Equator Pure Concepts

13/10/2024

GOOD NEWS!!!

Get ready, Pi Pioners around the world will rejoice at the end of 2024 when the most advanced Tesla phone product of this century belongs to Elon Musk, branded Pi, will be launched on the market at the end of 2024. Pi phone has 3 outstanding features that other smartphones do not have:

1. No need to charge the battery, because it uses solar energy, only needs light to automatically charge (no need to expose to sunlight).

2. No need for internet capacity, because Pi connects directly to Elon Musk's Starlink, which has a global coverage network.

3. Has Earth - Moon - Mars connection. Still thinking... or saying Pi Network is virtual... Then congratulations, you have landed on the box that lost your turn...

Congratulations to DR. Nicholas Kokkalis, the Pi patent holder, and one of the CEOs of a company owned by one of the richest people in the world.👍

10/08/2024

"Forging hope as new fears and suffering arise"

{JAY} When Katherine had her stroke, God graciously provided one of the top neurosurgeons in the world, Dr. Nestor Gonzalez, to perform her surgery. Every year after her stroke, we had a follow-up brain scan. Two years out as life was finding its new normal, we received bad news.

“Katherine, I’m so sorry to tell you this,” Dr. Gonzalez began, “but you have an aneurysm behind your left eye.” As he went on to explain details, I began to choke up. We had spent so much of the past year focusing on Katherine’s eyes, having multiple surgeries to correct her double vision in her left eye, and trying to protect her impaired right eye. This aneurysm behind her “good eye” was like a punch in the gut, putting her whole vision at risk.

I thought we had a deal! I wanted to scream at God. Though Katherine and I had a new peace and trust in God after her stroke, this moment revealed my unspoken agreement: No further suffering will be required.

Dr. Gonzalez continued. “I want you to remember that aneurysms are my specialty, and our hospital actually pioneered the most highly regarded, least invasive technique for aneurysm removal.” We felt his empathy, and it was clear he hated delivering this news as much as we hated hearing it.

Over time one thing became very clear. God never promises us that suffering will cease in this life. And he invites us into a deeper relationship with him based on trust, not built on what He will give us or keep from happening to us. What he promises us is Himself: the one who gives His son to forgive our sins, resurrect our bodies, and grant us an eternal life with him.

After Joseph’s brothers and their families settle into their new normal in Egypt, they are thankful for food and land. When their father dies, however, old fears resurface. “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil we did to him.”

They ask for forgiveness again, but Joseph weeps. “Do not fear… As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive…. Do not fear. I will provide for you and your little ones.”

God carries us through weakness and weeping to places of new strength. When new crises come, we can hope in His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

07/08/2024

06/08/2024

THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF SHAME

What is holding us back from experiencing God’s power for heart transformation in those deep areas of hurt we’ve experienced? I wholeheartedly believe that shame is a dominant driver in keeping us stuck in the cycle of pain.

Now, in the beginning, there was no shame, for sin and its consequences had not yet entered the world. “The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25).

As a result of their sin, however, Adam’s and Eve’s eyes were opened, and they knew they were naked. Their innocence before the Lord and before each other was replaced by guilt and shame. And the effect wasn’t just for them—that’s when sin opened the door for shame to manifest itself in all of humanity.

Shame is one of the most primitive emotions known to the human race, and we all experience it today. But shame’s potency is more insidious than what we might typically ascribe to an emotion.

A person whose spirit is broken will view life’s adversity through a lens of defeat and despair, seeing their mistakes and missed oppor­tunities as an indictment on their identity. And if the Enemy of our souls can use shame to inform our identities, we will live as orphans who are motivated to self-protect and self-promote, not as adopted children of a king who are called “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37).

How do we deal with our shame? Not by looking within ourselves for a solution, but by looking up. I can’t wait to tell you more about this in the next devotional.

What role does shame play in your inner turmoil and grief? When was the seed of shame planted?

05/08/2024

The first African Team, male or female, to reach Semi-final in Olympics...
D'Tigress

10/07/2024

Thrown in the Sea

I live near Lake Michigan, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. However, the beauty of the water can mask its might. In 2020, its immense power was on full display as waves from record-high water levels ripped homes off their foundations and cast them into the lake. Owners who never imagined their property could be in danger found that their homes were completely destroyed.

