Live in the Overflow

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly".   John 10:10   NKJV

The devil is selfish; he comes purely for selfish motives to gain his own selfish desires. He would even kill the sheep. He is a:

THIEF  How many things has he stolen from you? Your job prospects, your spouse, your family, your money, health and happiness. We could go on with this list.

KILL  Your desire for each other - as friends or has man and wife. Think of that deep friendship you had with someone, but no longer see. What happened? The devil killed it. He doesn't want you happy. He will do all he can to stop this.

DESTROY  If you allow him to, he will destroy all you have. How does he do this? you give him the foothold - do things that you shouldn't; go to places that are inappropriate. Adultery, homosexuality, porn, heavy drinking or drugs, stealing and much much more. This opens the way to the foothold.

Jesus, on the otehrhand offers you life in abundance. 'You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.' Psalm 23:5. How about:

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen".  Ephesians 3:20.

Jesus gives - Satan takes. Jesus is the truth; Satan is full of lies and deceit. Jesus loves you; Satan hates you. Make it your desire to live in the overflow and then watch the blessings pour in.

Don't just hope; get into the place Jesus wants you to be.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

The Perfect Answer

"He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”     John 9:25.   NKJV

This man had been blind since birth. He knew very little about Jesus - who He was, where had He come from? But one thing he did know was that once he was blind, but now, he could see. It's the same when we are born again - once we were lost and now we are found. Once we didn't know Jesus at all and, probably didn't want to know Him, and yet, He reached out to us and we couldn't resist. He took the blindness away! 

Wherever we go, someone will challenge our faith. They may ridicule Jesus, use His name as a swear word and argue with us quoting all the reasons why Jesus isn't real. He isn't who we think He is or He's a myth. The devil is the deceiver and convinces people of this fact. He manipulates people to take part in halloween parties, leading families to believe it is just fun. This is not true.

The devil convinces people to worship him this way and they can't see it. If we're asked if we're going to go 'trick or treating' and decline the offer, they want to know why. If we tell them we don't believe in this stuff, we are mocked. But our Perfect answer should be, 'I was blind, now I see.'

Do you realise the devil is trying to manipulate and scare us and our children? If we turn them away from our door, we open ourselves up to receiving 'the trick.' But if we say yes, we receive 'the treat'. It sounds like blackmail to me. But if you say this to anyone, they just scoff at our excuses.

I love people, especially children to have fun. But us parents need to look at the bigger picture. If we give satan an inch, he will take a mile. If we ask him into the backseat of our car, pretty soon he will want to drive. Just one little invite is all he needs to get a foothold. This is not' typically old-fashioned religiosity'. It is fact built on the Word of God.

The devil will never give anyone a chance for fun. He doesn't know what that is. He is only out to rob us of everything that Jesus has, or wants to give us. Don't let him. Give him the 'Perfect Answer' ‘Once I was blind but now I see’

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Don't be Side-tracked

 “Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they thought to do me harm. 3So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”

                                                                               Nehemiah 6:2-3   NKJV

Nehemiah had initiated the re-building of walls of Jerusalem and despite attacks from his enemies, he continued and was almost finished. All he needed to do was hang the gates of Jerusalem. However, further attacks came, this time directed at harming Nehemiah's life. You know, the last part of a task can be the toughest; you may have been on the job for a long time and just want to see the finish of it. But Nehemiah, despite outward pressures, persevered and was almost finished.

Nehemiah knew he could never submit to his enemy's request to meet up with them. He knew that they would attempt to kill him; and he knew that completion of the wall was a most important work. He also knew that you don't leave something important to do something minor and, something that would stop or delay the work of the Lord.

This may be something that you have faced just lately. Vicars, pastors, elders, deacons and children's leaders each have a very important task to do. The work is invaluable to the ministry of the church and, if someone doesn't pull their weight, it can cause problems. Therefore, each leader needs to prioritise the work that they do. If in the middle of their work, they receive a call to drop everything and visit someone, wisdom is required to determine if the call can wait until a more convenient time or, if  someone else can be delegated to to take over from them or attend to the call, if it is suitable. At times like this, there should always be the thought in mind of, 'Is this person taking me away from God's will.'

We see an example of this in Luke 2:48-49, where Mary and Joseph discovered that the young Jesus was not with them: 'Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.'

Jesus was demonstrating to them, and to us also, that He must put His Father's work first. And this must be our [priority too. Jesus must come first.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

How do you become free?

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  John 8:31-36.  NKJV

Jesus made a distinction between those who are disciples and those who are 'disciples indeed.' It is a similar thing to say, 'If you continue in My Word, you really are My disciples.' Therefore, you can believe in Jesus but not continue in His Word and so, not function as a true disciple. William MacDonald, author of Believer's Bible Commentary says, 'A disciple is anyone who confesses to be a learner; but a disciple indeed is one who has definitely committed himself to the Lord Jesus Christ'. Therefore, what he is saying a disciple indeed -who is a true believer, has this characteristic, he abides in His Word.

Truth is the absolute standard by which reality is measured. Knowing this truth results in genuine freedom. Hear me properly here - Truth alone doesn't liberate; rather the knowledge of the truth liberates, and then deliverance comes when we know the truth, this is when we abide with Jesus and continue in His Word. When this happens we will experience the truth setting us free from bondage.

