Pursuit of Pleasure

Sitting by the beach in a warm weather, sipping a cool glass of tropical punch, wearing comfortable slippers, my feet were breathing and enjoying the cool water wash over them, my sunglasses made me look like a movie star not only  protecting my eyes from the sun. I laid on my back and savoured every moment of it wondering what I should wear for the dinner later that night. It is a black tie affair and we have all been told to come in our best... The evening was such a classy one, from the senior executives to the junior associates, everyone looked dazzling and you bet the company must have spent a fortune on that get-away weekend... Did I hear you say life is good? Would you love to live a life of vacation everyday? Who would not?...

 

I have always believed in living a balanced life; work hard, live well within your means and in whatever way God allows you to enjoy what he has blessed you with. Do we have to draw a line or is there a limit to how much pleasure we should indulge in as Christians? We all enjoy having a good time, eating, hanging out with our friends and loved ones, that without a doubt is a blessing from God. However, pleasure as good as it is should not take over other important areas of ourlives.

 

The following scripture cautions me anytime I am overindulging myself:

1 Cor 6:12 KJV

 

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:  all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any".

 

What am I willing to give up at the expense of the Word of God, my time with God or the help am to render to those who need it? Watching movies, long talks on the phone, shopping till I drop and desire to possess the latest of everything; shoes, bags, watches, cars etc should all have limits as they have the ability to subtly master us. Does owing the latest of anything make you a sinner? No by no means at all, God wants us to have the best as His children...

 

We should only watch out to avoid becoming slaves to our possessions. You know those things that you say to yourself "I could kill for so and so". So before you decide to 'kill' for anything especially this season of blessings, remember "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient"

 

Blessings.

Risk of Faith

I always find myself amused when I see people designated as protocol officers carrying out their duties. Whether these individuals are working with a politician or a public figure, they are always looking stern and ready to harrass anyone who attempts to come near the individual they are ushering or accompanying.

 

The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God has protocol officers assigned to usher him in and out of any arena wherever he goes. This is because he cannot successfully walk by himself anymore without fear of being mobbed... good trouble if you ask me.

 

It was such a situation that Jesus was in during His earthly ministry. The crowd will always throng him and of course, I imagine Apostle Peter, he would be ready to harrass anyone who comes anywhere close to The Master. Yet, everyone wanted to have a word, a touch, laying on of JESUS' hands, a meal and so on. A woman who had hemorrhaged, who probably lacked stamina, dared to touch the hem of Jesus' garment in the midst of that crowd, slipping in from behind! Jesus could read her thought and He understood.

Matthew 9:20-22 MSG

 

^20-22Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well." The woman was well from then on. "

What have you been imagining and contemplating about? What is that bold step you need to take to put an end to your unrest, confusion and frustration? It is all about taking a risk of faith... Jesus encouraged the woman after she had taken that risk. Have you noticed that nobody celebrates a mediocre? You need to step out of the shadows and into the limelight of what the word of God is telling you to do before attaining that height. Then and only then can you dream of being celebrated. 

 

You know how long you have been procrastinating and taking a step forward and 5 backwards totally unsure of what the outcome may be. Do you need to step up your walk with the Lord, launch out with that business idea, pursue your goal and purpose academically? Do you need to commit to a marriage relationship trusting God that HE will cause things to work out in your favour?

 

Whatever you need to do, I encourage you to go for it giving over the worst case scenario unto God! The year is fast approaching its end and will you enter the new year with regrets and disappointments? God's love is eternal and He extends it to you now all over again. Take a risk of faith, turn a new leaf and commit the future into God's own hand. Without any doubt He will catch you at it and encourage you. Just take a risk of faith!

 

Blessings.

Become What You Believe

Men (human beings) who have been able to achieve success at one point or the other have been able to perceive that in their minds. Some have with sheer determination become icons of greatness. I consider every patriach of old who walked with God, a whole lot of them were able to see things from their spiritual point of view. Abraham at a very old age was able to see his children, vast as the sand of the sea. Joseph dreamt as a teenager and he saw the future; his brethren bowing down to him. Even Rehab the harlot was able to see Israel's victory over fortified Jericho and hence, she saved herself and family from destruction and positioned herself in the lineage of the Lord Jesus.

 

What does your situation look like presently? What do you believe about it?. God requires your faith to execute His purpose. There are so many times God bypasses our limitations to do what HE alone is God to do. However, He expects us to walk with Him so that He does not deal with us like robots. The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, believed God when he was told that he would possess a city. I saw a glimpse of the place at its small beginnings, it looked nothing like a city! Infact, it used to be the height of inconvenience whenever I attended convention in the 80s. Today, the city that God promised him is now a reality with every amenity that could qualify any location as a city. He believed and saw what God was giving him.