The sobering destructive power of nature brings to mind a similar picture in Scripture in which the psalmist wrote about unsettling feelings of fear and anxiety illustrated as earthquakes coming, mountains crumbling and falling, and water roaring (Psalm 46:1-3). There are many times when life’s very foundations feel like they’re being shaken: a difficult health diagnosis for a loved one, the tragic death of a friend, a season of mental illness.

Facing similar feelings of fear and instability, the psalmist wrote that if everything he depended on was gone, God would still be his strong refuge and fortress (vv. 1, 7, 11). The basis for his confidence is repeated twice: “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us.” And that assurance gave him peace in the midst of uncertain times.

Whatever suffering you’re experiencing, Psalm 46 reminds us of the security and stability that God provides to His people in troubled times. Lisa M. Samra

How have you experienced God as a refuge during difficult experiences? How did His strength sustain you?

Almighty God, thank You that You’re a strong fortress that can’t be shaken.

If you’re facing fear and anxiety, read When Fear Seems Overwhelming for some biblical encouragement:

07/06/2024

22/04/2024

Pursuit of Excellence

In today’s highly competitive world, we want to be the best at whatever we do. But it is not always easy to do so by ourselves. We need an external power working in and through us – the resurrected Saviour Who lives in us. Frederick W. Robertson says it so well, “What the world calls virtue is a name and a dream without Christ. The foundation of all human excellence must be laid deep in the blood of the Redeemer's Cross and in the power of His resurrection”.

When we work with the conviction that Christ will work in and through us to fulfil His purpose, we will continue to pursue excellence even when given a boring assignment or in a challenging environment. In contrast, others give up and settle for mediocrity. Pursue excellence, and success will follow. When we pursue excellence, we should do so with the understanding that it is not just about achieving success or being the best. It is about doing our best in everything, knowing that our work reflects who we are and our commitment to Christ.

Paul says in I Corinthians 9:26-27…I’m running hard for the finish line. I am giving it everything I have got. No lazy living for me! I am staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it, and then missing out myself.

Individuals who believe in personal excellence always compete against themselves and their own performance last time. They are focused on their performance and not letting the environment come in between. Such people always strive to be better next time. And they succeed. When we pursue excellence, we should do so with the understanding that it is not just about achieving success or being the best. It is about doing our best in everything, knowing that our work reflects who we are and our commitment to Christ.

As we strive for excellence, we must remember that it is not something we can achieve on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome obstacles and reach our full potential. We should also be willing to learn and grow, seeking feedback and advice from others who can help us improve.

Our pursuit of excellence should not be limited to our work or professional endeavours. We should also strive for excellence in relationships, character, and spiritual life. We should seek to be the best version of ourselves in all areas of our lives.

As the great basketball coach John Wooden said, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable”.Excellence is not just about knowing what is excellent; it is about pursuing excellence always in every little thing we do. I firmly believe and practise that our work is our signature, our résumé. We are what we do.

As we pursue excellence, we should also be mindful of our motivation. A desire for personal gain or recognition should not drive our pursuit of excellence. Instead, it should be motivated by our desire to honour God and fulfil His purpose.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour”. - Vince Lombardi

Let us pray that God will help us pursue excellence in everything. May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do our best and to honour God with our lives. May our pursuit of excellence reflect our commitment to Christ and be a witness to those around us.

Lord, help me to pursue excellence in everything I do by Your power working in and through me. Amen

20/04/2024

The Vine

When we get out of balance, one problem may be that we have gotten disconnected from the vine. Are you familiar with the passage in Scripture that talks about Christ being the vine? John 15:5 says Christ is the vine, and we are the branches. Instead, have you broken apart from the vine, thinking you can visit the church or read Scripture once or twice a week and be okay? Imagine pulling a leaf off its tree, thinking, “It will live.” It may not change form when first separated from its life source, but it is no longer alive.

Culture may say it is normal to incorporate spiritual matters into our lives just a few times each week, but remember the Garden of Eden? God dwelt with Adam and Eve, and they were in community. There may be times when we feel hopeless, and if we take time to explore, we might notice we are not “abiding in Christ” or inviting Him into our difficult roles and situations.

We apply for graduate school, scour dating apps, and hustle to land the next gig, but we rest in Him if we abide in Christ. We reset. We remember our first role as a child of God. Our perspective is realigned, and we find our breath. The trouble is, we will walk away from this encounter, heading back into the chaos that pulls us into stressful, unsettling experiences.

When this feels wrong, it’s because it is. Remember? God made Eden, where He dwelt with Adam and Eve. They worked, played, and lived in community with God. At a deep level, we long for this, but we can continue to bring God into our homes and roles as boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, and neighbors. We can blast God-honoring music and have family dance parties. We can pray with our co-workers who can’t hold back the tears when they get terrible news. We can point out God’s beauty when we step outdoors. We can fall on our knees in the middle of an argument. Yep, it can be difficult, awkward, and new, but we do hard things.

Extra Credit:
Challenge yourself to use the note section on your phone to start a list of times you bring God into the many roles you serve. For example, if you pray with your kids, that’s bringing God into your role as a parent. It can be a humbling but exciting opportunity to grow.

19/04/2024

THE EXCELLENT SPIRIT OF JOSEPH’S STEWARDSHIP

INTRODUCTION

We have previously learned that building good character is a good foundation for success in life. Even though the measure of success is relative to everyone, success could be felt when we are relating with others. People respond to rendered attitudes and services. God's people are called to be the light and salt of the earth. We could see the characters of God’s people from their fruits of the Spirit which include love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

None of us is perfect yet. God allows us to go through trials and tests or problems in life so that we can develop our spiritual life, have better characters and become more like Him. Our God is not a mediocre God. He is an excellent God in all aspects of life. Excellent means very good, superb, outstanding, magnificent, of high quality, admirable, worthy, and of the highest standard. The world is watching as we strive for excellence and do our best in order to be the best testimony for our magnificent God.

Striving for excellence means we should not give up when we make mistakes or avoid tasks for the fear of failure. We can learn from Joseph’s life journey. Despite his circumstances, Joseph strived for excellence and godliness. Our lives will be more successful if we follow Joseph’s example and acquire his character traits

DISCUSSION

1. As a Brother

As a seventeen-year-old young man, Joseph might have had not developed greatness, wisdom, and self-control yet. His undisciplined mouth may create an unpleasant feeling toward his brothers and father. Despite this situation, Joseph did not avoid nor lose his readiness to serve his brothers and his father (Gen 37:13-14).

It took Joseph around 13 years through twists and turns of events before he could get the chance to meet his brothers again in Egypt as a man with high authority and honor. Instead of retaliating and having ill feelings, Joseph chose to be an excellent brother and served his brothers with beautiful Christ-like love and kindness. Joseph realized that God allowed him to go through all those trials and tests to prepare him for a bigger purpose and greatness. (Gen 45:5-8)

2. As a Slave

When he was sold as a slave, Joseph had the option to become bitter and resentful like the rest of the world. However, he chose to fear God and became a godly man.

A godly man who loves God knows his priorities. One of these priorities is to work well and to render excellent service in everything he does as if he does it for the Lord (Col 3:23). God delights in such faithful people and favors them.

Potiphar took notice of Joseph’s spirit of excellence. It is rather extraordinary for a lowly slave to be entrusted with such power and authority over his master's household. As a slave, Joseph chose to serve his master excellently because of the great living God who was with him (Gen39:2-4).

3. As a Prisoner

Joseph’s fear of God bore the fruits of Spirit, which was clearly shown in the incident with Potiphar’s wife's. Joseph refused Potiphar's wife invitation on the grounds that it would be an offense against God. This showed his willingness to trust God wholeheartedly and to live in holiness and righteousness even though he was faced with the consequences of long imprisonment.

The spirit of excellence and godliness is an integral part of Joseph's life. The hand of God was in every affair of his life. Therefore, Joseph received mercy and favors from the Lord and men, even when he was in jail. (Gen 39:21-23)

Often God allows us to go through the valley of life so that He could prepare us for bigger tasks ahead.

4. As a Prime Minister

1 Pet 5:5-6 tells us that in due time, God will exalt godly people when they humble themselves and present their lives as a living testimony.

Joseph was promoted from a prisoner in jail to a prime minister that served Pharaoh, Egyptians, his family, and his people because of his humility and patience. He used the talents that God had entrusted to him to glorify the Lord and to serve those in need (Gen 41:16).

Holy Spirit taught and guided Joseph to grow in wisdom and understanding (Isa 11:2, Prov2:5-9). Isa 11:2 "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."

5. As a Servant of God

Joseph was aware that God is a great God. His promises never fail. Therefore, rather than wasting his time to dwell in sorrows and hatred or complaining when things turned to the worst, he chose to use his time to get closer to God and to worship Him in spirit and truth.

