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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
The New Year (2)
‘With God all things are possible.’

Matthew 19:26
The UCB Word for Today - 1 Jan 2017

Jon Gordon offers practical New Year’s resolutions: 1) ‘Stay positive. You can listen to the cynics and believe success is impossible, or believe “with God all things are possible.” 2) Each day when you awake complete this statement: “My purpose is ____________.” 3) Take a morning walk of gratitude. It creates a fertile mind for success. You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time, and when you combine gratitude with physical exercise you give yourself a double-boost of positive energy and natural anti-depressants. 4) Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you’re going. 5) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college-kid with a maxed-out charge card! 6) Believe that everything happens for a reason, and good things come from challenging experiences. 7) Don’t waste energy on gossip...past issues...negative thoughts...and things you can’t control. Invest in the positive, present moment. 8) Mentor someone and be mentored by someone. 9) Live with the 3 E’s: Energy. Enthusiasm. Empathy. 10) Remember there’s no substitute for hard work. 11) Zoom-Focus: ask yourself, “What are the three most important things I need to do today?” 12) Implement the “No complaining” rule. Complaining is like vomiting; afterwards you feel better but people around you feel sick! 13) Read more books than you did last year. 14) Get more rest. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte! 15) Before bed complete these statements: “I’m thankful for____” “Today I accomplished____” 16)Think of your mind like a garden. If you weed the negative and feed the positive for one day it doesn’t do much, but when you do it every day you create a magnificent garden.’
Luke 24:36-53, Ps 140-150

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
This year listen to God
‘The LORD will guide you continually.’

Isaiah 58:11
The UCB Word for Today - 2 Jan 2017

How can we say we have a personal relationship with God, and yet say He never talks to us? Being open and receptive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit is a non-optional part of Christian living. We can all learn how to be open to the promptings of the Spirit. They are not reserved for ‘important people’ or for those who are ‘more spiritual’ than you. God will speak to you if you’ll just take the time to listen to Him. John Ortberg writes: ‘Much of the adventure of Christian living involves responsiveness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This guidance is not restricted to momentous decisions. It is learned mainly when we practise it on a continuing basis.’ That’s why David prayed, ‘Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths…for you are the God of my salvation’ (Psalm 25:4-5 NRS). Richard Foster writes: ‘In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a spirit-led…spirit-empowered people…It has happened before. It can happen again. Such a people will not emerge until there is among us a deeper, more profound experience of an Emmanuel of the spirit - God with us, a knowledge that in the power of the Spirit Jesus has come to guide His people Himself, an experience of His leading that is as definite and immediate as the cloud that led Israel by day and the fire by night.’ That experience can be yours when you believe the promise: ‘The Lord will guide you continually.’ And that promise is for you. So memorise it, personalise it, live by it, and see where it takes you this coming year.
Gen 4-6, Matt 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
This year trust God and stay calm
‘You…give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity.’

Psalm 94:13
The UCB Word for Today - 3 Jan 2017


There are some things God will do for us, and other things He expects us to do for ourselves. ‘Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law…You…give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity’ (vv. 12-13). Do you want the ability to stay calm regardless of the circumstances? To remain cool when the heat is on? To be an instrument of peace wherever you go? To be on top of the circumstances instead of under them? Today God, in essence, is saying to you: ‘Live by My Word in every area of your life. Learn to be sensitive to my voice; quick to respond and to obey. My yoke is easy and My burden is light. I’ll never give you anything too hard to handle or too heavy to carry. Give me your concerns - one by one as they arise. Delight yourself in the assurance of My love, My provision and My protection, and I’ll give you the desires of your heart. Because the devil is “the accuser” he’ll constantly point to your flaws and tell you you’re not worthy. Don’t listen - he’s the father of lies! I’ve saved you by My grace and positioned you in Christ. I see you through His atoning blood, therefore you are always accepted in My eyes. Give Me all your anxieties and cares. Begin to live in the present, not the past or the future. Look for My blessings and you’ll find them. Enjoy life in all its fullness, for this is My plan for you this year.’
Gen 7-9, Matt 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
This year recognise your calling
‘It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.’

