[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Blessed in ‘every’ area of life

‘God…has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.’
Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 27 Jan 2018

Farmer Brown lived during the Great Depression, and he was having trouble keeping up the mortgage payments on his farm. Eventually the bank gave him thirty days to catch up on his back payments or face foreclosure.

Then something wonderful happened. A man from an oil company showed up on his doorstep, asking for a lease to drill for oil on his land. Since he was going to lose the farm anyway, Farmer Brown decided that it couldn’t hurt.

Well, that oil company drilled and hit a gusher – 82,000 barrels of oil a day. Immediately Farmer Brown became a millionaire many times over.

Now, here’s the question – when did he become a millionaire? Was it when oil was discovered on his farm, or when he first bought the land?

He was a millionaire the moment he purchased the farm, but he lived in poverty because he didn’t know what was under his feet and within his reach. The Bible says God ‘has blessed us with every spiritual blessing’.

Some people think the only thing God will do for you is bless you with salvation, then He lets you struggle through the rest of life until you get to heaven. As long as you believe that, you’re living in your own spiritual version of the Great Depression.

You’re living spiritually poor, spiritually weak, and spiritually deprived because you don’t know what’s available to you in Christ or how to access it and appropriate it in your life.

Refuse to live that way. Instead, read your Bible and begin to claim God’s promises in every area of your life.

Exodus 9-11, Matthew 15:21-39

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

A small change can make a big difference

‘Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings?’
Zechariah 4:10 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 28 Jan 2018

Imagine the temple lying in ruins, and having to be rebuilt from the ground up. That’s what things were like when Zechariah shared his vision with the people of Israel.

Some thought it couldn’t be done, and others thought that their particular contribution would make no difference. So Zechariah challenged them in these words: ‘Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings?

They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!’ In 1963, MIT meteorologist Edward Lorenz presented the hypothesis that became known as the butterfly effect.

He theorised that a minor event, like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil, could conceivably alter wind currents sufficiently to cause a tornado in Texas. Lorenz came to the simple yet profound conclusion: ‘Minuscule changes in input can make macroscopic differences in output.’

That simple discovery has the power to change your life. It can radically alter your spiritual, emotional, relational, or financial forecast.

It can change the atmosphere of your organisation or your marriage. One decision. One change. One risk. One idea. That’s all it takes.

You don’t have to make one hundred changes. All that does is divide your energy by one hundred, and results in a 1 per cent chance of success.

You have to be 100 per cent committed to one change. It will take an all-out effort.

It will probably be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. But that one change has the potential to make a 100 per cent difference in your life.

Luke 1:57-80, Psalm 10-12

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Praise God every day

‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory.’
Revelation 4:11 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 29 Jan 2018

A Christian farmer taught his horse to start and stop, using words from the Bible. When he wanted the horse to go, he would shout, ‘Praise the Lord.’

When he wanted the horse to stop, he would shout, ‘Hallelujah.’ All went well until one day a thunderbolt caused the horse to take off galloping at full speed.

Realising he had lost control, the farmer panicked and forgot the words he had trained the horse to respond to. Up ahead was a cliff, and they were headed towards it at full speed.

Desperately he tried to recall every religious word he’d ever heard of. He shouted, ‘Amen! Jesus saves! Worthy! Holy!’ Nothing worked.

Just as the horse approached the precipice, he shouted, ‘Hallelujah!’ The horse stopped right there on the edge.

Relieved, he wiped the sweat off his brow and said, ‘Whew, praise the Lord!’ Seriously, praising the Lord is not a religious activity that belongs only in church on Sunday morning.

‘From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised’ (Psalm 113:3 NKJV). That means let your first words in the morning and your last words at night, be praise to God.

‘Why should I praise God every day?’ you ask. Because He is worthy of your praise.

‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power.’ And one more thought.

Spoken words of love and appreciation draw people together and create intimacy. Do you want to get closer to God? Start praising Him more.

Exodus 12-13, Matthew 16

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Keep praying!

‘Devote yourselves to prayer.’
Colossians 4:2 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 30 Jan 2018

In 1964, Communist Simba rebels besieged the town of Bunia in Zaire. They arrested and executed many citizens.

A pastor by the name of Zebedayo Idu was one of their victims. They sentenced him to death before a firing squad and placed him in jail for the night.

The next morning he and a large number of prisoners were herded onto a truck and driven to a public place for execution. With no explanation, the official told the prisoners to ‘line up and number off – one, two, one, two, one, two’.

The ‘ones’ were placed in front of the firing squad, and the ‘twos’ were taken back to the prison. Pastor Idu was among those who were spared.

