Theme: Divine Protection Is Your Heritage!
Wednesday, December 31st 2014
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD (Isaiah 54:17).
As Christians, there’re certain things that have been handed over or bequeathed to us as a heritage. Divine protection is one of them; it’s your heritage in Christ. Our opening scripture says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17). This scripture was a promise in the Old Testament, but it has become a reality for us in the New Testament.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This is also your heritage in Christ. You can't be judged anymore. This makes you a master over life and circumstances. Luke 10:19 says nothing shall by any means hurt you; that means you’re impregnable to everything and anything that the enemy can conceive or concoct against you, physical or spiritual. Thus, it’s impossible to defeat you.
Isaiah 43:2 says, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Could it get any better than this? What a life we have in Christ! Keep going upward and forward, for the Lord is your refuge and your fortress. He's our salvation and deliverer from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
No wonder He says, “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that waste that noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 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 91:5-11). Glory to His Name forever!
PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for my heritage in Christ; divine protection is mine. No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against me in judgment, I condemn. My life is a manifestation of the Word; therefore, victory is mine, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
MEMORISE : For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
ZECHARIAH 2 : 5.
READ : JOB 1 : 8 - 10.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 27 - 28 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 8 : 8 - 14.
Everybody in this world wants to be secure. Witchcraft is prospering because people feel insecure and they are looking for security from any available source. The unfortunate thing is that, looking for security from the forces of darkness is looking for security from the very person who wants to destroy you. Those who are living a holy life have the protection of the Lord Almighty. This is because God has built a hedge around them. In Job 1 : 9 - 10, the Bible tells us that God had put a hedge around Job and his household. God put a hedge around Job because he served Him. Job got into the predicament that befell him because God wanted to prove a point to Satan. Around every holy child of God, there is an unseen wall. Satan cannot pass through this wall because it is made of fire. The Bible in Zechariah 2 : 5 says,
“For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
Satan knows that he is going to end up in the Lake of fire. He is therefore not very anxious to taste this fire yet, so when he sees anybody who is surrounded by this fire, he keeps his distance.
God has made so many promises to those that are holy. Psalm 91 contains classical examples of these promises. You cannot abide in the secret place of the Most High without being holy. Without being holy, God’s promises cannot be yours. The fire of the Almighty God is so hot that when it surrounds you, the fire of this world will make way for you to pass. We have a good example in Daniel 3 : 24 - 28, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put in the fiery furnace. Their experience confirms what the scripture says concerning the holy in Isaiah 43 : 2 :
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
There is however one thing that can remove the security covering from you. This is sin. Whenever you sin, you create a barrier between you and God. It is therefore dangerous to sin, not even for once because you may not be able to recover from the devastating effect of the ensuing satanic attack in the course of your backsliding. I pray that your fire will not go out in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, whatever will take away your banner of protection over my life, withhold me from such from now on.
Scottish Ebola patient transferred to London hospital
Nurse was first person to be diagnosed with virus in UK after flying from Sierra Leone to Glasgow via Heathrow
Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow, where the patient was isolated on Monday morning. A Scottish nurse was on the way to specialist facilities in London on
Tuesday morning after being diagnosed with the Ebola virus.
The woman had been treated in an isolation unit in Glasgow after
being diagnosed hours after arriving home from west Africa via a British
Airways flight from Heathrow.
She was later transferred from Glasgow airport on a military-style
plane in a quarantine tent surrounded by a group of health workers in
full protection suits, bound for the Royal Free Hospital in north
London.
A statement on the hospital’s website said: “The Royal Free London
can confirm that it is expecting to receive a patient who has tested
positive for Ebola. “The patient will be treated in the high level isolation unit (HLIU).”
The healthcare worker was admitted to Gartnavel hospital after
feeling unwell with a fever at 7.50am on Monday morning, having flown
into the city at 11.30pm on Sunday. She had spent the last month working
as a volunteer with Save the Children in Sierra Leone to help combat
the epidemic.
It is the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed on UK soil.
Health experts treating the nurse said she was “quite stable” and
showing few signs causing clinical concern, raising hopes she will
survive the disease.
She had been volunteering at a newly built hospital at Kerry Town in
Sierra Leone run by the charity Save the Children since 23 November. The
charity said she had asked not to be named.
Michael von Bertele, Save the Children’s humanitarian director, said:
“We can confirm that an NHS health worker working with Save the
Children at the Ebola treatment centre at Kerry Town, Sierra Leone, has
tested positive for Ebola. Our thoughts are with the individual, their
family and colleagues at this difficult time. We wish them a speedy
recovery. Save the Children is working closely with the UK government,
Scottish government and Public Health England to look into the
circumstances surrounding the case.”
Urgent steps were being taken by officials with Health Protection
Scotland and Public Health England to trace scores of passengers on the
nurse’s Royal Air Maroc flight into the UK from Casablanca in Morocco,
and the 71 passengers on her internal British Airways connection – BA
1478 – from Heathrow to Glasgow on Sunday night.
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and previously Scottish
health secretary, said on Monday evening the search for passengers “was
very much a precautionary measure”. The nurse, who is believed to be at
the early stages of the infection, had been cleared by screening in
Sierra Leone and at Heathrow.
“The risk to other people as a result of this Ebola case is deemed to
be extremely low,” Sturgeon told a press conference. “Given the early
stage of diagnosis, the patient was showing no signs of the symptoms
which lead to transmission [of the virus] to other people.” She said the
risk to the general public was “extremely low to the point of
negligible” and added: “There’s no reason for the wider public in
Scotland to be at all concerned.”
The Royal Free hospital houses the UK’s main Ebola treatment centre
and the nurse was transferred there under an agreed protocol between all
the UK’s health authorities. Another British nurse, William Pooley, was
successfully treated there after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone
earlier this year. Scotland has no dedicated facilities for treating the
disease.
Since this Ebola outbreak began in December 2013 in the west African
country of Guinea, there have been nearly 20,000 cases of the disease
and more than 7,500 deaths, centred in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The nurse had contacted an NHS helpline from home after feeling
unwell with a fever, one of the first symptoms of the disease, early on
Monday morning. Sturgeon said she was then picked up from home by a
specialist ambulance, and was immediately admitted into the Brownlee
infectious diseases unit at Gartnavel.
Ebola symptoms can take up to 21 days to show, but more normally five
to seven days. The Ebola virus is transmitted in the bodily fluids of
people seriously ill with the virus, who are likely to be vomiting,
bleeding or have diarrhoea.
The nurse’s partner is thought to be the only other person who has
been in contact with her since she arrived home, and is now being
screened by medical staff.
Save the Children said that since its Kerry Town clinic had opened,
nearly 200 people had received treatment or continued to be treated at
the site, with 66 cured and discharged. In a statement, the charity
noted that early treatment in Ebola cases “maximises the chances of
survival of those who are infected, and can make the difference between
life and death”.
Almost all the health workers who have contracted Ebola in west
Africa and who got early treatment have survived, including Ian Crozier,
a World Health Organisation doctor, who became so ill he ended up on
life support at a hospital in the US.
Not only did Crozier have state-of-the-art medical support with
dialysis machines used when he developed renal problems, he also had a
donation of plasma packed with Ebola antibodies from Pooley, who
contracted the virus weeks before at the same hospital in Kenema, in
Sierra Leone.
There is no cure for Ebola but the survival rate is about 50% if
patients are quickly treated with hydration, anti-malarial drugs and
antibiotics.
During the course of the disease, patients can lose up to 10 litres
of liquid a day from diarrhoea and vomiting and if they don’t develop
sufficient numbers of antibodies quickly enough the virus will attack
their internal organs making survival challenging. Statistically in this
outbreak, the chances of survival are much higher for those who have
been treated in a US or European facility.
Sturgeon had earlier spoken to David Cameron, the prime minister, to
discuss the case. Both governments had convened their emergency response
committees, with the UK health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, chairing a Cobra
meeting at Downing Street.
A No 10 spokesman said Cameron had telephoned Sturgeon regarding the
case, stressing that the UK government stood ready to assist “in any way
possible”, and confirmed that the strictest procedures possible were
being followed.
“They agreed that both governments would remain in close touch and
ensure everything possible was done to support the patient and, although
the risk to the general population remained low, all measures would be
taken to protect public health,” the spokesman said.
After chairing the Cobra meeting, Hunt said: “We are reviewing our
procedures and protocols for the other NHS workers who are working in
Sierra Leone alongside colleagues from the Department for International
Development and the Foreign Office,” he said. “They are doing a very,
very brave job, under very challenging circumstances. We want to make
absolutely sure that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe.”
Dr Alisdair MacConacchie, a consultant in infectious diseases for NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Consultant, who has been treating the
patient, said she had had no contact with other parts of the NHS or any
accident and emergency facility.
“The patient identified themselves as having a fever in the early
hours of this morning and contacted the NHS,” he said. “She was
transferred to the Brownlee centre using a specialist ambulance service
and is being managed in an isolation facility by staff who are
comfortable managing patients in such situations. She herself is quite
stable and not showing any great clinical concern at the minute.”
Asked about the patient’s prospects, he said that being clinically
stable at this stage “should translate into a good prognosis”.
Save the Children and the Department for International Development
had faced great criticism after the 80-bed hospital at Kerry Town had
first opened because it would not run at full capacity for two months.
The charity insisted its first priority was the safety of the health
workers and it was paramount that the facility was phased in slowly.
Infectious disease consultants are also likely to consider the option
of giving the nurse some of the plasma donated by Pooley before he
returned to Sierra Leone in October.
Pooley banked 1.2 litres of plasma in a lab in Birmingham, consenting
for it to be potentially used on a patient and for research for
“convalescent therapy serum”.
However, his plasma will only be relevant if the new patient’s blood type matches his.
Sources in Freetown say Save the Children has been extra vigilant
about the health of the volunteers who work with them at Kerry Town.
They are all required to stay at a hotel the charity has block-booked at
Lumley Beach in Freetown, and staff are bussed out to the hospital
daily with little interaction with any locals.
The number of people infected by Ebola in the three countries worst
affected by the outbreak has passed 20,000, with more than 7,842 deaths
in the epidemic so far, according to the World Health Organisation.
Cumulative case numbers in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea stood at
20,081, the WHO said in a statement. More than a third are
laboratory-confirmed cases in Sierra Leone, which has become the
worst-hit country in the worst outbreak of the disease on record.
Nigerians living in the United Kingdom are worried that
after over hundred years, the abducted Chibok girls are yet to be
re-united with their families.
Nigerians in the UK have been persistent in the global campaign to
find the missing Chibok girls through series of protests outside the
Country’s High Commission in London and other parts of the region.
They continue to mobilise and assemble, lending their voice to the
global outrage sparked by the abduction that has exposed the soft under
belly of the nation’s security challenges among other ills.
Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the President, Doyin Okupe, was
in London recently to share news of economic progress with the
international community and the latest on the hunt for the lost girls.
This administration is committed to finding these girls and releasing
them; our priority is how to get them out safely” said Mr Okupe.
But some of the active voices championing the campaign in the UK,
argue that this submission has become too recurrent for comfort and
while military intelligence strategies are highly appreciated, the
Government’s posture remains questionable.
“If someone for the past three months has been saying to you, we know
where your children are but we haven’t been able to bring them back and
you are not constantly keeping them updated about the welfare and
well-being of their children, then there is a problem” said the
President of Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum, Jenny Okeke.
Channels Television’s London correspondent, Doris Okenwa reports that
“the situation interrogates the state of the Nigerian military and
billions of money swallowed up by security not to mention the additional
funds being requested even as soldiers lament the weak machinery they
contend with”.
