• Take the time to say goodbye with love. Because their love deserves to be remembered.

    #CompanionAnimalCremation #PetLoss #PetAftercare #PetMemorial #RainbowBridge #ForeverLoved #PetRemembrance #FurFamily #PetParents #NorthDakota
    💙🐾 Take the time to say goodbye with love. Because their love deserves to be remembered. #CompanionAnimalCremation #PetLoss #PetAftercare #PetMemorial #RainbowBridge #ForeverLoved #PetRemembrance #FurFamily #PetParents #NorthDakota
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  • WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER 2026

    Father, as we enter this new month, may You remember us for good.

    May Your grace speak for us.

    May Your favour locate us.

    May doors that no man can shut be opened before us.

    Bless the work of our hands.

    Protect our families.

    Fill our homes with peace and joy.

    Turn our waiting into testimony and our prayers into praise.

    May September be a month of divine remembrance, uncommon favour, open doors and beautiful testimonies.

    Lord, let this month bring us closer to You and deeper into Your purpose.

    In Jesus' Name, Amen. 🏽

    If you receive this prayer, say:

    AMEN! 🏽

    Happy New Month! Welcome to September 2026.



    #September2026 #HappyNewMonth #SeptemberPrayer #NewMonthPrayer #DivineRemembrance #DivineFavour #GodsGrace #OpenDoors #UncommonFavour #Breakthrough #Blessings #Testimonies #Prayer #Faith #Jesus #ChristianFaith #GodIsFaithful #Amen #LifeLightTV
    WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER 2026 💙💛 Father, as we enter this new month, may You remember us for good. May Your grace speak for us. May Your favour locate us. May doors that no man can shut be opened before us. Bless the work of our hands. Protect our families. Fill our homes with peace and joy. Turn our waiting into testimony and our prayers into praise. May September be a month of divine remembrance, uncommon favour, open doors and beautiful testimonies. Lord, let this month bring us closer to You and deeper into Your purpose. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 🙏🏽 If you receive this prayer, say: AMEN! 🙏🏽💙 Happy New Month! Welcome to September 2026. #September2026 #HappyNewMonth #SeptemberPrayer #NewMonthPrayer #DivineRemembrance #DivineFavour #GodsGrace #OpenDoors #UncommonFavour #Breakthrough #Blessings #Testimonies #Prayer #Faith #Jesus #ChristianFaith #GodIsFaithful #Amen #LifeLightTV
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  • Guidelines for living.
    September 1st, 2026

    Does My Life Have Any Purpose?

    For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. Acts 13:36

    One of the greatest tragedies in life is to get very close to reaching your goal, arriving at your full potential, accomplishing what you set out to do, only to fall short of what you wanted. It's always sad to have to quit a few hundred meters short of the top, or to get so very close to winning, only to have victory snatched from your grasp.

    Unrealized goals, unfulfilled potential - what a tragedy! With a sigh, we speak of, "The man he might have been," or "the woman she could have become."

    You tell me what your heart yearns to do, what you think about when you lie awake unable to sleep in the night hours, and I'll tell you what kind of a person you really are. If money consumes your thinking, you're materialistic. If you think only of revenge, you're angry and bitter. If your thoughts are of God and how you can serve Him, you are a person of spiritual sensitivity and dedication.

    When I interview people, I often ask the interviewee a closing question: "At the end of your life, how would you like to be remembered?" Answers tell me a lot about the person who responds.

    A thousand years after David, the king of ancient Israel, Luke, one of the writers of the New Testament, included a few thoughts about how David was remembered. He wrote, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep ... " (Acts 13:36). Another translation adds a single phrase which injects even more meaning. It reads, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation according to the will of God, he fell asleep" (Nestle's Greek text). The overview of history is often so much different than how we appear in the smoke and the dust of the battle.

    For a few moments, measure your life against the benchmark of what Luke wrote about David. First, he served God's purpose. Now translate this to our generation: to your family, your workplace, your neighborhood. Would you say that you are really accomplishing God's purpose for your life? Or would you have to say, "No, I fall far short of that"?

    You may be asking, "Well, what is God's purpose for my life?" Good question! There's a whole book that answers that one. It's called the Bible. It explains very clearly what God's purpose is for your life in simple, easy-to-understand language.

    Now, the second thought is that David was responsible only for his generation. You can't do anything about what took place a hundred years ago, or even a generation ago. That's history. But you can do something about your generation today - the world in which you live.