Back in their jail cells, the prisoners could hear the sound of gunfire. The pastor took advantage of the dramatic moment to share the story of Jesus and the hope of heaven.

Eight of the prisoners gave their lives to Christ that day. About the time Pastor Idu finished sharing, an excited messenger came to the door with a release order.

The pastor had been arrested by mistake and was free to leave. He said goodbye to the prisoners and hurried to his home next to the chapel.

There he discovered a crowd of believers who were praying for his release. When they saw the answer to their prayers walk through the door, their prayer service turned into a praise service.

The same God who heard the prayers of the New Testament church in Jerusalem and saved Peter from execution, heard prayers from Zaire and delivered their pastor (see Acts 12:5). And God is still listening, so keep praying!

Exodus 14-15, Matthew 17

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How much do you love Jesus?

‘When he had found one pearl of great price…[he] sold all that he had and bought it.’
Matthew 13:46 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 31 Jan 2018

In one of the most unique corporate take-overs ever, Stanley Tam legally transferred 51 per cent of the shares of his company to God. He started United States Plastic Corporation with thirty-seven dollars in capital.

When he gave his business back to God, annual revenues were less than two hundred thousand dollars. But Stanley believed God would bless his business, and he wanted to honour God from the get-go.

At that point, most of us would have been patting ourselves on the back. Not Stanley.

He felt convicted for keeping 49 per cent to himself. After reading the parable of the merchant who sold everything to obtain the pearl of great price, he made a decision to divest himself of all his shares.

He said, ‘A man can eat only one meal at a time, wear only one suit of clothes at a time, drive only one car at a time. All this I have.

Isn’t that enough?’ So on January 15, 1955, every share of stock was transferred to God, and Stanley became a salaried employee of the company he started.

Before he was through, Stanley gave away more than 120 million dollars to the cause of Christ. If you want to measure the depth of your love for Christ, look at your calendar and your credit card statement.

They don’t lie. How you spend your time and money are the two best barometers of your true priorities. Is Christ your pearl of great price?

He wants to be. He deserves to be.

Exodus 16-18, Matthew 18:1-20

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The marriage covenant (1)

‘For those who are married, I have a command that comes…from the Lord.’
1 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 01 Feb 2018

Having God’s blessing on your marriage is contingent upon your operating according to His rules. To enjoy His protection, peace, and prosperity you must follow His instructions.

For example, you can spend hours arguing and still not resolve the issue, when if you’d just followed God’s rules, the argument could have been over in a matter of minutes. And both parties would have been satisfied at the end of the process.

When your car breaks down, you take it back to the dealership. Why? Because they sold it to you and they know how to fix it!

God performed the first marriage. So, when your relationship gets into trouble, if you’re wise you’ll talk to Him about it before talking to each other.

Furthermore, when you get married with the attitude, ‘If this doesn’t work out I can always get a divorce,’ you’re running in the opposite direction from the truth of God’s Word. Paul writes: ‘For those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife’ (vv. 10-11 NLT).

Yes, there are some acceptable reasons for divorce, but they are the exception and not the rule! Recently a Hollywood celebrity spent millions of dollars on her wedding and then divorced her husband two months later on the grounds of ‘incompatibility’.

When you say, ‘Till death us do part,’ you say it before God and you’re supposed to mean it.

Exodus 19-20, Matthew 18:21-35

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The marriage covenant (2)

‘Husbands…love your wives.’
Ephesians 5:25 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 02 Feb 2018

We throw the word ‘love’ around loosely, leaving it to be defined in many different ways. People say things like, ‘I love chocolate cake,’ or ‘I love football,’ or ‘I love that television show.’

What they really mean is they ‘like’ and ‘enjoy’ these things. The Bible definition of love goes much deeper than what entertains and excites us, and what makes us feel emotionally attached to one another.

To love someone is to pursue their well-being and make it a priority. Love’s first concern is always: ‘How does this action contribute to my partner’s well-being?’

If it doesn’t ­– or if it does the opposite – then it isn’t love. The Bible says, ‘Husbands…love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.

He gave up his life for her…In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.

No one hates his own body but…cares for it’ (vv. 25-29 NLT). As a husband, you can learn two things from these Scriptures:

1) We are all innately selfish. So, your greatest challenge will always be to put your wife’s interests ahead of your own, and be willing to sacrifice your own agenda to do it.

2) We must practise being sensitive. Think how sensitive you are to the aches and needs of your own body, and apply that same principle to caring for your wife.

