OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER ,1ST 2026 TOPIC :THE LAW OF HARVEST AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE MEMORISE: "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 (KJV) BIBLE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:37-44 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. MESSAGE: The law of harvest is one of the most powerful laws created by God. It states that ‘whatever a person sows is what he or she will reap’ (Galatians 6:7), and it is so powerful that God applied it to Himself when He wanted more children. John 12:24 says a corn of wheat must first be sown into the ground and die before it can bring forth much fruit. So God sowed His only begotten son (Jesus Christ), so that He might gain many more children, and Jesus would become the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). Many years ago, there was a man in Nigeria who would hand out cash to people randomly wherever he went. People followed him everywhere he went because they knew that he would give them money. Some people wondered if he was mad, but he wasn’t; he only discovered that the more he gave out money, the more he received. Anyone who truly discovers the secret of the law of harvest would never be begged to give. The law of harvest is so powerful that when a person sows a seed of kindness or wickedness, the fellow will harvest what he or she has sown in bountiful folds. Nobody sows a grain of corn and harvests a grain; if you sow a grain of corn, the least harvest you can expect is a cob of corn with many grains. Job 4:8 says “…they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” People who spend their time scheming to harm others will eventually fall into the traps they created. Likewise, if you sow kindness, you will reap an abundance of kindness. Hosea 10:12 says that when people sow in righteousness, they will reap in mercy. Beloved, one thing you must constantly sow as a believer is good works. Dorcas could never have known that the harvest of her good works towards the widows in her community would come in the form of her being resurrected from the dead (Acts 9:36-42) – that is another mystery about the law of harvest. Today’s Bible reading tells us that whatever is sown often returns in another form because God gives the seed a body as He pleases. Dorcas’ seed of kindness returned in a bigger, better form as God’s gift of resurrection. Keep sowing good works, and watch God repay you in ways beyond your wildest imagination. KEY POINT: You will reap what you sow; therefore, sow good works everywhere you go. BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 25-27 HYMN 16: ‘TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS 1. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord." CHORUS: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I 've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more 2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; Just in simple faith to plunge me 'Neath the healing, cleansing flood! 3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace. 4. I'm so glad Learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend, And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end. ' HAPPY NEW MONTH TO YOU ALL!.

Free e-Book: THE MINISTRY DRIVEN CHURCH I’d like to give you my e-book The Ministry Driven Church, but first let me tell you a little about myself: In 1957 when I was 14, I committed my life to serve Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. The next summer, over 65 years ago, while taking care of lawns at an apartment complex, the Lord gave me a vision: I saw a map of the Soviet Union in the sky and a voice said: “Remember this apartment complex plan - you’ll build it when you’re an old man.” And I remember that there was something special about the stairs, but I didn’t understand what it was. Now I’m over 80, so I guess I’m old enough to start this new project! READ MORE: https://robertdhosken.substack.com/p/free-e-book-the-ministry-driven-church-069

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 30) 1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 . Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man. 3. I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One. 4. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know? 5. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. 7. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9. Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. 10. Do not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty. 11. There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. 12. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. 15. The leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”: 16. The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!” 17. The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. 18. There are three things which. are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: 19. The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin. 20. This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.” 21. For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up: 22. For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food, 23. A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress. 24. There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: 25. The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; 26. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags; 27. The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks; 28. The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces. 29. There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk: 30. A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any; 31 A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with him. 32. If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33. For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood,So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY. SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2O26. "THERE'S NOBODY LIKE HIM! (5)" ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?...’ Psalms 27:1 NKJV WE ALL need an encounter with the transfigured Christ; the One who is greater than Moses the law giver and Elijah the prophet, and all the other prophets who have ever lived. The One who wears the true crown of the universe, God’s beloved Son. We need to fall on our face and see Him as the Holy One, the Highest One, the Only One. As you do, all your fears, save the fear of Christ Himself, will melt like an ice cube on a summer day. You will agree with David: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’ In the book Prince Caspian, there is a great illustration of this. Lucy sees Aslan the lion for the first time in many years. He has changed since their last encounter. His size surprises her, and she tells him as much. ‘Aslan,’ says Lucy, ‘you’re bigger.’ He replies, ‘That is because you are older, little one.’ Lucy says, ‘Not because you are?’ He replies, ‘I am not. But every year you grow, you find me bigger.’ And so it is in our walk with Christ. The longer we serve Him, the greater He becomes. It’s not that He changes, but that we do. We see dimensions, aspects, characteristics we never saw before; increasing and astonishing increments of His purity, power, and uniqueness. Only when we have fallen at His feet in humility and total dependence will He say to us what He said to His disciples on the Mount where He was transfigured: ‘…“Arise, and do not be afraid”’ (Matthew 17:7 NKJV). Bible In A Year: Ezek 20-21, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 111, Pro 19:18-20. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝🌹. MD.ii. [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* SUNDAY, 30TH AUGUST, 2026 *SEEKING THE BREAD OF LIFE: BEYOND TEMPORARY BLESSINGS* *TEXT:* JOHN 6:24–34 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. *Timeless Truth:* _But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you _*(Matthew 6:33)*. *INTRODUCTION* In 1997, the world watched as Mother Teresa continued her work among the poor and dying in Calcutta despite having very limited material resources. Her ministry was not built around accumulating possessions, but around serving people and pointing them toward Christ. Her life demonstrated that material needs, though important, cannot by themselves satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. This truth is reflected in Jesus' encounter with the crowd in John 6. The people had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. They had received bread miraculously and when they could no longer find Jesus, they sought for Him. However, Jesus exposed the motive behind their search: *“You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”* (John 6:26) They were pursuing Jesus primarily because of what He could give them, rather than because of who He is. Jesus then redirected their attention from temporary bread to eternal nourishment: The passage challenges us to examine our motives: Are we seeking Christ because we love Him or primarily because of what we hope to receive from Him? The crowd came looking for Jesus, but Jesus knew why they were looking for Him. They had eaten the bread, enjoyed the miracle and wanted more. Their problem was not that they wanted bread. Their problem was that they wanted bread without fully recognizing the Bread of Life. This remains a danger for Christians today. We can seek God for: employment, healing, financial breakthrough, academic success, marriage, protection, promotion, material provision and all these things may legitimately be brought before God in prayer. However, if our relationship with Christ is reduced to what He can provide, we have misunderstood discipleship. Jesus is not merely the Provider of bread; He is the Bread of Life. The greatest blessing is not what God places in our hands, but who God places in our hearts. Physical bread sustains the body temporarily. Money can provide comfort temporarily. Success can bring recognition temporarily. Possessions can give pleasure temporarily, but none of these can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human soul. Only Christ can do that. Therefore, we must examine our priorities. Are we spending more time pursuing things than pursuing God? Are we more excited about God's gifts than about God's presence? Do we pray only when we need something or do we desire fellowship with Christ because we love Him? The answer of Jesus is clear: *Do not labour for the food which perisheth, but for the food which endureth to everlasting life.* Let us therefore, seek Christ above possessions, eternal life above temporary success and God's kingdom above worldly satisfaction. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, we can enjoy God's blessings without allowing those blessings to become our god. The deepest hunger of the human heart can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. *1. The Pursuit of Temporary Satisfaction* a. The crowd crossed the sea looking for Jesus, but their motivation was primarily physical. The people sought diligently for Jesus after discovering that He had left. Seeking Christ is good, but our motives matter. We should seek Jesus not merely for His blessings, but because He is worthy of our love and devotion. b. The crowd had witnessed a miracle and wanted more. They were attracted to what Jesus could do rather than surrendering themselves to who Jesus is. *(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)* (2 Corinthians 5:7) — Miracles can point us toward Christ, but miracles themselves must never become the foundation of our faith. Physical food satisfies temporarily; eventually, we become hungry again. *Questions* (i) What do I pursue most—God Himself or the blessings I hope to receive from Him? (ii) Have material possessions, comfort, success or recognition become more important to me than spiritual growth? *2. The Priority of Eternal Substance* a. Jesus redirected the crowd from physical food toward the nourishment that leads to eternal life. This does not mean Christians should neglect legitimate work or physical responsibilities. Rather, eternal things must have first priority. Our careers, businesses, education