Living Outside a Secure Terrain - L.O.S.T

There’s a feeling of loneliness…a feeling of abandonment (even though you try to bury it under a smile) when you go through stuff and those you used to think love you more than enough to take a bullet for you, suddenly walk away leaving you to your fate. Suddenly they become too busy to even pick your calls or reply your texts. At that point, you feel taking your own life would be justified, after all, who cares? Well, I’m sure you don’t expect me to say, “Yep, get a very strong rope, wrap around your neck, tie it to a pole, and jump off a high rise”? Maybe you’ve never found yourself in such a situation, but you’ve had someone approach you, saying “I have absolutely nothing else to live for. All I have is gone.” All you have might be gone, but you’re still living.

There’s a feeling of rejection…an ardent feeling of guilt resident in your heart because of one thing you did yesterday or the day before, or an addiction you can’t seem to have control over. Each time you engage yourself in that act, you feel like the filthiest or the most irresponsible person ever. It might not be morally disturbing to the ears, because of the kind of world we live in…but somehow you feel you’re doing something wrong. This guilt has built a fence around you, with spikes along its edges. It has caged you in, debarring you from sharing your ordeal with anyone for a shot at liberation. Every night you lock yourself indoors, weeping and magnifying the pain inside. Does this feeling sound any familiar? Look around you. You might just be far from Home.

Early this year, if someone walked up to me to say, “I see you wandering down the forbidden road” I would have sworn by my own grave that it wouldn’t happen, even if all hell broke loose! That response would probably lie between pride, confidence, or ignorance of how vulnerable and helpless I can be without God’s guidance. I don’t know where I would be without Him. On a second thought, I know – I’d be lost in sin…too far to make my way back without bruises and torn limbs, that’s if I ever make it back.

The devil knew how difficult and practically impossible it was to lay hold of Job, whilst God’s hedge surrounded him and everything he owned. There are some things we shouldn’t even wish for. There are some people we shouldn’t even wish to be like, cos we have no idea of what they lost to gain what they have; we have no idea of what they consciously sacrificed to get to where they are.

Staying within the hedge God has created around us is vital to our survival. Outside God’s camp, there’s no guarantee that you’ll return unharmed, so why take the risk?

It’s not safe out there. The TIME is nigh. We have to be vigilant. God’s hands extend to the ends of the earth, but we can still wander away from under his covering.

Even though God permitted the devil to do everything he wanted to all that Job had, the loss still affected Job. The devil is still prowling like a roaring lion, seeking for whom to devour. A metre away from God’s camp and you’ll become a potential prey. Our protection is in the Lord.
Everything above may not be applicable to you. Glory to God. But you might have noticed that some people are missing from camp. Help them navigate their way back. We ARE our Brothers' keeper.

Three of Seven prayers: Lord, I sometimes wander away from your presence, advertently or inadvertently. It could be fun outside the camp, you know? But I’ve come to realize that no form of pleasure outside your presence is worth the risk of getting lost in the world. We want to be where you are…dwelling in your presence and surrounded by your glory. Lord, protect us and our families. May we not be carried away by the pleasures of the world, that we forget who we are and who we belong to. Amen.

Work. Pray. be Thankful

WHEN YOU DON'T HEAR A VOICE

"The soul that can speak through the eyes can also kiss with a gaze" - Gustavo Adolfo Becquer.
I'm not sure what really caught my attention in that quote, but whatever it was, I guess I kinda heard a voice that said 'I speak even when I'm silent'

I remember growing up...If you're discerning enough, you'll know that the look yo mama gave you yesterday that said "Get ur feet off the sofa" has a different meaning, today, like "How many times do I have to tell you to do the dishes after every meal?" Or "Do u realize that you are embarrassing me in front of our guest? Go to ur room, NOW" Oh my! Don't even try to picture the eye-contact and the look on that face. (I think I exaggerated a lil too much Lol) You just have to act like you heard a voice that instructed you to move, especially when you are convinced that what you're doing ain't right.

There's this feeling of relief/disappointment, when we don't hear God's audible voice at the time we really need Him to speak back to us. God doesn't always speak to us with an audible voice. If we have the mind of Christ (like we claim to) and the holy spirit to guide us, then we probably are more in line with His will than we think.

The fact that things might not be working out the way we'd love them to doesn't mean there's something we're not doing right. Well, you know urself better than I do.
Evaluating your life based on people's expectations from you can be detrimental to fulfilling God's actual plan for you. Be careful who you give access into the affairs of your life.

I've heard people say "God always speaks. We're the ones not hearing Him" Well, yes He does speak, but not always via the medium we expect; Not always with a still small voice or a voice that causes the earth to tremble.
Maybe the response you require is 'wotchu thinking, son? Don't do it!!" But instead, there's a conviction within that analyzes every possible outcome of your proposed action, and suddenly your mind is filled with unrest until to take a step. You'd actually be extremely foolish not to back off, simply because you didn't hear a voice.

We get to a certain stage in life, where we are the weighing scale of our actions; a stage where we actually know good from evil, but we still feel very adventurous, and decid to pick evil, hoping we'll have enough time to get a second shot.
Thank God for grace, but grace alone will not save us, so I guess it's time we started living right.

Two of Seven Prayers: Lord, we are not denying that we are ignorant of what is good and what is evil. Our flesh sometimes gets the better of us, and tend to cripple our ability to respond to the leading of ur spirit. Cast us not away from your presence, Lord, as we retrace our steps, and align ourselves back to the paths you originally created for us. Order our steps, daily, even when we don't Hear you speak. Amen

Work. Pray. Be Thankful!

A CHILD'S TOUCH

I haven't written in a while....I mean, i've been writing, but i haven't posted stuff in a while, cos i never get to finish registering my thoughts at once, for the past 7 months (It always gets to a point where it doesn't make thorough sense). I'm sure some of you feel that way, from time to time. i may be wrong. It's sometimes very easy to get distracted from what you used to do with so much passion and conviction, and at times, it could be very difficult to unlock yourself from those shackles of distractions that have entangled you and wrapped a thick dark clothing around your face, to mess up your vision. Have you ever felt so far away from Home, even though you never wandered away for more than a mile? Have you ever felt like you've slept for so long, even though you never shut your eyes for a second? Have you ever felt tolerated, even though there are more than enough people around you to hold hands with and have fun? Well, that defines how I feel sometimes. (No questions. lol).

Last night, i went to bed feeling a lil cold (not literally), but somehow i hit the 'snooze' button...eventually. I woke up this morning, my feelings lacking adequate definition. i knew I had to push myself to lighten up...I knew i had to give God nothing less than my best at the service, even though my relationship with him has been a bit..... I got dressed and hit the road. I kept replaying the song we learnt at the tuesday rehearsal "One Thing Remains" by Jesus Culture (This song has blessed me). The words that resounded in my head were "Even in the obvious face of defeat, believe" Okay. What next? What exactly was I supposed to believe in/on? I sought for clarity...

After selecting and rehearsing the songs for the day, i sat down to have a quick chat with a friend, and she said to me "God will never withhold any good thing from you" Huh??? Like, seriously?? As if that wasn't enough, the preacher spoke for over 45mins, making references to God's unfailing love. I learnt that God doesn't love us MORE for what we've done or what we do, neither does He love us LESS for what we've not done, or are yet to do. He just loves us. Period. He loves us in our strong moments, in our weakness, mess, inadequacies, shortcomings, and in any other situation we seem to have put ourselves in (or find/found ourselves in). The preacher's testimony of how he overcame betrayal and distrust with intentional and purposeful Love - the kinda love that was processed in heaven - knocked me off balance. That singular display of love attracted a word that quenched 14yrs of thirst. His testimony blew my mind. With tears almost rolling down, I gave in "I believe. Take the Wheel" At that point, I felt His love again.

May we not miss what God wants to do in our lives, all in the name of a Let's-be-realistic mindset. His timing may not align with your urgent and I-need-it-now-or-never needs, but He remains faithful. I don't think he will ever be sorry for not being on time, like we expect Him to. Jesus heard of Lazarus's ill health, but delayed for two days. Jesus did not only delay to make martha and her sister feel any different, he was about to teach the disciples, you and I, a new level of 'believing'. The Message bible puts it this way "Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." John 11:14-15. He wasn't doing it for the spotlight, like some of us do today. Even martha didn't fully understand (I wouldn't have either). She believed that if Jesus asked the Father, her brother would be raised up, but in the resurrection, at the endtime "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you." John 11:21-22. "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time." she said. Sometimes He responds sooner than we expect, and other times he takes His time. He is God. He is never late. My prayer for us is that we'll always be ready, with our faith intact, no matter how long it takes for Him to respond.

God's love is as gentle as a Child's touch. It's purposeful. It's harmless. As i played the bass lines to the song, this morning, i recalled carrying a baby a few weeks back (Well, i love babies hehehe). As i held this Child close, she stared at me. Noisy room, loads of distractions, yet she kept her eyes locked on me. I wish i could understand why she couldn't get her eyes off me..It was a mystery. Even when people carried her, she kept turning her head until she could no longer see me in sight. Once again, i carried her, and I felt the attention again. i leaned closer and she stretched her hands to touch my face...Wow! What a feeling it was!!! I was just unnecessarily happy. A group of people watched me carry this child round the hall, and were actually convinced she was mine. lol (i wish!). Others asked what i did to the child to capture her attention.