    Some think, mistakenly, that the sum total of their influence in life is zero. It's untrue! Every person, no matter how humble or significant, influences someone. You, friend, like David, can serve God's purpose, touching someone's life, making a difference.

    Now, a final thought. David served God's purpose according to the will of God. That's a powerful thought. So, "does God have a will for my life?" you may be wondering. The Bible contends that He does. The writers of Scripture say that what happens to your life is of great importance to our Heavenly Father. Paul wrote, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore," he said, "do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). There you have it - a life of purpose touching our generation according to the will of God!

    Resource Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20
    Guidelines for living. September 1st, 2026 Does My Life Have Any Purpose? For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. Acts 13:36 One of the greatest tragedies in life is to get very close to reaching your goal, arriving at your full potential, accomplishing what you set out to do, only to fall short of what you wanted. It's always sad to have to quit a few hundred meters short of the top, or to get so very close to winning, only to have victory snatched from your grasp. Unrealized goals, unfulfilled potential - what a tragedy! With a sigh, we speak of, "The man he might have been," or "the woman she could have become." You tell me what your heart yearns to do, what you think about when you lie awake unable to sleep in the night hours, and I'll tell you what kind of a person you really are. If money consumes your thinking, you're materialistic. If you think only of revenge, you're angry and bitter. If your thoughts are of God and how you can serve Him, you are a person of spiritual sensitivity and dedication. When I interview people, I often ask the interviewee a closing question: "At the end of your life, how would you like to be remembered?" Answers tell me a lot about the person who responds. A thousand years after David, the king of ancient Israel, Luke, one of the writers of the New Testament, included a few thoughts about how David was remembered. He wrote, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep ... " (Acts 13:36). Another translation adds a single phrase which injects even more meaning. It reads, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation according to the will of God, he fell asleep" (Nestle's Greek text). The overview of history is often so much different than how we appear in the smoke and the dust of the battle. For a few moments, measure your life against the benchmark of what Luke wrote about David. First, he served God's purpose. Now translate this to our generation: to your family, your workplace, your neighborhood. Would you say that you are really accomplishing God's purpose for your life? Or would you have to say, "No, I fall far short of that"? You may be asking, "Well, what is God's purpose for my life?" Good question! There's a whole book that answers that one. It's called the Bible. It explains very clearly what God's purpose is for your life in simple, easy-to-understand language. Now, the second thought is that David was responsible only for his generation. You can't do anything about what took place a hundred years ago, or even a generation ago. That's history. But you can do something about your generation today - the world in which you live. Some think, mistakenly, that the sum total of their influence in life is zero. It's untrue! Every person, no matter how humble or significant, influences someone. You, friend, like David, can serve God's purpose, touching someone's life, making a difference. Now, a final thought. David served God's purpose according to the will of God. That's a powerful thought. So, "does God have a will for my life?" you may be wondering. The Bible contends that He does. The writers of Scripture say that what happens to your life is of great importance to our Heavenly Father. Paul wrote, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore," he said, "do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). There you have it - a life of purpose touching our generation according to the will of God! Resource Reading: Ephesians 5:1-20
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  • Need to know.
    Signs You Have an Octopus Spirit!

    What is the Octopus Spirit?

    This is a spirit that causes you to feel like your mind is wrapped, squeezed, and pulled in many directions at once. It clouds your thinking, steals your peace, and tries to choke out your spiritual life with lies that sound like your own voice.

    The Bible does not use the word ‘octopus’ but it does describe this type of mental attack and calls us to take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

    So here are 8 points, or ‘tentacles,’ that can show if you are being oppressed by this spirit.

    Tentacle #1: You have intrusive thoughts that you did not invite.

    For example:
    - You are worship and a blasphemous thought flashes in.
    - You are driving and a thought tells you to hurt yourself.
    - You are holding your child and a dark image appears.

    You feel sick inside and wonder what is wrong with you. James 1:14 shows the enemies entices and whispers. You are not the thoughts you did not invite.

    Tentacle #2: Every thought turns hopeless.

    You make one small mistake and your mind jumps to ‘it is over.’ You have one bad day and feel, ‘this is who I am forever.’

    If your thoughts keep ending in, ‘there is no point,’ that is a sign of mental oppression.

    Tentacle #3: You have mental loops that don’t stop.

