As the creator of this blog, I am announcing that my wife and I have resigned from Dependent Soul and this site will no longer be updated. Thank you all for your support and prayers over the years and we continue to covet your prayers as we placed a period and begin the next paragraph of our journey with God.

God bless

Grace to you

The twelve apostles included "Philip" (Matt. 10:3).

It's been said that an optimist sees a glass half full; a pessimist sees it half empty. An optimist sees opportunities; a pessimist sees obstacles. In one sense Philip was an optimist. He recognized Jesus as the Messiah and immediately saw an opportunity to share his discovery with Nathanael. In another sense, Philip was a pessimist because on occasions he failed to see what Christ could accomplish despite the apparent obstacles.

On one such occasion Jesus had just finished teaching and healing a crowd of thousands of people. Night was falling and the people were beginning to get hungry. Apparently Philip was responsible for the food, so Jesus asked him, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?" (John 6:5). Philip said, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little" (v. 7). In other words, "We don't have enough resources in our whole savings account to buy enough food for a group this size!" Philip's calculating, pragmatic, pessimistic mind could reach only one conclusion: this is an utter impossibility.

Jesus knew all along how He was going to solve the problem, but He wanted to test Philip's faith (v. 6). Philip should have passed the test because he had already seen Jesus create wine from water at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11). Despite Philip's failure, Jesus didn't give up on him. Instead, from five barley loaves and two fish He created enough food to feed the entire crowd, thus replacing Philip's pessimism with a reaffirmation of divine sufficiency.

There's a little of Philip in each of us. We've experienced God's saving power and have seen Him answer prayer, yet there are times when we let pessimism rob us of the joy of seeing Him work through obstacles in our lives. Don't let that happen to you. Keep your eyes on Christ and trust in His sufficiency. He will never fail you!

Suggestions for Prayer:

Memorize Ephesians 3:20-21. Recite it often as a hymn of praise and an affirmation of your faith in God.

For Further Study:

Read Numbers 13 and 14.

• What kind of report did the pessimistic spies bring back from the Promised Land?
• How did the people react to their report?
• How did God react to their report?

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Devotionals/drawing

BEING A PERSON OF INFLUENCE

“You are our letter, ...... for everyone to read and understand.” - 2 Cor. 3:2

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ARE YOU MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD IN WHICH YOU LIVE?

Why is this question so important? Because nobody has a greater investment in us than God and God is serious about His investment. You and I are to be "change agents." Weshould be making a difference in the lives of individuals within our sphere of influence.

How Do We Influence Others In A Positive Sense?

If we follow the following principles, we will have an influence for God's Kingdom far beyond what we could imagine.

1) Always keep a right spirit

You and I are constantly on show and the person who doesn't know Christ is looking to see how we will react in different circumstances. We must constantly guard our heart and not allow any root of bitterness to develop when people or life treats us unfairly. We influence others by what we say or by what we don’t say. A great example is David in the cave of Adullam (1 Sam.22:1-2). He had every right to be resentful and when he was joined by those who became his mighty men, he could have complained, but made a decision to keep a right spirit. David’s character and conduct literally changed their lives and made them fit to be his leaders.

2) Consistency and conviction that does not shift

Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others. We must not portray to be one thing and then show to be someone else. We must be men and women that live by their principles, not by their impulses! We must stand for what is right, good and wholesome - living by God's standards. What we do should match what we say. In other words, not presenting one set of rules and living by another. People want to see that we are real - that we have no hidden agendas or ulterior motives. To avoid being classified as a hypocrite, our hearts must be aligned with our lips. When dealing with others there is to be no strings attached. We must learn to give freely without expecting anything in return.

3) A Lover Of God And His Ways

To make an impact for God, we must be a people that are “growing in the knowledge of God.” As long as you are satisfied with the way things are, you will never change anything. We should never be content with our level of devotion to God. The more you know God (getting an understanding of His attributes), the deeper your love for Him. This understanding comes by discovering Him through His Word. If the Word is not in your heart, it won’t come out of your mouth and therefore, your influence on others will be minimal. When you love God more, you want to talk about Him to others. You might say to yourself, "How can I have any influence on others, I feel so inadequate and unqualified to speak for Him." Remember, none of us were born qualified, we become qualified by spending time with Jesus.

4) By Allowing God’s Love To Shine Through Us

John 15:8 – “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” God wants each one of us to be fruitful in our lives. He has blessed us in so many ways – why? So that we might be a blessing to others. For God’s love to minister to others, we must be accessible to them - you can’t help people from a distance, you can only do it up close. Paul said in 2 Cor 6:2, “Now is the time of God’s favour”. Paul was convinced that NOW is the day of salvation. Driven by this conviction and by love for others, Paul gave his all to win them to Christ. It is our responsibility to tell others about Jesus, but many times we don’t even need to even say anything - just live the life. We must realise that our life is being observed by others and by God. We must constantly guard our heart and keep watch over our lives because we have no idea who’s observing our life today.

CHALLENGE

There are a number of things that will hinder us from making a difference. These are: 1. the idea that we need a special ministry or anointing before we can make a difference; 2.A feeling of apathy towards reaching out to others; and 3. Too busy to give ourselves to making a difference.

Don't let these things hinder you. Ask yourself these questions: 1) Am I having a positive influence on those around me – my children, grand children, friends, relatives, work mates and neighbours? 2) Will I choose to make a difference today? What am I going to do to change things?

Prayer

Lord help me to be an example of righteousness, integrity, truth and love to others. Help me to speak words that will bring spirit and life and not words that will deliver death and destroy people's lives. I ask today that above all, Christ would be seen in me.

http://www.rodbest.com/devotional%205.html

God Finished His Work

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. (Psalm 138:8)

He who has begun will carry on the work which is being wrought within my soul. The Lord is concerned about everything that concerns me. All that is now good, but not perfect, the Lord will watch over, preserve, and carry out to completion. This is a great comfort. I could not perfect the work of grace myself. Of that I am quite sure, for I fail every day and have only held on so long as I have because the Lord has helped me. If the Lord were to leave me, all my past experience would go for nothing, and I should perish from the way. But the Lord will continue to bless me. He will perfect my faith, my love, my character, my lifework. He will do this because He has begun a work in me. He gave me the concern I feel, and, in a measure, He has fulfilled my gracious aspirations, He never leaves a work unfinished; this would not be for His glory, nor would it be like Him. He knows how to accomplish His gracious design, and though my own evil nature and the world and the devil all conspire to hinder Him, I do not doubt His promise. He will perfect that which concerneth me, and I will praise Him forever. Lord, let Thy gracious work make some advance this day!

http://www.spurgeon.org/fcb/fcb.cgi

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

Gracious Dealing

And the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. (Deuteronomy 15:18)

An Israelitish master was to give his bondservant liberty in due time, and when he left his service he was to start him in life with a liberal portion, This was to be done heartily and cheerfully, and then the Lord promised to bless the generous act. The spirit of this precept, and, indeed, the whole law of Christ, binds us to treat people well. We ought to remember how the Lord has dealt with us, and that this renders it absolutely needful that we should deal graciously with others, It becomes those to be generous who are the children of a gracious God. How can we expect our great Master to bless us in our business if we oppress those who serve us?

What a benediction is here set before the liberal mind! To be blessed in all that we do is to be blessed indeed. The Lord will send us this partly in prosperity, partly in content of mind, and partly in a sense of His favor, which is the best of all blessings. He can make us feel that we are under His special care and are surrounded by His peculiar love. This makes this earthly life a joyous prelude to the life to come. God's blessing is more than a fortune. It maketh rich and addeth no sorrow therewith.

http://www.spurgeon.org/fcb/fcb.cgi

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7)

Anxiety about our family is natural, but we shall be wise if we turn it into care about our own character. If we walk before the Lord in integrity, we shall do more to bless our descendants than if we bequeathed them large estates. A father's holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.

The upright man leaves his heirs his example, and this in itself will be a mine of true wealth, How many men may trace their success in life to the example of their parents!

He leaves them also his repute. Men think better of us as the sons of a man who could be trusted, the successors of a tradesman of excellent repute, Oh, that all young men were anxious to keep up the family name!

Above all, he leaves his children his prayers and the blessing of a prayer-hearing God, and these make our offspring to be favored among the sons of men. God will save them even after we are dead. Oh, that they might be saved at once!

Our integrity may be God's means of saving our sons and daughters. If they see the truth of our religion proved by our lives, it may be that they will believe in Jesus for themselves. Lord, fulfill this word to my household!

http://www.spurgeon.org/fcb/fcb.cgi

we must trust Jesus.............Not ourselves

April 20

By Faith Not Feeling

The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

I shall not die, I can, I do, believe in the Lord my God, and this faith will keep me alive. I would be numbered among those who in their lives are just; but even if I were perfect I would not try to live by my righteousness; I would cling to the work of the Lord Jesus and still live by faith in Him and by nothing else. If I were able to give my body to be burned for my Lord Jesus, yet I would not trust in my own courage and constancy, but still would live by faith.

Were I a martyr at the stake

I'd plead my Saviour's name;

Intreat a pardon for His sake,

And urge no other claim.

To live by faith is a far surer and happier thing than to live by feelings or by works, The branch, by living in the vine, lives a better life than it would live by itself, even if it were possible for it to live at all apart from the stem. To live by clinging to Jesus, by deriving all from Him, is a sweet and sacred thing. If even the most just must live in this fashion, how much more must I who am a poor sinner! Lord, I believe. I must trust Thee wholly. What else can I do? Trusting Thee is my life....

http://www.spurgeon.org/fcb/fcb.cgi