There's no depth in any of these, neither is there a theological explanation or revelation, but on that stage, this morning, I felt God's unconditional love...the kind of love that cannot be fully comprehended...the kind of love that says "I don't care what you've been through, I don't care what others may think of you, I don't care how many times you drove a spear into my side, I don't care if you are tagged (by people who think they know better) as unholy, filthy and unworthy to stand before me, i don't care if you just messed up the other night" The kinda love that says "I still have my eyes on you" The kinda love that never judges or holds to heart hurts and disappointments...the kinda love that forgives when we ask.

There's nothing special we've done (or are doing) to attract God's optimum attention. He loved us from the inception and creation of the earth. That love hasn't changed...it never will. Don't miss what God is about to do, and has started doing in your life.

My prayer for us is that God will touch us in a way that we have never felt before. He will turn things around to favour us. Also have it in mind that He will never withhold any good thing from YOU. If it's good for you, He'll surely bring it your way...and if it' not, He can take it away, if you give Him the chance to. The question is "Are you willing to let go, and receive what He has for you? Selah.

Though we might not fully understand why, but He loves us anyway. NEVER forget this!!!! Work Hard. Pray Harder. Thank God

WHEN MY HEART TICKS

Every heart beat reminds me that I’m still alive for a reason. What I do after the thought twinkles either fuels my motivation towards the goal or militates against fulfilling it. Many people say life is unfair, and one can almost not make anything good out of it. Well, the ones that believe life is full of opportunities create a platform (internet) for such people to spread their pessimistic thoughts. A lot of people have been employed via the internet; some have been fired via emails, and even social networking sites (I don’t have any proof lol). Some people have made friends over the internet; others have truncated their relationships over the internet. People have been duped/scammed over the internet; some others have become rich just by clicking on links from the comfort of their homes.

A digression: Speaking of being duped or scammed, some months back, one dude was really upset with me for not falling for his buy-6PCs-for-$500 scam (From the US including shipping!) HAHAHA!!! Is it just me or is there a way people can determine how vulnerable (they think) you are by looking at your picture?

I wish some things didn’t happen; I wish other things happened. I understand some things that happen, when they happen. I don’t even understand why some things happened, happen or didn’t happen. Truth is, I really don’t care why some things happened, happen or didn’t happen. Some answers leave you with more questions. why then should i worry my little head? I sometimes wish my wishes could actually yield results – like wishing that someone would just wake up one day and be interested in my vision, and say “Hey, tiem…I’d like to invest in your dreams. I budgeted this money for something else, but I just feel you need it more than I do” hahaha! (Ignore that).

But sincerely, right now, I’m in the library trying to figure out how to complete this coursework, but I find myself typing this post, wishing that by a stroke of luck, it makes sense to someone….wishing that as you read it, you recall the reason why you’re still alive…wishing you’ll have faith that as the sun always shines after the storm, your next move will produce results better than yesterday’s. And, yeah, I also wish this course work can finish itself.
Er…just kidding! Have a blessed life. Remember, If you come off as a sad person, don’t blame me for staying away from you. In this case, opposite don’t attract. That’s just a scientific theory. If I’m a little happy, I want to be associated with happier people. The only reason you, as a happy person, should be hanging around unhappy people should be to help them find happiness. You shouldn't leave them more depressed than you met them. Sometimes we need to shut up, and listen. Share their pain, but help them get rid of it. Also, you can't have answers to everything. Make sure there's a clear distinction between suggestions/advice and/or universally proven methods (if there's anyhing like that...okay, there isn't!).

Okay, these are just random thoughts tiptoeing into my head, so pardon me for not articulating them under ‘headings’. You don’t really mind, do you? Lol

work hard. pray harder. Thank God

PS: true and lasting happiness comes from within...Everlasting joy comes from above, ONLY - from GOD. yep! i said it!

GOD FILLS TILL IT SPILLS

As you might have observed, most of my writings stem out of a personal encounter or experience, and the more I share/talk about them, the more conscious I am about the relevance and effects they've had in my life, and probably will have in yours as well. None of it is actually new to you. Maybe you just shoved them aside. Let's call it a ‘reminder’ to us - God is 'speakING' to you and I.
I sincerely hope it causes a change in your life, as it has already done in mine within the last few hours.

I got a text message yesterday reminding me of a bi-weekly meeting that was scheduled to hold in the church auditorium as against the usual 'in your area' meeting. As at the time I received the text, I was still in bed, undecided about how my day was going to start, let alone anticipating a desired ending. I was just there, thinking about so many things. I mean, don't we all just have that moment in our lives where we feel like doing absolutely nothing? We let our minds go on a misguided trip without our consent, and then it brings back so much unwanted castoffs that we find it difficult to ignore, handle or even filter them. (I'm sure you know what I mean).

My day eventually kicked off around noon, but it was a slow one. It was almost time for the meeting, but I totally forgot, cos I didn't even make up my mind to attend it, in the morning. I heard a knock on my door, and as I opened it, there stood my flatmate, asking me if I was going to church for the meeting. I reluctantly answered, cos I felt i could cover much of my academic work within those few hours I'd be in church. Some of us are yet to value the importance of 'fellowship' God will not equip you for yourself alone...He doesn't give us gifts/talents/skills/abilities just because he wants them to look good on us...he gives them to us so that we can be of benefit to others (You can call it iron sharpening iron).

I got dressed, and we both went to catch the bus. I can boldly say that the meeting caused a turn-around in my life. My eyes were opened to the power of sharing your testimony - telling your story. God has done so much for some of us, but it's not worth standing on the rooftop to share, simply because he's yet to do the ones we truly desire him to do. (That's an ungrateful heart right there) I heard people testify about God's goodness in their lives, and I was scared that I might have deprived someone of the benefits of sharing my testimony...I felt guilty cos I had categorized God's blessings into slightly small, small, slightly big, big and huge. (Some people actually specify the kinda testimony you can pick up the mic to share, but trust me, anything that was done NOT by your power, is a testimony). I heard some amazing testimonies about what God did in the lives of people, that evening. Not only did the testimonies blow my mind, the faith that the testifiers had in God, enough to trust him to move in their lives, was equally dumbfounding. This stirred up something within me.

This might not be new to some of you bible scholars, researchers or mystery-thirsty individuals, but I learnt that 'testimony' in hebrew, means 'to do again', and so I came to a conclusion that, we do not only share our testimonies to glorify/thank God for his goodness, or to encourage people to trust God more, but we share them because we want God to do more - to do again. We're simply saying "Lord, you provided a job and I'm grateful, but God, it isn't going to stop there, is it? Blow my mind again...I'm expectant...this can't be your best...I believe you have something bigger for me"

God has so many promises stored up for us, but we only access a few because we already have a whole lot of junk hanging on our shoulders, and we are not willing to let them go. I can imagine God asking "if you don't empty your bowl, how will I fill it up?" The psalmist said "you prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup runneth OVER" Right there for all to see! It runs over because it wasn't meant for the cup alone - it wasn't meant to ONLY fill the cup. God's blessings CANNOT be contained - it exposes itself beyond limits.
He blesses us so we can have to give. When he gives us, he doesn't expect us to hold back, not from him, not from anyone. A songwriter said "Pressed down, shaken together, running OVER, is the favour of God" Yes! That's one thing we need to remember (luke 6:38)
When you think 'God', think 'big' Think 'beyond measures' Think 'No impossibility' Think 'Running over' Think 'more than I can/will ever contain'

Don't deprive God of the glory in that so-called little testimony of yours, don't deprive people of the benefits of that 'slightly small' testimony of yours, and the encouragement they can garner from it, Don't hold back God's blessings - don't try to contain it, it was meant to spill. It can burst within you if you try to contain it, and I'm not guaranteeing that it won't hurt you.

What was once a blessing to you can end up killing you! (Ask saul) It’s really not about us. ALWAYS give glory to whom it’s due!

Just an illustration: Speaking of offering, the bible says “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10)
"Bring your tithes and offerings (I ain't preaching) into my store house, and I’ll bless you beyond what you can handle...beyond what you can contain" (paraphrased).

"You feel it when God fills you; when it spills, then the world sees it. God's blessings CANNOT be contained..." tiemTHINKS

Don't try to hide it. Let it flow. It was meant to spill! Tell your story. Share it. It will stir up something in someone else. No matter how paltry you think it may sound, It will provoke SOMEONE to trust God more...Above all, when you share it you're telling God "please, do it again, but this time around...bigger"!!!

Share the little one you have....there's more to come....


Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God!

THE TIDES DON’T DICTATE MY DIRECTION

Hmmm…I really don’t know how or where to start this post from, but I hope I end up with something meaningful at the end.

Once upon a time, I got admission in the university to study a course I wasn’t really interested in, because the whole high (secondary) school experience of the subject was nothing close to interesting…all thanks to my teacher, who made it quite unbearable. I’ll spare you the rest of that gist - I’m sure I dwelt a little on it in one of my previous posts.

Take a ride across my high school days, and then hop a little over my almost-7yrs in college (university). I got a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. I remember telling a very good friend of mine that I was going to give my certificate to my parents, and enroll for another first degree programme. She thought the idea sounded really absurd. (After spending so many years in the university) I wanted to start college all over…you know…I wanted to pursue my dreams…to do something I would be able to focus my time and energy on with all pleasure.