and possessions are important, but none should replace our pursuit of God. b. Jesus made it clear that eternal life ultimately comes from God. *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:* (Ephesians 2:8). We cannot earn salvation through human achievement. When the crowd asked what they should do, Jesus answered: The central response God desires is genuine faith in Jesus Christ. *Questions* (i) Am I investing as much energy in my spiritual life as I invest in my career and material needs? (ii) Am I trusting Christ for salvation or am I depending on my good works and religious activities? *3. The Provision of Sufficient Bread* a. The crowd remembered the manna given to Israel in the wilderness and asked Jesus for a sign. They referred to Moses and the manna: They were focusing on an earlier miracle instead of recognizing the greater One standing before them. Past spiritual experiences are valuable testimonies, but we must continue walking with Christ today. b. Jesus corrected their understanding: *Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.*(John 6:32.) God's provision in the wilderness pointed beyond physical manna to Christ Himself. We can trust God to provide what we genuinely need while remembering that our greatest need is spiritual life in Christ. The crowd responded: *“Lord, give us this bread always.”* Although they still misunderstood, their request provided an opportunity for Jesus to reveal the truth that became explicit in the following verse: *And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst* (John 6:35).Jesus Himself is the ultimate provision for the deepest hunger of the human soul. *Questions* (i) Where do I turn when I experience emotional, spiritual or inner emptiness? (ii) Am I allowing Christ to satisfy my deepest spiritual hunger through His Word and fellowship? *Prayer Points* 1. Lord, help me to seek You above every temporary possession, achievement and earthly ambition.🙏 2. Father, create within me a deeper hunger and thirst for Your Word, Your presence and Your righteousness.🙏 3. Lord, teach me to trust Your provision and to remain content with what You graciously provide.🙏 4. Lord Jesus, draw those who are spiritually empty and searching, to Yourself and help them discover that You alone can give eternal life.🙏 *Hymns:* I’d Rather Have Jesus *THE BIBLE IN ONE* YEAR:ESTHER 1-5 [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *SEEKING JESUS RIGHTLY* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️✅🤔🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 6:24-34```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (JOHN 6:27).*_ *Happiness is a lifetime pursuit, but sadly, it is rarely sought rightly. Youths seek it in alcohol, drugs or pornography and end up in self-destruction. Adults seek it in marriage, money, mansions but end up in unfathomable failure, frustration and great pain. As Solomon makes clear in Ecclesiastes, any earthly thing that you seek to satisfy the inner void is like chasing soap bubbles. You catch one only to have it burst in your hand.* *Our text opens with a narrative about seekers of Jesus. Seeking Jesus is a good thing, but it is not enough. What you seek Him for is more important. The sinner must seek Him for salvation, recognising he is spiritually bankrupt without His gift of salvation. Sadly, the crowd in our text sought Jesus for temporal gratification, not eternal salvation! Jesus saw their motive for seeking Him and punctured their search with a scathing, incisive, yet profoundly true remark: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled".* *The Bible is clear that our ultimate source of happiness and pleasure is God. David wrote, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore". Jesus told the disciples: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full". We will find fullness of joy and pleasures forever when we seek the Lord rightly.* *Beloved, never seek the Lord for superficial motives. They are a mirage; bubbles that never last. Beyond the bread (healing, deliverance, prosperity and miracles) that Christ gives, seek Him who is the Bread of Life, the Bread from heaven. Be discreet to shun dispensing your life energy on labouring for perishable material things that will never satisfy the imperishable soul. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" (Isaiah 55:2). He still saves as many as would come to Him for salvation and restores backsliders who truly repent. God does not despise genuine hunger and thirst for righteousness. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*It is self-cheating to seek the Lord only for material or temporary blessings.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *ESTHER 1-5*📜📜 Seeking Jesus Rightly https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 253: MY PORTION FOR EVER; GHS 244: ALL THINGS IN JESUS; AND GHS 77: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS;* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *IN HIS SECRET PLACE - 2* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️🙏🏽🙌🏽 📜📜```TEXT:PSALM 91:10-16```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (PSALM 91:10-11).*_ *In the early hours of February 6, 2023, thousands were confirmed dead in the aftermath of two huge earthquakes in Syria. Baby Aya (meaning miracle in Arabic) was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord when she was rescued from the rubble during the earthquake disaster in Syria. Her mother, father and all four of her siblings died after the quake hit the town of Jindayris in Syria.* *Aya survived, although she was in such a bad state. She had bumps, bruises, and was cold and barely breathing when she arrived in the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital manager, Khalid Attiah, had a daughter just four months older than she. The wife offered to breastfeed Aya alongside her own daughter. What a divine protection!* *Who would have thought that such a child would still be alive under the debris? God kept her alive in His secret place. The Lord has promised to give His angels charge over you to keep you from calamity. His promises are sure. "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul" (Psalm 121:7).* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*His promises are sure.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*He watches over His own.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, I hide under Your wings for refuge.*_ In His Secret Place - 2 https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [29/08, 10:05 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST, 2026``` *BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S BURDEN* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 6:1-4```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Sometime ago, at a special Olympics event, nine contestants (all physically disabled), assembled at the starting line for a 100-yard race. At the sound of the whistle, they started out all happy and eager to run the race and win. As they were running, one of them stumbled on the track, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry, they slowed down and looked back. Then all of them turned around and went back to the fallen athlete. Lifting him up, they walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood to cheer them for several minutes. *This was a practical act of bearing one another's burden. More than winning for ourselves, what matters in this life is helping others to win, even if it means slowing down. A candle loses nothing by lightning another candle.* *The lesson for us here is that we must show love, concern and care for others. God is much interested in how we show love to our neighbours than the number of laurels we gather. The boy or girl next to you is in pain - show love to him or her. When we care for one another, the burden becomes lighter.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, help me to learn to always give a helping hand to someone in need.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Romans 15:1-3* Bearing One Another's Burden https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk30thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS]. 2. Morning Prayer for today. MP.i. Morning Prayer A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. ⏤ Psalm 122:1 True prayer is not asking God for what we want, but what He wants. ⏤ Wesley L. Duewel Father, as we pause to rest this day with You, the great feverish world keeps throbbing on. May something of Your blessed Sunday peace flow out into this restless world and quiet it. Let this day be a true blessing to all Your people, and may the influence of this day reach far and wide, making its power felt throughout the world. We ask that Your grace be given so that all who worship You today may receive a blessing. Let Your blessing be upon all assemblies that gather for worship and upon all Sunday schools. May there be divine power in the preaching of Your word. May lost sinners be convicted and led to repentance. May Christians be strengthened and encouraged. May those who are sorrowful be comforted. May this day bring new strength and heavenly impulses to children and young people. May our home be blessed and enriched by this day of rest and worship. May Your life from Heaven come down and make our land holier, purer, and sweeter. O God, Your cause on earth sometimes seems to falter. Your church does not always appear to be earnest. The world is earnest; every energy of evil is active. Wicked people are busy in their wickedness, while the followers of Jesus seem to be asleep! Your kingdom does not seem to be advancing among the nations. We pray again, "May Your kingdom come." Pour out Your Spirit upon all who bear the name of Jesus. Ignite revival fires in all parts of the church. We pray for ourselves, that we may be quickened in our spiritual life. Let a blessing be upon Your whole church, and may Your cause receive a divine impulse that will be felt around the world. Revive Your work among Your people. Hear our prayers and give us Your blessing through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/56/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 30) 1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 . Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man. 3. I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One. 4. Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know? 5. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. 7. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9. Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. 10. Do not malign a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty. 11. There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. 12. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. 13. There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. 14. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men. 15. The leech has two daughters— Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”: 16. The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!” 17. The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. 18. There are three things which. are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: 19. The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin. 20. This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.” 21. For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up: 22. For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food, 23. A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress. 24. There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: 25. The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; 26. The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags; 27. The locusts have no king, Yet they all advance in ranks; 28. The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces. 29. There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk: 30. A lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn away from any; 31 A greyhound, A male goat also, And a king whose troops are with him. 32. If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth. 33. For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood,So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

