_*Friday 14 February 2025*_ _*TODAY'S DEVOTION*_ _*CONTENTS*_ _• *Just A Little Laugh*_ _• *Quote Of The Day*_ _• *Today's Sermon*_ _• *New Believer's Prayer*_ _• *The Marriage After God*_ _• *‘Train A Child than Repair A Man'*_ _• *Christian News From Around The World*_ __________________________ _*JUST A LITTLE LAUGH*_ _*Valentine's Day Dream*_ _After she woke up, a woman told her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine's day. What do you think it means?"_ _"You'll know tonight." he said._ _That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it to find a book entitled "The Meaning of Dreams"_ __________________________ _*QUOTE OF THE DAY*_ _"Morality may keep you out of jail, but it takes the blood of Jesus Christ to keep you out of hell." ~ *Charles Spurgeon*_ __________________________ _*TODAY'S SERMON*_ _*Taming the Tongue*_ _*Greg Laurie*_ _*“People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.”* —James 3:7–9_ _If you’ve ever ridden a horse, you know the awesome (and occasionally uneasy) feeling of having its power and strength in your hands. The reins you hold and the bit in the horse’s mouth allow you to control the movement of this incredible animal. Experienced riders can control a whole team of horses that way. Years ago, at the Rose Parade, I saw a man riding a buffalo. He was able to control it with a bit in the animal’s mouth as well._ _Human beings have managed to tame many different creatures. Lions and tigers and bears. Killer whales and crocodiles and cockatoos. Name an animal, any animal. Chances are good that someone, somewhere, has tamed one—and probably taught it to do a goofy trick._ _The one thing in this world that we haven’t been able to tame, as James points out in the passage above, is the tongue. And that failure rocks us to our core. Because what we say reveals who we are. Socrates once said to a young student, “Speak, so that I may see you.”_ _The idea of “being seen” by our words applies even more so to believers. The tongue is a barometer of Christian maturity. If your life is really transformed by Jesus Christ, your words will be transformed as well. Your faith will impact you in what you say and what you don’t say._ _Jesus said, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT)._ _As Christians, we may take pride in the fact that we don’t do certain sinful things anymore—and that’s certainly a sign of spiritual maturity. But if we don’t also rein in our words, there’s no gain. We would never think of having someone we don’t like assassinated, but we would assassinate their character over Sunday brunch. We would never think of pulling out a knife and stabbing someone, but we would think nothing of plunging the blade of slander into someone’s back._ _People who tame wild animals command respect. Crowds breathlessly cheer lion tamers at the circus. People who tame their tongue command the respect of others, too. Others will notice when you refuse to join a gossip session. Or when you talk about people’s good qualities behind their back instead of slandering them. Or when you offer sincere words of praise or encouragement. Because they’ll see that it’s coming from your heart—a heart that’s been transformed by Christ._ _The people closest to you—your spouse, your family members, your friends—will be the first to notice. Especially if you’ve never given much thought to taming your tongue in the past. It may take a while to convince them that you’re serious. But in time, they will respond to your transformation._ _Taming your tongue is the big battle. If you fight it valiantly, you open the door to other victories. James 3:2 says, “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way” (NLT)._ _*Questions for Reflection:* Based on your words in the past week or so, what’s in your heart?_ harvestdirect.org ____________________________ _*NEW BELIEVER'S PRAYER*_ _I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." ~ *Luke 15:7*_ _Giving your life to Christ is the best decision of your life. Scripture says, only one sinner who repents at any one time, is enough to cause a joyous celebration in heaven. You are that person today. There is massive joy in heaven on account of your decision to come to Christ. The actual process of receiving a new life is very simple. Romans 10:9-10 says, "...if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved." In that respect, kindly repeat this simple prayer audibly and you are saved._ _*Prayer:* Lord Jesus, thank you for dying in my place on the cross. I truly believe in my heart that you were raised from the dead and you sit at the right hand of the Father. I confess that you are Lord and Saviour. I confess and repent of all of my sins, that I committed knowingly and unknowingly. I receive the free gift of forgiveness, even as I forgive them that wronged me. I want to live righteously from today on. I commit my life to you, to lead me in paths of righteousness. Amen._ _If you prayed that prayer, congratulations you have been saved by Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Welcome to the new you, in Christ! What a wonder! The old has passed, and the new has come (2 Cor 5:17). Now kindly look for a Bible believing church near you, and hear more about your new found freedom in Christ._ ____________________________ _*THE MARRIAGE AFTER GOD*_ _*Out with the Garbage and Flannel Pajamas*_ _*Dr James & Shirley Dobson*_ _*“My lover is mine and I am his.”* Song of Songs 2:16_ _Were you surprised by the definition of romance your spouse offered last night? Romance can mean vastly different things to women and men, but for most of us the word describes that wonderful feeling of being noticed, wanted, and pursued— of being at the very center of our lover’s attention. Women are inclined to define romance as the things a husband does to make them feel loved, protected, and respected. Flowers (if they aren’t too cheap), compliments, nonsexual touching, and love notes are all steps in the right direction. So is helping with the chores. As author Kevin Leman once said, “The greatest of all aphrodisiacs is for a man to take out the garbage for his wife.”_ _Men, on the other hand, rely more on their senses. They appreciate a wife who makes herself as attractive to her husband as possible. A man wants to be respected—and even better, admired—by his wife. He likes to hear his wife express genuine interest in his opinions, hobbies, and work._ _Obviously, these are generalizations, so take your spouse’s definition to heart. Knowing how he or she perceives romance can help you avoid many misunderstandings and disappointments. With a little care and forethought, you can keep the flame of romance burning brightly._ _*Just between us…*_ _• What’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever done for you?_ _• How do you feel about our personal definitions of romance?_ _• How can our differing views of romance strengthen our marriage?_ _Dear God, thank You for making us unique as a man and woman. Please help us understand and celebrate our carefully crafted differences. We want to become experts at pursuing and cherishing each other. Amen._ ___________________________ _*’TRAIN THE CHILD THAN REPAIR A MAN’*_ _*Our Great Example*_ _*Dr James & Shirley Dobson*_ _*”Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”* Mark 1:35_ _A crowd, more than two hundred strong, waited patiently in the sun on the dusty outskirts of Capernaum. One shouted, “I hear He gives sight to the blind!” Another called back, “He healed my leprosy!” A few, however, grew restless. One large man approached the small camp where His followers were staying. “Where is this Jesus?” the man demanded. “We are tired of waiting.”_ _One of the followers stood and addressed the man in a soft voice. “He will come when it is time. He is in prayer.”_ _We don’t really know all that transpired and what was said when crowds gathered during Jesus’ ministry. But we do know that Jesus frequently sought spiritual renewal and rest. We are told, for instance, that “after [Jesus] had dismissed [the crowd], he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). Scripture also says that “crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:15–16)._ _If Jesus, for whom anything was possible, chose repeatedly in the midst of His great teaching to withdraw to quiet places for prayer and rest, how much more do we need to do the same? You’ll be a more effective parent—and a better example to your kids—when you imitate the perfect ways of Christ._ _*Before you say good night…*_ _• How often do you spend even a few minutes of quiet time with God?_ _• Could you make a commitment to do this daily for the next week?_ _Lord, how foolish to think we could be wise and caring parents in our own strength! How we need more and more of You—Your perspective, Your power, and Your peace. Show us how and where to find time alone with You. Amen._ _____________________________ _*CHRISTIAN NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD*_ _*Christians once ‘pardoned’ after years in prison re-arrested in Iran*_ _*Christian Daily International*_ _*Thursday, February 13, 2025*_ _Two Christians who were released from prison in Iran in 2022 and 2023 respectively were re-arrested last Thursday, advocacy group Article 18 reported._ _Intelligence agents arrested Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Joseph Shahbazian from their homes in Tehran province and took them back to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, among other Christians arrested for their faith around the same time, the group reports._ _Gol-Tapeh, 63, a convert from Islam, had been “pardoned” and released in October 2022 after serving nearly five years of a 10-year sentence on charges deemed “actions against national security” due to involvement in a house church._ _“Nasser is apparently refusing to eat in protest at his unlawful re-arrest, while Article 18’s sources report that a number of other Tehran Christians were also arrested at the same time and remain in custody,” Article 18 reported._ _Shahbazian, a 60-year-old Iranian-Armenian, had spent just over a year at Evin Prison on similar charges before he was “pardoned” and freed in September 2023. Armenian churches are legal in Iran, and his arrest and re-arrest showed that no Christian is safe in the country, Article 18 stated._ _“Both groups remain potential targets of the Iranian authorities,” the group reported. “Indeed, as Article 18’s new annual report shows, any Christians considered ‘unaligned’ with the goals of the Islamic Republic can face arrest and imprisonment on ‘security’ charges.”_ _The annual report, presented at the United Nations in Geneva last month, called on Iranian authorities to “end the criminalization of house-church organization and membership,” and asked for clarity on “where Persian-speaking Christians may worship freely in their mother tongue, without fear of arrest and prosecution.”_ _A third recommendation called on Iranian authorities to drop all charges against Christians related to church activities that the Iranian Supreme Court had ruled were lawful, a reference to a 2021 ruling in Tehran clarifying that involvement in house churches or even the propagation of what was labeled “evangelical Zionist sects” should not be considered an “action against national security.”_ _Reasons for the re-arrests of Gol-Tapeh and Shabazian were unclear. During his five years in prison, Gol-Tapeh had filed several requests for a retrial or parole and wrote numerous open letters asking how membership in a house church constituted an “action against national security,” according to Article 18._ _His release came two days after a fire spread chaos at the prison, claiming the lives of at least four prisoners, triggering gunfire and projectiles that were hurled into the facility from the outside. It was not clear whether the fire was linked to release of Gol-Tapeh, who suffered several health problems during incarceration._ _“Nasser was arbitrarily arrested and detained, falsely charged, unjustly imprisoned for almost five years, and inhumanely refused a chance for retrial, furlough and medical attention,” Article18 Director Mansour Borji said after his release in 2022._ _Shahbazian had initially received a 10-year-sentence for holding church services in his home, which was reduced to two years in May 2023. He was denied medical treatment for an illness for several months, and even after receiving a diagnosis was not informed of it, according to Article 18._ _He had decided not to apply for a conditional release as doing so would involve pledging not to engage in the activities for which he was first arrested — organizing and hosting house-church meetings with Christian converts, Article 18 stated._ _“Iranians from Armenian and Assyrian families are permitted a degree of freedom to worship — in their own languages — but churches that offered services in the Persian language have been systematically closed over the past 15 years,” Article 18 reported. “As a result, Iranians who wish to worship in the national language of Persian — whether converts, Armenians, or Assyrians – have no place to worship.”_ _The church closures led to the rise of the private worship meetings in homes such as Shabazian’s, the group stated._ _“But these have been outlawed by the Iranian authorities and referred to as ‘enemy groups,’ and members systematically arrested and imprisoned on charges of ‘acting against national security,’” Article 18 reported._ _Iran ranked ninth on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List (WWL) of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The report noted that despite persecution, “the church in Iran is growing steadily.”_ ________________________________ _*Tanzanian gospel artiste Rehema Simfukwe on how her daughter with cerebral palsy has shaped her ministry*_ _*Ken Kagicha*_ _*13 Feb, 2025*_ _Titled ‘Open letter to my daughter, Dorcas’, Simfukwe narrated how the pain and anguish of finding out the condition of her daughter birthed her hit song ‘Chanzo’, a breakout gospel hit in East Africa that was released four years ago and has 14 million views on YouTube._ _“I know your journey has not been easy, my daughter. The challenge you have faced is for the glory of our God. Your father and I have been waiting for this day to tell the whole world about your story,” said Simfukwe, who shared the video diary on Dorcas’ 6th birthday._ _Simfukwe said Dorcas was in and out of hospital for various illnesses and unending flus in her earlier years. After some more medical tests, Dorcas was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects a person’s movement, balance and posture caused by abnormal brain development before, during or after birth._ _“We were devastated when the doctor told us the condition of our daughter has no cure and that she would need to be assisted throughout her life. We knew that our lives would not be the same, that we would miss the growing milestones of Dorcas, which is what all parents look forward to,” narrated Simfukwe._ _The support of her loving husband and family reassured her that she was not going to carry Dorcas’ burden alone and indeed the love and encouragement turned out to be a unifying and bonding opportunity for the family._ _It is also during this period that she penned her hit song ‘Chanzo’ which means ‘beginning’ in Swahili, her affirmation that God is her source and the reason for her existence. The hit song propelled her music ministry to new heights, winning her awards and opening new ministry opportunities._ _“I chose to trust God and believe that His plans for my life are still on track despite the condition of our daughter. I realised that pursuing my dreams, despite the challenges I was facing, would be one way to show love to Dorcas,” said Simfukwe._ _A crucial turning point for the family came when they agreed that they would fully embrace and celebrate Dorcas’ condition as well as fully live their lives without the sadness and sorrow that had surrounded them since the diagnosis._ _Simfukwe had battled her own thoughts and fears about going public with Dorcas’ story. “Would people accuse me of being a bad mother? Would they say the condition was caused by my negligence? That I didn’t eat well during pregnancy?” she wondered._ _But through the encouragement of her family, Simfukwe decided to tell the world about her journey dealing and taking care of a child with a neurodevelopmental condition. “The world needs to know about children that need special assistance due to their condition, and respond with love, understanding and support for families taking care of these children,” said Simfukwe._ _It is through this experience that Simfukwe and her husband started Dorcas Homecare Initiative, which runs a facility that offers support for children with neurological conditions and their families. Launched on Jan. 13, 2025, the facility offers physiotherapy equipment and sessions, wheel chairs, diapers, special beds, a playground and other essential services and facilities for children with cerebral palsy._ _Having such a facility will meet some of the critical needs that parents of children with cerebral palsy struggle with such as the cost of therapy, medical care and special education. Dr Rev Phidel Baraza, the founder and CEO of Beauty Out of Mire Trust (BOOM), told Christian Daily International that parents raising children with disabilities grapple with emotional and mental strain._ _“The journey is overwhelming, filled with moments of grief, uncertainty, and burnout due to the demands of caregiving. Many schools lack trained teachers, adaptive learning materials, and accessible infrastructure, forcing parents to either homeschool or seek expensive specialized schools,” explained Rev. Baraza._ _BOOM Trust was also founded from her experience raising her 14-year-old daughter, Raziela Miracle, who was born with multiple neurological disorders, including autism, cerebral palsy, delayed developmental milestones and sensory processing disorder._ _Rev. Baraza, through the Trust, is committed to educating family members on how to offer emotional and practical help to parents of children with disability and to “normalize and create an inclusive home environment.”_ _She also advocates for inclusive government policies to support special education and create accessible physical environments such as ramps, sensory-friendly spaces and disability-friendly restrooms._ _“The Church can do more to provide care and counseling for parents who need spiritual and emotional support. It can also establish inclusive ministries and train leaders and congregants to understand and accommodate disabilities in both physical spaces and programs,” said Rev. Baraza._ ___________________________ _*"Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is ruth."* John 17:17_