I started out on a quest to reverse and take another route. Words came from right and left “Why don’t you just pursue a second degree (Master’s) in a field you’ll feel more comfortable with, instead of having to start all over again.” I thought about it for a while. And so I made up my mind to move on, but because of the series of strike actions that truncated academic sessions during my days in the university back in my country, I decided to prod my plans over the seas. I applied to several institutions, but because of my background in Geography, I found it difficult to get admission in what I really wanted to study. Some other constraints set in, so I had to settle for something pretty close and related to my choice. Okay. The field of study was established. What next? The means! As God would have it, that was also settled. Praise God!!!

During this period of searching, doubting, swapping preferences, battling with pessimistic suggestions and considering so-called ‘realistic’ options, I learnt a lot. God taught me things I may never have learned within the four walls of any institution at home or abroad. I learnt to trust Him…I learnt to listen even when He wasn’t speaking. Several times I got discouraged and felt like living the next day as it came. Most times when we have our minds all made up concerning a matter, the only voice we hear is ours. Then we patch our confidence up by saying “we have the mind of Christ” and “the steps of the righteous are ordered” so we skip the part of ‘Time and chance happens to all’. Those are very true statements. Believe me. But on the race track, do you know what happens when you take-off before the whistle? Yep! You might get disqualified after several warnings. On many occasions I capitalized on the fact that God’s had no evil intentions towards me, so I could as well get on with the plans I had in mind, but God made a mess of my discretion. (I pray you don’t get to a point where people will ask you ‘where’s that God you brag about?’). Over confidence gradually became ‘well, if it’s God’s will, so be it. If not, so be it’ and ‘God’s time is the best’. Lol.

Everything finally panned out, and there was no logical explanation for it. The encounters with certain people (My ‘Jan buddy’ you know yourself), the words of encouragement and assurance (from my family and friends dear to my heart), God’s perfect timing…and loads of other unforeseen moves made it obvious that it’s really not by power nor by might. I came to realize that God wanted to take every iota of the glory to Himself. Beyond my calculative plans, beyond the time stamps I had placed on my to-do and to-achieve list (if there’s anything like that), beyond the activity, God’s plans prevailed.

Fast forward……

I had a limited time to say my goodbyes, which I eventually did with mixed feelings. First, it was “What you’ve been waiting on God for has finally come to manifestation” and the other was “So you’re going to leave the people you’ve known all your life for such a long time”. The only consolation was that my leaving for a while was for a good cause (academically), and that God would make me a useful vessel in His hands home and abroad...

I crossed mountains and seas to a distant land, thousands of miles away from the place I used to (and still) call home. The first question I asked myself when we touched ground was ‘What in God’s name are you doing here?’ the answer wasn’t forthcoming, so I just dashed along with people that looked like they were in a hurry to get somewhere. I starting wishing I made the wrong decision…I wished I could shut my eyes and wake up the next morning in my room back in Nigeria. I wished for so many things to happen in a few minutes, but that was the best I could do…wish! Reality was staring at me, boldly.

On my second night in this strange land, I went out in search of accommodation with two new friends, under the rain. I could hardly feel my hands and feet, cos It was really cold that evening – not the kinda weather I’ve been used to. It was about 5 degrees (Oh, how I miss naija’s 34-38 degrees). I was this close to getting knocked off my feet by an oncoming vehicle when my friends hollered at me. I rushed back to a safe spot as the driver hit the brakes swiftly and the tyres screeched on the wet tarred road. All other vehicles came to a complete halt. Dude gazed at me for a second and zoomed off. Blood started rushing through my veins as I thought about the incidence. Early that day, I was complaining about how everybody on this side of the world drives too fast, even on narrow roads. I gave thanks to God, but asked Him a few questions at the same time…’you didn’t bring me here to get me killed, right? This wasn’t what you had in my mind when you led me out of Africa, was it? (Sounds like what the Israelites were asking Moses after leading them out of Egypt, right?) lol. The more I think about that night and how God saved me, the more I give Him praise for His faithfulness. This note is getting too long.

Things aren’t as bad or as difficult as people paint them to be. God’s blessings are not accompanied by sorrow. If it doesn’t turn out good at the end, then we probably didn’t keep to our part of the deal with Him.

Have you asked Him for stuff lately? Has He spoken? Maybe His answer doesn't sound like what you expect, so you think He hasn't spoken. maybe He's saying 'Go ahead and gain possession of the land' What other confirmation do you need? A few more witnesses to affirm it; or you want lightning to strike a particular surface thrice or you want the clouds to sneeze at midnight as a sign that God has got everything under control. God still listens. He neither sleeps nor slumbers. He wants what’s best for you and me. But the question is 'Are we moving in the direction He wants us to move in?'

One advice I took along with me…and that I intend to keep fastened to my heart
(even more than my entry clearance) is “Remember the son of whom you are and let your confessions remain the same.” The weather will change, the temperature will rise and drop; the system may be poles apart, but never allow the tides determine your direction. People will say ‘This is the way it’s done here’ or ‘It’s a different world out here. Well, it sure is! But that doesn’t change a thing. God’s words stand. God’s commandments remain the same. It may not be easy, especially when you have to be on your toes (no longer in your comfort zone), where the challenges have thorns and the alternatives are not very friendly. But if we draw near to God He will draw near to us. He’ll always be there to strengthen and comfort us…when we need Him…when we call on Him.

I draw strength from His word, because physically I’m helpless and mentally I’m unstable.

Lord, let my navigation be determined by you…and you alone. Amen.

God help us!

Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God.

THE FRAGRANCE OF FAITH

Something you can choose to ignore: You don’t always have to agree to what I say or what anyone else says. And you don’t always have to fault peoples’ actions or school of thought. Just ask God for a discerning spirit, that you may be able to create a dichotomy between the truth and fallacies. Also, the fact that it’s logical doesn’t mean you should adopt it. Be conscious of what you take in. It can build you…or destroy you. “The entrance of God’s word gives light and understanding to the simple” Psalm 119:130 Selah

The FRAGRANCE OF FAITH: I wrote this title down somewhere on a piece of paper, but i didn't set my eyes on it until this afternoon. As coincidental as it might sound, I was about to take a nap when I saw the paper just beside my pillow. lol i decided to make this topic my focus for tonight.
Just this evening, when the power supply was restored, i decided to check youtube for Visa d. kline's videos, cos i remembered seeing a link on her bio on twitter. Meanwhile, If you're on twitter, please follow this great vessel of God @visadklline If you're not on twitter, you need to sign up for an account. There are a lot of Great people God is using to spread the word. People sign up on social networking sites for various reasons, but I can boldly confess my addiction to twitter because of the wonderful people I’ve been opportune to connect with. I’ll be making a few recommendations at the end of this post. You really don’t have to follow them if you don’t want to, but I assure you, it will be a worthwhile experience. God can use anybody to slip a word through to bless. No one man knows it all. You can learn from your friends, your so-called enemies and even from strangers. God bless you as you become more conscious of the truth, irrespective of the vessel. But let’s be prayerful…and wise.

I looked up the meaning of the word ‘faith’, and according to the dictionary, Faith is reliance, loyalty, or complete trust in God or someone else. The bible says “faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” Matthew 9:2 reads “Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus SAW their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” My emphasis is actually on ‘Jesus SAW their faith’ Now this makes me wonder ‘faith’ actually reflects in our actions. It becomes ‘alive’ when it is backed with ‘action’. My pastor once said “If we as church workers are expecting numerical growth, we have to first build a capacity in us to be able to handle them” in other words, step up your work with God. Build yourselves in the word. Spend more time studying and meditating on God’s word. Your dispositions and actions will certainly show if you’re ready for the multitude you’re expecting. “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:17.
A student whose dream is to become a doctor, is trusting God for an admission into the university to study medicine, yet he’s finding it difficult to read medical articles and materials. Gathering materials and building knowledge about the medical field seems not to be a priority now, right? That’s just great! You cannot be ‘the first and not the last’ without getting on the race track. It’s not just about positive confessions. Think about it.

I’ve been in situations where people said I couldn’t do stuff; someone recently said to me ‘This chosen career of yours can’t feed a family’ and so many other pessimistic views from people I least expected them from. Though some of these words discouraged me and even made me relent in my pursuit of what I made up my mind to do (as some point), on the other hand, I asked myself 'whose report should I believe?' As a Geography major student, I’ve always had interest in IT, music and entertainment in general. Stabbing classes for concerts, choir rehearsals and bible study meetings, I just knew that I was doing something right. God has been molding me for this moment. Hearkening to what people felt I should be doing would have ruined God’s plan for me. I’ve picked up courage and willpower in the midst of it all; I’ve gotten to know God more. I’ve come to realize that living out God’s plan for me is the best thing that can ever happen to me. So call me whatever you like, think of me as whatever crosses your mind…”His report says something entirely different. And I choose to believe His report.” We all need to consciously CHOOSE to believe His report concerning us. If He said you were made in His image and His likeness, who is man to say otherwise?

After seeing the video below, I am too certain that ‘Faith dictates everything’ God bless you, Visa Klline. The title is “FAITH DICTATES FASHION”





Say no to inferiority complex. Someone needs to holler out “I might not meet your specification, but God created me nothing less than perfect.” Someone needs to brighten up. Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God.
One of my favourite hymns is TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS. It’s just too inspiring. Ask God for grace to trust him more. The situation looks ugly, but you’ve got to trust Him for a way out…You’ve got to have faith in Him. I must confess, it’s not very easy to hold on when there’s not even a sign of a breakthrough in sight. Rely on faith to give you an evidence of the things you can’t see but expect to receive.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Let your faith in God be your driving force. Let it dictate your pace. Faith is the evidence of things that are not seen. I might not be there yet, but I certain have a glimpse of where I’m going, so I’m already taking a few steps in that direction. I’m so excited about it. I can perceive it.
The fragrance of faith is so strong…it’s an evidence of supremacy over the obvious. Speak. Act. Believe

Follow these wonderful people on twitter @visadklline @thewriteperson @itskevinbond @pastorYPJ @aaronlinzy @pastorJKA @Drmikemurdock @onewordgospel @Keetwit @alconley @edeweysmith @hartramsey @lssimpact
More in my next post. God bless us all!

Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God.

KEEP ME FROM FALLING

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” Jude 1:24

Note: Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my thoughts, as often as I post them. Most of them are personal admonitions, rebuke, corrections and instructions to me. I share them with you all, because I believe some of you might be going through the same challenges, and need the encouragement I garner from my posts. Your comments and encouragement have helped me a lot. The apostles of old foretold “In the last times, there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the spirit.” Jude 1:18-19.
They also urged us to build our most holy faith and pray in the Holy spirit. As we all continue in this journey to eternal life, may we be found faultless when Christ returns. Amen.

Lord, I want to thank you for my life, my friends, colleagues, family, and the world at large. I can’t deny the fact that you’ve been faithful to your word. You’ve kept to your part of the agreement that was signed from creation.
Even though it may not be wrong, but I’m tempted to say “we fall down but get up, for a saint is just a sinner that fell but got up.” I’m tempted to say “I’m not good enough, but you still love me” I’m not trying to brag, but I’m sure if I wasn’t good enough to be used by you, you won’t have considered me. At least, I’m not 100% useless.
There was something you saw in Saul before you chose Him as king over your chosen nation. There was also a little skill you saw in David before you used Him to defeat Goliath. I’m not sure what you saw in me, but I’m sure it was good enough for you to use. Your word said you created me and lavished me with knowledge and understanding. Thank you, Lord. I’m tired of publicly declaring my imperfection just to admit to the fact that I'm human and prone to sin. I certainly am not saying I’m perfect.

When we do succeed at something, and come out to testify of HIs goodness, we register every attempt of the devil to militate against ‘our’ skills and to make a folly of ‘our’ wisdom, then finally say “But I thank God that I finally got the Job or I’m healed.”
My question is: Must we always share our trials and challenges for several minutes and then end our testimonies with a few seconds of praise to God for breakthrough? Will it be a crime for me to stand and testify that “I found myself in situations where I could have easily compromised my faith, but the spirit of God stopped me from giving into the desires of the flesh in, and therefore I just want to thank Him”and then take a walk?

I’m not a fan of empty positive confessions, so I really think if we believe that when we fall, God is able to pick us up, then we should also believe that He is able to keep us from falling in the first place. Or do we intentionally skip that part of the scriptures? (Not judging)

Is God just a mender of broken hearts and not a sustainer of unbroken hearts? Is God just a healer and not a giver of divine health?

I really wish our prayer requests can change from “Lord, I have fallen again, please, restore me” to “Lord, I know times are hard and my environment is capable of making me fall, but please keep me from falling” or from “Lord, I just lied again, please forgive me. I know your grace is sufficient for me” to “Lord, let not the truth be far from my lips.” Or maybe your petition is “Lord, you know I was just following what that preacher told me. I didn’t know he was preaching a false doctrine, please forgive me.” when you could have easily prayed “Lord, help me to discern the truth from false messages carried around by prophets of doom.”

I’ve heard ‘Christians’ say “You’re young, so enjoy yourself now” or “Just do it this one time” Can we as Christians really stop giving the devil the opportunity of taking the glory for a minute? I mean, for every time we lie or commit any other sin, we give the devil an occasion to take some credit for productivity. But for every time we are confronted with compromising situations where we can easily tell a lie or defend one just to gain favour, and yet we don’t give in, he hits his head against the wall in bitterness, because of another failed attempt at gaining another disciple. Now this shows that the Word of God we read every day is actually effective in our lives. Moses said “Lord, if you will not go with us, don’t send us. How will we be distinguished from the rest, if your presence does not go with us?” We’d be like every other person that reads the bible like it’s a novel.

As much as it sounds unrealistic (but possible), is it not possible you and I to chase after holiness every minute? Isn’t it possible for us to be blameless? Must we always take advantage of the merciful side of God and not access his through-Christ-I-can-do-all-things side? Aren’t we tired of approaching the throne of mercy for forgiveness over things that we can discipline ourselves to get rid of; addictions that we can quit with faith in God. This is exactly why Paul said “shall we continue to sin that grace might abound? God forbid.”

How many of us can beat our chest and say “Well, you can toss me behind bars for all I care, I’m not bearing false witness against that dude” or “you can cut my stipend, I will NOT carry out your evil desires”? How many of us can stand in front of our bosses and say “Sir, I’d rather lose my job than to forge any document”? The truth is, not many of us can. As a matter of fact, we look at God’s grace as a get-out-of-jail-free card, so if we can just tell this ‘little white’ lie, we can pray to God to set us free from the clutches of the father of lies (Satan) at any point in time. From a ‘white lie’ we advance to a ‘blue’ one, then a ‘black’ one. Sooner or later, the truth becomes far from our lips.

I’ve discovered that the reason you and I fall (when we do) is because we’ve got free will; we have a choice, but we pick the wrong one.
I've done some really ugly stuff in d past, and sometimes when I think about them, the devil tries to coat me with guilt. But I thank God for another chance. I'm not about to blow it again.

After our daily morning devotion, can we just say “Lord, it is obvious that the end is nigh and all the evil things you spoke about is already in existence; people are compromising just to get by, but Lord, please do not let me fall victim of such evil in you sight. Please, show me favour, and let me see your hand in everything I do today. When people say there’s a casting down, I believe there’s a lifting up. I pray with thanksgiving”? Just like Micah Stampley wrote in His song ‘Take my life’ we can also add “Holiness is what I long for; Holiness is what I need; Holiness is what you want for me; therefore, lord, help me in my quest for holiness and righteousness.”

Finally, just say this short prayer with me:

Lord, create in me a clean heart…purify me…So I may worship you, daily. I desire to be blameless every day. Help me to resist sin, irrespective of the circumstance I find myself. Let me continually experience the joy of salvation which I experienced when you cut the shackles off my feet and delivered me from the chains of that ugly dude. I no longer want to struggle with sin. I believe, with you, it’s possible for me to stay on my feet, and not tossed around by every wave of doctrine and temptation. Therefore…please, keep me from falling! Thank you, Lord.

If we believe that ALL things are possible, this shouldn’t be an exception, right? Let’s be focused. Let’s boast in the Lord and declare that “we are not like the rest of them.”

May God help us!

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25


Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God

GRACE, not hinged on works

“And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” Romans 11:6

A short prayer:
“Lord, I thank you for your grace that is not hinged on my works, lest I should blow my own horn; lest I should boast that I’m the most skillful; less I should show off my eloquence or ability to win debates; lest I should brag about my knowledge of your word more than my peers or that I should say “Ye, I’m a perfect being.” I’m far from perfection, though I do not underestimate the power that your spirit in me possesses. A workman has every right to demand for his wages at the end of the day, but what can a man do to obtain your grace? “By strength shall no man prevail.” Lord, teach me your ways that I may experience your grace even in my imperfect state. My faith is little, but strong enough to move mountains. I believe, and then I doubt, help my unbelief. As you search my heart, you’ll come across that part of me that sincerely yearns for you and appreciates you; a part of me that wants to live a righteous life. In humble adoration, I say, Lord, I decrease that you might increase in Me. Thank you for your grace…even when I don’t merit it”

In case you forgot, it’s meant to be a prayer, so read it again. Now make it a word of prayer…….

Grace is an unmerited favour. It is freely given. Taking it from the point of salvation, “Once, you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds, because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – IF you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” Col 1:21-23b. A lot of us believe that there’s nothing we did/do to attract God’s grace. True. But there’s something we need to do to make His grace remain functional in our lives – we need to have Faith! The Christian walk is by faith. Our ability to make promises like “I’ll see you next week” not knowing if we’ll live to see the following week, is also by faith. Your being alive today…my being alive today…is because of God’s permissive will…it’s because of His grace.

When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham approached God saying “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Will you treat the righteous and the wicked alike? What If there are ten righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the ten righteous people in it?” God replied “If I find ten righteous people in the city, I will not destroy it” (The scriptures have been given to us to learn from - for correction, for rebuke and instruction in righteousness). Abraham stood as a mediator between God and the people of Sodom. But despite Abraham’s plea, not one righteous man was found in that city. God was willing to have mercy upon them, but they weren’t ready to turn away from their wicked ways.

Aren’t we just glad that Christ came?

In our case, the mediator between us and God is Jesus. God looked upon the innocent blood of His son and redeemed us. I can imagine Jesus saying to God “I went to die for those people. Father, look upon my blood that was shed and do not wipe them away. Okay, just let the gospel of salvation at least get to the uttermost parts of the earth. Let more people surrender their lives. Please, daddy!”

And so God is constantly overlooking our shortcomings and the sins we commit on a daily basis, because of His son. He has made his grace and His mercy available to us, because of His son. Now Paul speaking said “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid” You and I have found mercy and grace in the sight of God, despite our inadequacies, our disobedience and unbelief. Are we really going to throw all that away and continue to glory in ourselves and our abilities to survive without Him – taking His grace for granted?

Thank God for those who are so committed to working in His vineyard; thank God for those who pay their tithes regularly; thank God for those who feed the poor and forgive their debtors of their debts. But all these are not enough to purchase God’s grace, even if it were for sale. So don’t come here saying “After all the tithes I paid; and my donations to Church projects and community development projects?” What do you do after dropping that tithe? What do you do after spending several hours at cell meetings and bible studies?
Now we are going somewhere.

If it is really by works, then we would not all be equal before God. Jesus tells a parable of two men praying – a Pharisee and a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evil doers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14.

If we will not give God glory for everything, He will take it anyways. He said if we will not praise Him, He’s going to raise stones in our place. Nothing we do is by our power. We don’t prosper because we work hard, if it were, one day we’ll run out of supply; inflation and recession will swallow us up. But if our sufficiency is in Him, will He not provide more than our storehouses can contain?

“If, in fact Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God.” Romans 4:2. “

“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.” Romans 4:4. Is God obligated to grant us grace? Nope!

Now go back to the top of this post, and take the prayer again.

Let’s acknowledge God in all we do; let’s acknowledge Him for His grace that pardons…His grace that is not hinged on our works.

TAKING THE BULLETS

I was watching a movie earlier today. I'm sorry, but I can't remember the title. X_X

I’ll try to tell the story as precise as possible, cos I was multitasking while watching it – babysitting, taking notes, talking and texting on the phone *Big grin*

There was this young widow (patty), who had two kids and was seriously in need of a job. She got an offer from frank - a guy she barely knew - to run an Italian restaurant (though she had no previous experience). She needed the money badly.

She did very well in starting off the business and even running the new club. Long story short, frank’s boss, the real owner of the bar n club, wanted patty to do something much more tasking and risky – transporting money made from illegal biz across the border. You know what they say “Nobody walks out on the BIG guy!” She agreed to try it once, before concluding if she was going to continue. After their meeting that day in her house, she walked up to her mother and told her to take care of her two sons. The mum obviously knew what she was getting herself into. She said “If I were you, I’d take the bullets.”

Six years later, after crossing borders with $500,000 (50 times, successfully), she became very wealthy. (Who wouldn’t want that kind of job? Just driving across borders and making some cool cash).
While throwing a party for her eldest son, on his confirmation, the son was trying to take a picture with his uncle and stole his uncle’s cufflinks in the process. He rode out on his bike in a bid to go sell it and make him some quick cash. Unfortunately for him, he discovered a dead body at the spot where he was supposed to trade the stolen item. The cops drove by and picked him up. When his mother went to bail him, she tossed him into the car and asked him “did you steal your uncle’s cuffs?” to which he replied “Do you steal?” hmmm….

Things got very ugly. Some people got arrested. Some got beat up. Some got killed. She was already neck-deep into it. Her life and the lives of her kids were already in danger. Frank wanted to kill her. The next move was to secure the lives of her kids and her mum. She made mistakes over the years, and she was trying to erase them in a jiffy.

Finally, she struck a deal with the boss, and he let her break out of the clique and also spared frank’s life. In return, frank spared hers. She was lucky, right? Making all that money, dining with drug lords and doing all sorts, yet her life was spared. Some others had to die.

This sounds like something you’ve heard before. It happens all around us. Many people do ugly stuff and don’t get caught. Some commit atrocities but are discharged and acquitted in court. Some take innocent lives and destroy properties, yet walk the streets untouched.

I’m sure we all know that everything we heap up here on earth will be left behind when all is said and done – when death comes knocking at the door? No cars, properties, spouse, kids, houses, gadgets…name it…will be taken away! What you have or had wouldn’t matter anymore. It’s how well you lived your life that will matter.

In one of my previous posts, OUR TEMPORARY HOME, remember I said “You might be complaining that the place you call your shelter is demeaning. The room is too small to contain you and your family. Your friends change their wardrobes every summer, but you can’t boast of a new pair of suit in the last 2years. Your parents can’t afford to send you to high school so you resulted to petty trading.”? Yeah. Some of us don’t have it all.

Truth be told, no matter how hard some of us start working now, there are many others that have gone light years ahead of us in terms of doing business, research, achievements, global change, scientific stuff and so on.

Life and living is not just about competition. What would you be remembered for? What will people say about you when you’re gone? Most importantly, what will God say to you? “Welcome, oh faithful servant. You didn’t take any man’s spoils; you were contented with what you had; even though you weren’t as wealthy as King Solomon, you were a man of integrity; even though you weren’t as popular as Martin Luther King, you still affected the lives of people around you; you hearkened diligently to my words.”?

Just before the end of the movie, I remembered what patty’s mum said to her six years earlier “If I were you, I’d take the bullets.” I would stay away from all the drama, and raise my kids with a clean record; I want risk walking the streets in fear because I want to make some extra cash; I’d go out in search of another job; I won’t trade my integrity for a morsel of bread. From the way the movie ended, don't you think Patty would look at her mum and say "Mama, I'm glad I didn't take the bullets. I'm glad I did a bad things to get good results"?

The narrator at the end of the movie was patty’s elder son. In his last words, before the credit rolled, he said “When the devil shows up with a truck load of promises, to walk away is harder than you think”
It’s not easy, yes, but that’s why the Holy Spirit is there to guide us. That’s why we must be prayerful. That’s why we need to strengthen our relationship with God. That’s why we need to be focused and not get carried away with things that would deny us access into eternal life.

God is there to meet us at the point of our needs…not wants. The devil places options of what we 'want' before us. “I want to get rich” there are better ways of getting rich than falsifying figures and looting public funds. “I want to be in charge” there are better ways of getting into positions of authority than taking the lives of fellow competitors. Start by gaining people’s trust in all you do, maybe you'll win their votes. “I want to have the best results in college” there are better ways of excelling academically than indulging in examination malpractices. Start by reading any and everything you can lay ur hands on - anything related to your field of study.

Bottomline: Be truthful, even if it means starving for a little longer. Quit your job if it will make you compromise your faith and cause you to do evil in the sight of God. Stay away from so-called friends who make you indulge in stuff that don’t glorify God. You’re going to lose some, and you’re going to keep some. The most important thing is that you have a Christ by your side.

Patty got lucky, you may not! She wanted to make money by all means. On the long run, there will be repercussions. “He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.” Proverbs 28:8

Maybe there are no more bullets to be taken. You already indulged yourself. You’re already in that position you got via crooked means; you’ve spent all the money you looted; you’ve taking lives and properties; you’ve even lied to obtain favour. You can still get out. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. He is a merciful God. The bible says “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. There's an opportunity to start doing things right again; To correct the wrongs that can be corrected and obtain mercy.

There’s nothing wrong with being rich and prosperous, but there’s EVERYTHING wrong with ill-gotten wealth. Jacob worked for laban for 20yrs. He didn't cheat him or steal from him, and God prospered him. "This is my situation: The heat consumed me in the day time and the cold had night, and sleep fled from my eyes" said jacob to laban. Gen 31:40

Take the bullets! It will hurt for a while. But to those who believe, God will come through for them. Amen.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; and lovin favour rather than silver or gold.” Proverbs 22:1


Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God

A SLING. A STONE. and MY GOD.

Many years ago, I was on my way to school with my mum and my younger ones. The dude collecting the fare was trying to get us off the bus, because he didn’t want my mum to carry my two lil sisters on her lap. My mum tried explaining to him saying “They are just lil kids, besides we’re not going to bother anyone” But the dude insisted that she must pay some extra cash, he even insulted her.

His doggedness got me really pissed that I grabbed him from behind and hit him with my frail right knee, just as he tried to force my mum outta the bus. He pushed me aside like he was trying to dust something off his shirt (C’mon! I was in high school. What did you expect? lol), but I got up and charged towards him again. People intervened immediately, faulting his actions. There I stood, feeling really cool with myself. As fragile as I was, I still had the strength to (at least) try to defend my mum… or I thought I did! Okay, let’s just say I did! *insert bbm cool smiley*.

I regard my folks so much, and I won’t appreciate anyone speaking ill of them, under any circumstance. I remember telling my friends back in school ‘If you must insult me, go nuts on me. It might not move me. But the moment you bring any of my folks into the matter, you’re in for something you won’t be able to handle’.
Kinda like reminds me of what David said when he heard Goliath bragging and threatening the armies of Israel. “And David spake unto the men that stood by him, saying, what shall be done to the man that killeth this philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised philistine, that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” 1 Sam17:26.

Maybe age was already telling on Saul, cos the bible recorded that He was dismayed and terrified along with the Israelites. A whole saul??
Let’s do a quick rewind to when Samuel wanted to anoint Saul as king. Saul was described as “a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people” 1 Sam 9:2. Oh yeah! He won battles, claimed spoils and smote armies, but God later rejected him because of disobedience. It’s amazing how God can lower a man of power and authority to a vulnerable prey. (Sorry for the diversion).