She also adds that “the Bring Back Our Girls have seen Nigerians
mobilise for action across the world demanding for the safe return of
the young girls but also calling attention to the weak elements within
the system causing insecurity to thrive.
The international community will only offer some measure of assistance but the buck stops with Nigeria’s leadership, she adds.
Search teams say they have spotted unidentified debris in the Java Coast amid hunt for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
Indonesian officials have said that three pieces of unidentified debris
sighted off Kalimantan coast in the Java Sea is likely to be from
missing AirAsia jet.
"The debris is red and white," Djoko Murjatmodjo, acting
director-general of air transportation at the Transportation Ministry,
told reporters. "We are checking if it's debris from the aircraft. It's
probably from the body of the aircraft."
Flight QZ8501 went missing after air traffic controllers lost contact
with the aircraft about 45 minutes after it left Juanda international
airport at Surabaya in East Java at 5.20am on Sunday (22:20 GMT
Saturday).
Shortly before disappearing, AirAsia said the pilot of the plane had
asked permission from air traffic control to change course and climb
above bad weather in an area noted for severe thunderstorms.
The search for the plane carrying 162 people, is now in its third day.
The airline said most of the passengers on board Flight QZ8501 were
Indonesians, with three South Koreans and one person each from
Singapore, Malaysia, Britain and France.
The aircraft was operated by AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of
Malaysian-based AirAsia which dominates Southeast Asia's booming
low-cost airline market.
AirAsia said the missing jet last underwent maintenance on November 16. The company has never suffered a fatal accident.
Indonesian officials say search teams have spotted debris at sea in the hunt for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
Several objects were seen floating in the Java Sea off the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, in one of the search zones for the plane.
Indonesian officials said the find was the most significant so far in the search.
The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, disappeared on Sunday.
The search operation is now in its third day, with the area widened to cover 13 zones over land and sea.
Indonesian Search and Rescue spokesman Yusuf Latif told the Associated Press news agency that aircraft had been dispatched to pick up the debris for checking.
"This is the most significant thing, but we cannot confirm anything until the investigation is completed," he said.
At least 30 ships, 15 aircraft and seven helicopters joined the operation when it resumed at 06:00 local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT Monday).
But
he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word,
and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth,
some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).
In
Acts 17:11, Luke, by the inspiration of the Spirit, compares the Jews
who heard the Word in one city to those who heard the Word in another
city. He wrote that those in Berea “...were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,
and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Those
in Thessalonica had a different response to the same message of the
Gospel, compared to those in Berea, whom the Spirit describes as “more
noble.”
Do you know what it is for the Spirit of God to tell us
that certain people were nobler than others? What was the distinguishing
factor? The answer lies in the same verse 11: “...They received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so.” Those in Berea searched the scriptures;
they studied to be sure that what they had been taught was really what
the Word says. They received the Word with all readiness of mind. That
means they prepared their hearts to receive the Word.
There’re
people who go to church all around the world, without preparing their
minds to receive the Word of God. Don’t be that way. It’s important to
prepare your heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14, 2 Chronicles
30:19). Become voracious for the Word; let your heart go out for the
Word. Let nothing distract you from receiving the Word. Those in
Thessalonica received the Word with arguments; they argued in their
minds against the Word; they weren’t ready for the Word.
Throughout the coming year, as you carefully study the Rhapsody of
Realities devotional, and follow either the one-year or two-year Bible
reading plan, receive all that the Lord has for you with readiness of
mind. If you’d give the Word the right attention, you’d be amazed what
God will do in your life, the revelations He’ll bring into your spirit
to catapult you to higher realms of glory.
PRAYER Dear
Father, I thank you for showing me the benefits of preparing my heart to
receive your engrafted Word into my Spirit. I have a voracious appetite
for the Word, for it’s the only dependable material to build my spirit,
through the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m therefore positioned for a
life of absolute success and prosperity, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY Ephesians 4:11-14 Living Bible (TLB)
11 Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he
has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special
ability in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their
Savior; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a
shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God.
12 Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain
things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work
for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of
strength and maturity; 13 until finally we all believe alike about our
salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in
the Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. 14 Then
we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about
what we believe because someone has told us something different or has
cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Living Bible (TLB)
58 So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and
steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing
you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no
resurrection.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING 1 Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 21 Malachi 1-2 2 Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 22:1-10 Malachi 1-2 http://www.rhapsodyofrealities.org/index.php/en/
MEMORISE : But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ROMANS 6 :22
READ : PROVERBS 11 : 17 - 18.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 24 : 22 - 26 : 32 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 7 : 11 - 8 : 7.
There is a sure reward for all those who are living holy. Men will go the extra mile to get a great reward from an endeavour, no matter the sacrifices it may require of them. Holiness requires from us certain sacrifices; we have to forgo certain things. I can assure you that there are several rewards for living holy. God is not merely asking us to live holy; He also promises “sure rewards” for living holy. For example, long life is a sure reward of holy living according to Proverbs 11 : 19. Sin leads to death while holiness leads to life. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. But if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into a snare that can lead you to death. Another reward is found in Hosea 10 : 12 : “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” If you plant holiness, you will harvest the mercy of God. It is glaring that but for the mercy of God, we will not be alive today. It was God who said that the soul that sins shall perish. Probably no one would be alive today if God had been rewarding us for the sins we have been committing. He will keep on showing us more mercy if we go on living holy. Peace is another reward of holy living. In Daniel 4 : 27 the Bible says : “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” In this scripture, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that if he began to live holy, God will be merciful unto him and then give him increased peace. Philosophers spend a lot of time trying to find answers to questions such as, what is truth, what is life and what is peace; they always end up with inconclusive answers.
