Our Daily Bread Devotional, May 20, 2017 - Finding the Way Out

Topic: Finding the Way Out [Saturday May 20, 2017]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1–13, Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10–12; John 6:45–71

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

There’s a street with an intriguing name in the city of Santa Barbara, California. It’s called “Salsipuedes,” which means “leave if you can.” When the street was first named, the area bordered on a marsh that sometimes flooded, and the Spanish-speaking city planners dubbed the location with a not-so-subtle warning to stay away.

God’s Word cautions us to stay away from the “wrong road” of sin and temptation: “Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way” (Prov. 4:15). But Scripture doesn’t just say “leave if you can.” It offers assurance and tells us where to turn: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

 The promise that God will not allow us to be tempted above our ability to withstand is an encouraging reminder. When we turn to God in the moments when temptation comes, we know He is more than willing to help us stay away.

The Bible affirms that Jesus is able “to empathize with our weaknesses.” But He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus knows the way out of every temptation. He will show us as we run to Him!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your promise to be faithful to me and provide a way out whenever I face temptation. I praise You that You are willing to give me all the strength I need!

God promises to help us when we are tempted.

Insight:

Paul tells us that some of the children of Israel gave in to idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling. In each case they were disciplined for their sin (Ex. 32:1–35; Num. 21:4–8). Yet the hope given us is that God has provided a way out of temptation for all who choose to take it (see Gen. 39:7–12).

Are you facing temptations today? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you resist temptation and to take the way out.

This message was written By James Banks [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Trump Says FBI Inquiry About Russia Link Hurt USA

 

Trump: FBI inquiry into Russia links 'hurts US terribly'

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• From the sectionUS & Canada

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Media caption"I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt."

President Donald Trump has said the decision to appoint a special counsel to oversee the inquiry into Russian influence on his election is hurting America "terribly".

Speaking at a news conference in Washington, he denied any collusion with Russia during his election campaign last year.

"The entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion," he said.

Former FBI chief Robert Mueller has been selected to lead the inquiry.

Media captionTrump supporters stick with him despite scandal

Mr Mueller's appointment was welcomed by politicians from both sides.

Calls for a special investigation had mounted after Mr Trump fired FBI Director James Comey last week.

• Mueller 'is ramrod straight in integrity'
• How powerful is the special counsel?
• Historians list worse-treated politicians

On Thursday, Mr Trump denied trying to influence the investigation by sacking Mr Comey.

"Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," he suggested.

"I actually thought when I made that decision... that it would be a bipartisan decision because you look at all of the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, that were saying such terrible things about Director Comey."

On Wednesday, Mr Trump had said no politician in history "has been treated worse or more unfairly" than himself.

Image copyrightREUTERS

Image captionRobert Mueller (L) with his successor at the FBI James Comey, whose dismissal prompted calls for a wider investigation

The announcement of a special counsel apparently took the White House by surprise, with Mr Trump only being informed of it after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had signed the order.

The FBI and Congress are looking into potential links between Mr Trump's campaign team and Russia. Mr Mueller will take over the FBI investigation.

US intelligence agencies believe Moscow tried to tip November's presidential election in favour of Mr Trump.

BBC

FCMB Commend An SS2 Student Who Returned A Purse Filled With Money

A great event happened on May 16th,2017 in Remo Land specifically in Sagamu, Ogun state when Miss Samson Omolabake, sixteen years of age, a student of Muslim High School Senior Secondary School 2 (Art) located at Lateefat Ogunkoya Avenue, Sabo was on her way home after the close of the school saw a purse filled with money and ATM cards on the road at ever busy road in Isale Oko around 2:25 pm. She picked it up and opened the purse and saw that there was money and ATM cards inside the purse. She discovered that the ATM is for First City Monument Bank( FCMB). She took the purse back immediately to the branch of the Bank which is at Akarigbo Road after First Bank Plc Sagamu. When she got there, she told them what happened and requested that they should help her to trace the owner of the purse and should please call her so that she can hand over the purse over to the owner in person. The management did as she requested and called the owner to come over to the banking hall. The owner of the purse, Mrs Awofeso was shocked to hear what happened, she checked her money and confirmed that Eighteen thousand Naira inside the purse was intact and all her documents were intact. This prompted the FCMB Branch Manager,Mr Omotara to write a letter of commendation on behalf of the Bank and brought it to her school on May 17th,2017. When the Principal of the School was contacted, Mr Oyenuga David, to ask him about who the student is in school, he said that, she is an indigent student and highly responsible. Mrs Yetunde Sodiya Isikalu the Vice Principal Academics stated that , Samson Omolabake is always neat and she has never be reported for any misbehaviour acts. Her Class Teacher, Mrs Ajilore said she is a responsible girl and ever ready to learn. Agbesanwa Felix Oluwaseun. Source;http://www.nationalhelm.net/2017/05/ss2-student-finds-purse-filled-with.html

Re: Ogun SS2 Student Finds Purse Filled With Cash On Her Way Home Nairaland

I Never Said FG Doesn't Know Who Will Sign 2017 Budget - Lai Mohammed‎

‎Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reacted to media reports alleging he said that the Federal government does not know who will sign the 2017 budget. After the Federal Executive Council meeting today, some state house correspondents asked him questions regarding who would sign the 2017 budget.

According to Mohammed, the only response he gave was that when the budget is passed to the Executive from the National Assembly, the issue will be addressed. Some media houses interpreted his statement to mean the Federal government has no one to sign the budget. Lai denied the speculation in a statement released this evening. Read the statement below...

Our attention has been drawn to a story in a section of the media quoting the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as saying ''we don't know who will sign the 2017 budget''. This quote is a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing on Wednesday, 17 May 2017. When the Minister was asked a question relating to the signing of the 2017 Budget, his response was: ''When it is transmitted to the Presidency, the issue will be addressed.'' Anything beyond that response amounts to deliberate mischief and should be ignored.‎

Crime: Musim cleric, his wife and four children stabbed to death in Ogun

As culled from LIB, A 35 year old Muslim cleric, Sheik Yusuf Amzat-Salam, his wife and four children have been stabbed to death by unknown assailants at their home at the Atiba area of Odogbolu Local Government Area in Ogun state today May 16th. According to the state police command, Sheik Amzat-Salam, his wife, their 11 year old daughter, eight year old set of twin boys and their last child, a 2 year old daughter, were found in the pool of their blood with serious stab wounds.

Speaking on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told newsmen that the state commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered a full scale investigation into the crime. According to Opeyemi, the state commissioner of police has immediately deployed operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and men from the Homicide section to the area and that the police would apprehend the killers and make them face the law.

“We are profiling the identity of the killers. The CP has deployed men of FSARS, Divisional Police Officers in the area and the bordering towns as well as other policemen to the scene. Preliminary investigation is ongoing to unravel the mystery behind the killing which happened over night. We assure members of the public that the suspects will be apprehended and brought to book” he said.

Younger brother  of the deceased cleric, Alfa Ishaaq Amzat-Salam, says his family has left everything in the hands of God.

“I leave those who perpetrated such evil into God’s hands for He alone will judge them. The deed cannot be undone. I will always remember my brother forever for his loving kindness as he was a shining light to us all”, he said.

Meanwhile the remains of the deceased persons were buried today according to Islamic rites.

President Trump 'asked FBI to halt Flynn inquiry'

 copyrightREUTERS

According to BBC, President Donald Trump asked FBI chief James Comey to end an inquiry into links between his ex-national security adviser and Russia, US media report.

"I hope you can let this go," Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Comey after a White House meeting in February, according to a memo written by the ex-FBI director.
The memo was written immediately after the meeting, a day after Michael Flynn resigned, according to US media.

The White House has denied the report in a statement.
"The president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," it said.

Mr Flynn was forced out in February after he misled the vice-president about his conversations with Russia's ambassador before Mr Trump took office.
The latest Russia twist, first reported by the New York Times, comes a week after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey over his handling of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while at the State Department.

Mr Comey's dismissal sent shockwaves through Washington, with critics accusing the president of trying to thwart the FBI investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the US election and any Moscow ties to Trump associates.

• How damaging is this for Trump?
• Russia: The scandal Trump can't shake

Media captionTrump's love-hate relationship with Comey over a tumultuous year

What's the latest allegation?

Mr Comey reportedly wrote a memo following a meeting with the president on 14 February that revealed Mr Trump asked him to close an investigation into Mr Flynn's actions.

He reportedly shared the memo with top FBI associates.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," the president told Mr Comey, according to the memo. "He is a good guy.
Mr Comey did not respond to his request, according to the memo, but responded: "I agree he is a good guy."
In response to the report, a White House official pointed out that acting FBI director Andrew McCabe testified last week that there "has been no effort to impede our investigation to date".

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A storm is brewing - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington

A person doesn't rise as high as James Comey did in the federal government without learning how to cover his, er, posterior.

With this latest bombshell from the New York Times it's clear that the former FBI director, who was unceremoniously sacked by the president, is poised to enjoy the last laugh.

At the moment the White House is denying Mr Comey's reported characterisation of the conversation the two men had shortly after the president fired Michael Flynn.

In a he-said, he-said situation, however, the man who wrote contemporaneous memos - and that is memos, plural - will have the upper hand.
Add in that Mr Comey has a reputation for independence, and the face-off looks even more ominous for the president.

As deputy attorney general Mr Comey stood up to the Bush administration during a showdown over the legality of government surveillance programme. He also withstood withering criticism from Democrats over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation last year.

If he swears to a congressional committee that the president put undue pressure on him to end an ongoing Flynn investigation, his word will pack a punch.

The White House better batten down the hatches. A storm is brewing.

---

Why was Flynn being investigated?

BBC

President Buhari is alive Says Presidency

Buhari is alive in London - Presidency debunks death rumour.

 ‎

Garba Shehu, the senior special adviser to President Buhari, says the president is alive - According to him, the rumour “is plain lies spread by vested interests to create panic” - 

He insisted that nothing unpleasant has happened to the President and there is no cause for apprehension The Senior Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has reacted to the news making the rounds that the president is in serious life threatening situation. 

The Presidential aide said this in series of tweets, yesterday, May 14. 

According to him, the rumour “is plain lies spread by vested interests to create panic.” 

Garba Shehu says that nothing unpleasant has happened to President Buhari and there is no cause for apprehension Rumours making the rounds are that the president is in life support as a result of the deterioration of his heath and another even more disturbing is another one that claims the president may even have died. 

However, Shehu debunked the rumours, insisting that the president is well and alive. “Baseless rumors are trending again that an unpleasant thing has happened to our beloved President, Muhammadu Buhari.” 

“If you have received this information on WhatsApp or Facebook, disregard it because it is plain lies spread by vested interests to create panic.” 

Read more: https://www.naij.com/1104668-buhari-alive-london-presidency-debunks-death-rumour.html‎

Open Heavens 15 May 2017: Monday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – When God Gives Laughter

Topic: When God Gives Laughter [Monday 15, May 2017]

Memorise: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. –Matthew 3:9

Read: Psalm 33:8-11 (KJV)

8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 23-24, Jeremiah 31:15-30, Hymn: Sing hymn 5

MESSAGE:

God makes you laugh when He turns His prophecies into decrees. There is a difference between prophecies and decrees. When you hear “Thus says the Lord” that is a prophecy for which you will need to wait to see its fulfilment. In contrast, when God suddenly decides to issue a decree, such as “Let there be light”, you will know that your waiting period is over, as your miracle will manifest immediately. In Genesis 1:3, when God said “Let there be light”, there was no need to vote on it, and neither was there any delay, because He had decreed it. Psalm 33:8-9 says one reason why the whole earth should fear God is that whenever He speaks, it is done. All He has to do is to speak, and the next moment, it is done. By the grace of God, I have witnessed God operate in this dimension. Sometime ago, a couple came to us believing God for the fruit of the womb. I asked them, “What kind of baby do you want” Their response was simultaneous: the man wanted a boy while his wife wanted a girl. So I said we should better make it twins – a boy and a girl – and both of them said “Amen”. Exactly nine months after, the man was carrying his baby boy and the wife was carrying her baby girl. This season, God is saying let there be light, healing, fruitfulness, increase, promotion, victory over enemies and fullness of joy in your life, and so shall it be!

Moreover, God makes you laugh when He decides to show you His Almightiness. After declaring that Sarah would have a child, she laughed, but denied laughing when He asked her why she laughed (Genesis 18:11-15).Then He asked, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Every man definitely has his limits, and even spirits are limited, but not the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). Hence,Luke 1:37 says nothing is impossible with our God. He can suspend physical laws and have His way any day. Matthew 3:9 says this God can produce children out of stones! Whatever the specialists have said cannot hinder my God. Where they are limited, He is not. The resources they lack, He has in abundance. What they do not know, is common knowledge to Him. His word is full of power and gives direction to anything He wants done. This is why I know that this season, everything standing in your way to laughter shall give way so that you can laugh. You shall laugh last and your laughter shall be unstoppable!

Prayer Point: Father, for every couple trusting You for the fruit of the womb in my local assembly, Please give them laughter today!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

5 Surprising Risks of Beans

As much as beans are nutritional powerhouses that are great for the body, there are certain potential and surprising health risks that beans pose. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 surprising health risks beans pose.

It Can Cause Migraines

Some people have an allergic reaction to beans, though this isn’t common. When these people eat beans it can trigger migraines for them. If this happens, it important to see a doctor and possibly eliminate it from your diet depending on what the doctor advises.

It Can Interfere With Vitamin Absorption

Some beans, like soy beans, contain substances that can interfere with the absorption of betacarotene, vitamins B12 and vitamins D. However, the heat from cooking renders most of these substances inactive which makes vitamin absorption more likely. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to compensate for potential vitamin loss by consuming fresh fruits, green vegetables and lean meat.

It Can Make You Gassy

Well this isn’t exactly a health risk, but beans, especially dried beans, lentils and peas, can cause embarrassing flatulence (excessive gas) problems. You can reduce the gas production of beans by changing the water several times during the soaking and cooking process, and always rinse canned beans. It might seem like a lot of work but when you consider the potential embarrassment it might save you from, it might in fact be worth it. Adding herbs like lemon balm, fennel and caraway can also help to reduce the gas production of beans.

It Can Cause Cramping

Beans contains fiber and this component is not easily digested by the body. If you overdo the quantity of beans you consume, the fiber in the beans can temporarily slow down your bowels (because it is indigestible) and cause cramping.

It Can Cause Constipation

Typically, the fiber in beans is meant to help prevent constipation by moving food through your intestines. However, the flip side to this is that if you do not drink enough liquids after consuming beans, it can actually constipate you. This is because beans are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, and soluble fibers need liquid to move through your system as it should.

Recommendation

The solution for most of the health risks or side effects of beans is simply water. Boiling beans well helps to soften its fiber content, and drinking plenty of liquid after consuming beans helps it to move around in your digestive tract more efficiently which helps to eliminate flatulence, cramping and constipation. You should ensure you eat beans in moderation too, don’t overdo your quantities no matter how much you love beans.

By Damilola Ojo
PR Associate Jumia Travel
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