Goliath and the philistine army troubled the Israelites for 40 days – morning and evening. Goliath must have been feeling on top of the world – like a huge cat before susceptible rats. This Nine feet Nine Inches (9’ 9’’) dude (scientists would disagree with me on his exact height) brought fear upon Saul and his army. But to David, he was just like one of the bears or lions he had slain. After all, if he could save a sheep from the paw of a bear, how much more God’s army from the mercy of just one man.
David begged Saul to allow him shut Goliath’s mouth. He was upset that an ordinary man would speak ill of God’s people. He was infuriated that a mere mortal was threatening the children of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Speaking of physical strength and dexterity on the battle ground, David couldn’t be compared to goliath. But God was with him. That made him even bigger. I’ll try not to bore you too much with that story, but David didn’t stand before Goliath with a sword or an armour. “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of the Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” 1 sam 18:45
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An interesting part of that story was that David didn’t even ascribe the glory to himself. He didn’t boast in his bodily abilities. Just before he slew Goliath, he said “And all this assembly (both the Israelites and the philistines) shall know that the Lord saveth not with the sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into OUR hands.” 1 Sam 17:47. He wasn’t depending on his strength, nor his skill at swinging his sling, but He was depending on God to fight His battle. God did take the glory after it all.

Putting all these together, we have an obedient servant who trusted in the Lord as against his physical ability; An unskilled fighter standing before a well-trained soldier of war without a spear or shield but just a name – the name of the Lord; A one-man army who understood the greatness of the King of kings and the Mighty one in battle; a bear slayer who acknowledged that the battle was the Lord's and there wasn’t a slight chance of losing.

I don’t know how big that challenge is; I don’t know how long it has held you defenseless; I might not be able to tell in details how you can break that limitation or pull down that stronghold. But just like David did, put the WORD of God before you. Let God be your sword, spear and shield. Nothing/No one is greater than Him. 1 Sam 2:9 – “He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.”

All you need to do is to trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him…and He shall direct your paths. He’ll use that sling and stone in your hand to bring down any stronghold that threatens your peace. Is it sickness or lack; a tussle with your flesh? God is able to grant you victory.

Work Hard. Pray Harder. Thank God.

THE TRIALS OF TRUSTING AGAIN

Trust: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

It is very difficult to put your trust in a business you’ve never experienced success in before. That’s why some people never risk taking a risk, but end up taking one anyway. The sad thing is, after an experience, some people – like me - still think ‘a next time, a fresh result’. I remember investing some money in a business a few years back. I was too convinced that it was going to yield huge profit overtime…a turnover that would be enough to cover my first tuition installment in school. I started counting my eggs before they were hatched.

Days rolled by, weeks and then months. I requested for a certain amount from my accumulated turnover (on paper, that is), cos I wanted to purchase a laptop. It was one story after the other. The dude claimed that a partner whom he disclosed security details to had made away with all the money. (Yeah! I was startled too). “You’re kidding me, right? I mean, you can’t be serious! How will I pay my fees? What am I going to tell the two other people I collected money from to boost the investment?” I felt like I saw it coming. I struggled with these questions for a while. I realized I had lost everything. I started hoping and wishing it was all a dream – from the introduction to the investment to my first deposit. Would I ever attempt it again? Will anybody’s testimony of returns from the same kind of business motivate me to try again? Well, guess what? I invested in the same business again. The result was remarkable.

What makes you trust again? Is it a feeling of assurance that there must have been a few lapses in the first attempt that can be avoided in second? In our relationships: ‘Maybe I’m not spending enough time with him; maybe I’m being too hard on him’. He fumbles, then you feel betrayed “But he said he wasn’t going to do it again. He said he wasn’t going to cheat on me again. I’d never do anything to hurt him (Thank God for your life). I decided to risk trusting him again, after his first thriving attempt at infidelity. But this time, I’m done.” but then again you start to fight with justified reasons to give him yet another chance.

Weeks down the line, you are haunted by memories of the good times you shared…those times when he got to the cinemas right on time for that movie; those times when he’d call every 10mins to make sure you got home safely after hanging out late; those times when he would visit you at the hospital, and stab his snooze time until he was sure you were fast asleep; those times when he got roses and gifts delivered to you at the office; those times when you didn’t have to question his integrity.

One of the challenges of ‘trusting again’ is not being able to forgive and forget previous wrongs. Some people would say “Aight. I forgive you, I’ll try and forget that it ever happened, but I can’t trust you anymore.” How would you be able to survive the feeling that the person you’re sharing the same room with doubts every word you utter, and goes through any length to verify the authenticity of your statements before giving in?

“My dad said he’s visiting next week?”
“Oh! really?”
“Yes”
And whilst he’s taking a shower, you sneak out of the room to call his dad to find out if he’s really visiting next week.

Little wonder Mark is too reluctant to tell Tracy about his secret ordeals with her friend. Maybe cos he knows she’s going to flare up so bad; it would be difficult to control her. And he might have to sleep on the sofa that night – that’s if he’s lucky. “Would she ever forgive and trust me again – even if I sincerely change?”

Another trial of ‘trusting again’ may be 'one too many lies'. Some of us have lied and/or have been lied to; some of us have said more than we should have; some of us have even been too silent. He’s not really who He said he was before you said ‘I do’? She changed overnight? The relationship has been built on lies?

Maybe you’re struggling with an unforgiving spirit. Maybe you have so much contempt in your heart towards someone. It’s okay to feel bad. It’s reasonable to feel disappointed because you trusted him/her with your life and all you got was a stab in the back. Some of us have been too arrogant to ask for forgiveness. Too cocky to say ‘I’m sorry’.

But sometimes it’s not just about the people that hurt us. “A crushing spirit dries up the bones” It’s about the pain we refuse to let go; it’s about the rapid ageing that takes place inside, from piling up hatred.
Someone might be saying right now “You don’t even know the half of it. I went through a lot. S/he toiled with my heart and left me depressed. I will never forgive him/her.” You’re right. I don’t know the half of it. But what I do know is that you need healing!

You must be able to forgive to trust again. Some people are sincerely repentant of their act. But the fact that you don’t want to forgive them might leave them in total misery – which is very dangerous. “Now instead, you ought to forgive him and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7, 8. Is there someone you wish you had forgiven before s/he passed on? Or before you lost all possible contact?

There are times when you really have to let go...but not without a fight to make things work again...not without forgiving!
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men of their sins, your heavenly father will not forgive your sins.” Matt 6:14-15.

God wants to heal your soul. He wants to take away the pain and make you whole again. But you have to forgive…you have to let go!

Okay. So I've gotten you to understand the importance of forgiveness (I hope). Now unto to the more difficult part...trusting again. Sincerely, It can be difficult, but somehow it's imperative to start building it again. It can be done over a period of time. The person also has to prove that s/he can be trusted again, right? yep! It's a two-way thingy!

Until you start trusting again, you'd still be interested in scrolling thru his call logs, reading his text msgs...and even picking his calls. You'd still want to stop by his office just before he closes for the day...and also attend events with him even if it means bursting your own plans.

When we repent n ask God for forgiveness, he wipes our sins n overlooks any wrong...he trusts us to be more careful next time. A new page is opened. (TiemThinks)

I'm not perfect. You're not perfect. No one is. Be quick to forgive. Trusting again? Try!...just try! As you do so, pray for the person, knowing you could have been the one in his/her shoes.
And if you're the one that needs to regain someone's trust, you've got to make it work this time. Don't blow it again. S/he can't do it alone. Stop taking integrity for granted. Stop betraying people's trust in you. "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!"

Infidelity is not just a sin against someone who once trusted you...it's a sin against God. Stop it!!!

Remember: if you do NOT forgive, your heavenly father will NOT forgive you too!

Selah

Aight. Go ahead. Send that text message/e-mail. Make that call. Put down the weight. Let God heal your heart.

Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God.

IF

British Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling, in the last stanza of his poem IF, wrote:

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

WOW!!! It’s amazing how many conditions we have to fulfill to be happy and have dominion over the earth .You can search for the rest of that wonderful piece on the internet.

The IF-clause can be used when forming a conditional sentence ‘IF I study, I will pass my exams, or I will pass my exams, IF I study’. Our parents used to/still tell us ‘If you don’t do this, I won’t give you this, or if you don’t do that, I won’t give you that’. The truth is, there is always a condition attached to whatever we want or need. Most times, the conditions are not as monumental as our actual desires, so we keep running with the whole goal-getter mentality, thinking it’s only about having a ‘BIG PICTURE’ in mind. (We’ve been deceived for too long o).

You pick up a handbill with attractive prizes drawn all over it for an ongoing promo or you see adverts of companies showcasing their products and services, telling you ‘buy one, get one free’ or ‘One-million naira up for grabs’ or ’50 laptops to be won. It’s easy and convenient’ and at the end of the commercial, or just beneath the huge ‘attractive’ items, there’s a tiny print that reads ‘terms and conditions apply’. (HahaHa) “who cares about terms and conditions, after all people have been winning”, some would say, but trust me, if many of us would only take our time to read and consider the conditions attached, only then would we be able to conclude if we are about to make a foolish decision. We ignore the conditions, and expect to win by faith? Come on!!! Aight, let me give it to you, Luck still exists!

It’s good to use the faith-talk ‘I have all things in abundance, I’m the head and not the tail, I’m above and not beneath’ They all sound very sweet to the ears, but go and read the conditions for being the best; go and read the conditions for being above. You can’t be the first by sleeping all day while men are on the field running; and you definitely cannot be above when you’re not even attempting to climb!!! Yes, it’s in the scriptures, but it’s the same scriptures that says ‘IF a man does not work, let Him not eat’. Even In school, there are prerequisite courses that must be passed before you can be guaranteed a place in the next level. Those conditions have to be met, first!

Last week was a very interesting one for me. I did a lot of scripture searching and studying; waiting on God and bullying my flesh. By bullying my flesh, I mean ‘depriving it of food until an appointed time’. While studying, I stumbled across a lot of promises o – just too much to enumerate, but I found something common to most, if not all of them - A condition. A very popular one is “blessed shalt thou be in the city, blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shalt be the food of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground…” Deut 28:3-4a. The condition for these blessings and the ones that followed in subsequent verses of that same chapter was straight-forward, and in just a few words. Verse 1 says “And it shall come to pass, IF thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord shall set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” There were numerous blessings that followed. But despite the fact that the Lord Chose them as His people, there was still a need for them to meet the requirements – ‘Hearken diligently’ and ‘observe to do all all His commandments’.

We want to reap where we have not sown; we claim the blessings yet we are not even planning to meet the conditions attached to them. I’m sorry to say this, but we can continue to shout ‘God said it, I believe it, and that settles it’ till thy kingdom come. let’s not deceive ourselves, NOTHING will be settled, until we fulfill the conditions attached to it! Go back to the books. We just like feeding on ‘fast foods’. The bible says “You shall eat the good of the land” but for you eat the good of the land, you must be “willing and obedient.” You want to have good success? You want your way to be prosperous? Read Joshua 1:8 - Meditate on the word day and night, and observe to do all that is written there in.

Deut 28:45 says “All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you.” (NIV). You don’t like that part, do you? It sounds negative, right? But isn’t it still God’s word? Don’t be surprised when God does/permits some things…just to take the glory, and to prove to us that we CANNOT do anything by our own power.

In our daily dealings with men, in our going out and our coming in, IF we really want to be partakers of the Blessings of God, His protection, His provision, and ultimately His kingdom, then we need to ‘Hearken diligently’ and ‘observe to do all that he has commanded’.

“To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:26

In all you do, strive to please God…not MAN!

Work hard. Pray harder. Thank God

THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO

The little things we do can bring about a permanent change in the lives of those affected. I say ‘little’ because compared to the effects or results they attract, there is usually a clear cut difference in quantity and sometimes quality. Note: I’m talking about the little POSITIVE things we do. The little things with great impacts: Voluntary service, benevolence to the needy, community development services, and a host of other things we do without being compelled or placed under duress to do, but out of a sacrificial heart, and knowing that we can be of help to people we may not necessarily know personally or have a close relationship with.

Elijah met a widow in Zarephath and asked her to fetch a little water in a vessel that he may drink. As she was going to fetch it, “Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand” he added. The woman swore that she had nothing but a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse. But Elijah told her to go and prepare some for him, and then for her and her son. She did as she was told, and the bible records that the barrel of meal did not waste, neither did the cruse of oil fail, just as God said through Elijah. The widow’s son passed on and God raised him back to life, because Elijah prayed. That little act of obedience brought about an increase in her supplies as well as life to her son. The seeds we sow, no matter how little, have the ability to germinate and turn into a harvest. That’s why the bible says “If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully, but if you sow sparingly, sparingly shall you reap. There’s always a result for our actions – both the ones we carry out advertently and the ones carried out inadvertently.

An employer of labour who doesn’t take into cognizance the fact that a little token of appreciation (asides the regular stipends) to his staff can increase their productivity and motivate them to stay, will in no time lose them to one who is far-sighted.

Think about this: You have workers under you and at the end of the year you throw a surprise party, inviting them and their household to dine with you. Okay, if you can’t throw a party for them, you can at least give them something (substantial) you can afford, just to say ‘your services are very much appreciated’. You can’t always meet people’s needs or satisfy all the desires of their heart, but showing concern (action) either by using your resources or rendering your services, can/will go a long way. You might say some people don’t appreciate it, but it’s not just about them. It’s about you, too.

You are practicing a principle that always yields favourable results, if applied properly (the principle of giving cheerfully). If you do it in a bid to receive immediate results in terms of ‘thank yous’ and ‘special recognition’ then that’s your reward. Proverbs 27:14 says “He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him” If you render an act of kindness just for men to see/notice, and maybe you even get upset because no one acknowledged your good deeds, tendencies are that the blessings that should naturally accompany that good deed will elude you. So it’s not just about what we do, but the state of our heart when we do them. It’s also about WHY we do them.

There are other ‘little’ (negative) things we do that bring about permanent ruins to our relationships with people at home, in our work environments and within our peer groups. We need to stop certain things! Do not bear false witness, do not falsify figures, do not sow seeds of discord, do not plot evil against your neighbour, and do not capitalize on people’s weaknesses for your gain. “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their conscience, ye sin against Christ” 1 Corinthians 8:12. Do well to all men, knowing that whatsoever you sow, the same shall you reap.

Some people might not be as fortunate as you are, so if you’re in the position to assist in the area of imparting knowledge, giving good judgment, adding value to a cause, rendering your professional services, and/or benevolence, do not do it grudgingly or out of necessity. Be well aware that the ultimate blessing for every good deed comes from above.

A lot of people have uttered promises without fulfilling; a lot of people have fulfilled promises made in their hearts without uttering them. I’m sure most of us have done both. “Action speaks louder than words,” they say. If you will to do something in your heart, don’t be quick to speak, especially when you do not intend to do it immediately, or you are relying on the outcome of something else to fulfill it. Just do it! The speech can come afterwards.
The younger generation is looking up to us. They learn from us, everyday. Let’s lay down good legacies. We might not be able to make right our past wrongs (I’m thinking we would if we could), but let’s try to avert any appearance of potential ones.
Let your every action be of good intentions…to all and sundry! Let your yay be yay, and your nay be nay.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work; (As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9.

Work Hard. Pray harder. Thank God.

THE LITTLE THINGS WE SAY

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1

Have you said some things you didn’t really mean to someone/people? I mean, have you used words that are unpleasant, and when you come back to your senses, it’s too late to take them back? Well, I have - several times, if I might add. I entered a bus sometime ago, and the dude collecting the fare stepped on my foot, but before he could say anything, I gazed at him with repulsion and asked him if he was blind (obviously he wasn’t). The guy looked at me and said he was sorry. I sought for ways to cover up what I said, cos his apology absolutely defeated my defense. I become cold. I thought to myself “If only I waited for a few seconds, his apology would have been uttered, and there wouldn’t be any need for unnecessary judgment in my heart.

Some of us have uttered really foul words against our children, our siblings and even our spouses. I have seen mothers beat their kids and say stuff like “ko ni da fun e” (meaning: it won’t be well with you) and I’m like “Hold on! You just said that to your child?” some even compare their kids to other kids, abusing and cursing them out in front of them. When these kids grow up and things start to go ugly, they remember what they were told many years ago, by their own parents. Some have confronted their parents about this, attaching their success or failure to the words that were showered on them. How do you tell them you didn’t really mean what you said; that u said it out of anger?

The little things we say can bring a long-term relationship, friendship, or even marriage to an end. Someone once told me “I regret knowing you! I hate you!” If you don’t mean it, why do you say it? I know it’s difficult to control yourself when you’re angry, but isn’t it possible to vent your resentment without using words you’re likely to regret using afterwards? Okay, it’s time for some confessions. I used to be very hot-tempered, but I tried to modify the way I used some words, though in my heart I mean something else. I can call someone a clown, when deep down in my heart I meant ‘fool’. But there isn’t really any difference, is there? (My mind has been renewed, so fear not). I looked up the meaning of some words in the dictionary, and I just felt it wasn’t fair to use some adjectives on people just because of one minute of folly, or because of the little mistake they make. There are better ways of correcting people, especially when you’re in a position of leadership.

How would you feel if someone told you the project you put in hours to do was all crap, and an absolute waste of time? I once worked under someone who was very meticulous and a lover of perfection. After my first meeting with him, just before I started working on the project, I tried convincing myself that I could do all I told him I could and more. But days into it, I felt like quitting. “How can someone expect you to work under this condition, with such equipment and still expect top-notch results” I asked myself. One morning he came to the office shouting and insulting everybody saying all we did was absolute nonsense. He even used certain abasing adjectives my parents wouldn’t even use on me. I tried to control myself, but just before he stepped out of the office, I summoned courage and called him back to give him a piece of my mind. “We are doing our best, considering the fact that we are using equipments that are almost obsolete. The UPS is bad… Scratch that! There is no UPS, the systems get stuck at some point, the recording was very bad, and I even put in overtime to make sure I still meet up with delivery time. So maybe you should try fixing that.”

Once again, it is very possible to express displeasure without hurting anyone with our words. The bible says in James 3:1-2 “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he SAYS, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check” (NIV). So if you desire to teach; if you desire to be a role model or a mentor to people, you must learn to consciously bridle your tongue. Like I said, it is not easy but it’s possible.

Some say things against you behind your back (Backbiters) but when they face you, their mouths are coated with sweet words. Are you a victim of backbiting, lying, or even flattery? (Yes. A flattery tongue is equally destructive). Flattery is a feature of the wicked “Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.” Psalm 5:9 (NIV)

James 1:19-20 says “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (KJV).

Let us make conscious effort to remove hurting words from our bank of vocabularies. Don’t you think it would be amazing if someone expects you to curse them out when they do something nasty to you (like you usually would), and you just smile and walk away? Trust me, that is going to be an awkward moment for the person, and I’m sure s/he will think twice before acting next time. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29

Finally, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 1 Peter 3:10. Would you rather use your tongue to curse or bless?

“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” James 3:10

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Prov 18:21. Say something nice to someone, today. You never know how effective the little things we say are. They can build…and they can destroy!

Work hard; pray harder; Thank God

THE LOST SHEEP

I’m sure that at one point or the other in your life you must have lost something/someone very important/dear to your heart – something like a favourite pen; a notepad where you jotted down very important stuff; a close friend or maybe your favourite snickers. I remember placing one of my favourite shirts on the line to dry, only to discover that it had been stolen, cos it wasn’t where I put it. I asked my siblings and even my neighbours, but no one seemed to know where my shirt was. You know that feeling of ‘If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have dried it outside’? Yeah, we all have moments where we just wish we could reverse situations and do things right. I almost cried o! I searched for it for days. I even tried to convince myself into thinking that I didn’t dry it on the line, so I searched thru my wardrobe several times, unto no avail. I just had to live with the fact that it was gone…gone never to be returned again, by the thief. :D. *sobs*

Mark had a sheep. Everybody in his neighborhood called the sheep his brother, cos they did almost everything together. You don’t see mark, you don’t see his sheep. Mark would take his sheep to the market place, to the field with his friends, to go fetch water at the stream, and even into the shower. Mark certainly did not mind the title given to his sheep – ‘brother’.

As usual, mark took his sheep with him to the field to play soccer with his friends. This time around He didn’t bother strapping the sheep to a tree as he would typically do (after all the sheep should have gotten used to just hanging around on one spot until it was time to go home). Mark didn’t bother to check on the sheep until he was knackered and felt like taking a break. At first he smiled when he didn’t see the sheep where he left it “It should be around somewhere” He assured himself. He gazed to his left, and then to his right as he walked towards the spot where he left the sheep. The sheep was gone. It’s either it wandered off or it was stolen. Mark left his knapsack and water bottle behind as he dashed off in search of his sheep. His friends hollered at him, but there was only one thing on his mind – getting his sheep back at all cost.

Day and night mark went out in search of his sheep but to no avail. He was already lean from worrying and starvation (But it was only a sheep, you might say). Mark decided to go on a very last search. He girded himself with a catapult and some pebbles. In one hand he had his water bottle, and in the other he had a small knife. He strolled into the woods without trembling; without minding what would come his way (after all he had a catapult, pebbles and a small knife). He searched and searched for the sheep, until late. He made a fire and continued his until he exhausted. At this point, he had given up. He considered going back home, never to go out in search of the sheep. He wondered “maybe my sheep is already dead, or whoever stole it must have feasted on it.” He threw his catapult and pebbles away in exasperation as he made his out of the woods. He screamed “WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!?!?!” the trees echoed his words and few seconds later, he heard a muffled noise. Fear gripped him at first, but he still had his little knife with him so he tip-toed towards the source of the noise he heard. Pushing a few leaves aside, he saw his sheep lying beneath a tree, groaning harmlessly in pain. Immediately, he ran towards it, grabbed its injured leg and tied it up with a clean cloth.

Excitement filled marks heart again as he carried the sheep on his shoulder and dashed through the woods, caring less about the thorns piercing through his skin. He had a few cuts on his body from leaning against trees with sharp edges and even falling over hard surfaces in the woods.
Mark got home, shouting at the top of his voice “I HAVE FOUND MY LOST SHEEP!!!! COME AND REJOICE WITH ME!!!!!). Ignoring the the blood dripping from his own body, mark untied his sheep’s injured leg, cleaned it up, and gave the sheep a thorough bath. After bathing the sheep, he placed a tag over its head – the tag his dad gave him a long time ago. He prepared food for the sheep and watched it devour the food like it hadn’t eaten in days. Once again mark was happy. He went through thick and through thin to find his lost sheep, and he succeeded.

Mark woke up the following morning only to discover that his sheep has wandered off again? “After all I went through to save it????” He went to his neighbour’s to ask, but no one confessed seeing it. Mark dashed out in search of his sheep, again….

Well, I can’t promise you I’d have done the same. But how many of us would go through such pain to retrieve something we place so much value on? How many of us would risk our lives just to secure the life of another? Not many, right? But someone did for you and me.

“It's so disappointing when you lay down your life to help others & they don't appreciate it, or they hurt you. Now you know how Jesus feels.” PASTOR YPJ

The book of Luke chapter 15 verse 3-6 tells us about the parable of the lost sheep -- Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

The many stripes and pain that He bore wasn’t for the fun of it. The blood that was shed to secure your liberty and mine should not be in vain. He doesn’t have to go through the same pain to save you again. As a matter of fact, He won’t!

Someone (just like the prodigal son) needs to come back to his/her senses and return to the savior.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” - Luke 5:7

To the ones that have been found: Don’t wander away again…I can’t guarantee your safety back home.

I once was lost, but now I’m found. Let this be your testimony too.

Work Hard. Prayer Harder. Thank God.

NOT LIKE THE REST

Walking for a mile or two, he finally got to his destination - Renton community school. It was Karl’s first day in high school, and just like any other kid making their first appearance in a new school, he had mixed feelings. He paused outside the school premises for a while, in a bid to observe and get himself mentally prepared for what he called ‘life in a different world’.

He watched other kids get out of their lush cars, hug their parents and make their way into the premises wearing a smile. Quickly, he thought to himself “Well, they sure do look excited to be in school. After all, they have parents coming to drop them off at school, squeezing a few bucks into their hands, and even giving them personal drivers, so why on earth should they be sad?”

While he yet stared, a young lady (Britney) walked up to him, and asked if it was his first day in school. Karl replied, “Uhmm yes, and you?” “Well, this is my fourth, and I’m still trying to get acquainted with things around here. Come let me show you around”, said Britney. For a second Karl was reluctant, but a nudge from Britney was enough to loosen him up.

Britney had a great sense of humour. She was very outspoken, so it didn’t take long for her to get into a bit of trouble, even on her first day in school. Everybody fell in love with her because of her bravery. Now Karl on the other hand was a very reserved, anti-social stick-to-all-the-rules-and-regulations kinda dude. He believed so much in respecting people’s privacy and of course, staying out of trouble.

Anywayz, she took Karl around the school - from the library, to the mini-theatre, the sports complex and even to restricted areas within the premises. Karl felt a bit uncomfortable, but gradually blended into Britney’s world of adventures.

After covering every nook and cranny of the school, they sat in the fields to catch their breath. Karl abruptly stopped talking. From the look on His face Britney knew there was a problem, so she asked Karl what he was worried about. “nothing!” He said.

Karl got up, dusted his bag and dashed away. Britney quickly followed him, but he increased his tempo as he made his way to the hall way. “Hold on, Karl”, Britney screamed, but the young man didn’t even look back. Britney lost him along the hallway which was crammed with students. “Whatever”, she said, as she wandered off with some other friends.

Karl got to class shortly before the period was over. The other students dashed out of the class the moment the bell buzzed - some making their way to the school’s shuttles, and others to their cars, but he just sat there in class, gazing out the window waiting for everyone to exit the premises.

The moment Karl noticed everyone had gone home, he grabbed his bag and walked down the hallway with his chin almost touching his chest, and tears rolling down his eyes. He wasn’t looking forward to that brick house (his home), poorly-furnished and without a swimming pool. He felt cheated by nature. He wondered why some had more than enough at their disposal, while others could barely survive – drowning in penury.

There are a lot of questions begging for answers…a lot of problems craving solutions. I have some myself. Notwithstanding, I have grown beyond that. I’m pushing harder, breaking through barricades with my tiny hammer; threading paths rarely trodden; doing things I never thought I could do because ‘they’ said thinking about it alone will be a sheer waste of time. I amaze myself at times (Yeah. I said it). And I thank God who has been faithful to me.

I hope you’re not like the rest? When I say ‘the rest’ I mean those who’d love to swap races or nationalities because of benefits they feel they’ll get; or the ones who’d say “if only I can turn back the hands of time, I’ll dash back to high school so I can choose a more lucrative career path. Someone must have tried or even succeeded in deceiving you into believing that you have to change who you are, to become who you want to be. That sounds like changing the colour of your skin, or going for a plastic surgery to extend your limbs, if you ask me.

Maybe someone discouraged you from playing basketball cos you’re below 6.2ft tall. Well, the last time I checked Allen Iverson (one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in NBA history), Jameer Nelson (also an effective shooter and screen-roll player), Tim hardaway, and even Spud Webb (who registered jaw-dropping dunks), weren’t up to 6.2ft tall. They all became stars by overcoming huge impediments, both inside and outside the court.

Listen. The more people say you can’t achieve something because of your physical limitations or cultural background, the more I expect you to try to shut them up, by making an attempt anyway. (That shouldn’t be your sole aim though). You don’t owe anyone to debunk their perception about you (as long as you’re not doing the wrong thing), but you owe yourself to get rid of inferiority complex. If no one believes in you, believe in yourself. They’ll come around, soon enough. “The only limitations are the ones you want to see” – BOUQUI (Have you listened to ‘TAKE YOU AWAY’? beautiful song).

Meanwhile, the bible says “godliness with contentment is great gain” I Tim 6:6 and verse 8 says “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” -- Frederick Keonig

We are all unique in our own ways – God made us so. Discover your strength and capitalize on it. Be content with what you have. Funny, but I remember someone saying “anyone taller than me is too tall, and anyone shorter than me is too short.” <<<--- I don’t know whose quip this is. You’re perfect…just the way you are!

Now, say this “I’m not inferior to anyone!!!!!” …..

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” – Empicurus quote.

Be content with what you have. Work Hard. Pray Harder. Thank God.