Philippians 2:13
The UCB Word for Today - 4 Jan 2017

By recognising and fulfilling your God-given assignment in life you free yourself from a sense of failure, and are able to stop worrying about what others think. Why? Because your self-worth no longer depends on people but God! However, you must do these three things: 1) Be honest about your gifts, and recognise your limitations. Don’t go through life as a stranger to yourself. Honestly assess your strengths and limitations; ask the hard questions and be willing to live with the answers, even if it means letting some things go. Michael Novak writes, ‘God knows what’s in us for He put it there. And He intends us to do something with it.’ Each of us has been given a calling in life, and happiness belongs to those who find and fulfil that calling. 2) Allow God to work on you. Sometimes amateur potters limit the potential of clay by seeing it only as a flowerpot. But a master potter sees much more - he or she knows what it can become. Watch them; they don’t merely impose a shape on it, they release the shape that’s already within. And that’s what God does with us. 3) Recognise your source. Fulfilling your life’s assignment begins with identifying the desires God has placed within you. ‘It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.’ Who’s at work within you? God! Where do your desires come from? God! Where do your abilities come from? God! Make knowing God and walking in step with Him be your highest priority this year.
Gen 10-12, Matt 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

This year let God be God
‘Casting down imaginations…’

2 Corinthians 10:5

The UCB Word for Today - 5 Jan 2017


How does God provide for us? One day at a time. Do you remember the Israelites in the wilderness? God fed them faithfully each day by sending manna from heaven.

But some of them wanted to make sure they’d have enough for tomorrow, revealing their lack of trust in God, so they gathered more.


But God would only allow them to collect enough for each day; when they tried to collect more the excess rotted.

Understand this: when you worry over the future or things you can do nothing about, it’s like trying to store up manna for tomorrow.


Before you know it you feel rotten. God wants you to give tomorrow’s concerns to Him because they’re too big for you.


You only receive enough grace for today, so stay in the moment. Question: Are you being tormented by the ‘what ifs’? What if I get hurt or become ill, or the company downsizes and I lose my job? What if people don’t like or accept me?

What if I can’t find someone to love me and I end up alone? What if I’m not hearing from God and I make a big mistake? The Bible calls this ‘imaginations’ - you’re literally imagining the worst-case scenario.


Paul says, ‘Cast it down,’ for if you don’t you’ll live in dread concerning things that haven’t happened - and probably never will. What if you ‘figure it all out’, then God surprises you and does something different, something better?

All that time would be wasted. Haven’t you already wasted enough time worrying? Here’s an idea: this year why don’t you just relax and let God be God in your life?

Gen 13-15, Matt 5:1-26

[lakeside]

This is a touching message from God through you Sir. He's the creator that never forsakes, he's the planner of our Life. We shall fear not.!

Lord is good every time!

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Dealing with the devil (1)

‘We are not ignorant of [Satan’s] schemes.’

2 Corinthians 2:11
The UCB Word for Today - 6 Jan 2017

Nothing thrills the devil more than the current scepticism with which he’s viewed.

The more we doubt or downplay his existence, the more he’s free to hurt and hamper us. Jesus never doubted the reality of the devil.

The Bible says, ‘Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NKJV).

But Jesus was victorious. And He proved that God uses Satan’s schemes to strengthen us. Times of testing are actually times of spiritual training. ‘Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.

Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way’ (James 1:2-4 MSG).

God loves you too much to leave you undeveloped and immature. ‘God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children.

This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves’ (Hebrews 12:5-10 MSG).

Paul says, ‘We are not ignorant of [Satan’s] schemes.’ When General Patton counterattacked Field Marshal Rommel in World War ll, Patton is reported to have shouted in the thick of battle, ‘I read your book, Rommel!