You say, ‘That’s a tall order!’ Yes, and the God who commands you to do it will give you the grace to do it day by day. So, draw on His grace!

Exodus 21-22, Matthew 19

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The marriage covenant (3)

‘Being heirs together of the grace of life.’
1 Peter 3:7 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 03 Feb 2018

A good marriage is built on mutual sacrifice. Adam had to sacrifice something near and dear to him in order to get Eve – a rib.

And your wife will know you love her when you’re willing to give up things that are important to you in order to meet her needs and promote her well-being. Too many men want to be married but still function as singles.

They don’t want to sacrifice any time, attention, or resources for the benefit of their wives. They don’t want a wife; they want a maid.

They want to marry someone so they can be served. No – it’s the opposite!

The Bible says you and your wife are ‘heirs together’. That means she is an equal partner.

So, her opinions, thoughts, and perspectives matter. Yes, as the leader of your home you may make the final decision, but when you don’t get your wife’s input and consider her viewpoint, holy wedlock can turn into unholy deadlock.

Your wife will respond to you when she feels cherished and valued (see Ephesians 5:29). You say, ‘But my wife’s as cold as ice.’

How did she get that way? Ice only stays icy in a cold environment.

So instead of complaining, work at changing your environment. Husbands are thermostats and wives are thermometers.

Husbands determine the climate and wives thrive or shrivel accordingly. There’s a reason your wife is ‘cold’.

And there’s a solution: warm her up and watch her melt! When you begin to love, nurture, cherish, and protect her as Christ did the church, you’ll have a whole new woman in your arms. Try it and see.

Exodus 23-24, Matthew 20:1-16

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The marriage covenant (4)

‘The wife must respect her husband.’
Ephesians 5:33 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 04 Feb 2018

Paul writes, ‘The wife must respect her husband.’ Pay close attention to the word ‘must’. This is a command from the Lord, not a suggestion or a topic that’s open to debate (see Ephesians 5:33 NLT).

Notice, the Bible doesn’t say a woman must ‘love’ her husband, but it does say that she must ‘respect’ him. And guys, before you take the throne and start handing out decrees, that means you must prove yourself worthy of respect!

To respect your husband is to hold him in esteem and honour. What a woman needs from a man is located in her heart, and what a man needs from a woman is located in his head.

It’s called his ego. You say, ‘I’m not going to feed his ego!’ That would be like your husband saying, ‘I’m not going to feed your heart.’

Men long to have their egos fed. When you fail to feed your husband’s ego, he may end up vulnerable to somebody else who feeds it for him!

As a wife, you were created by God with the ability to feed your husband’s ego in a healthy manner, by respecting and honouring him. There’s nothing more dangerous in a marriage relationship than disrespect.

When a man doesn’t feel respected, he will either rebel against you, remove himself, or become passive. God has given two simple rules for building a successful marriage.

The first is for husbands to love their wives, and the second is for wives to respect their husbands. And when you operate by God’s rules you get God’s results.

So, if you want God’s best, and His blessing at home, start doing things His way.

Luke 2:1-24, Psalm 13-15

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Be ‘aware’ of God in your situation (4)

‘I was not aware of it.’
Genesis 28:16 NIV (2011 Edition)

The UCB Word for Today - 05 Feb 2018

One night Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder with angels on it extending all the way up to heaven, and God said to him, ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go’ (v. 15 NIV 2011 Edition).

The next morning Jacob said, ‘The Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ When it comes to recognising God at work in your life, you can be spiritually tuned in, or be like Jacob and not be ‘aware’ of Him.

It was business as usual for Moses the day he noticed the burning bush – not an uncommon sight in a hot desert climate. Except this time the bush kept burning, and ‘when…he turned aside to look, God called to him’ (Exodus 3:4 NKJV).

You’ll have some of your greatest encounters with God in the everyday experiences of life. But you have to be open and receptive, otherwise you’ll miss Him.

Author William Barry says: ‘Whether we’re aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence we’re encountering God…who is trying to catch our attention…to draw us into a reciprocal conscious relationship.’ And you never know where He’ll appear, or through whom He’ll speak.

After the resurrection, Mary Magdalene thought Jesus was just the gardener. Paul writes, ‘Wake up, sleeper’ (Ephesians 5:14 NIV).

You can be awakened by a miraculous healing, a restored relationship, or even a great trial. Don’t just look for God in your triumphs; look for Him in your troubles too.

Theologian Frederick Buechner said, ‘There is no event so commonplace but that God is present, leaving you room to recognise or not to recognise Him.’

Exodus 25-26, Matthew 20:17-34