The search continues for them. The reason they cannot get an answer is because they have been asking the wrong questions. The question is not what peace is but who Peace is. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
The call to holiness is actually a call to peace. Why has God called us to peace? The reason is that He is a God of Peace ( 1 Corinthians 14 : 33 ). A father will give to his child whatever he has. The devil will give what he has to his children – sickness, sorrow, confusion, etc. God will give you what He has if you belong to Him. He is the Author of Peace and He will give you peace today in Jesus’ Name.
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before
him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth
those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17).
Abraham was called the Father of Faith because of the extraordinary
faith he demonstrated. At age seventy-five, God appeared to him and
said, “I have made thee a father of many nations.” Even though Abraham
didn’t have a child at the time, and was called “Abram,” meaning
“assumed father,” God could see that the man was already a father of
many nations. He’s the God that quickens (gives life) to the dead, and
calls things that didn’t exist as though they already existed. To God,
Abraham’s future was history.
God’s Word to Abraham, that he
(Abraham) would be the father of many nations already established
Abraham’s future. God didn’t have to do anything more to change
Abraham’s status from being childless. However, it was up to Abraham to
take a hold of God’s Word and run with it.
One day, God brought
him out in the night-time and told him to look up in the sky and count
the stars (Genesis 15:5). Abraham tried but couldn’t number them, for
they were uncountable. Then God said to him, “so shall thy seed be.” At
that point, Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness (Romans 4:3).
As Christians, we're the seed of
Abraham, and it makes no difference what point you are in life; God has
established a glorious future for you. He said, “For I know the thoughts
that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). Your future is
history with Him. Therefore, refuse to fret or worry over anything. By
yourself, you can’t know the path of life that brings success, joy,
victory and prosperity, but the Holy Spirit knows, and He’ll lead you in
the path of greatness. Cheer up; your future is bright.
MEMORISE : Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain
in the Lord.
1 CORINTHIANS 15 : 58.
READ : REVELATION 3 : 7 - 11.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things
saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David,
he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no
man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my
word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of
the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do
lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and
to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the
word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 22 : 22 - 24 : 21 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 7 : 1 - 10.
Many Christians believe in their pastor and the doctrines of their
Church. There is nothing wrong in this in as much as the pastor is
living right and the doctrines are biblical. However, your faith and
steadfastness must be built on Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of
your faith who cannot disappoint you. A man will backslide with his
pastor, if his faith anchors on the pastor and the pastor backslides.
This is the reason why you must know Jesus Christ through and through.
What you know concerning Jesus Christ will make you steadfast if you
know Him adequately enough. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul wrote
this:
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for
Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ,”
Philippians 3 : 7 - 8.
You may want to ask, what
do I know concerning the Lord Jesus? I know that Jesus is alive. I am
very sure of this. I have very many testimonies to prove this. I was
always feeling ill and it was a monthly occurrence despite medications. I
had taken more than two thousand injections without any respite.
However, when I started calling on the Name of Jesus, I never fell ill
again. For my wife and children, He is just the same. Illness has been
completely removed from my home. He that you believe is alive should
surely help you to overcome just about any problem and quickly too, if
truly He is alive. If He is dead, surely He cannot even help Himself. An
ordinary man cannot perform these miracles no matter how deep he has
gone into occultism. Satan will cast you aside to face another person
once he knows he cannot take you away from Jesus Christ. Just go on
praising God if Satan brings illness to your child. This attitude will
shock the devil and make him flee from you. He will see you as a mad man
rejoicing in the midst of trouble. The world and its lusts would run
from you if you can stand firm in your faith. The Bible in Galatians 5 :
1 says :
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
May the Lord uphold you to the end in Jesus’ Name.
Real Madrid are willing
to let Gareth Bale join Manchester United, but only if David de Gea is
included in any potential deal, according to reports from The Mirror.
The Red Devils have made the former Spurs
ace their top target for the end of the season, with the Premier League
ready to commit to a ‘Galactico’ era of big spending on top stars to
boost the club’s value and profile.
Reports suggest that United are keen to
pay up to £120m – which will smash the £86m transfer record currently
held by Real and Bale – to land the 25-year-old, but Los Blancos want De
Gea included.
The reigning European champions have
earmarked the 24-year-old Old Trafford stopper as a long-term
replacement for club idol Iker Casillas, and have been impressed by his
stunning displays between the sticks for Louis van Gaal’s team this
season.
De Gea recent dislodged his Real
counterpart to become Spain’s top goalie, and there are suggestions that
a return to his homeland to represent one of the top clubs may boost
his chances of keeping the jersey.
Hong Kong (CNN) -- The 32-year-old son of actor and
kung fu star Jackie Chan has been charged with a drug offense and could
face up to three years in jail.
The Supreme People's
Procuratorate said in a brief statement on Sina Weibo, a Chinese
microblogging site, that it had begun legal proceedings against actor
Jaycee Chan for "the crime of sheltering others to take drugs."
Chan, who is originally
from Hong Kong, is one of the highest profile celebrity offenders caught
in Beijing's clampdown on drug use in the city.
He was arrested alongside
23 year-old Taiwanese actor Kai Ko in August this year. The pair were
detained by Beijing police during a raid in Dongcheng district, the
city's commercial and cultural center.
Both men tested positive for marijuana and police later found more than 100 grams of the drug after searching Chan's apartment.
Ko was released after 14 days in administrative detention, while Chan has remained in police custody since his arrest.
State broadcaster CCTV aired footage of Chan, his face blurred, showing police where the drugs were hidden at his home, while Ko was shown making a tearful apology.
"I very much regret about
what happened. I'm very sorry to those who support me, like me or even
know me personally," he said. "I just want to tell them I'm really
sorry. I've set the worst example, which had the most terrible
influence. And this is a huge mistake."
One of the leading cement companies in the country, Dangote Cement, has shut down its factory in Gboko Benue State.
As such, cement consumers in the state have begun to groan under the
increase in the price of cement which has jumped from 1,400 to 2,500.
