*From Pain To Praise*
Psalms 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
Samuel Morse is best known for inventing the telegraph. He laid the foundation for the global communications we enjoy today. But behind his breakthrough was a heart-wrenching personal tragedy. Born into a devout Christian home in New England, Morse was a brilliant artist and Yale graduate, celebrated for his portrait work across the American East Coast. In 1825, while away painting in Washington, Morse received devastating news—his wife had died shortly after giving birth to their third child. Because communication was painfully slow, the message reached him too late to return and say goodbye.
Grief-stricken, Morse abandoned his art career and poured his energy into solving the problem of long-distance communication. Driven by purpose and pain, he eventually invented the telegraph—a revolutionary system that transmitted messages in seconds instead of days. His work not only brought him fame and wealth, but also changed the course of history. Yet, through it all, Morse remained deeply humble, always giving credit to God for his success. He once wrote, “It is His work. I am only His instrument.”
Samuel Morse later remarried, raised more children, and dedicated his wealth to Christian missions and education. His life is a shining reminder that God can birth purpose out of pain and turn sorrow into global impact.
If you’re going to become all God has created you to be, you can’t let setbacks stop you. You have to learn to let go of the negative past and move on to your glorious future. You may get knocked down but don’t get knocked out, don't stay down. No matter what life throws your way, get back up and keep moving forward.
Understand that God has a plan of bringing forth beauty out of the ashes. Out of the pain Morse suffered has come forth today the communication technology that has continued to bless humanity.
We serve the God of divine turnaround, who eventually turns our mourning into dancing.
Therefore despite life’s trials, do not fold up, rather keep advancing boldly towards your victorious destiny in Christ: You may be challenged, but you are not permitted to be defeated. Christ causes us to triumph always. This is why we praise Him even in the midst of our battles. Indeed when you turn your worry into worship, God will turn your battles into blessings.
In the scriptures, Job went through all kinds of tough times, but in the midst of his pain Job proclaimed, “I know my redeemer lives”. And in the end God brought full restoration and Job went on to live a blessed, happy life
Likewise let’s keep judging God faithful. As we do so, certainly, He will turnaround every captivity and lift us from glory to glory.
*I Decree Upon Your Life Today*
The recount of evil in your life and family is over now!
God is turning your mourning into dancing and global impact!
God's amazing wisdom for strange works and strange acts is resting on you in Jesus Name.
Hallelujah. Happy Weekenllllllll

Heavenly Father, in the midst of life's storms, I seek solace in Your presence. Forgive me when I falter, when I turn to the frailty of my own understanding before seeking Your eternal wisdom. Instill in me the unwavering faith to always run to You, my strong tower, my place of safety. I am grateful for Your unwavering provision and Your hand that guides me through every trial. With a heart full of gratitude, I lift this prayer in the sacred name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

They told her to wait in the corridor while the family ate,
She was just the house help.
She served their meals but ate leftovers.
She washed their clothes but wore rags.

Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria 1995…

Amarachi was 13 when she was sent from her village to Lagos to work as a housemaid for the

Okoye family.

Her job?
Clean the house,
Fetch water,
Cook,
Wash,
Repeat the same.

She wasn’t allowed to sit on the couch,
Not allowed to eat with the children,
She ate on the kitchen floor,
Sometimes she slept near the store room.

They said:

“Know your place, you are lucky to be here.”

But she was Kind,
obedient, and every night she read old textbooks she found in the bin.

One of the children, Chidera, once caught her studying and said:

“You? School? Who will pay for your brain?”

She smiled and said:

“Maybe one day, God will.”

After four years, she was sent back to her village;
No certificate,
No savings,
No promise.

But Amarachi didn’t stop.

She farmed.
Saved,
Taught children in village.
Later got admitted into one of the Federal Polytechnic.
Made an Upper Credit in her OND, thereafter graduated with a Distinction in HND in Business Administration.
She soon started a local food brand,
Expanded into Raw Food Export.

By 2024, she became one of the leading Agro-entrepreneurs in Southeast, Nigeria.

One day, she saw a social media Post, the Okoye family was launching a foundation and needed a major sponsor.

She put a call through.

Used her now married name.

She was invited, not knowing who she was.

On the day of the launch, she walked in, head high, dressed in white lace.

The family froze.

Chidera blinked,

The father gasped,

She smiled and said:

25 years ago, I served your food in silence. Today, I came to serve your future with Love.

She handed them a cheque of ₦20 million donation to their Foundation.

Then added:

“This is not revenge. It’s a remembrance.
Because the girl you ignored, grew in Grace.”

The hall fell silent.

Even Chidera wept,

Amarachi turned, hugged the family’s grandmother, and whispered:

The table I once wasn’t allowed to sit at, God gave me the tools to build my own.

She didn’t come to repay the pain,
She came to rewrite history.

Because sometimes, the girl they made to eat in the kitchen, returns to fund the Banquet.

Life is a teacher!
Learn to treat people with respect.
Everybody is Somebody!

Treat people right

I'm

Great minds think alike

Good morning.

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY JUNE 18 2025

THEME: WORDS CAN HEAL

MEMORISE: Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:6

READ: John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

MESSAGE
Over the past two days, I discussed the power of words; today, I will focus on how words can heal. As a Christian, you should always be gracious with your words (Ephesians 4:29). You should be generous with giving compliments and telling people encouraging words. Simply saying things like, "I like your haircut," can bring people out of sadness and put a smile on their faces. Your compliments must, however, be genuine because God will punish those who flatter others with their words (Psalm 12:3). In Ruth 2:1, Boaz was described as a mighty man of wealth.

Unlike some wealthy people who look down on their workers and speak rashly to them, Boaz encouraged his workers with his words, and they responded pleasantly (Ruth 2:4). I believe this is partly responsible for Boaz's successful business. If you are a business owner and you curse or talk down on your workers, you are indirectly also cursing the work of your hands because they are the ones managing it for you.

Nabal, unlike Boaz, was a man who spoke negative words. When David sent his men to ask him to give them something, his response was terrible. He spoke harshly to the men and if his wife, Abigail, hadn't intervened by going without his consent to soothe David with her words, everyone in his family would have been destroyed. While Nabal's words stirred up David's anger and made him gather his men to go against the former's household, Abigail's words were seasoned with salt and kept her family from destruction (1 Samuel 25:1-35).

When you speak, what effect do your words have? Do they heal or destroy? Solomon said, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." (Proverbs 18:21). Apostle Paul, in today's memory verse, tells us to make sure that our speech is always with grace and seasoned with salt. Seasoning makes food more enjoyable. A fellow whose speech is well- seasoned will always attract others to himself or herself because people go to places where they are appreciated and motivated. When the woman caught in the act of adultery in today's Bible reading was brought to Jesus, in the midst of many condemning words from other people, His words, "Go and sin no more," brought her the liberty that she needed (John 8:11).

Beloved, let your words bring unbelievers to Jesus and show them His grace. Do not let your words be the reason people reject the gospel.

ACTION POINT
Consciously give genuine compliments and encourages people with your words every day.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 73-77

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 24: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS*

1. I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one marked an angry word,
That ever heard Him speak.

2. I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there.

3. I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find
That He, though persecuted was
To any one unkind.

4. I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good;
So that of me it may be said
"He hath done what he could."

5. I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
"Let little children come to Me;"
I would obey the call.

6. But oh I'm not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
O gentle Saviour, send Thy grace,
And make me like to Thee.