Summer's officially winding down and, much of the country starts the transition between long, lazy days of summer and juggling the chaos of deadlines, frantic schedules, and extracurricular activities. For me, I will jump into my 24th year in the classroom. 24 years of slow, sluggish days of recovery from the previous school year to the mach-3 craziness of a typical school day: a frazillion questions—some of which actually have something to do with the subject—as well as a litany of excuses, accommodation requests, apathy, and a cacophony of laughter directed at me because of something stupid I inadvertently or did. Of course, it also comes meaningful and insightful classroom discussions, fond memories, and watching a light bulb come as a connection is made between the head and the heart. I pray for many more school years to come. Typically on the first day of school, the most frequent prompt that comes up is: what I did last summer. This prompt produces a variety of responses, ranging from vacations, camping trips, swimming, tubing, fishing, and the county fair. I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately as well as what would be my answer. All things considered, I had an eventful summer. I embarked on another road trip, a budding impromptu tradition that takes me along American’s backroads exploring places I have never seen before. These annual road trips have become therapeutic for me. The weekend after I returned, I went to my 40th High School Reunion, reliving old memories and seeing classmates I honestly thought I would have never seen again. Next, my wife and I spent our 28th Anniversary exploring the old territorial capitol of Montana, Virginia City. However, despite all of that activity, if I had to honestly define my summer, I would describe it as a time to heal. This last spring, I lost my mother the same week my wife lost her job. It was a world turned upside-down. In addition to the typical annual stress of teaching during a second semester, I had to be an emotional strength and encourager for my wife as we grieved the loss of my mother. We had to juggle a household that, for a time, dealt with a 60% income drop, a loss of insurance, and an uncertain future. Now, I will emphatically state that God came through for us during that ordeal. He absolutely did. However, those months also took a great toll on my being. I didn’t feel like myself at home or at work. My filters were down. My emotions were raw, shriveled and depleted. I was subdued and weak. I just wanted to crawl under a rock. But the summer brought a time of restoration of heavy solitude. It brought with wonderful experiences alone, with my wife, and with God. The teacher in Ecclesiastes writes of seasons in life: “A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, A time to search and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away, A time to tear and a time to mend, A time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:2–8) Life is filled with seasons. As much as we try, they are unavoidable. Frankly, it is easy to cling to God when life is wonderful; however, true spiritual growth comes when life isn't peachy. We always enjoy mountain top experience; however, it is also important to remember that nothing grows on a mountain top. The rich, fertile soil lies in the valley. It often seems superficial that use suffering to test us or to teach us a lesson. More often, he quietly sits with us in difficult seasons for us to cling to. So what is the answer to that question asked in nearly every classroom in America? I healed. My summer was a time for restoration, a time for healing. In a matter of days, the school year kicks off and a new season begins. And with the new year, when the next season arrives, my grip on God—with prayer and knowledge he is with me—remains tighter than ever.

2 Samuel 16 1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” 3 “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’” 4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!” 5 As King David approached...

Today's #photo: beautiful #summer #dawn in the prairie wetlands: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1ls #NotAI #canada #nature #photography (Click/tap the link or picture to see the entire scene.)

Today's #photo: the beautiful silhouettes of an approaching #summer dawn: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-39O #urbex #sunrise #photography #canada (Click/tap the link or picture to see the entire scene.)

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 26) 1. As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 2. Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. 3. A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back. 4. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes. 6. He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. 7. Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 8. Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool. 9. Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. 10. The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. 11. As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. 12. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 13. The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!” 14. As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. 15. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. 16. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly. 17. He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears. 18. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19. Is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “I was only joking!” 20. Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. 21. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. 23. Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. 24. He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; 25. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; 26. Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 27. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. 28. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin