The Replica

25/09/2024

Discover Yourself!

17/08/2024

Have a large heart today. Don't be vindictive but be complementary cos the person that offended you today may be the person to promote you tomorrow.

Your destiny is assured no matter your qualification.

08/08/2024

08/08/2024

The Replica on course

11/06/2021

THE LIFE OF GRACE DEVOTIONAL

*GET YOUR MIND RIGHT*

2 Corinthians 5:17

Spring (or a pandemic) is a great time to do some deep cleaning. We go through our closets and under the bed storage, our garages and attics, our shelves and cupboards, and throw out all of the things that are expired, broken or worn out. Often we can forget where some of those random things even came from or why we’ve kept them around; the old things just accumulate and clutter life over time. The same thing happens with our thoughts and often when we have one bad thought, it’s accompanied by others that just lead to more mental debris. The first step in getting our minds right is to mentally clean house! We can make time to clean house and suddenly we’ll have some free space for the right things.

*Questions:*

Take an inventory of your thought patterns and habits today.

1. What are some old thoughts that you need to throw out?

2. What healthy habits can you build within the new, cleaned out spaces of your life?

09/06/2021

THE LIFE OF GRACE DEVOTIONAL

*GETTING OUR MINDS RIGHT*

Philippians 4:8-9

Studies have shown that we have over 60,000 thoughts a day and 70% of those naturally occurring thoughts are negative. This can be a dangerous process if our minds alone direct our life course.

Now is not the time to let our minds “WANDER ON US.” Now is the time for our minds to “WORK FOR US”. Pastor Carl has said that our brain is like a train; taking us either to LIFE or DEATH at a very high speed.

Jesus gives us a blueprint of how to get our minds right and set on the path to life. He encourages us to fix our eyes on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy. We can meditate on the Word of God and choose to fix our eyes on who JESUS is.

*Questions: #

1. What are you fixing your thoughts on today?

2. Are you giving way to fear and anxiety or are you choosing to fix your mind on Jesus? Write down a few of your re-occurring thoughts.

3. What are some ways you can begin to exchange those thoughts to biblical truths?

30/04/2021

A CROWN AND A CROSS

Luke 14:27

Acts 1 depicts the story of 12 men who gave up everything to follow Jesus. They gave up their livelihood, their reputations, their family relations, and their careers — all of it was stunted by following Jesus. Following Jesus meant going wherever, whenever, and however Jesus went. For three years, the disciples did this as they followed Jesus.

These men followed Jesus partly because they thought He was going to establish His kingdom on earth. They kept waiting for Jesus to overthrow Caesar’s influence over Jerusalem, setting up His throne and forming His cabinet. But when Jesus was tried and killed, the disciples’ expectations were shattered. It is easy to be a disciple when you get what you expect; it is not so easy when what you want is no longer there.

These disciples saw who they wanted to be king, but they could not see the cross the King had to bear. The cross exemplifies the toll leadership takes on a person and everything that comes with that. The king and the cross are interchangeable and inextricably connected. Every king has to bear a cross, whether it is visible or not. To be somebody, you have to carry a cross.

The disciples did not understand that every development of leadership, prosperity, or notoriety — every degree or accomplishment of any kind — comes with a cross. If you want to go up, it will cost you something. Most people would rather have the peace than the power, and the decision is difficult to make. The disciples did not realize the cost Jesus would have to pay to be King, for it was massive.

Set yourself in the disciples’ shoes during Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Imagine how traumatic it was to see a leader they had been with for years and had dedicated their lives to be stripped naked, beaten like a thief until his ventral was exposed, spat on, hung high, stretched wide, nailed to a cross, dying in the hot Jerusalem heat.

If it were your pastor or a leader you respected, you too would feel that trauma. The powerful now appeared powerless; the overcomer looked like He had been overcome. Great trauma and confusion can affect those who watch, and not just the victim alone. There is a cross with every crown.

13/04/2021

GOD PROVIDES

Genesis 13:11-13

Under God’s command, Abram left his home and journeyed to a new land, Canaan, with all his goods, his family, and his nephew Lot. The contrasts between the wise choices of Abram and the foolish choices of Lot provide valuable lessons for us today—contentment with less versus wanting more; loving people versus loving things; and giving versus taking.

Abram illustrated a loving attitude through his care for his nephew Lot, a willingness to take less by allowing Lot to make the first choice when dividing the land, and a generous spirit by giving a tenth of the goods he collects in battle to Melchizedek, “priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18).

Lot’s superficial decision to choose the beautiful land near S***m becomes his undoing. Yet Abram displays great trust in God, pursuing the armies of the invading kings with relatively few men in order to rescue Lot.

REFLECT: Like Abram, are you generous? Do you trust God, or is fear preventing you from releasing control of your life to Him? Are you willing to seek the counsel necessary in order to make wise decisions? Let the examples you see in this film encourage you to bring your giving, trust, and decision-making into line with the principles of God’s Word.

06/04/2021

God’s Purpose for Work

Ephesians 2:10

God has prepared good works for us to do, and this purpose extends to every area of life. Igniting your leadership starts with recognizing that the place where you spend the most time, invest the most of your creative capacity and interact with so many people, your workplace, is a central place where God has prepared good works for you to do. God has a purpose for your work.

Most of us start our careers with enthusiasm and anticipation for what the future will hold. But when you add in the inevitable disappointments, failures, interpersonal tension, and unrealistic demands, suddenly work feels more like a jail sentence than the key to freedom. A worldly view of work can have this effect on even the most passionate men and women.

The good news is we weren’t just saved from the curse of sin and death. We were saved for a purpose that includes doing good works that God prepared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). God wants to work through you and He wants you to lean on Him for direction, wisdom, and strength. It doesn’t matter what type of work you do (provided it is work done for the good of others). Romans 12:4-5 tells us that we are all members of one body, each with a specific function. When we start each day by seeking God and intentionally connect with Him throughout the day, He guides us so we can succeed. When we can reframe our work from God’s perspective and reconnect with God’s purpose for our work, it changes everything.

The primary purpose for our work is to bring God glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) – whether you do chores or run errands, update spreadsheets or create marketing campaigns, lead people or follow orders. And as we bring God glory, our work becomes an expression of love and service to others, no matter what kind of work you do. That’s something to get excited about!

Prayer

Father God, thank you for preparing good works for me to do and providing me with the opportunity to partner with You. Help me to remember to seek you first and throughout each day so I honor You with the work I do and serve others from a place of love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

26/03/2021

Reflection:

Who did God’s love disrupt in this story, and how? How did each person in this story grow in love and courage? What might God be saying to you through this passage?

Acts 10:1-36