    - You replay old conversations nonstop.
    - You reheard disasters that have not happened.
    - You wake up at night and relive things you cannot change.

    You are not processing. You are in torment. The octopus spirit keeps your mind spinning without peace.

    Tentacle #4: Your thoughts become your identity.

    You used to think, ‘I am struggling with fear.’ Now you say, ‘I am a fearful person.’ You used to think, ‘I am tempted by lust.’ Now you call yourself a lustful person.

    The Bible tells you to take thoughts captive, not to wear them as your name. When a repeated thought becomes how you describe yourself, it turns into a stronghold.

    Tentacle #5: Prayer feels heavy and numbing feels easy.

    The Bible feels boring, worship feels hollow, and prayer feels dry and heavy. But scrolling, eating, drinking, and binge watching feel effortless.

    This can be spiritual warfare that pulls you away from what nourishes your spirit and drags you toward what only numbs you.

    Tentacle #6: You hide and isolate.

    You start thinking things like:
    - ‘Do not tell anyone.’
    - ‘They will judge me.’
    - ‘No one will understand.’
    - ‘Handle your problems alone.’

    This spirit thrives in secrecy and isolation. The Bible calls us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other to be healed. (James 5:16)

    When you think your thoughts into the light, the grip of this spirit begins to loosen.

    Tentacle #7: You live in mental fog and double mindedness.

    You feel constant fog in your mind and struggle to focus, pray, and make decisions. Some days you feel close to God, but other days you feel numb and distant.

    That fog is not from your Father. It is the enemy clouding the water so you cannot see clearly.

    Tentacle #8: You start giving yourself permission to sin.

    At first the voice in your head tempts you. Then it starts to sound like permission.

    - ‘You deserve it.’
    - ‘Just do it this once.’
    - ‘God will understand.’
    - ‘It’s not that serious.’

    When your own thoughts start writing permission slips and signing God’s name on them, this is a sign that this spirit is at work.

    If you see these signs in your life, it does not mean things are hopeless. It means the Holy Spirit is bringing this into the light so Jesus can set you free.

    Here is what to do:
    - Come to Jesus and confess that your mind belongs to Him.
    - Identify the lies and name them out loud as lies.
    - Replace lies with the truth of Scripture.
    - Repent of any open doors and invite Jesus to close them.
    - In the name of Jesus, command every spirit tied to these lies to leave.
    - Refuse isolation and share honestly with a trusted, mature believer.
    - Begin to renew your mind daily in the word of God.

    You do not have to live with this forever. In Christ there is real freedom.
    Need to know. Signs You Have an Octopus Spirit! What is the Octopus Spirit? This is a spirit that causes you to feel like your mind is wrapped, squeezed, and pulled in many directions at once. It clouds your thinking, steals your peace, and tries to choke out your spiritual life with lies that sound like your own voice. The Bible does not use the word ‘octopus’ but it does describe this type of mental attack and calls us to take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) So here are 8 points, or ‘tentacles,’ that can show if you are being oppressed by this spirit. Tentacle #1: You have intrusive thoughts that you did not invite. For example: - You are worship and a blasphemous thought flashes in. - You are driving and a thought tells you to hurt yourself. - You are holding your child and a dark image appears. You feel sick inside and wonder what is wrong with you. James 1:14 shows the enemies entices and whispers. You are not the thoughts you did not invite. Tentacle #2: Every thought turns hopeless. You make one small mistake and your mind jumps to ‘it is over.’ You have one bad day and feel, ‘this is who I am forever.’ If your thoughts keep ending in, ‘there is no point,’ that is a sign of mental oppression. Tentacle #3: You have mental loops that don’t stop. - You replay old conversations nonstop. - You reheard disasters that have not happened. - You wake up at night and relive things you cannot change. You are not processing. You are in torment. The octopus spirit keeps your mind spinning without peace. Tentacle #4: Your thoughts become your identity. You used to think, ‘I am struggling with fear.’ Now you say, ‘I am a fearful person.’ You used to think, ‘I am tempted by lust.’ Now you call yourself a lustful person. The Bible tells you to take thoughts captive, not to wear them as your name. When a repeated thought becomes how you describe yourself, it turns into a stronghold. Tentacle #5: Prayer feels heavy and numbing feels easy. The Bible feels boring, worship feels hollow, and prayer feels dry and heavy. But scrolling, eating, drinking, and binge watching feel effortless. This can be spiritual warfare that pulls you away from what nourishes your spirit and drags you toward what only numbs you. Tentacle #6: You hide and isolate. You start thinking things like: - ‘Do not tell anyone.’ - ‘They will judge me.’ - ‘No one will understand.’ - ‘Handle your problems alone.’ This spirit thrives in secrecy and isolation. The Bible calls us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other to be healed. (James 5:16) When you think your thoughts into the light, the grip of this spirit begins to loosen. Tentacle #7: You live in mental fog and double mindedness. You feel constant fog in your mind and struggle to focus, pray, and make decisions. Some days you feel close to God, but other days you feel numb and distant. That fog is not from your Father. It is the enemy clouding the water so you cannot see clearly. Tentacle #8: You start giving yourself permission to sin. At first the voice in your head tempts you. Then it starts to sound like permission. - ‘You deserve it.’ - ‘Just do it this once.’ - ‘God will understand.’ - ‘It’s not that serious.’ When your own thoughts start writing permission slips and signing God’s name on them, this is a sign that this spirit is at work. If you see these signs in your life, it does not mean things are hopeless. It means the Holy Spirit is bringing this into the light so Jesus can set you free. Here is what to do: - Come to Jesus and confess that your mind belongs to Him. - Identify the lies and name them out loud as lies. - Replace lies with the truth of Scripture. - Repent of any open doors and invite Jesus to close them. - In the name of Jesus, command every spirit tied to these lies to leave. - Refuse isolation and share honestly with a trusted, mature believer. - Begin to renew your mind daily in the word of God. You do not have to live with this forever. In Christ there is real freedom.
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  • A Nugget of Truth.
    Do You Truly Love Christ?

    The quote says, “We never truly love Christ if we never learn to hate every sin in us that crucified Him.”

    To love Christ is more than words, emotion, or religious appearance. True love for Jesus produces repentance and obedience.

    Jesus said:

    “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 KJV

    Sin is not something we should make peace with. We must hate the sin that separates us from God and desire holiness. The cross shows us how serious sin is—and how great Christ’s love is in bearing its penalty for us.

    The Bible says:
    “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” — Hebrews 12:6 KJV

    Therefore, let us examine our hearts. Do we merely say that we love Jesus, or are we willing to forsake the sins we know are displeasing to Him?

    “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14 KJV

    Do not love the sin Christ died to save you from. Love Christ, repent of sin, and walk in holiness. The cross calls us not merely to admire Jesus, but to surrender our lives to Him.
    A Nugget of Truth. Do You Truly Love Christ? The quote says, “We never truly love Christ if we never learn to hate every sin in us that crucified Him.” To love Christ is more than words, emotion, or religious appearance. True love for Jesus produces repentance and obedience. Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 KJV Sin is not something we should make peace with. We must hate the sin that separates us from God and desire holiness. The cross shows us how serious sin is—and how great Christ’s love is in bearing its penalty for us. The Bible says: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” — Hebrews 12:6 KJV Therefore, let us examine our hearts. Do we merely say that we love Jesus, or are we willing to forsake the sins we know are displeasing to Him? “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14 KJV Do not love the sin Christ died to save you from. Love Christ, repent of sin, and walk in holiness. The cross calls us not merely to admire Jesus, but to surrender our lives to Him.
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  • PROVERB OF THE DAY

    (Proverbs 1)

    1. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

    2. To know wisdom and instruction,
    To perceive the words of understanding,

    3. To receive the instruction of wisdom,
    Justice, judgment, and equity;

    4. To give prudence to the simple,
    To the young man knowledge and discretion—

    5. A wise man will hear and increase learning,
    And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

    6. To understand a proverb and an enigma,
    The words of the wise and their riddles.

    7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
    But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

    8. My son, hear the instruction of your father,
    And do not forsake the law of your mother;

    9. For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
    And chains about your neck.

    10. My son, if sinners entice you,
    Do not consent.

    11. If they say, “Come with us,
    Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
    Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

    12. Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
    And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

    13. We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
    We shall fill our houses with spoil;

    14. Cast in your lot among us,
    Let us all have one purse”—

    15. My son, do not walk in the way with them,
    Keep your foot from their path;

    16. For their feet run to evil,
    And they make haste to shed blood.

    17. Surely, in vain the net is spread
    In the sight of any bird;

    18. But they lie in wait for their own blood,
    They lurk secretly for their own lives.

    19. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
    It takes away the life of its owners.