To be truly free, we need the Living Word and the Written Word. The Living Word is Jesus who provides this freedom. The Written Word ensures we walk in obedience and the direction of Jesus.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

He climbed a tree

"Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.  3And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.  4So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.  5And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  6So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.  7But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;10for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

                                                                            Luke 19:1-10.  NKJV

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, a most hated breed of man because of their love of demanding much more money than was necessary. He was also a very short man. As often happens to us all, curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he decided he wanted to see this Jesus. However, because of his size, he wouldn't be able to see over the crowds in front of him. Those who have ever been to a Pop Concert will be familiar with this - people jumping up and down in front of you blocking the view.

Zacchaeus made a very strange decision, he climbed a nearby sycamore tree. Sycamore's have low-limbed branches that make it easy to navigate them safely. This faith act didn't go unnoticed. Jesus saw him and told him to come down quickly as He wanted to stay at his house.

Zacchaeus' curiosity had not been the real reason he wanted to see Jesus. Although he didn't know it, this was a divine appointment - the Holy Spirit had drawn him to Jesus. He just couldn't resist. Also without being asked to, he volunteered to make restitution to all he had robbed in the past. He couldn't help himself; he felt a new man in front of Jesus. Indeed he was, he had received salvation this day, all because he decided to follow his gut and climb a tree.

Things may appear crazy to us at times, but not to Jesus. He can lead us to do the most mind-blowing things, possibly to test our faith - rather like Peter walking on the water, that day. The thing is, we are never too sure that Jesus is calling us to do something, but there can be an excitement in our body, rather like bubbles in your stomach. You can have that urgent desire to do something that you know is out of character. This is what happened that day to Zacchaeus. You can be sure that he never regretted taking this decision because it changed his life. It could yours as well!

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

Why do I keep messing up?

For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again. But the wicked shall fall by calamity.               Proverbs 24:16.   NKJV

‘I really don’t mean to but I do it anyway.’  This is the statement of many people today, their counsellor, trusted friend or even their pastor. ‘I know it’s wrong and sinful, so why do I keep on doing it? Someone may have said this to you or you may have spoken about it with someone. The thing is, none of us are perfect and no matter how hard we try, we seem to mess up sometimes, read about the apostle Paul’s experience in Romans 7 and you’ll know what I mean.

If you could get inside the minds of people, you would find that most of us are the same. We try our best but our best is never good enough. This doesn’t give you the permission to pack it all in and turn away from God. That would be very immature. You have already read above, the text concerning this but did you read it properly?

God feels you are a righteous person. Is He a liar? Absolutely not; He is the truth. Always has been and always will be. He can be trusted with everything you have. He shows us that a righteous man or woman, which you are, can rise up again seven times. This is the number of perfection. So in God’s eyes, you haven’t messed up, you’ve  just made a mistake.

It is the wicked - the unrighteousness ones, that when they fall, make a calamity. But the devil is the one who speaks the lies because he wants you to be the failure. You see, he can never be a winner - never. He is used to being a loser and wants you to be this as well. Don’t even consider it, YOU ARE A WINNER!

So keep on trying to follow Jesus to the best of you ability, but, don’t beat yourself up when you fall over. Just get back up, dust yourself down and keep going. You are doing well.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

What is Jesus like?

"1Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him,There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."                           Isaiah 53:1-3    NKJV

According to this scripture there is no beauty in Jesus; nothing in His appearance to attract anyone. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows who knew what grief was. It was a great sin of Israel's leaders and people that they failed to recognise their Messiah when He came. My theory on this was, they didn't recognise Him because they were looking for some great super-star who would be the greatest King they had ever had. He was, but they failed to see this. He was no super star, He didn't come from Hollywood, Jesus came from Calvary and that is where the major difference was. He had nothing to prove to anyone.

There is though, something about Jesus that draws a person to them. Once you are introduced to Him, you can't forget Him, He attracts you so much. Philippians 4:8 says of Him: 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.' 

We need to get our thought life like His and THINK RIGHT. We can control our thinking by thinking God thoughts. We can't think about evil things and Jesus at the same time. One of them has to go (2 Corinthians 10:4-6. When we've learned to master this area, we can begin to see Jesus more clearly as Philippians 4 states above. (1) He is true not false or unreliable, He is genuine. (2) He is noble which really says that He is honourable and morally attractive. (3) He is just - righteous towards God and man. (4) He is pure - He has a high moral character. (5) He is lovely - means He is admirable and agreeable. (6) He is of a good report - a good reputation and trusted. (7) Virtue - this describes Him as of moral excellence. (8) He is praiseworthy - something that needs to be commended.

Just think of that last point 'Something that needs to be commended.' Be honest, wouldn't you like to be considered this. Not in a pompous, pride-filled way but, because you are so close to Jesus that people can see Jesus in you. You walk like Him; you talk like Him and people can't fail to see this. 

What is Jesus like? Everything here that we have covered and much. much more. We could talk about Him until we are actually in eternity and still not be able to cover it all. In a nutshell, aren't you pleased that you belong to Him? Aren't you pleased that one day you will be with Him? Aren't you pleased and grateful that He loves you - dearly?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle Check it out. Just tap on Grahame Howard books.

If you would like to contact me email grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard.