the book of Zephaniah, we read of the people of God who turned away from their Father. But then the prophet explains what happens when His children return to Him: “he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” He promises to forget your wrong doing, and marvels over you with loving tenderness, singing His joy over your coming back to Him.

Look no longer to your past. Move forward with Jesus. Rejoice in the God who rejoices in you when you place your faith in Him. Whether you have been a believer for five seconds or five decades, this promise applies to your life, daily.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

It may just be me, but the world seems to have lost its way. And too many of us in our personal lives seem more affected than ever by all that is going on around us. But God through Isaiah reminds us— “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God.”

Sin still lingers, evil rears its head, and grows as darkness surrounds us. Personal lives and families continue to struggle. Illness unexpectedly hits, and heart-wrenching losses leave us empty. Families climb financial mountains unable to meet expenses as prices soar. But again, God says through His prophet Isaiah— “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:”

People continue to make decisions detrimental to their lives, to lives entrusted to them, and to the lives of others who follow their example. And God promises to help and guide them as He says again through Isaiah— “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Through all that’s going on within us and around us, God is still there. God is good. Still worthy. Faithful. Still lifting. Caring. Embracing each one of us in His strong and everlasting arms. God is still there. Hope reigns. God’s amazing grace is there. In the midst of whatever God’s unfailing love remains.

My friends in the midst of whatever—God remains. God is still there. In the midst of whatever, God is above all. And He promises through Isaiah that “...they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;…”

In the midst of whatever—God. Hope. Amazing grace. Unfailing love.

you. For me. Forever.

Let brotherly love continue.” Hebrews 13:1 (KJV)

When you think of the a church what comes to mind?
Perhaps a building or a religious organization?

The KJV Bible Dictionary defines Church as "The collective body of Christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ, and acknowledge him to be the Savior of mankind. In this sense, the church is sometimes called the Catholic or Universal Church."

"The disciples of Christ assembled for worship in a particular place, as in a private house. Colossians 4 ."

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary describes church as “A local assembly of believers as well as the redeemed of all the ages who follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. When the church general is implied, “church” refers to all who follow Christ, without respect to locality or time.” And that “It will not be complete until after the judgment, and the assembly of all the redeemed in one place will become a reality only after the return of Christ.”

The church is not a building nor is it known by a particular name. God’s people are what makes up the body of Christ. Whether you belong to a small church or a large church makes no difference to God. God loves his entire church regardless of size. Whether your church gathers in an epic building, a room at poultry farm or a prison cell doesn’t matter. God loves all his people regardless of where they meet.

Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34 KJV). Don’t judge nor look down on others because they don’t attend the same church “building” you do. Remember God loves all His people no matter which church they attend.

MORE TO PONDER:
Let God know how grateful you are that He chose and adopted you into His family of believers. Tell Jesus how excited you are about the great assembly that will take place after His return for His bride, the church.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
Almost everyone I know wants more peace in their lives. Many people that I know are desperately hoping and grasping for what seems altogether impossible in their present situations. They don’t see solutions but just maybe they can find some peace.

If there is a remedy for finding peace in our turmoil-filled lives, it will happen when we see our Holy God as He is, Almighty, all powerful, all-knowing, wholly Sovereign.

We will not learn how to free ourselves of anxiety – until we learn to give Him our worries and believe He will never forsake us no matter what is going on, according to the promise of Deuteronomy 31:6,

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Most worry develops because we cannot fix our problems. We can’t make things happen and we can’t make things stop. When we choose to trust, worry loses its fierce grip from our nervous wringing hands.

We will have peace when we believe the same God who parted seas, loosed prison chains, and used marching men shouting and blowing trumpets to topple a city wall, is the same God who never leaves us in our hour of need. This same God will walk with us in the difficult trials of our lives.

We will have peace when we believe with assured confidence He will carry our burdens and carry us, too. He will take us through, always walking beside us. He is all the help we will ever need. This is why we can find peace when we make the significant choice to trust the Lord.

...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7

My question today is, what do you see when you look into the mirror?
Do you only see yourself or do you see God’s image?

