Complain< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 16:1-7

The children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel left Egypt but Egypt did not leave them. The Israelites continue to look back in complaint instead of looking back only in thanksgiving and praising God. Egypt let them go but they could not let Egypt go after they were delivered from the affliction of over four hundred years. In every step they took forward, they continued to look back. Complaint about their need was a major breakdown that denied so many generations from getting to the promise land. What about you? Is there any thing in the past that is holding you from going forward? Have you ever seen any vehicle that is going forward while at the same time going backward? Probably, the Red Sea was yet settled from its granting passage to huge numbers of the children before complaining started. The Israelites began to complain for lack of bread. Exodus 16:3, ÒAnd the children of Israel said to them, oh that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.Ó It is unimaginable that a group that has just seen the Hand of God in action could turn around so fast and so soon. If you are alive to be able to read this, you can believe that complaining directly or indirectly will not transport you but will terminate you. Among the children of Israel, the ages that came out through the Red Sea failed and did not get into their promise land. Let yesterday be yesterday in your journey. Do not complain. Change from complaining to complementing Him with a heart of thanks giving. God will enable you in all areas of life.

Conduct< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Philippians 1:27-30

How do you act when you are around a fellow believer? What about when you are around non believers? Can you identify the differences in your action? Have you heard people say to you that you are the bible that they are reading? Christianity is not an acting it is a way of life. Whatever your conduct is behind the close door should not be an embarrassing issue when it is conducted in the open.  Year after years, month after months, day after days, you have only been playing religion. Your playing or acting religion will only last for a while before the truth prevail. God will not over look sin do not be overtaken by sin. It is about time for self examination and sincerity before God. God will always have mercy for those that call on Him. Paul said in Philippians 1:27, ÒOnly let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent , I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.Ó Your conduct is the testimony of how you stand in the Lord. If your conduct is worthy of Christ you will be steadfast in Him. Your conduct is your evangelism to the unbeliever around you that are yet to receive Him as their Lord and savior. As the year goes bye, let the word of God be echoing in your heart. Pray and ask God to work in you both to do his will and to do for His glory.  

Love of God< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Deuteronomy 28:1-14

The love of God came to us free but the blessings of God came with condition. The requirement for the blessings of God is nothing but obedience to the word of God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2, ÒNow it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandment which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.Ó  As you can see, the blessing of God is not an accident it is based and rooted in obedience to His voice. Yes, you have not been obedient to the word of God and blessings have not stopped flowing in your life. Consider the fact that what you are looking at as a blessing might not be a blessing in GodÕs book. Defining GodÕs blessing is not the message for you today. However, it is written in Proverb < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>10:22, ÒThe blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He add no sorrow with it.Ó If God says obedience to His commandment is what will make blessings to overtake you, that is what He meant because the word of God is true and amen. Despite your inconsistency, the Lord continues to be consistent by being merciful, patient, forgiving, providing, and preserving. Look up to God and acknowledge Him for His goodness and mercy and declare His loving kindness and faithfulness. Ask God to endue you with grace to be consistent in obedience to His voice.

Breakthrough< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Exodus 5

The children of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel have been afflicted by Egypt long enough. Breakthrough is about to take place and God has already moved through Moses, but the manifestation is yet to be in place. They were closer to breakthrough more than ever. As the LORD planned it, Moses approached Pharaoh to request for the release of the children of Israel. Pharaoh responded with anger and he requested for more work for the children of Israel. Exodus 5:9, ÒLet more work be laid on the men that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.Ó It is very challenging to see situations get more difficult when it appears you are closer to breakthrough. Moses was supposed to be getting them out, not getting them down. The children of Israel requested from Pharaoh the reasons for addition of work. Pharaoh responded, Exodus 5:17, ÒBut he said, ÔYou are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ÔLet us go and sacrifice to the LORD.ÕÓ Pharaoh added more to their affliction. You have come a long way, it does not matter how long you have been through, it only matters that God is a true God. Is it certain to you that GodÕs deliverance is a certainty? Ignore all the noise of the liar, hold on to God. You are almost there, and the closer you get, the more it may seem you are losing. In the hand of God you are a winner, your breakthrough is at hand. 

Let God< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Genesis 26:6-16

In the time of famine Isaac went to Abimelech, King of the Philistines, in Gerar. God instructed him not to go down to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Egypt but to dwell where He asked of him. When God asks you to stay in a land that does not look secure, will you not stay and wait for Him to do what He will do? Isaac stayed in Gerar despite the threat of what could happen to his wife Rebekah. In Gerar, he wanted to take the job of security guard from the Almighty Guardian. He wanted to help God in protecting his wife from the hand of the wicked men because of her beauty. God gave him a beautiful wife, God directed him to dwell where he was, and God was teaching and instructing him. When God is in control, do not let the situation of the land control you. Genesis 26:7, ÒAnd the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, ÔShe is my sisterÕ; for he was afraid to say Ôshe is my wifeÕ because he taught, ÔLest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.ÕÓ In his effort as the security guard, he faltered from the truth by lying. As a result, everything stopped working for Isaac. However, when the truth came out about Rebekah, the Bible confirmed in Genesis 26:12, ÒThen Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.Ó It could not be accidental that his blessing came after truth prevailed. Give it all up to truth; He is able to see you through. Lying will not prevail; it will only delay or destroy. Ask God to strip off every agent or activity of lying and deception in your life.