Just like Christ, Joseph chose to serve the Lord faithfully as a servant of God and to offer his life as a living and pleasing offering to the Lord. Joseph used the talents entrusted to him well. Therefore, what is written in Matthew 25:23 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" was fulfilled in Joseph's life.

CONCLUSION

The life of Joseph is a series of choices and decisions. In each aspect of his life, whether in the valley or in the mountain's peak, Joseph chose to be humble. He decided to give his best and served the Lord, his people, his master, the household, the keeper, the prisoners, the king, and the community with all his heart. When the opportunity arose, he shared the greatness of the Lord with boldness.

Every believer is called to serve the Lord and his generation with all heart and might. When we are faithful in small matters, God will entrust us with bigger things and open new opportunities. His plans are the plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.

Just like Joseph, we need to make choices and decisions. We need to make the right choices and decisions to be successful. All born-again believers who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit have the power of Christ through Holy Spirit. Train yourself to live in His characters. Bear the fruit of the Spirit. Emanuel, God is with us.

Praise the Lord!

DISCUSSION:

1. Joseph retained his faith in God even though he suffered greatly at the hands of his brothers and Potiphar. What can we do to develop such faith?

2. After all things that his brothers had done to him, Joseph freely forgave them. What can we do in our home and community to foster similar humility and love? How can we, like Joseph, love others in a Christ-like manner?

3. What other attributes of Joseph we can learn from him? How can we follow his example to live just like Christ in every aspect of life?

Ask the Lord today to help you walk excellently before Him in your family, marketplace, and ministry so that you will be more effective and reap more success.

The world is watching and waiting. They need to see and hear about the greatness of our God.

19/04/2024

Influence Through Excellence

As followers of Christ, we are called to a life of excellence, not just in our spiritual lives but every aspect of our lives. This includes our work, relationships, and daily interactions with those around us. The key to living a life of excellence is to adopt the right mindset, one that is focused on bringing glory to God in all that we do. Our Lord Jesus has mandated us to be a powerful influence wherever we are placed by being the Salt and the Light of the world. Being in the thick of the corporate world, I struggled with the question of how I could be an influence for Christ and still be excellent in the task He entrusted me with.

When we live a life of excellence, we become a powerful influence for Christ. We bring in the hidden and visible components of excellence that make us the salt and light of the world. We add divine flavour, bring healing, create a thirst for Christ, serve as preservatives, and permeate the system. We also illuminate the good, dispel darkness, and radiate His light.

When we are the Salt of the earth, we bring in 5 hidden or invisible components of excellence:

· Add divine flavour and pleasant taste to an otherwise unpalatable world.

· Bring healing by boldly rebuking and correcting how salt stings an open wound.

· Create a thirst for Christ, displaying His transforming power in and through our lives.

· Serve as preservatives, stopping the moral decay in our infected world.

· Permeate and spread into the system so we will be sorely missed when people like us are absent.

When we are the Light of the world, we add three visible components of excellence:

· Illuminate or make the good in the system visible by bringing transparency to how we live.

· Dispel darkness in an evil and corrupt system.

· Radiate His light, not our light, the reflection of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ Himself, so that people will see Him in and through us and give glory to God the Father.

These qualities of salt and light changed my perspective and demystified the concept of excellence. Now, I can continue to be in the world, yet not of the world.

Living a life of excellence is not easy, but it is essential. It requires a commitment to doing our best, no matter what the task at hand may be. Whether working on a project at our job or spending time with our family, we must strive to do our best, keeping in mind that we are representing Christ in all, always keeping what we do. It is all about adopting the right mindset. When your life is over, your legacy will either be that you lived your life to the fullest and had a maximum impact on those around you Or that your life was okay. You were a good person, but there is not much to say about your accomplishments or how you impacted the people around you.

The impact of living a life of excellence is immeasurable. It allows us to make a difference in the lives of those around us and to bring glory to God through our actions. We become a beacon of hope in a dark and hopeless world.

As we go about our daily lives, remember that we are called to be the salt and light of the world. Let us strive for excellence in all we do, knowing that our actions can have a powerful impact on those around us. May we always bring glory to God through our excellence, and may others be drawn to Him through our example.

How are you influencing the world with your excellence?

Lord, enable me to bring You glory by being Salt and Light in this world. Amen