Dear one, no matter what you may physically look like, the image of your Father in heaven is unmistakable! You should reflect God’s love, grace and mercy.

When people see you reflect Jesus, they are drawn to His great love. They’ll sense His unconditional acceptance.

You may not see the love of God mirrored in your life because you do not have a relationship with Him.

HIS UNFAILING LOVE

One stumble does not define or break a person. Though you failed, God’s love does not. Face your failures with faith in God’s goodness. Like Joshua, when he stood on the eastern side of the Jordan, God could see the upcoming mishap. Still, he tells you what he told Joshua:
“now therefore arise… and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them…” (Joshua 1:2).
There’s no condition in that covenant. God’s Promise Land offer does not depend on your perfection. It depends on his. In God’s hands no defeat is a crushing defeat. Psalm 37:23-24 reminds us the steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall, it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. It’s essential you understand this— God’s grace is greater than your failures!
Psalm 37:23-24
23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
and he delighted in his way.
24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand



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“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5

What was the attitude that was in Christ Jesus?

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8).

Self-emptying and self-sacrifice, obedience to God’s will, and love to men, even unto death of the Cross – this was the character of Christ for which God so highly exalted Him. It is the character of Christ that we are to imitate. He was made in the likeness of men, so we could be conformed into the likeness of God.

Self-effacement and self-sacrifice that God’s will might be done and that man might be saved – this was the attitude of Christ. He lived only to please God and to bless men.

Don’t say that this is an impossibility. What is impossible with men is possible with God. We are called to work out this salvation of a Christlike character with fear and trembling; for

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

As we pray, let this be our one aim: to have the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.

Noah ugbe jnr
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THE SOLDIERS’ PRAYER

Psalm 91 is called the Soldiers’ Psalm. I read an article online that in World War I, the soldiers of the 91st Brigade recited the 91st Psalm daily.

This brigade engaged in three of the war’s bloodiest battles. Other units suffered up to 90% casualties, but the 91st Brigade did not suffer a single combat-related death. God is willing and able to keep His words of covenant promise.

Plead God’s Psalm 91 shield daily. Confidently claim His rest, refuge, safety, covering, faithfulness, freedom from fear, angelic watchers, deliverance, and protection.

Prayer is the War. God’s Word is the Weapon.
Psalm 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

(C) Noah ugbe jnr


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IN GOD'S LOVE

One day I thought about the verse, “Keep yourselves in the love of God,” (Jude 21) and I wondered, “How do I keep myself in God’s love?”

After all, God’s love is eternal, unchanging and constant. Nothing can remove us from the love of God. What then does this directive actually mean?

God directed my thoughts to my relationship with my wife. She loves me more than anyone on earth. I feel secure, safe and protected. There are times however, when we have a misunderstanding and my feeling of security quickly changes to insecurity. When this happens, I put up a wall. I withdraw from his love rather than keeping myself in her love. The wall I put up shuts out her love.

In the same way, I will at times try to take myself out of God’s love. I know He orchestrates circumstances in my life to teach me divine truths. Sometimes these situations are very painful and I begin to doubt the truth of the Bible regarding God’s love. I put up a wall. His love for me hasn’t changed, but I don’t experience His love.
For example, when we lost our love ones to death, the enemy put thoughts in our mind like,

“How could a loving God take away this beautiful soul from you?”

We begin to doubt God’s love. In our mind the attributes of God’s power and sovereignty loomed large and His love seemed small – like the smallest letters on an eyesight-testing chart.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16,

“God is love.”

Starting from today let’s make a Choice – again. I would believe the Bible from cover to cover. There would be times when I wouldn’t understand God’s ways, but that did not meant the Bible wasn’t true. These times only revealed our limited understanding of God’s ways.

Let our wall toward God come down and again experienced the warmth of His love.
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God is waiting to show His love and kindness to you and to guide your life. He wants to make something beautiful of your life. And you can open your heart and life to Him today by praying this prayer with a sincere attitude.

(c)Noah Ugbe Jnr