Tuesday 29 April 2014

Yummy Gluten Free Cheddar Goldfish

Ingredients:
·         1/2 cup (60 grams) gluten free all purpose mix
·         1⁄4 cup (30 grams) corn flour
·         1⁄4 cup (30 grams) oat flour
·         a pinch of turmeric (optional, for color)
·         1⁄2 teaspoon salt
·         1 cup (2 ounces) grated loosely packed mild cheddar cheese
·         2 tablespoons coconut oil or unsalted butter
·         2 to 3 tablespoons hot water, divided

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
Combine the flours, turmeric and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the dough blade and pulse to combine. Add the cheese and coconut oil, and pulse to incorporate. Scape down the sides of the food processor to free any trapped flour. With the food processor running, drizzle in the hot water, a little at a time, just until the mixture begins to pull together. You may not use all of the water.
Form the dough into a ball, and gently flatten. Place the dough between two pieces of parchment paper, and roll very thin, to about 1⁄8 inch thick.
Using a very small fish-shaped cutter, or the cutter of your choice, cut out the crackers and carefully place them on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, keeping a close eye on them, until golden around the edges, about 10 to 12 minutes, and cool before serving.


Recipe from laraferroni.com

FROM CRISIS TO GLORY

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4
God raises up leaders to take on causes that are much greater than themselves. However, these causes are often first birthed as a result of a personal crisis or conviction; then this leads to a larger cause.
Martin Luther King had a personal conviction that racial discrimination was wrong. He sought to change this through preaching and non-violent demonstrations.
It wasn't long before this became the conviction of others and a movement larger than any one person.
William Wilberforce was a political statesman in England. He came to Christ when he was twenty-eight years old.
He began to have personal convictions about slavery in England and he committed his life to the goal of destroying slavery.
He finally achieved his goal after fifty years of work. His work also resulted in sixty-four worlds changing initiatives before he died.
William Wallace was burdened about the persecution his country received from the wicked English king named Edward the Longshanks.
Born in 1272, Wallace grew up under the persecution from the wicked king. When he was older, he led a rebellion against England that resulted in the freedom for the nation of Scotland.
The popular movie, Braveheart, was the story of William Wallace. Your own ministry to those in need may first begin as a personal crisis. This may develop later into a call to serve your generation.
Has God allowed a crisis in your life? Praise God! He often raises leaders and begins movements as a result of a personal crisis.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to give you solutions to the challenges of your generation.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 82:1-8-9

Recipes: Fruit Pizza Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated Cookie  Dough

• 1/8oz. package Cream Cheese

• 1cup (powdered) Confectioner’s Sugar

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• 1tub of Cool Whip

• Fresh fruit, chopped (strawberries, pineapple, blueberries)

Directions:

1. Cut ½Iinch slices from the refrigerated cookie dough and place on the tops of

an upside down cupcake pan.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes (or until golden and firm to the

touch).

3. Carefully remove the cookie shells from them upside down cupcake, pan.

4. Meanwhile, mix an 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese with/½ cup of

confectioner’s sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.

5. Use a spoon or spatula to spread the mixture into the cookie shells.

6. Place a row of your chopped fruit on top of the cream cheese mixture.

7. Add a dollop of cool whip to each cupcake, spread evenly, and then top with

Another layer of fruit!

8. Refrigerate until served.





By icanteachmychild.com

Obedience Brings Blessing

TEXT: LEVITICUS 14:33-57
KEY VERSE: ”To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy” (Leviticus 14:57).
Long before medical science taught washing of hands after going to the toilet as a precaution against deadly diseases and their spread, the God of Israel had led His people through these rudiments. He had also directed them to dig the earth a good distance from their habitation to dispose of body waste. These were among the host of hygienic laws that preserved the ancient Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness after liberation from Egypt.
In chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Leviticus, and especially in the passage before us today, God told the Israelites how to diagnose leprosy so they could avoid it or treat it. These laws were given for the people’s health and protection. They helped them avoid diseases that were serious threats to their lives. Although they wouldn’t have understood the medical reasons for some of these laws, their obedience to them made them healthier. Many of God’s laws must have seemed strange to the Israelites. His laws, however, helped them avoid not only physical contamination, but moral and spiritual infection as well.
From the above, the moral for us in this day and age is that the word of God still provides a pattern for physical, spiritual and moral lives. Immorality and uncleanness can lead to sexually transmitted diseases; drunkenness or alcoholism causes cirrhosis of the liver; and smoking can lead to lung cancer. Above all, there is heaven to lose if one should indulge in any of these vices.
True believers have the grace to live above temptations and make it to heaven. This grace is available for all at no cost. You also can obtain it today through prayer of faith in God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God’s laws are timeless.

 

Sunday 27 April 2014

Parents: Standing Against Satan's Attack on Your Children

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. —Matthew 18:6
God made a covenant with Abraham and pronounced a multitude of blessings upon him. Why? Because God knew Abraham would raise his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Abraham became the father of many nations, and the entire earth has been blessed through his seed. You are en-grafted into the family of Abraham and are blessed because of his righteous seed.
Our children are our righteous seed, and Satan is after them. He has turned our public schools into cesspools of godless propaganda where God is publicly mocked and reviled.
It is time to take a stand against the devil. The blood-bought saints of God must rescue this generation with the blood of Jesus, with the Word of God, and with prayer. Pray a hedge of protection around the children in your life.
What stand is Christ calling you to make in Your family, at work, in church, and in your community? Are you will to stand up for Jesus no matter what the cost?

Jesus, give me the courage to stand firm on Your truth. Guide me in raising my 
children in the fear of God. Protect  my children and family from every attack. Amen.

Prayer and Declarations For New Week

The God who makes rain fall in its season shall command His bountiful blessings towards you and your rains of blessings shall fall for you! Before this month is over, you will witness God's favour in a greater dimension. Any false allegations laid against you shall soon turn out in your favour in Jesus Name!

We know that by every stripe he (Jesus) took we are healed I declare Supernatural Healing today! Every form of sickness disappears today in Jesus name! Because his blood washes us white as snow, i decree freedom from the shame of the past! Old things are passed away and you are a new creation in Christ Jesus!

Happy New Week from us ASB-World.



Words of encouragement for someone

When you were nothing God made you somebody when you were hungry God fed you with His choicest meal when you were naked God clothed you with the best of raiment when you were poor God enriched with His marvelous wealth so that you were recognized among princes when you were unlovable God loved you with all that He is. 
They should not be the source of your joy (for from these blessings some become proud and live after them thereby making a god out of them), but rather let the source from which each blessings are produced be your eternal joy. Be thankful to God for the most little and the most largest blessing you've ever received and for the ones you're yet to receive for He is the I AM...THAT I AM, and He is not through with you yet


FOOD FOR THOUGHT(YOU ARE UNIQUE!)

YOU ARE UNIQUE!
Think what a remarkable, unduplicatable, and miraculous thing it is to be you! Of all the people who have come and gone on the earth since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU!
No one who has ever lived or is to come has had your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances, burdens, sorrows and opportunities.
No one’s hair grows exactly the way yours does. No one’s finger prints are like yours.
No one before, no one to come. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!
Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else.
You weren’t meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else.
You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now.
If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind.
Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it!
No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words.
No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.
No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile.
No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.
Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are.
That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away!

See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it inform you and nudge you and inspire you! YOU ARE UNIQUE!

Saturday 26 April 2014

Get Knowledge, Get Understanding

TEXT: PROVERBS 17:15-28
KEY VERSE: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit” (Proverbs 17:27).
It was not a coincidence that one of the first acts of young Solomon as the King of Israel was to ask God to give him the blessing of understanding to enable him rule God’s people. We should also not see it as happenstance that only a few verses after God granted Solomon’s request, the king applied his new-found weapon to judge two feuding harlots. The two cases were planned by God to underscore the strategic role of knowledge, wisdom and understanding in human affairs.
In the passage today, God distills for us the rules of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We pay attention to these for our own good and for the lengthening of our days here on earth. No better way than to list the lesson God has for us today. Practice equity in all matters, never justify the wicked nor condemn the just. Be ready to pay the full price to get wisdom, it will preserve your life. Let your love for others be constant in times of joy and adversity. Do not be a surety to a stranger, preserve your life. Live at peace with all men and be humble. Do not give or receive bribe, God hates it. Avoid foolish behaviour and lifestyle, so you do not bring sorrow to all that love you. Control your tongue!
Paul, the apostle desired “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye , being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You are aimless in life if you lack wisdom.


Friday 25 April 2014

JUST ASK FOR HELP

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:31-32
Sometimes we are embarrassed to admit to God that we need help. We feel as though we ought to work things out ourselves. But as children of God, He wants us to call on Him whenever we have a need or are in trouble.
There is no shame in that. When Peter came walking on the water toward Jesus and began to sink, it hardly came as a surprise to Him. Jesus knows that as humans, we are not perfect.
He knew Peter will fail. But He also knew what Peter would become. He didn't merely see him for what he was; He saw him for what he would be. And that is how God sees us as well.
Jesus knew that Peter would fail—not only in this situation, but later when Peter would deny Him. In fact, Jesus brought it to Peter's attention on one occasion.
So Peter's failure came as no shock to Jesus. And just as Peter was sinking, the Bible tells us that "immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased".
The Bible doesn't say that Jesus carried Peter back. They got into the boat, which means that Peter stood up and walked with Jesus on the water once more, back to the boat.
We will have our miraculous moments in life, our mountaintop experiences. But mountaintops prepare us for the valleys of life, and calm waters prepare us for the storms.
Maybe you are sinking right now. Maybe you are gripped by fear, worry, and defeat. Follow the example of Peter: cry out to Jesus. He will take hold of you and bring you to safety.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to deliver you from all your troubles and restore your joy and peace.
Scriptural Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

 

Recipes: Coconut Pudding

 Do you love everything about coconut! Here is my recipe for coconut pudding, it taste so delicious
Ingredients:
·         Two organic baby coconuts
·         Organic Vanilla extract
Directions:
Take the water from half of a baby coconut and the meat from two baby coconuts, put them in the Vita-mix and blend with a little vanilla extract. Put the mixture in the refrigerator and serve cold.

I also drink the rest of the water which is my favorite part! Enjoy yyyyyy.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Life is the most difficult examination

 “Life is the most difficult examination. Many people fail because they try to copy others.”
From time to time, I remember my days in secondary school and some of the experiences that are markers for that phase of my life.
One of such landmark experiences for me was a French examination in my first year at the school (what we called Junior Secondary School or JSS One at the time). I despised the subject; French that is, and I didn’t despise the teacher any less. Please don’t get me wrong, I was very young and quite immature at the time. Let me also add that I am somebody who never enjoys what he doesn’t like doing. Also, at this time, I had not yet committed my life to Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour so there was no such teaching as patience or anything like that resident on my inside.
Fortunately (or maybe not necessarily so), in this exam I was seated beside the best student of my entire set of over 80 students. This seemed to be a blessing to me as expectedly, my hatred for the subject would do no good for my reading.
Upon staring the exam, I decided to avail myself the opportunity of copying word for word my brilliant exam neighbour. Incidentally, he was quite benevolent as to let me do as I pleased so long as I did not obstruct his flow of thoughts or writing.
The exam was wonderful (or so I thought). I wrote and answered all the questions excellently and submitted my script. In my mind, I had it made and was going to surprise everyone except myself.
A few days later, I got a call from the staff room. It was my French teacher who wanted me. I thought to myself ‘I’ve got it made men!’ On getting to her office, here was the brief but resounding conversation that ensued between the both of us.
Teacher: How was your exam Segun?
Me: Fine ma.
The next question she asked struck me like an axe in the back.
Teacher: Who did you copy from in the exam?
Me: Nobody ma (I said immediately and confidently)
Teacher: Are you sure?
Me: Yes ma.
I was convinced that I had successfully deceived everyone. Just then, she drew out my script from where she had kept it in her table and showed me asking that spot I out what the problem with the script was.
Like a flash, my eyes immediately spotted the problem at the top of the script. Right where my own name should have been, was the name of another student; my exam neighbour. The name was well written in my handwriting.
Upon seeing my reaction of gross disappointment in myself, I guess she probably just felt the shame was enough punishment for me as not only the entire staff room, but also my entire school set had got wind of the scenario. She took the script from me and gently told me I could leave.
I left that office that day having learnt a very vital lesson, and that’s what this is about.
Having read the quote atop this presentation, it dawn on me that many people today are like I was in my French exam.
Taking a closer look at the lives of several people, I see that like my teacher saw on my script, though their lives may look colourful and excellent on the surface, the Great Examiner sees something different. He sees the truth that atop their life scripts is somebody else’s name. No matter how good it gets, it is at best the duplication of another person’s life. This is a sorry state to be in. What’s even worse is that many will be like I was; grossly disappointed that just when they think they have it made and they’ve beaten everyone to it, their entire lives are only copies of another’s and they’ve lost themselves in the process.
They end up magnifying the success of another at the expense of their own true success. Not that there’s anything wrong with magnifying the success of another, but that in the process, they lose their own true success.
One of my mentors once said if human beings are left to themselves, they would copy one another. From what I see today, I couldn’t agree more.
Check your life today friend. Are you truly original and living out your true identity? Or are you living your life as an expression of the desires and expectation of an individual member or entire group in society.
From my French exam experience, I can confidently say that immediate failure on your won road is better than eternal failure on another’s. It is better to fail today doing what you know you are called to do, than succeed today at doing something popular only to end up a failure in destiny.
However small or insignificant what you have might seem, what makes it real is that it is yours’. Every forest started as a seed. The vision may seem like nothing to others, but to you, it sure must be something. Even if everyone doesn’t see a pregnancy, its carrier must be fully aware that it’s there and not treat it any less than it is.
I know you’ve probably heard it said before that when you copy others, you lose yourself. But let me also add that you miss out on God’s best for you.
Friend, God made you to be you. He desired that you will be an expression of a side of Himself that the world is yet to see. To refuse to be yourself in all things is to deny Him that opportunity in your life. This will only leave Him highly displeased.
Wear that unique smile, enjoy your beautiful skin colour, be grateful about how different you look, think, speak, and act. Share that dream that’s always been in your heart. Pursue that intimidating vision of yours’. Discover, develop, and deploy those peculiar gifts and abilities you have. In short, explore the full potentialities of your individuality and enjoy being you everyday of your life. Stop living out somebody else’s script in this great play called life. Get your script from the Producer/Director today and act your part friend. That’s what you’ll be paid for. That’s the only way to avoid the disappointment of being told after you have put in your effort and time, that you are nothing but a copy of an original somewhere.
Have a blessed week, and may the blessing of the resurrection of our risen Lord be daily evident in you and yours this Easter and all your days.

By-Segun Aluya

In a mother's womb were two babies

In a mother's womb were two babies. One asked the other:
"Do you believe in life after delivery?"
The other replies, "why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.
"Nonsense," says the other. "There is no life after delivery. What would that life be?"
"I don't know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths."
The other says "This is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous. The umbilical cord supplies nutrition. Life after delivery is to be excluded. The umbilical cord is too short."
"I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here." the other replies,
"No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere."
"Well, I don't know," says the other, "but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us."
"Mother??" You believe in mother? Where is she now?
"She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world."
"I don't see her, so it's only logical that she doesn't exist."
To which the other replied, "sometimes when you're in silence you can hear her, you can perceive her." I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality.
Does this sound like a familiar conversation to you between those who after being born into this world live their lives for themselves and those who believe in God and eternity.

Which of the babies are you? Don't wait to die before you realize that you were wrong.

AUTHOR Unknown

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Are you a lover of eggs? you have to read this.

Do you ever get troubled like me often times when you crack your egg open and you find a little brown spot floating on the yolk?
So what exactly ARE those little brown spots you sometimes find floating in an egg?
Those brownish or reddish specks you’ll occasionally find are deemed “meat spots” or “blood spots.”
Eggs destined for the grocery store shelf are “candled” by a machine to check the inside for any defects this is why you’ll rarely come across a meat spot in a store bought egg.
Backyard chicken owners can candle their eggs as well, but it’s not a necessity.
Contrary to popular belief, a meat spot in an egg does not mean that it has been fertilized.
It’s actually a little malfunction on the part of the hen.
According to the Egg Safety Center:
(Meat spots or blood spots)are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface when it’s being formed or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct… Eggs with blood spots and meat spots are fit to eat.
I’m glad they have been deemed “fit to eat,” because although I will sometimes dig out the larger spots, I usually just ignore the smaller ones and scramble them up.
And here is another interesting little tidbit. The presence of visible blood spots can actually mean the egg is fresh.
According to the Eggland’s Best website:
As an egg ages, the yolk takes up water from the albumen to dilute the blood spot so, in actuality, a blood spot indicates that the egg is fresh.
Perhaps another reason you don’t often see blood spots in store-bought cartons is because those eggs are usually several weeks old by the time they make it home to your refrigerator…
I can’t seem to find a concrete reason as to why some chickens lay eggs with meat spots and others don’t… Some sources say that older hens are more inclined to, while others say it’s reserved for younger birds. And some websites refer to it as a genetic defect or a dietary problem. Perhaps this is an issue I will have to dig into deeper in the future…
So next time you crack an egg from your backyard flock and find a little speck floating in the bowl, don’t be alarmed. If you like, you can remove it, or just ignore it.
Enjoy the little irregularities in your homegrown food and allow it to remind you of the valuable work you put into getting it on your table.


POSSESS YOUR LAND

"See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers — to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — to give to them and their descendants after them.' Deuteronomy 1:8

God's dealings with Israel in the Bible had a lot to do with the land He promised them. He first promised the land to Abraham and then confirmed that promise to Isaac and Jacob.
Next, He chose Moses to lead them out of slavery to possess this land that had been promised to them many hundreds of years earlier.
The challenge to this promises however, was that the land was not unoccupied land which Israel could take over but an inhabited land they could only possess through faith and conquest.
When Israel realized what it would take for them to claim the land which was promised to their fathers, they became disillusioned. God told them two things:
• 'I have set the land before you'. That simply meant that what they wanted was available. It was a reality they could verify for themselves. What is required at this stage is for us to see the promise and believe in its reality.
• 'Go in and possess the land'. What is available does not become ours until we possess it. For Israel, possessing their promised land demanded more than faith. It demanded faith with action.
Israel spent forty years in the wilderness trying to avoid what they had to do to possess their promised land.
Today, a lot of us also waste precious years in avoiding the bold decisions and actions we must take in order to realize our promise.
Prayer: I thank You God, for what You have made available to me and boldly possess it all in Jesus' name.

Scriptural Reading: Deuteronomy 1:8

Monday 21 April 2014

Are You Investing in Heaven Or where?

Most of us invest in our future. We plan, save and strategics to be debt-free and to have something for our retirement years. Yet not many people even consider investing in eternity. The retirement years are few, but eternity is a long time. It would be prudent to have an eternal perspective and invest in our lives beyond this temporal existence.
The most important investment we can make in heaven is to bring people with us. We can take nothing with us when we die except for other souls. Jesus stated that if a man has one hundred sheep and one goes astray, He will go after the one and rejoice much when the one is found (Matt. 18:12). Jesus went on to explain in verse 14, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish” (KJV). He was showing the importance of one soul that is saved how precious that one soul is to God.
It takes effort to share the gospel with others, and many times there is opposition to our witness. It is easier for us as Christians to read our Bibles, go to church and then do little else. But God wants us to have His perspective and try to influence as many people as possible in order for them to come into the kingdom.
God desires to bless people, and it is up to us to open our mouths and share the way of salvation. Jesus told us in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This is not a suggestion but a command. As Charles W. Spurgeon said, “Soulwinning is the chief business of the Christian; indeed, it should be the main pursuit of every true believer.”
It is interesting that as people get close to death, it is usually easier to talk to them about the afterlife. It is an unfortunate fact that many times it takes a tragedy, severe illness or some other catastrophic event to be able to have a conversation with someone about God and the afterlife. I suppose many people think any discussion about God will cramp their lifestyle, so the conversation is put off until they are faced with something serious.
Usually people will make some preparations for death. We may prepare a will or set up a trust fund. We carefully consider our final plans, visit with our families and say all the important things we need to say to our loved ones. Some people desire to see a priest or person of the cloth when they are on their deathbeds.
If a person does not know Jesus, I have observed there is usually an overwhelming fear that comes over them as they approach death and they should be glad it does, as this fear places them in a position to listen and be open to the truth (Job 33:15-22). Jude 23 tells us, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” That is the only time some are willing to talk about and listen to the way to heaven.
But if we are already a Christian, then we know we are ready to leave this life. We have peace with God in our hearts because we are trusting in Him. As Christians, we have full assurance of our salvation and our eternal destiny (Is. 51:6; Acts 17:31; Heb. 5:9; 1 John 2:25).
The one thing a Christian normally desires more than anything else before they pass on is to be certain their families are also Christians. The rich man came to realize when he arrived in hell that his brothers needed to repent of their sins or they too would end up in that horrible place of torment (Luke 16:30). He was concerned for them and didn't want them to suffer as he was suffering.
But we cannot force God’s love and forgiveness upon anyone. We can only share His plan of salvation, and each person must decide for themselves. We need to pray that people will discover the truth before it’s too late like it was for the rich man in hell. When we arrive in heaven and see those whom we helped influence to see the light and accept the Lord, it will be a most valued reward.
As Christians, do we have an eternal perspective? Are we concerned about those who do not know the way of salvation? Are we doing things that will count for eternity? Will we choose to live for God, or will we choose to live for ourselves? We are not giving up anything of value to live for God, and He even rewards us if we do. It is not a loss but much gain.
It is actually scriptural for us to desire the rewards God promises. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that we will obtain rewards (Luke 6:23). But as Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “At the mention of the word reward, some will prick up their ears and mutter, ‘Legality.’ Yet the reward we speak of is not of debt, but of grace. It is not enjoyed with the proud conceit of merit, but with the grateful delight of humility.”
David Shibley writes, “Every now and then I run across people who will say, ‘Well, I’m not doing this for rewards. It will be reward enough just to be in heaven.’ This misses the whole point and it’s bad theology. Heaven is not a reward; it is part of our redemption gift package when we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Further, to place little value on what heaven says has great value insults the very Lord who offers these rewards.”
The Bible states there are many rewards given in heaven to those who were obedient on the earth:
o    Psalm 19:11: “And in keeping of them [commandments] there is great reward.”
o    Psalm 62:12: “For thou renderest to every man according to his work.”
o    Proverbs 11:18: “But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.”
o    Proverbs 13:13: “But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”
o    Jeremiah 31:16: “For thy work shall be rewarded.”
o    Hosea 4:9: “And I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.”
o    Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you … for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.”
o    Matthew 6:1, 4: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. ... And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
o    Matthew 16:27: “And then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
o    Mark 9:41: “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
o    Luke 14:13-14: “But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
o    1 Corinthians 3:8: “And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
o    Colossians 3:24: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
o    Hebrews 11:6: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
o    Revelation 11:18: “Thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name.”
o    Revelation 22:12: “And my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Perhaps one of the greatest rewards we could be given in heaven will be time allowed with Jesus. To be able to walk and talk with Him would be the most precious gift of all.
Could it be that the more time we spend with Him in prayer here, the more time we will have with Him in heaven? It is not that we could ever earn it, but the Bible does say, “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). In addition, Galatians 6:7 says, “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
If we sow time with Jesus here, will we reap more time with Him in heaven? Just a thought!
By Bill Wiese
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