A visit to the factory at Mbayion, Gboko by our correspondent
yesterday, showed that operations have been grounded in the company.
Investigations revealed that the shutdown of the cement plant has to
do with the emergence of a cement glut which further rendered the
commodity in excessive supply and low demand.
Another factor which also contributed to the shutdown is the poor
supply of power to run the factory from the public source while it was
learnt that the management is considering setting up a coal plant to
countervail the constant power failure at the factory.
Speaking on the hardship faced by the community as result of the
closure, Mr. John Alumun disclosed that the community had become a ghost
of itself as most of the residents derive their means of livelihood
from the multiplier effects of the company’s activities.
“Since the operations have been grounded for two weeks running, life
has become unbearable for most family members because most of us rely on
the petty trading that we embark upon to fend for ourselves as well as
our families,” Alumun said, urging the stakeholders to hasten action
towards the re-opening of the plant.
When contacted, Assistant General Manager, Community Relations of
Dangote Cement Plant, Gboko, Dr. Bem Melladu, stated that over-flooding
of the market with various cement products is largely due to the problem
that led to the closure of the factory.
He further explained that the epileptic power supply by public
Distribution Company (DISCO) would soon be replaced with a coal plant
which to boost the power needs of the company.
Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control at around 06:20 local time (23:20 GMT) over the Java Sea.
The plane, an Airbus A320-200, disappeared midway into the
flight of more than two hours from the city of Surabaya. No distress
call was made.
Bad weather was reported in the area. A search operation has been suspended for the night.
Planes from Indonesia and Singapore had been scouring an area of sea between Kalimantan and Java.
The flight left the Indonesian city of Surabaya in eastern
Java at 05:20 local time (22:20 GMT) and was due to arrive in Singapore
at 08:30 (00:30 GMT).
The missing jet had requested a "deviation" from the flight path due to storm clouds, AirAsia said.
Indonesia's transport ministry said the pilot had asked permission to climb to 38,000 ft (11,000m) to avoid thick cloud.
No wreckage has been found, an Indonesian official told the BBC.
AirAsia, a budget airline which owns 49% of AirAsia Indonesia, is based in Malaysia and has never lost a plane.
However, 2014 has been a difficult year for aviation in Asia:
Malaysia's national carrier Malaysia Airlines has suffered two losses -
flights MH370 and MH17.
Flight MH370 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to
Beijing in March with 239 passengers and crew. The wreckage, thought to
be in southern Indian Ocean, has still not been located.
MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board.
More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers are part of those protecting
Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in
Kaduna, says Pastor Yohanna Buru.
Buru, a cleric of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South,
disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Friday in Kaduna.
He confirmed that over 200 Muslims were at his church to help protect the faithful from any attack during the church service.
According to him, the feat is the first of its kind after the series of crises that rocked the state in recent past.
Knowing the symptoms of diabetes in time can lead to early detection of
the disease, and the sooner changes are made to diet and lifestyle with
the addition of medications to manage diabetes, the greater chance there
is for a fulfilled long life.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1, in which the pancreas does not
produce any insulin. This type is usually diagnosed before the age of
30. According to the Mayo Clinic, "The onset of type 1 diabetes
is usually sudden (acute) and clear-cut, when a person goes to their
healthcare provider or the emergency room with symptoms of high blood
sugar." Type 2 is more common and is called "adult onset diabetes" as
symptoms may appear gradually.
These are the top 6 symptoms of diabetes:
1. Excessive urination: This is a twofold symptom. One, the body is
trying to "rid itself of unused glucose (blood sugar) through urine."
Secondly, diabetes can damage nerves that control the bladder. This
excessive urination is called polyuria.
2. Excessive thirst: Frequent urination can lead to dehydration, which in turn leads to excessive thirst, or polydipsia.
3. Excessive hunger: Despite a healthy diet, people with diabetes may
experience an increase in appetite. This polyphagia occurs because the
body is not getting enough glucose from the blood into cells.
4. Extreme fatigue: Glucose is a primary source of body fuel. If you
have diabetes, your body’s inability to convert glucose into energy will
lead to fatigue. This can range from a general worn-down feeling to
exhaustion.
5. Weight loss: Despite having an increased appetite, a symptom of
diabetes can be weight loss. This occurs because as the body is not
making enough insulin, it will turn to other sources of energy such as
muscle and fat. In type 1 diabetes, weight loss can be dramatic. In type
2, the weight loss is gradual.
6. Numbness and tingling in the feet and hands: If there is too much
sugar in your body your nerves could become damaged, as could the tiny
blood vessels that feed those nerves.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not intended
as medical advice. Consult a doctor about your specific health and
medical needs.
Discover the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria. When it comes to how
valuable a company is, the market value of the company’s stocks on the
Stock Exchange is what is considered. These companies’ stocks are the Blue chip stocks
as they are called by stock brokers and analysts. Here are the 20 most
valuable companies in Nigeria according to their market values on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Cadbury Nigeria Plc – Market Value: 150.3 billion NGN
First from the rear of the 20 most valuable companies in Nigeria is
Cadbury Nigeria Plc, one of the largest food beverage and confectionery
producers in Nigeria. Cadbury are the producers of Bournvita, Tom-Tom,
Buttermint etc.
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc – Market Value: 168.9 billion NGN
Union Bank is one of the oldest financial institutions in Nigeria. A
full-service commercial bank, UBN provides services in business banking,
personal banking, treasury services, and commercial lending. Although
many think Union Bank is one of the old fashioned banks in Nigeria,
however they still found their way in the 20 most valuable companies in
Nigeria by market value.
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc – Market Value: 186.1 billion NGN
The 54 year old company is a forerunner in wheat milling in Nigeria.
Popularly known for its brand, Golden Penny remains one of the most
preferred brands among bakers, confectioneries and consumers in Nigeria.
Flour Mills has a milling capacity of over 8000 metric tons per day,
which is one of the largest single site mills in the world.
Transcorp Nig Plc– Market Value: 195.5 billion NGN
Transcorp is a leading diversified conglomerate in Nigeria. The company
focuses on acquiring and managing strategic businesses for long term
shareholder returns and socio-economic impact. Transcorp operates on
four strategic sectors: Power, Oil and Gas, Hospitality and Agriculture.
Getting loans for business in Nigeria is getting more easier than never
before. According to the 2015 Ease of Doing Business Report by doingbusiness.org,
Nigeria is said to be the 52nd country in the world where you can
easily obtain loans and credit facilities for business. That’s a great
improvement considering the fact that 189 economies were analyzed and
that Nigeria ranked 125th in the outgoing year.
While the report above is factual, the reality now is how such loans can
be accessible to business owners and new start-ups like you. If you
don’t have the right information, you may not be able to have access to
loans and credit facilities available in Nigeria.
First and foremost, you need to understand the different kinds of credit
loans available so that you will know which one to choose base on the
kind of business you’re doing. According to entrepreneurshipsecret.com,
the following are some of the types of loans and facilities available in
Nigeria.
Loan from Credit/Thrift Cooperative societies: This is one of the
traditional means of obtaining a loan, there are many of these
societies around and one of the conditions of accessing such loans is to
be a member and perform membership obligations. When this is done,
loans can be accessed easily. Interest rates for this kind of loan are
also affordable compared to those of commercial banks and microfinance
banks.
Overdraft: This is an arrangement between a bank and an account
holder to withdraw more than the available balance in the account
owner’s bank account. It is available in both commercial and
microfinance banks and it can only last for some days or few weeks.
Overdraft is subject to renewal as long as the previous one has been
cleared. An account holder must have a good record of frequent
transaction with the bank to access this loan.
Trade Credit: If your business has to do with buying and selling,
then you can leverage on this. It has to do with making an arrangement
with a supplier where you can make payment after the goods must have
been sold. To be able to access this, you must have some level of
integrity with supplier or at least someone who can stand in for you.
You can also make an initial commitment by buying goods over a period of
time from the supplier before requesting for a credit.
Short term loan: This kind of loans is repayable within six calendar months. It is available in microfinance banks and commercial banks too.
Medium term loan: They are available in both micro finance and commercial banks but are not as easily accessible compare to short term loans.
Long term loan: This can be repaid in a period of two years or
more. It is usually sourced for capital project and it may be difficult
for small business owners to access such funds. Long term loans are
provided by specialized banks such as Bank of Industry, Nexim etc.
Apart from the well-known commercial and micro-finance banks, there are
other established financial institutions that give loans to both
existing business owners and new start-ups. Some of these institutions
are not for profit organizations therefore their interest rates are
affordable. Examples of such are LAPO, Advans Lafayette etc. Businesslist.com.ng also has some of them.
Get your business plan ready so that you can present it when requested.
Some financial institutions will not offer you loan if you don’t have a
business plan. You may also be required to provide two or more
guarantors before you can be given a loan.
Nigeria's former military president Ibrahim Babangida has declared that
well meaning Nigerians will vote for President Goodluck Jonathan come
2015, The Cable reports.
Speaking at his home in Minna on Saturday after he received Jonathan,
IBB said: “What I will say is simple: the president means well for this
country and he is working well for this country. Anybody who means well
for this country should support the President to make sure that Nigeria
survives as a united country,” he said.
Jonathan, who described his meeting with Babangida as “fruitful”, said
he visited the former military leader because he just returned from a
medical trip abroad.
“Of course, you know that this is the end of the year. Within this
period, people pay visits. So I have come to visit him. You know he just
came back from a hospital abroad, not too long ago. Since he came back,
we have not seen. I need to see my father to know how he is feeling. I
am quite pleased the way I have seen him.
“Of course, you all know that as a nation, we are facing challenges:
security challenges all over, not just in the north. Yes, Boko Haram in
the north. The south is not safe from commercial kidnapping and robbery.
“He is one of our experienced leaders. As somebody who is sitting where
he was before, I need to see them from time to time to listen to their
suggestions. That is one of the areas how we can collectively move the
country forward and ensure that Nigerians live in peace.
“That is the key thing and I am quite pleased that we had fruitful discussion,” he said.
Iyanya, Olu Maintain, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Skales, Azadus, Wande Cole, Ubi
Franklin, Senator Mamaroa, Wole Aboderin, "Lagos Boy"-Ahmed Suleiman,
Damy Crane and others were hosted by Buhari's supporter, Nasiru Danu at
Eko Hotel and Suites to declare support for Muhammadua Buhari
Presidential campaign
That healthcare in Nigeria is in a precarious state is no longer news.
Ask a day old child who didn’t get enough oxygen to assist his
respiration and is unfortunately destined to live the rest of his life
with cerebral palsy, he already has a lot of stories to tell; or you can
ask the pregnant woman who died in labour because there weren’t enough
facilities near her to have an emergency CS. Oh! She wouldn’t be around
to tell her own story.
The question however is who is to be blamed for this menace? Of course, I
know the usual culprit we will all echo – the Nigerian government. I
will however want us to examine this from another pivotal angle. Even
though I agree that the government may deserve a large chunk of the
blame, I believe the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria can also be
attributed to many other things, chief among them being the poor
attitude of Nigerians towards their own health and in case you need me
to use just one word to describe it, then it will be nonchalance.
A couple of weeks back, Aljazeera Investigates published a report that
Nigerians may not be proud of but unfortunately paints a true picture of
the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria. Some fake doctors were caught
on camera through a carefully orchestrated investigation that had a
patient pretend to be sick with some fake doctors invited for home
consultation. Of course, the usual diagnoses for every fever in Nigeria
were hastily given by most of them – typhoid and malaria – without any
examination or laboratory investigation. They were however quick to
prescribe expensive drugs that only they can provide.
The report nevertheless agrees that, “while there are many legitimate
private health providers, there are many more that are completely bogus;
unaccredited, unregulated 'quack' doctors - con artists and criminal
scammers for the most part - who ruthlessly exploit the credulity,
ignorance and desperation of the poorest and most vulnerable people in
society”. It is unfortunate that our health system can be described in
such terms but looking at it critically, you will realise that the large
portion of the blame belongs to Nigerians that still patronise these
quacks and not just the government. They are the reason this group of
people remain in business.
The truth remains that there may be many quack doctors in Nigeria but
there are also many licensed doctors that are easy to find. In fact,
looking at the video that was recorded in the report, you need no
binoculars to know that these men were fake doctors. Why then should
anyone patronise quack doctors? If the reason is cost, then public
hospitals are available which are cheap and affordable. The
comprehensive facilities may not be sufficient but there are lots that
can still be done with the limited resources available. Many however
through ignorance patronize these quack doctors who give them
medications that may cause more harm to them. Only a trained doctor can
interpret accurately even the subtlest of symptoms which may be an
indicator of something very serious going on.
According to Professor Alex Dodoo about fake doctors, "If one is not
licensed by the state, anything that one does is illegal. Going to see
them is dangerous. Period! Would you sit in an aeroplane where the pilot
says 'OK hello, I'm the pilot, but I've not been licensed?' No way! You
put your health at risk and you can die." Several Nigerians have
however proved, through their indifference about who gives them care,
that they wouldn’t mind boarding such a plane handled by a pilot without
a license.
In conclusion, it is important that Nigerians take their health
seriously and not just visit any quack doctor whenever there is a need
for medical attention. If everyone does this then we will not need the
government to stop this menace, because we will have been able to drive
them all out of business. Your health is golden and you should not give
an untrained hand to handle because this can have very dire
consequences.
The First Lady, Patience Jonathan, on Friday urged Nigerian women not to
vote for any politician who would not carry the womenfolk along in his
or her administration.
Mrs. Jonathan said this in her address at a civic reception organised in
her honour by the Ohuhu clan, her maternal home in Umuahia North Local
Government Area of Abia State.
She urged women to vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Earlier we published a report about APC Presidential candidate rtd
General Muhammadu Buhari saying the First Lady position is
unconstitutional and as such if he assumes power, there will be no First
Lady.
Much has been said about the downsides of sex and so little about the
benefits. As much as sex can bring STDs and other ills; it can also
provide several benefits that are great for your health. Many however
see sex as only a means of pleasure and childbirth. It is therefore
worth knowing some of the health benefits of sex.
Immune Boosting
Eating well, getting enough sleep, and getting vaccinated are all
important in boosting your immune system. Add regular sex to these and
you have a great immune system that defends your body against infective
organisms. This is because research has shown that those that are
sexually active had a higher blood level of certain antibodies than
those that were not so active sexually and these antibodies help you
fend off infections.
Bladder control for women
About 30% of women will have urinary incontinence at one time or the
other in their lives. This is when a person passes urine without
intending to. Studies have shown that women who had sex regularly were
less likely to develop urinary incontinence as it helps strengthen their
pelvic muscles which is important for bladder control.
Lowers Blood Pressure
People who had more sex have been found to have a lower blood pressure
compared to others, ensuring that they stay healthy. One study found
that those who regularly had sex had a lower systolic (the numerator in
your B.P measurement) compared to those who did not.
Sex is good exercise
It’s been found that on the average, you burn about five calories per
minute while having sex. This can be a good source of exercise for those
that hardly have time to exercise. The benefits of exercise are quite
numerous and sex delivers some of those benefits.
Reduces Risk for Heart Attack
Men who had sex regularly were found to have a 50% lesser risk of
developing a heart attack. This is not only because it raises your heart
rate which is great; it also keeps your sex hormone, oestrogen and
testosterone, in balance which are important hormones and their balance
can help avoid conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Better Sleep
You may have noticed that you sleep better after sex. This is because
the hormone Prolactin is usually released after an orgasm. This hormone
helps with relaxation and the feeling of sleepiness.
Reduces Stress
The arousal associated with sex is great in easing stress. This is
because your brain releases some chemicals that help in exciting your
entire body. Sex can also help stimulate happiness and boosts
self-esteem.
Reduces Pain
Sex can help reduce the feeling of pain. Sex helps release a hormone
that usually raises your pain threshold. Sexual stimulation can combat
chronic pain such as the pain associated with arthritis.
In conclusion, remember that there is no substitute for safe sex and
that abstinence is the only way of avoiding STDs, including HIV, for the
unmarried ones. If you must do it, then use a condom.
My Boko Haram story, by 13-yr old ‘suicide bomber’
A 13-year old would-be female bomber has
confessed to being lured into the Boko Haram sect’s suicide squad with
the promise of making it to heaven.
In a chilling account, Zarau Babangida,
who hails from Damaturu, Yobe State, said her parents, who live in
Bauchi State, enlisted her into the sect.
Zarau spoke to reporters in police custody after being arrested along with her accomplice.
She would have detonated another bomb
during the December 10 twin-explosions in Kano’s Kantin Kwari market but
for a change of mind. Ten people were reported dead in that blast; nine
others were injured.
THEME : RIGHT CHOICE IN MARRIAGE.
MEMORISE : Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? 2 CORINTHIANS 6 : 14.
READ : 1 KINGS 11 : 1 - 4.
1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter
of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and
Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto
the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they
come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their
gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away
his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD
his God, as was the heart of David his father.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 14 : 1 - 16 : 15 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 4 : 1 - 8.
Apart from the choice of who to serve, choosing who to marry is another
fundamental choice that affects the destiny of an individual. A wrong
choice in marriage can negatively affect the choice to serve God.
Solomon chose to marry many strange women and they influenced him to
forsake God and serve their idols. Solomon’s earlier decision to serve
the Almighty God was badly affected by his marriages. A marriage partner
can take Heaven away from the dreams of his or her spouse and replace
it with Hell. Depending on who you choose to marry, your relationship
with God will either continue to improve or it will stop all together.
Solomon did not want to forget God who had done so much for him, but his
marriage made him to err. It is vital to look at the factors that
influence the choices we often make. There are always negative and
positive factors guiding the choices we make. Whichever you allow to
guide you will determine the kind of choice you will make. Many people
made costly mistakes in the Bible either because they ignorantly made a
choice or because they relied entirely on their knowledge without
recourse to God’s guidance. Making a good choice therefore goes beyond
human knowledge. No matter how much you know, depending on God in making
a choice is a sign of meekness and humility. It is however unfortunate
that many young folks today don’t believe that God still chooses the
right marriage partner for His obedient children. The Bible in Psalm 25 :
9 says :
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” God guides the meek in judgment. Judgment in this context means decision, choice or preference.
You need basic knowledge in the areas where you have to make a choice.
Nevertheless, after acquiring the requisite knowledge, you still need to
depend on God. Lot chose a piece of land that he knew would be good for
agriculture and he chose to relocate there. His knowledge was perfect,
but it was limited because he did not know what the future held for that
land. God later destroyed that land in the overthrow of Sodom and
Gomorrah ( Genesis 13 : 9 - 12 ). There is nothing wrong in making a
choice, but Lot’s mistake was that he did not seek God’s guidance in
making his choice. Relying solely on what you know in making a choice
can cost you your whole life and mar your eternal peace. As a youth, do
you know enough about marriage before you dabble into it? Do not choose
by sight; having the relevant knowledge and God’s guidance are key to
making the best choice.
PRAYER POINT :
Father, please guide all our youths as they embark on choosing marriage partners.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
Trial of electronic device leads to improvement in more than half of patients, raising hopes for an alternative to medicines
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common form of the condition in the UK. Photograph: Collection CNRI/MedNet/Corbis
A new treatment for arthritis sufferers has been hailed as “magic” by a woman who had a pioneering electronic implant fitted.
Monique Robroek, who took part in a study at the Academic Medical
Centre in Amsterdam, told Sky News she had seen a major improvement in
her condition, having previously required the strongest drugs to help
ease her pain.
“I have my normal life back,” she said, having had the implant fitted
a year ago. “Within six weeks I felt no pain. The swelling has gone. I
go biking, walk the dog and drive my car. It is like magic.”
Scientists have seen an improvement in the conditions of more than
half of the 20 patients in their trial, which uses small pacemaker-type
devices to send electrical impulses to a nerve relaying brain signals to
vital organs.
Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint pain, swelling, stiffness
and fatigue, is the second most common form of arthritis in the UK and
the most common inflammatory joint disorder. More than 400,000 people
are affected by the disease in the UK, according to NHS figures.
Prof Paul-Peter Tak, a rheumatologist at the Dutch hospital, told Sky
News: “Even in patients who have failed everything, including the most
modern pharmaceuticals, we have seen a clear trend of improvement. We
may be able to achieve remission in 20% to 30% of patients, which would
be a huge step forward in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.”
He said the treatment could provide an alternative for patients who
would otherwise have to take medicines for most of their lives.
Kris Famm, of the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline,
said he was hopeful that one day similar implants could help people with
asthma, obesity and diabetes.
THEME : RIGHT CHOICE?
MEMORISE : I call heaven and earth to
record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed
may live: DEUTERONOMY 30 : 19
READ : DEUTERONOMY 30 : 19 - 20.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have
set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose
life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest
love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that
thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy
days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy
fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : ACTS 12 : 6 - 13: 52 AND SONG OF SOLOMON 3.
There comes a time in the life of everyone that a choice has to be made
between two alternatives. Choice means deciding between possibilities.
It means accepting an option while rejecting another. For every choice
made, there is always an alternative forgone. This is why it is
important to make the right choice in life. It is unfortunate that some
so-called Christians don’t have an alternative forgone. They want to
have their cake and eat it at the same time. They want to be in Christ
and at the same time be in the world. 1 John 2 : 15 - 17 means nothing
to them. As long as you are alive, you will be confronted with making
choices. It might be the choice of a career, the business to run, the
partner to marry, a call to fulfil, the location to dwell in or the God
to serve.
“And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21 : 8
One of the most critical choices to make in life is the choice between
death and life. You need to take responsibility for your life by making
choices that will make you live. This includes choosing whom to serve.
This is the greatest choice to make in life. This choice determines the
kind of life you will live on earth and where you will spend eternity.
Choosing to serve God is the greatest decision because the consequence
goes beyond this world. Jesus made it clear that His servants would be
with Him in glory. Being a follower of a hero is not as important as
knowing the end of the hero. Jesus in John 12 : 26 said :
“If any
man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my
servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
Moses called heaven and earth to witness, when he asked the children of
Israel to choose between the gods of the heathen and the God of their
fathers, and by implication between the life-giving God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob and the dead gods of the nations around them (
Deuteronomy 30 : 15 - 18 ). Who is your master, Jesus or Satan? Jesus
made it clear that after death, no one can switch over to the
destination of a master he or she did not serve while here on earth. In
other words, the devil cannot claim sincere followers of Jesus Christ,
just as the followers of the devil cannot spend eternity with Jesus
except they repent before their death. Therefore, choose whom you will
serve today – Jesus or Satan? I encourage you to choose Jesus, the Giver
of life.
ACTION POINT :
Decide to serve God through Jesus today because He is The Way, The Truth and The Life.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE
Indonesian officials have said that three pieces of unidentified debris
sighted off Kalimantan coast in the Java Sea is likely to be from
missing AirAsia jet.
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