I read your book!’ Patton had studied Rommel’s Infantry Attacks.

He knew the German leader’s strategies and planned his moves accordingly.

And when you become acquainted with Satan’s moves you can stop him cold in his tracks.

Gen 16-17, Matt 5:27-48

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Dealing with the devil (2)
‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.’

1 Peter 5:8
The UCB Word for Today - 7 Jan 2017

When Jesus fought the devil in the wilderness, Satan never landed a single punch. Three times Jesus told him, ‘It is written’ (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 NKJV).

And with those three solid right hooks, Satan went down and couldn’t get up. Let’s look at each of the three temptations. ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread’ (v. 3 NLT).

Note Satan’s twofold attack: 1) ‘If you are the Son of God.’ Satan will make you doubt your salvation, your Saviour, and your righteous standing before God (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

He’ll remind you of all your flaws and failures. He’ll tell you, ‘The Christian life is too hard; give up!’ That’s a lie; don’t believe him. Yes, the Holy Spirit will point out your character defects so you can overcome them.


But you’re not saved by your own goodness. ‘By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God’ (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV). 2) ‘Change these stones into loaves of bread.’ Forty days of fasting had left Jesus famished.

His stomach was empty, so Satan began with the topic of bread.


Where are you empty? Are you hungry for attention, craving success, and longing for intimacy? You must be aware of your weak spots and bring them to God before Satan brings them to you and says, ‘Meet your own needs. Take matters into your own hands.

Leave God out of the picture.’ No, if you could live the Christian life without God, you wouldn’t need Him! It’s the life that’s totally dependent on God that defeats Satan’s strategies every time.
Gen 18-19, Matt 6:1-15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Dealing with the devil (3)
‘If you are the Son of God, jump off!’

Matthew 4:6
The UCB Word for Today - 8 Jan 2017

The Bible says, ‘The devil took him…to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God’”’ (vv. 5-7 NLT). Notice, Satan will misquote the Scriptures. So when you do battle with him you need to be able to say as Jesus did, ‘The Scriptures also say.’ Jesus defeated Satan by using Scripture correctly - and that’s a secret Satan hopes you never discover. So arm yourself with God’s Word. Load your pistol with Scriptures and keep your finger on the trigger. Notice where this temptation took place: in church [the temple]! ‘If you are the Son of God, jump off!’ In church, of all places, Satan will urge you to do tricks, impress others with your service, make a show of your faith, call attention to your good deeds, and manipulate your way into a position of prominence. God has called you to be a servant, not a star. Kneel, don’t strut. ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour’ (1 Peter 5:5-6 NLT). When Satan told Jesus to jump into the arms of God, Jesus refused. Not because God wouldn’t catch Him, but because He didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, much less the devil. And you don’t either.

Luke 1:1-20, Ps 1-3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Dealing with the devil (4)

‘The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain.’

Matthew 4:8
The UCB Word for Today - 9 Jan 2017

The Bible says: ‘The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan!…You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve”’ (vv. 8-10 NKJV). Paraphrased: Satan said to Jesus, ‘If you serve me I’ll help you rise to the top.’ When your ultimate ambition is to glorify God, you’re being led by God.

But when your ultimate ambition is to glorify yourself, you’re being led by Satan.

And he’ll appeal to your pride, for pride is at the very core of his being. His fall from the number-two spot in heaven was preceded by these lofty aspirations: ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Isaiah 14:13-14 NIV 1984 Edition). Satan wants to take God’s place, but God isn’t moving.

Satan covets God’s throne, but God isn’t abdicating. Satan wants to win you to his side, but God will never let you go.

The truth is: you can’t defeat Satan in your own strength, but you don’t have to. The Bible says, ‘Let us…feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it’ (Hebrews 4:16 NCV).


Gen 20-22, Matt 6:16-34