    20. Wisdom calls aloud outside;
    She raises her voice in the open squares.

    21. She cries out in the chief concourses,
    At the openings of the gates in the city
    She speaks her words:

    22. “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
    For scorners delight in their scorning,
    And fools hate knowledge.

    23. Turn at my rebuke;
    Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
    I will make my words known to you.

    24. Because I have called and you refused,
    I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

    25. Because you disdained all my counsel,
    And would have none of my rebuke,

    26. I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when your terror comes,

    27. When your terror comes like a storm,
    And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
    When distress and anguish come upon you.

    28. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
    They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

    29. Because they hated knowledge
    And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

    30. They would have none of my counsel
    And despised my every rebuke.

    31. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
    And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

    32. For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
    And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

    33. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
    And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
    PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 1) 1. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2. To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3. To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4. To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5. A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6. To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8. My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9. For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. 10. My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11. If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12. Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13. We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14. Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— 15. My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16. For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17. Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18. But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. 20. Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21. She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22. “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25. Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27. When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28. “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30. They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
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  • 21:23-27

    At any point in scripture when Jesus is asked a question it is rarely for the purposes of receiving an answer. Sometimes there are those who genuinely want an answer, sometimes asking the question is a distraction to the one being asked. And there are no examples of the Pharisees asking a genuine question in a sincere desire to come to a knowledge of the truth.

    There is always an ulterior motive for a Pharisee asking questions of Jesus and here it is no different. Jesus has cleansed the temple for a second time, has brought healing to the region and is condemning their work in making the temple a business. Jesus is disrupting the day to day business model of the temple.

    So the Pharisees ask him, “by what authority do you do this?” Note it wasn't to get an answer. They asked for the express purpose of trapping Jesus in an answer. They were painfully aware of where Jesus believed His authority to originate from.

    The question Jesus asks them is even more telling. Not because they didn't know the answer but because they were afraid of what response their answer would have. At this point in Jesus's ministry, John the Baptist is a memory. So when Jesus asks them about John's ministry, He knows they won't answer honestly.

    Jesus knew their reasoning would be this way. They were more concerned over the people's reaction to their answer than they were the actual answer being correct. Was John's ministry from Heaven or men?

    And they couldn't answer for fear. So they took the cowards way out and lied. We don't know, they said. So Jesus doesn't bother trying to justify an answer for them. No answer will fully satisfy them, because any answer that doesn't fit their agenda is summarily dismissed without thought.

    There is only One from whom the authority to do these things would be readily accepted. The answer to their question is the same answer to Jesus's question and they knew it. Only God could grant this authority and they knew this but were not permitted to acknowledge it. This is yet again another proof for Matthew supporting the diety of Jesus as the Messiah.




    [23] When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” [24] But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. [25] The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ [26] But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” [27] And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.


    21:23-27 At any point in scripture when Jesus is asked a question it is rarely for the purposes of receiving an answer. Sometimes there are those who genuinely want an answer, sometimes asking the question is a distraction to the one being asked. And there are no examples of the Pharisees asking a genuine question in a sincere desire to come to a knowledge of the truth. There is always an ulterior motive for a Pharisee asking questions of Jesus and here it is no different. Jesus has cleansed the temple for a second time, has brought healing to the region and is condemning their work in making the temple a business. Jesus is disrupting the day to day business model of the temple. So the Pharisees ask him, “by what authority do you do this?” Note it wasn't to get an answer. They asked for the express purpose of trapping Jesus in an answer. They were painfully aware of where Jesus believed His authority to originate from. The question Jesus asks them is even more telling. Not because they didn't know the answer but because they were afraid of what response their answer would have. At this point in Jesus's ministry, John the Baptist is a memory. So when Jesus asks them about John's ministry, He knows they won't answer honestly. Jesus knew their reasoning would be this way. They were more concerned over the people's reaction to their answer than they were the actual answer being correct. Was John's ministry from Heaven or men? And they couldn't answer for fear. So they took the cowards way out and lied. We don't know, they said. So Jesus doesn't bother trying to justify an answer for them. No answer will fully satisfy them, because any answer that doesn't fit their agenda is summarily dismissed without thought. There is only One from whom the authority to do these things would be readily accepted. The answer to their question is the same answer to Jesus's question and they knew it. Only God could grant this authority and they knew this but were not permitted to acknowledge it. This is yet again another proof for Matthew supporting the diety of Jesus as the Messiah. [23] When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” [24] But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. [25] The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ [26] But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” [27] And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.
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  • September 1
    “WHEN I CANNOT SEE HIS HAND”
    WHEN I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER
    Lamentations 3:21–23 (LLV) —
    “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's faithful love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
    There are times
    when hope
    seems to arrive
    naturally.
    Something changes.
    A prayer
    is answered.
    A door
    opens.
    The clouds
    begin
    to clear.
    And suddenly
    hope
    feels possible
    again.
    That is not
    what happens
    here.
    Jeremiah
    is surrounded
    by devastation.
    The city
    he loves
    has fallen.
    His people
    are suffering.
    His heart
    is filled
    with grief.
    Nothing
    around him
    has suddenly
    become better.
    Then Jeremiah says:
    “This
    I call
    to mind.”
    He makes
    a choice.
    He remembers
    something.
    And because
    of what
    he remembers,
    hope begins
    to return.
    “Therefore
    I have hope.”
    Sometimes
    hope begins
    not when
    our circumstances
    change,
    but when
    we remember
    what our circumstances
    have caused us
    to forget.
    God
    is still faithful.
    His mercy
    has not
    run out.
    His love
    has not
    disappeared.
    His character
    has not
    changed.
    Jeremiah
    cannot yet
    look around
    and say,
    “Everything
    is well.”
    But he can
    look toward God
    and say,
    “Great is
    Your faithfulness.”
    That is
    a very different
    kind of hope.
    It does not
    deny
    the ruins.
    It does not
    pretend
    the pain
    is small.
    It simply refuses
    to allow
    the ruins
    to tell
    the entire story.
    Then Jeremiah
    gives us
    one of Scripture's
    most beautiful
    images:
    “His mercies
    are new
    every morning.”
    Yesterday
    may have been
    difficult.
    Yesterday
    may contain
    things
    we cannot change.
    Yesterday
    may have exhausted
    every bit
    of strength
    we thought
    we had.
    But morning
    comes.
    And when
    it does,
    God's mercy
    has not been
    used up
    by yesterday.
    There is mercy
    for this morning.
    Grace
    for this day.
    Strength
    for this burden.
    Faithfulness
    for this step.
    Perhaps
    that is why
    remembering
    matters so much.
    When we cannot
    see God's hand
    in what
    is happening now,
    we can remember
    where we have
    seen it before.
    We remember
    the prayers
    He answered.
    The strength
    He supplied.
    The doors
    He opened.
    The times
    He carried us
    through something
    we once thought
    we could never
    endure.
    And memory
    becomes
    a bridge
    between yesterday's
    faithfulness
    and today's
    hope.
    Nothing
    around Jeremiah
    had changed.
    But he remembered
    something
    greater
    than what
    surrounded him.
    God had not changed.
    A new beginning sometimes begins by remembering:
    when I cannot see what God is doing today, I can remember who He has always been.
    Reflection: What evidence of God's faithfulness from yesterday do I need to deliberately remember today?
    Prayer: Heavenly Father, when difficulty fills my vision, I can easily forget the many ways You have already been faithful. Help me call them to mind. Remind me of Your mercy, Your provision, Your strength, and Your presence through every season behind me. Thank You that yesterday cannot exhaust the mercy You have prepared for today. Whatever surrounds me this morning, let me remember and say with Jeremiah: “Great is Your faithfulness.” In Jesus' name, Amen.
    September 1 🌿 “WHEN I CANNOT SEE HIS HAND” WHEN I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER 📖 Lamentations 3:21–23 (LLV) — “Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's faithful love we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” There are times when hope seems to arrive naturally. Something changes. A prayer is answered. A door opens. The clouds begin to clear. And suddenly hope feels possible again. That is not what happens here. Jeremiah is surrounded by devastation. The city he loves has fallen. His people are suffering. His heart is filled with grief. Nothing around him has suddenly become better. Then Jeremiah says: “This I call to mind.” He makes a choice. He remembers something. And because of what he remembers, hope begins to return. “Therefore I have hope.” Sometimes hope begins not when our circumstances change, but when we remember what our circumstances have caused us to forget. God is still faithful. His mercy has not run out. His love has not disappeared. His character has not changed. Jeremiah cannot yet look around and say, “Everything is well.” But he can look toward God and say, “Great is Your faithfulness.” That is a very different kind of hope. It does not deny the ruins. It does not pretend the pain is small. It simply refuses to allow the ruins to tell the entire story. Then Jeremiah gives us one of Scripture's most beautiful images: “His mercies are new every morning.” Yesterday may have been difficult. Yesterday may contain things we cannot change. Yesterday may have exhausted every bit of strength we thought we had. But morning comes. And when it does, God's mercy has not been used up by yesterday. There is mercy for this morning. Grace for this day. Strength for this burden. Faithfulness for this step. Perhaps that is why remembering matters so much. When we cannot see God's hand in what is happening now, we can remember where we have seen it before. We remember the prayers He answered. The strength He supplied. The doors He opened. The times He carried us through something we once thought we could never endure. And memory becomes a bridge between yesterday's faithfulness and today's hope. Nothing around Jeremiah had changed. But he remembered something greater than what surrounded him. God had not changed. A new beginning sometimes begins by remembering: when I cannot see what God is doing today, I can remember who He has always been. Reflection: What evidence of God's faithfulness from yesterday do I need to deliberately remember today? Prayer: Heavenly Father, when difficulty fills my vision, I can easily forget the many ways You have already been faithful. Help me call them to mind. Remind me of Your mercy, Your provision, Your strength, and Your presence through every season behind me. Thank You that yesterday cannot exhaust the mercy You have prepared for today. Whatever surrounds me this morning, let me remember and say with Jeremiah: “Great is Your faithfulness.” In Jesus' name, Amen.
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  • # **DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE**

