Bread of Life
Bible Reading: John 6:10-14; 24-27; 35
Focus Verse: John 6:35 "Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
What is your definition of a miracle? It is something that only God can do. When God decides to make a miracle, he has a purpose. In the scripture reading above, we read about how Jesus fed over 5,000 people by multiplying the food. The people were happy to have been fed and followed Jesus.
The focus of this event isn't the food or that people were fed, but that Jesus was teaching something about Himself. He wants us to hunger for Him and to seek Him first.
The good things in your life are not for the sole purpose of your enjoyment, but that our Lord has decided to reveal Himself to you. Over the next few days, challenge yourself to pray that God will open your eyes to the wonderful things around you and that you will learn more about who He is.
God is Good all the time.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Merciful Savior
Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1-20
Focus Verse: Luke 15:6 "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Satan is never happy when someone is receiving help. In this passage in scripture we see the devil trying to prevent Jesus and His disciples from reaching the tortured man living among the tombs. How many times when we have tried to help someone, do we run into difficulties? Satan is will do all in his power to prevent us from helping someone in Jesus name. But don't be discouraged for we know that "greater is He (Christ) that is in us, than he (Satan) that is in the world." The love and concern that we show the world is how the world will be won for Christ.
It is also very important how Christians treat each other because we are to be merciful as He has shown mercy. The world is watching how we act. If we are not treating each other with love and respect, the world will say "why should they become a Christian if we act the same as them?
Reach out to someone today in Jesus name that needs help. Don't expect anything in return. Great will be your reward in heaven one day.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Luke 15:6 "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Satan is never happy when someone is receiving help. In this passage in scripture we see the devil trying to prevent Jesus and His disciples from reaching the tortured man living among the tombs. How many times when we have tried to help someone, do we run into difficulties? Satan is will do all in his power to prevent us from helping someone in Jesus name. But don't be discouraged for we know that "greater is He (Christ) that is in us, than he (Satan) that is in the world." The love and concern that we show the world is how the world will be won for Christ.
It is also very important how Christians treat each other because we are to be merciful as He has shown mercy. The world is watching how we act. If we are not treating each other with love and respect, the world will say "why should they become a Christian if we act the same as them?
Reach out to someone today in Jesus name that needs help. Don't expect anything in return. Great will be your reward in heaven one day.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, September 13, 2013
Make His Desires, Your Own
Bible Reading:
Psalm 37:3-7a
"Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…"
Trusting God when we do not know what will happen next can be hard. These verses remind me that He has our best interests at heart. There are several instructions listed here:
1. Trust - Know that God is for you and will take care of you.
2. Do good - do what you know is right. Help others.
3. Dwell in the land - You are where you are for a reason.
4. Cultivate faithfulness - the translation for this also can mean "feed on faithfulness". A great picture of a farmer cultivating a crop, harvesting it, and feeding on it.
5. Delight yourself in the Lord - Focus on Him to find delight!
Then a promise: He will give you the desires of your heart. This doesn't mean that He will supply you with all of your wants, but that He will give of Himself and His desires. He will place His desires in your heart.
And one last instruction or command, commit your way to the Lord. Then He will show righteousness through you. Rest in Him - He is doing the work!
Be encouraged to know that God is on your side!
by Amy Warr
Camp Victory
Friday, September 6, 2013
A Life Lesson About Money
A Life Lesson About Money
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:9 The Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten."
Augustine gives us a quote about his observation of Christian giving and tithing. "We give earth, and receive heaven. We give temporal, and receive the eternal. We give things corruptible, and receive the immortal. Lastly we give what God has bestowed, and receive God Himself. Let us not be slothful in such a commerce as this. Let us not continue to be poor."
When we give our tithes and offerings to God we never lose, we always gain. God always promises blessings to those who give to Him. Many Christians give to the Lord because they think, now I will get more, but this is the wrong motivation. We give to the Lord out of love, devotion, and cheerful obedience as well as a form of worship, not just so we can get something in return. We can rejoice in knowing that when we give to meet the needs of others, that God can in turn meet our needs.
Who do you know today that you could bless in Jesus name?
"Giving to the Lord never impoverishes."
George W. Brown
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Focus Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:9 The Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten."
Augustine gives us a quote about his observation of Christian giving and tithing. "We give earth, and receive heaven. We give temporal, and receive the eternal. We give things corruptible, and receive the immortal. Lastly we give what God has bestowed, and receive God Himself. Let us not be slothful in such a commerce as this. Let us not continue to be poor."
When we give our tithes and offerings to God we never lose, we always gain. God always promises blessings to those who give to Him. Many Christians give to the Lord because they think, now I will get more, but this is the wrong motivation. We give to the Lord out of love, devotion, and cheerful obedience as well as a form of worship, not just so we can get something in return. We can rejoice in knowing that when we give to meet the needs of others, that God can in turn meet our needs.
Who do you know today that you could bless in Jesus name?
"Giving to the Lord never impoverishes."
George W. Brown
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, August 30, 2013
Be Watchful, But Busy
Be Watchful, But Busy
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Focus Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever."
Did you know that Jesus is coming back to this earth one day? He's coming back to take us to heaven, but only those who are His children. The Bible teaches that the rapture of the church is the next big event on God's timeline. Jesus could come back at any time. I am looking forward to that event. But I'm not just sitting waiting. We should be busy telling others about this big event, so that as many people as possible will be with us in heaven.
The Bible says in Ephesians 2:4-7 That God is looking forward to us getting to heaven, because He want to show us grace, kindness and how much He loves us. I hope you are watching for His return, but I also hope you are busy tell others of this great promise of Jesus' return.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Focus Verses: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever."
Did you know that Jesus is coming back to this earth one day? He's coming back to take us to heaven, but only those who are His children. The Bible teaches that the rapture of the church is the next big event on God's timeline. Jesus could come back at any time. I am looking forward to that event. But I'm not just sitting waiting. We should be busy telling others about this big event, so that as many people as possible will be with us in heaven.
The Bible says in Ephesians 2:4-7 That God is looking forward to us getting to heaven, because He want to show us grace, kindness and how much He loves us. I hope you are watching for His return, but I also hope you are busy tell others of this great promise of Jesus' return.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Family Under Attack
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3:2-5
Focus Verse: Proverbs 12:7 "The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm."
It seems like today the family unit is under attack from every angle. I believe that Satan knows how powerful a Christian family can be to the Kingdom of God. We see pornography seeking to destroy marriages. Unfaithful spouses bring HIV into the home. The homosexual agenda is seeking to destroy the definition of marriage between one man and one woman as God intended. There is a lack of love and honor in the home, but instead it is full of pride, always blaming the other person. The father and mother are too busy to teach their children about God. Satan aims many arrows at the family that he wants to destroy.
This coming September 20-21 we will hold a marriage conference in Kenya on Mfangano Island. We recognize that to build a strong Christian community in western Kenya there needs to be strong Christian families. The world today does not put very much importance on the family. But God does. Psalm 112:1-2 says, "Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." There is a great blessing in store for the Christian family that is faithful to God. We get our strength from the Lord to lead strong Christian families. Join us for this marriage conference as we seek the Lord in building strong marriages and families.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Focus Verse: Proverbs 12:7 "The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm."
It seems like today the family unit is under attack from every angle. I believe that Satan knows how powerful a Christian family can be to the Kingdom of God. We see pornography seeking to destroy marriages. Unfaithful spouses bring HIV into the home. The homosexual agenda is seeking to destroy the definition of marriage between one man and one woman as God intended. There is a lack of love and honor in the home, but instead it is full of pride, always blaming the other person. The father and mother are too busy to teach their children about God. Satan aims many arrows at the family that he wants to destroy.
This coming September 20-21 we will hold a marriage conference in Kenya on Mfangano Island. We recognize that to build a strong Christian community in western Kenya there needs to be strong Christian families. The world today does not put very much importance on the family. But God does. Psalm 112:1-2 says, "Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." There is a great blessing in store for the Christian family that is faithful to God. We get our strength from the Lord to lead strong Christian families. Join us for this marriage conference as we seek the Lord in building strong marriages and families.
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, August 17, 2013
For the Sake of Peace
Scripture reading, Genesis 13:6-9.
Focus verse: Gen 13:8 "So Abram said to Lot “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Abram and Lot had been living together as relatives and friends. Their friendship was good such that when God called Abram he decided he would not leave his nephew (Lot) back, but would go with him to the unknown destination God told him. Lot on the other hand trusted Abram such that he was willing to go with him to unknown destination. God blessed them with many animals and other possessions that later brought unrest between the two and their herdsmen. Hence Abram was never living in peace again with his friend/relative. Neither was there peace between Abram’s workers and Lot’s workers. Maybe the end result of this quarrel would have been a big fight that would have resulted into injuries or even death.
Abram decides to take a step that would let him stay in peace with his brother but more so with God who called him and had a mission for his life. He decided to take a bold decision that would make him have peace for his life. Yes, he understood the relationship between him and Lot but strongly proposes a separation between them for the sake of peace. Peace is a key need in everyone’s everyday life and that’s why even Christ himself came that the world may have it.
Have you ever felt in your life that someone you had loved like your friend you had always hanged around with? May be your relative or your workmate is not allowing you to have peace? Have you found it so hard to let go your old friends who still lure you into your old nature? Have you ever felt like each day you fall into the same sin you repent of? Or maybe wanting to always please your friends to the expense of relationship with God? Maybe you have even tried through dialogue/consensus meetings which have not worked well for you?
It reaches a time in our lives when we must let go for the sake of our peace and more so peace with God no matter how helpful or beautiful they might be. We must accept to let go our old nature and stay away from things that makes us to lose peace. Separating your friendship with a friend who causes you to sin is the best remedy. Stay as far as east is from west of right from left just like Abram. When we think about having peace let us be ready to separate from things that causes us not to have peace and be ready to let go for our peace to come. Peace is always there waiting for us to say no to things that keeps it (peace) away.
Eliazar Wambo
pastor of Makira Baptist Church, Mfangano, Kenya
Focus verse: Gen 13:8 "So Abram said to Lot “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Abram and Lot had been living together as relatives and friends. Their friendship was good such that when God called Abram he decided he would not leave his nephew (Lot) back, but would go with him to the unknown destination God told him. Lot on the other hand trusted Abram such that he was willing to go with him to unknown destination. God blessed them with many animals and other possessions that later brought unrest between the two and their herdsmen. Hence Abram was never living in peace again with his friend/relative. Neither was there peace between Abram’s workers and Lot’s workers. Maybe the end result of this quarrel would have been a big fight that would have resulted into injuries or even death.
Abram decides to take a step that would let him stay in peace with his brother but more so with God who called him and had a mission for his life. He decided to take a bold decision that would make him have peace for his life. Yes, he understood the relationship between him and Lot but strongly proposes a separation between them for the sake of peace. Peace is a key need in everyone’s everyday life and that’s why even Christ himself came that the world may have it.
Have you ever felt in your life that someone you had loved like your friend you had always hanged around with? May be your relative or your workmate is not allowing you to have peace? Have you found it so hard to let go your old friends who still lure you into your old nature? Have you ever felt like each day you fall into the same sin you repent of? Or maybe wanting to always please your friends to the expense of relationship with God? Maybe you have even tried through dialogue/consensus meetings which have not worked well for you?
It reaches a time in our lives when we must let go for the sake of our peace and more so peace with God no matter how helpful or beautiful they might be. We must accept to let go our old nature and stay away from things that makes us to lose peace. Separating your friendship with a friend who causes you to sin is the best remedy. Stay as far as east is from west of right from left just like Abram. When we think about having peace let us be ready to separate from things that causes us not to have peace and be ready to let go for our peace to come. Peace is always there waiting for us to say no to things that keeps it (peace) away.
Eliazar Wambo
pastor of Makira Baptist Church, Mfangano, Kenya
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