BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

Monday, December 30

John 5:2-17

GOD IS STILL WORKING

Jesus said to them, "My father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." John 5:17, NIV

      Our God is a relentless worker. By words and deeds, His unbreakable track record of activities pre-dates creation (Genesis 1:3; Hebrews 1:3). The flurry of activities in our world is an evidence of God's continual business. Take for instance the barrage of requests that are being sent to God every moment and to which He is graciously dispatching answers to. All through Christ's ministry on earth, He was busy preaching, teaching, healing, visiting homes, towns and villages. He left indelible marks wherever He went. No humankind, force or time could debar Him.

      The man who had been incapacitated by the pool of Bethsaida for thirty-eight years was one of the beneficiaries of Christ's work on earth. God is still looking for people on whom He would work. The duration of your suffering notwithstanding, when He speaks, you shall experience a change for His glory. Again, because Christ is at work you cannot afford to be lazy. So get busy for the Master.

Read Bible Through Passage: Micah 14; Rev. 21:15-27 

PASTORAL HEART

YOU CAN SERVE AS A PASTOR TO SOMEONE

5 Words Toward a Stronger Esprit de Corps "By Dan Reiland 

The hallways often reveal more than the boardroom. What you hear in the hallways is often a better indicator of the spirit of your team than what is said in the boardroom. I'm not suggesting that your team isn't honest in your meetings. But they are more relaxed in the hallways, in the break room, or anywhere a cup of coffee is shared where you work. 
How is your team doing? ■Are they happy?
■Are they energetic?
■Are they productive?
■Do they face adversity well?
■Do they get along?
       Your answers give insight to the level of Esprit de Corps.Esprit de corps is a cool word. Not just because it's French and I can't spell it without looking it up. But because it says so much! It embraces the idea of a sense of unity and of common interests. It carries the notion of common responsibilities of a group committed to a goal together. It's about a team of people connected not just to a goal but real relationship with each other.
       Esprit de corps is closely connected to the idea of morale. A team's ability to maintain high morale reveals commitment to a deep belief and mission, even in the face of difficulty or hardship. 
     1.Generosity
We often think of money when it comes to generosity, and that is part of it. But a spirit of generosity reaches much farther than finances alone. It's a way of living. It's about time, faith, love, and kindness and more.
      Generous people think differently than those who are takers by nature. Generous people think larger, believe bigger and possess a positive attitude.     
         Generous people love to give, but they also see it strategically. Generosity is not all about goose bumps and emotion, but making wise investments into people's lives with intentionality. When you lead your team with generosity you lead with a spirit of giving more than taking. Some leaders are takers, they want more from you than they pour into you. That diminishes morale.
    I remember one leader saying to me, "But I pay them! I expect them to show up and get their work done!" He did not have a spirit of generosity! It's reasonable for him to expect his staff to show up and work, but he had a demanding spirit rather than a developing spirit. 
   2. Trust
  I have been part of the team at 12Stone® Church for twelve years. I have served as Executive Pastor under Senior Pastor Kevin Myers. From day one Kevin has trusted me fully. That is critical, without it I can't lead.
       Trust is different than respect. Respect must be earned, but trust needs to be extended as a gift from the beginning and removed only if it is broken. Trust is essential to a positive sense of esprit de corps. If you don't trust your team, it's as if you are holding back the oxygen they need to lead. They just can't breath! It's as if you put them on a short leash and tied them up to their desk, they can move, but not much! If you find it difficult to trust people, I encourage you to reflect on why.
■Have you trained and developed your team?
■Have you been hurt by someone?
■Do you have control issues?
■Are you a perfectionist?
■What would it take for you to trust?
■Without trust, empowerment cannot exist, let alone thrive. 

3. Empowerment
Trust is where empowerment begins. The first component of empowerment is to trust with responsibility. Connecting this principle with a spirit of generosity allows us to see that empowering isn't dumping work on someone, it is trusting them with the responsibility of accomplishing something that is important.  No one wants to be micro-managed. "Small" leaders attempt to keep power and control, they "meddle" and some even have a heavy hand on everything.
        Empowering leaders set people free. It's not about letting people do whatever they want. Empowerment is the right mix of freedom and guidance. It involves communication, goals, and training. These things allow us to free people up so they can grow, excel and achieve more!
    4. Alignment
     Your team loves the trust and freedom that comes with empowerment, but they also love, need and want boundaries. People hate chaos, and they know that if everyone "does their own thing," nothing of significant impact will be accomplished. High morale is experienced teams that work together and head in the same direction.
      A sense of productive esprit de corps comes to a team that enjoys being with each other and wins together. Independence breaks down alignment. In contrast, organization and agreement of goals builds alignment. I love track and field in the Olympics, and I really enjoy the relay races. Can you imagine if each of the four runners on the team ran whenever they wanted, in whatever direction they wanted and never handed the baton off to the right person? Alignment is essential! 

    5. Caring
The impact of simply caring is staggering. At times I think it's becoming a lost art. Please don't misunderstand. I believe that church leaders care. They really do, but sometimes the demands of a busy schedule can result in an inability to keep up with everything. You have a finite amount of energy, in fact, you run out of energy to demonstrate that you care. You are so busy making things happen, (and getting things done), that your relational bandwidth runs thin. 
      The good news is that the remedy is often simple, and as long as it's from the heart you are good to go! It might be a hand written note of encouragement, a public expression of appreciation for a job well done, a quick phone call, or a cup of coffee with someone just to see how they are doing. It could be as simple as a thank you card with a Starbucks gift card inside. It's usually just not that complicated. We just need to do it! I pray these thoughts encourage, guide and inspire you and your team to a greater sense of esprit de corps!

RETIREMENT

RETIREMENT/SEND FORTH SERVICE FOR
the REVD ADEBOWALE ABAYOMI OMIKUNLE  holds today
Saturday 28th.December @10AM New.Generation BC, IBIYE@Badagry.

We wish him well as Lagos Central Baptist Conference as he retires but remain relevant for the kingdom project

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL December 28

SEEK DAILY, NBC

Saturday, December 28
Isaiah 42:1-7

A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS

"… I will keep you and I will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles." Isaiah 42:6, NIV

Light occur about 438 times in the Bible with various concepts. From Genesis 1:3 through Revelation 22:5, it portrays arrays of contrasts. It dispels darkness, symbolises righteousness, gives illumination, stands personified; first, Israel as a nation was called to be light to the Gentiles, then in Jesus as an ultimate Light of the world (John 1:4-5, 8-9; 8:12) and now, the church also, as the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; 1 John 1:9).

Today's passage points to Jesus, the servant of the Lord, author of the New Covenant as an embodiment of light to all nations (v. 6).
Christ as the Light has a divine mandate to:
(a) open blind eyes (physical and spiritual);
(b) deliver the captives;
(c) release the oppressed
(d) shine/beam the light of the Gospel to those in darkness (v. 7).

By extension, every redeemed child of God carries the light of God. You therefore have the mandate to shine in this dark world of sin starting from your little corner.

Prayer Point: Pray that you will indeed be a light to the darkness of this world.

FINANCIAL WISDOM

12 WAYS TO AVOID BEING BROKE IN JANUARY 

BY PASTOR BISI ADEWALE.

To many people, January is always a long month. To them, days in January is 62 not 31, it is always the most difficult month of the year for many. This is because January involves financial difficulties which are not experienced in any other month of the year. 

Note that you need not suffer in January; you can live in surplus throughout the year, January inclusive. The truth is, you can live in January as in any other month; you can live without being broke, if you understand what it takes to "tie down" your money. I will show you some of them here:

1. Plan your life. What do you really want for yourself, what do you really want in the New Year? Plan now, much money without planning will make you spend endlessly and run into debt. Plan your life and live better. 

2. Have a budget. Know the income available, know what you want to buy, categorized them into NEED and WANT or LUXURY, SHOW-OFF, NECESSITY. Go for only necessity, save money you would have spent on luxury and show-off. 

3. Spend Less. By all means, spend lesser than you would have spent. 

4. No show-off. Are you buying that clothes to show your 'enemy' in the village that you have arrived? Are you buying that car, wristwatch, television, handset, etc just to show people the level of your wealth? Anything you buy just to impress or hurt others is not for you, it is a show-off. 

5. Pre-festival Purchases. Buy everything you need far away from festival from time. My wife used to buy our children "Christmas clothes" in September, rice, beans and other ingredients in October and November, gifts that we want to give out to our loved ones also in November. With this, we are able to avoid high prices of "rush-time" purchases. 

6. Buy Later. There are things you can decide to buy later, avoid buying things during "rush hours". 

7. Remember January. As you are writing that cheque, paying that bill, withdrawing from that ATM, always remember J-A-N-U-A-R-Y

8. No Unnecessary Traveling. Must you travel at Christmas period? Why not before that period or after? You know transportation is always costly during the festival and will always involve unnecessary spending. 

9. Plan for school fees. Plan for the payment of children's school fees, some wise parent pay before the end of December as soon as they collect their December salary. With this, they won't spend the money during Christmas. 

10. Use bank. Don't bring all your money home, keep it in the bank. Avoid the temptation of withdrawing everything; it is like spending your blood if you do. 

11. Control ATM. Who is in charge? You or your ATM? Some people enjoy the card and love the machine; I can't remember using my ATM Card this year, I don't allow it to control me; no, I am in charge; it is just a card. Base your spending on your pocket, don't rely on ATM, if you can't control it, give it to a trusted friend or mentor during this period. 

12. By all means, spend below your means. Never spend above your means, not even within your means. Spend below your means. Yes, spend lesser than you can afford, that is wisdom, that is the foundation of surplus and mother of wealth. Be wise!I wish you happy New Year in advance and Prosperous 2014 

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL 27 DECEMBER, 2013

Friday, December 27

Isaiah 49:8-13

THE LORD'S COMFORT AND CONSOLATION

"…Burst into song oh mountain! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Isaiah 49:13, NIV
      God again reveals His compassionate character to His people, who, as a Father, having chastised his son, will again draw him to Himself in love. God demonstrated to Israel that though He is into a perpetual covenant of love with them, yet He will not overlook their errors. At the same time, He demonstrated to them that He would not be angry with them forever. By God's judgement, no sinner will go unpunished but no repentant sinner shall continue to serve punishment.
      Beloved, you must know that every experience you go through in life is for a reason. In fact all God is doing for you now is an act of shepherding to cleanse and purify you from sin so as to enable you attain that glorious paradise where nothing shall be lacking. You must therefore, see your present state as a necessary path He wants you to take especially, if at one time or the other, you have been disobedient. Are you going through troubles and trails? Be comforted that it is because He loves you.

Read Bible Through Passage: Zech. 4, 5, 6, 7; Rev. 19

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL DEC 26, 2013

SEEK DAILY (NBC)

Thursday, December 26

Isaiah 40:1-5

CONSOLATION FOR ISRAEL

"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her, that her hard service has been completed…." Isaiah 40:2, NIV

     Isaiah spoke as the mouthpiece of God to allay the sorrow of Israel as she faced double captivity and times of affliction (v. 2).
     
      Israel had suffered greatly from neighbouring nations that God permitted to capture and enslave them. However, when they have completed the service for their sins the LORD remembered them and promised them a time of respite. They were to receive double grace for their affliction; this is indeed a great consolation for a hopeless people!
    
     As the church awaits the second coming of Christ, we are encumbered with so many trials, challenges, persecutions, outright show of wickedness, even deaths. But in it all Jesus is saying, "Cheer up, I have overcome the world."
        Perhaps you have suffered greatly for a sin you have committed in the past, be not dismayed because the LORD who permitted the afflictions is saying to you, "Comfort, comfort."
     The LORD shall clear your path from every thorn and thistle and your misery shall be over with 2013.

Read Bible Through Passage: Zechariah 1, 2, 3; Rev. 18