    There is a difference between **visiting God and living close to God**. Psalm 91:1 says, *“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”* I think of the secret place as that quiet space where you can put everything down for a moment—the things you cannot explain to anyone, the worries you carry into the night, the questions you are afraid to ask out loud. It is where you come before God without pretending that everything is fine. In His presence, you can breathe again.

    The secret place is not necessarily a particular room, building, or mountain. It is a life of intimacy with God. It may be those early minutes before everyone else wakes up, a quiet corner after a long day, or simply a moment in your car when you turn everything off and talk honestly to God. **To dwell means to remain.** It is more than running to God when life falls apart and then forgetting Him when things become comfortable. It is learning to walk with Him in ordinary days as well as difficult ones. When you make God's presence a regular part of your life, prayer becomes more than an emergency call; it becomes a relationship.

    Something changes when you spend time with God consistently. Your problems may not disappear overnight, but your perspective begins to change. You become less controlled by fear and less dependent on people's approval. You begin to recognize God's voice, understand His Word more clearly, and make decisions from a place of faith rather than panic. The secret place does not promise a life without trouble; it gives you somewhere to stand when trouble comes. **Psalm 91:2** says, *“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’”*

    Perhaps you have been trying to carry too much on your own. You have been strong for everyone else, answering messages, solving problems, meeting expectations, and quietly wondering who will strengthen you. **Come back to the secret place.** You don't have to arrive with perfect words. Come tired. Come confused. Come grateful. Come disappointed. Just come. God is not asking you to perform; He is inviting you into His presence.

    Don't make the secret place somewhere you visit only when you are desperate. **Make it your dwelling.** Let prayer become part of your rhythm. Let Scripture shape your thinking. Let worship quiet your heart. And when the storms come—and they will—you will have something deeper than circumstances to hold onto. **You will know where your strength comes from, where your peace is found, and where you can return when everything around you feels uncertain.**
    # **DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE** There is a difference between **visiting God and living close to God**. Psalm 91:1 says, *“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”* I think of the secret place as that quiet space where you can put everything down for a moment—the things you cannot explain to anyone, the worries you carry into the night, the questions you are afraid to ask out loud. It is where you come before God without pretending that everything is fine. In His presence, you can breathe again. The secret place is not necessarily a particular room, building, or mountain. It is a life of intimacy with God. It may be those early minutes before everyone else wakes up, a quiet corner after a long day, or simply a moment in your car when you turn everything off and talk honestly to God. **To dwell means to remain.** It is more than running to God when life falls apart and then forgetting Him when things become comfortable. It is learning to walk with Him in ordinary days as well as difficult ones. When you make God's presence a regular part of your life, prayer becomes more than an emergency call; it becomes a relationship. Something changes when you spend time with God consistently. Your problems may not disappear overnight, but your perspective begins to change. You become less controlled by fear and less dependent on people's approval. You begin to recognize God's voice, understand His Word more clearly, and make decisions from a place of faith rather than panic. The secret place does not promise a life without trouble; it gives you somewhere to stand when trouble comes. **Psalm 91:2** says, *“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’”* Perhaps you have been trying to carry too much on your own. You have been strong for everyone else, answering messages, solving problems, meeting expectations, and quietly wondering who will strengthen you. **Come back to the secret place.** You don't have to arrive with perfect words. Come tired. Come confused. Come grateful. Come disappointed. Just come. God is not asking you to perform; He is inviting you into His presence. Don't make the secret place somewhere you visit only when you are desperate. **Make it your dwelling.** Let prayer become part of your rhythm. Let Scripture shape your thinking. Let worship quiet your heart. And when the storms come—and they will—you will have something deeper than circumstances to hold onto. **You will know where your strength comes from, where your peace is found, and where you can return when everything around you feels uncertain.**
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  • A WORD FOR YOU.
    (Insights For Life)


    Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Jeremiah 1:11 KJV.


    WHAT DO YOU SEE?
    This is one of the most powerful question ever asked in the scripture. It is deliberate. This is because your answer to this question, changes everything in and around you. It is the foundation for every genuine change. It is what makes the whole difference in a man's life. What do you see?

    God is not responsible for everything happening to you. The devil is not either. You are at the centre of everything happenings in your life. You are a decider, a contributor, a partner to the decision making process of the changes, events and activities of your life. "I leave everything in God's hands", is an ignorant man's submission. God has so much in his hands already. So leaving yours in his hands, creates a difficult situation for you. The day you understand this truth and leave by it, your life will begin to take a new shape.

    What do you see? CHANGE, PROGRESS, SOLUTION, VICTORY; BEGINS WITH WHAT YOU SEE. This is the first step to a breakthrough or a breakdown. The reason is: LIFE, GOD, is only committed to what you see. What you say, is a conclusion, but what you see is a decision. Many have decided their destiny long before it happens by their constant projection of their thoughts and imagination.

    Until you change what you see, you can't change WHAT YOU SEE. To others, they see nothing. No wonder life and God is delivering nothing to them. Do you see failure or success? Do you see frustration or manifestation? Do you see disappointment or appointment? Do you see marital settlement, financial turnaround, Favour and God's goodness? If YES, NOW, go ahead and declare them upon your self. Say it loud, let the heavens and earth hear it. Say out loud what you see. For me, I see transformation, from glory to glory in Jesus precious name. Be blessed, Stay refreshed!



    #AwordForYou
    #InsightsforLife
    #nnamdicaezarsammyministry
    #NCSM
    #DewChurchGlobal
    #LifereFreshingMinistry
    #IAMADEW
    A WORD FOR YOU. (Insights For Life) Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Jeremiah 1:11 KJV. WHAT DO YOU SEE? This is one of the most powerful question ever asked in the scripture. It is deliberate. This is because your answer to this question, changes everything in and around you. It is the foundation for every genuine change. It is what makes the whole difference in a man's life. What do you see? God is not responsible for everything happening to you. The devil is not either. You are at the centre of everything happenings in your life. You are a decider, a contributor, a partner to the decision making process of the changes, events and activities of your life. "I leave everything in God's hands", is an ignorant man's submission. God has so much in his hands already. So leaving yours in his hands, creates a difficult situation for you. The day you understand this truth and leave by it, your life will begin to take a new shape. What do you see? CHANGE, PROGRESS, SOLUTION, VICTORY; BEGINS WITH WHAT YOU SEE. This is the first step to a breakthrough or a breakdown. The reason is: LIFE, GOD, is only committed to what you see. What you say, is a conclusion, but what you see is a decision. Many have decided their destiny long before it happens by their constant projection of their thoughts and imagination. Until you change what you see, you can't change WHAT YOU SEE. To others, they see nothing. No wonder life and God is delivering nothing to them. Do you see failure or success? Do you see frustration or manifestation? Do you see disappointment or appointment? Do you see marital settlement, financial turnaround, Favour and God's goodness? If YES, NOW, go ahead and declare them upon your self. Say it loud, let the heavens and earth hear it. Say out loud what you see. For me, I see transformation, from glory to glory in Jesus precious name. Be blessed, Stay refreshed! #AwordForYou #InsightsforLife #nnamdicaezarsammyministry #NCSM #DewChurchGlobal #LifereFreshingMinistry #IAMADEW
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