 

Matthew 9: 29 MSG

"He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe.""

 

What do you believe that you will become? Has life doled you the wrong cards and you have accepted your lot? Perhaps you have given up on certain areas of your life; marriage(is it truly over?), child bearing, career, education, ministry, business. You have resigned yourself to fate. But you need your faith to activate a positive fate!

 

God is able to make a prisoner a president and not only in the old testatment! There is danger if you do not believe anything, according to His word today, you can only become what you believe. Let faith well up in you to believe and become.

 

God is reaching out to you today and He is saying; become what you believe!

Shalom!

Marriage: an unnecessary burden?

MARRIAGE: An unnecessary burden?

Marriage is God’s idea for a man and woman to come together and be united. His expectation is that there will be companionship, fellowship and procreation. Genesis 2:18 NKJ “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a help meet for him”.

God recognizes that loneliness will set in regardless of your achievements; academic, career as well as ministry.  There comes a time when all your pursuits and accumulation of material wealth weary you when you do not have a soulmate to share it with.  God’s idea of marriage is that a man and a woman will come together and be one in body, spirit and soul in the union of marriage. It is meant for two individuals (no third parties!) Genesis 2:24 NKJV “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife:and they shall be one flesh”.

What obtains these days in the world and even among Christians shows that we have lost focus of what God had in mind when He established the institution of marriage. It is not meant to be a burden that ties you down, once you are in it, you cannot escape! No, it is meant to be an institution that you enter into with the utmost preparation knowing that you will put in work to make it work.  You are expected to be selfless and not look out for your own personal gain alone but look out for what will make you both happy.

Marriage is a major decision that should not just be made based on temporal things such as looks, material possessions or feelings alone. I say alone because these are important in deciding who to marry as well. Not too many of us are attracted to people that are not particularly comely. (You sometimes have 10 brothers within a fellowship ‘receiving’ the same beautiful and talented sister all at the same time! God is not an author of confusion) However, having been married my self for a few years; I have come to realize that good as these qualities may be, they could be the bane of a marriage relationship if it the foundation is not right.

What should be the most important thing in place before I can decide to marry a person? In a Christian marriage relationship, a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus is key and most important.  There is a need to be on the same page and have the same reference point with a man or woman you intend to spend the rest of your life with. I know this often present a challenge in a world full of deceit and lies. Be that as it may, God is in the business of leading His own. 

Prospect is another key thing; does this man or woman have prospects? What does that mean? Prospect is defined as “a probability of advancement, success or profit”. In our context, does that individual who is jobless today have the prospect of getting a job and having a bright future? Does that lady who comes from a struggling background have the probability of increasing business-wise years ahead? Prospect is not limited to profit making but it answers to looking forward and perceiving a positive result ahead.

Character is possessing qualities of honesty, integrity and courage. A man as well as a woman requires this in order to have a lasting marriage relationship.

                                                                                       

Forgive and Forget...

When God has an area He wants us to address, our thinking, meditation and even exhortation from outside points to that particular topic or issue. In the last week or so, forgiveness has been one area God has been dropping in my heart and I have been doing some soul searching asking God to help me in any area I might be failing as regards this and you as well.

 

A woman who has worked for years alongside her husband, has sacrificed not only time but her entire life to improve a man's lot, build a life for him, assist him in moving forward in life and all of a sudden, the man is all made and the woman no longer befits his status!

 

A man who forms a partnership with his friend and the friend decides to outsmart him and dupe him. A friend you assisted and raised from the dung decides to slander your name and give you away to those who particularly do not like you. The scenarios are endless...

 

You and I know there are so many scenarios where human limitations and weaknesses hurt and break hearts. I used the common examples for fear of touching overly sensitive areas in the lives of people. Whatever the case maybe, God is calling us to forgive and forget. I hear this all the time, when we talk about forgetting can a woman forget the face her rival who 'stole' her husband? Can a man forget the face of his buddy who decided to have an affair with his wife? Can a woman forget the face of a drunk driver who killed her only son? and so on and so forth.

 

Whatever way you and I have been offended or grieved, the Word of God is this:

Proverbs 24:29 KJV

"Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work".

 

God alone is the one who is able to pay everyman the due he deserves and award the right judgement for each one's deed. Beyond what you can imagine or do God is able to give everyman a recompense many years after the fact, when you no longer have the strength or ability to fight back.

 

How you been cheated, hurt, offended and you know without a doubt that you are right? Then whole heartedly turn your hurt over to God. He will heal your heart and restore your joy and when you think its all over, nothing can be done about the injustice you experienced, the righteous JUDGE of the whole earth will rise on your behalf to punish those who have grieved your soul.

For your own good, the year is running to an end, find it in your heart to Forgive and Forget.

Who Speaks?

The weight of a word depends often on who speaks it. When wisdom is displayed in speeches, preaching or verbal communication, audience and respect would be given to the speaker.

 

 A friend of mine told me that her guardian at a time told her that she had never come across a child as dumb as her before. What did she do wrong? She had a grade of 'C' in mathematics... This individual is smart and her children are very brilliant, so she expected my friend to possess the same level of smartness as her children. Since my friend could not, her guardian called a friend and was discussing her 'situation' with the friend. "Auntie" as the friend was called said to my friend; 'you better start having babies because education is not meant for you'. My friend was content with the decision but wanted to work and find the right guy before starting to produce children. She got married and her husband told her "you lack insight to how life works because you are not educated". Her spouse's words confirmed what she had heard before! I love this story because my friend in her own words said from then she saw education as a personal war that she had to win. Today she is a graduate and doing well in her chosen field.

 

A whole lot of times we are hurt by utterances, words that are spoken especially by those who are close to us; parents or those who stand in position of authority or validation; spouses, bosses, siblings, close friends and so on. There are so many people whose lives have been defined by the utterances that were spoken to their lives a long time ago. They just do not know how to go beyond such hurtful and nasty words.

 

When the mean or hurtful words are spoken by those close to us and we tend to see the 'manifestation' perhaps years later, we often times conclude that such words are true and we cannot do anything about them. How many children have been told by their parents or guardians that they cannot amount to anything or that they will only go so far in life. When such children come across 'normal' life challenges, they do not have the determination to forge ahead to overcome obstacles. If a man tell his wife, you can never be productive or you are dumb, lazy or good for nothing, the woman may internalize such words and find herself unable to reach out to pursue any meaningful goal in life. If you are quick to remind your husband where his peers are or how he falls short as a man, then you are hurting and limiting his potentials. Such words do not go away, they play back at times when he is alone! We remember words that some of our siblings said to us when younger or how they compared us to friends or other children around such words make us believe the worst about ourselves when faced with life's challenges.

 

However, all these things do not matter because the word of God is asking a question this morning:

Lamentations 3:37 NKJV

 

"³⁷ Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
      When the Lord has not commanded it?"

 

For me when situations present themselves and I seem to have a sentence that is not pleasing in any particular situation, I ask the situation this question and guess what? It does not matter who or what, the answer will always be NO ONE! You do not need any man to validate or discount you, God has the final say because He is the only one who controls times and seasons! So if negativity has been spoken into your destiny, arise and cancel it, reaffirm who you are in God and what He has said concerning you. To answer life's question, you have to know the all knowing God who has all the power and answers. Tell your situation it is lying, tell your limitations that you will forge ahead, be determined to apply violence against anything that want to steal or rubbish your destiny. It is only from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed. In other words, when am in favour with God no man can speak negativity to my life and render me captive.  Go into this week with confidence in the word of God and face every man and situation with the right answer; only God has the final say!

 

Shalom!

Too Marvelous?

The streets were deserted and empty, no one lived up to be called aged, the land had been ravaged and hope was all gone. That was the situation of things in Jerusalem and perhaps that describes your present situation - dead end, hopelessness. The report of the doctor, your inability to gain admission or make progress at work. The home you have given up everything to build has collapsed. It seems all is gone especially when you compare notes with your friends, peers and contemporaries. You wonder why you had to be the one married to your spouse who is difficult, impossible as a matter of fact he/she has done nothing but slow you down in life.

 

Hear ye the word of the Lord: Zechariah 8:6 -7

 ⁶ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?” declares the LORD Almighty.

 ⁷ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. ⁸ I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

 

God is asking you a question about your situation; "will it seem marvelous (hard, difficult, impossible) for me? He is the God of all flesh and nothing will be impossible for Him. When your situation steers you in face, bombards you with ideas that are ungodly or magnifies itself above your God. Then you need to identify the word of God that answers to that situation and refuse to give up. Take God's word back to him and since He created all things He is able to cause that difficult teenager to be transformed, build you a house regardless of what the economy of the world is saying, make your impossible spouse your hearthrob again and bring that long awaited promotion.

He has the key to unlock the barrier to your breakthrough, success and yes, nothing shall be impossible with Him. What is it that you think is too marvelous? God says not with Him! Take hold of His word, apply it and give Him upfront praise! Solution is here do not give up!.

 

Celebration cometh!

Fragrance of Christ

Fragrances are always refreshing, soothing and welcoming. Whether cologne, perfume, deodorant or air freshner, we all enjoy walking into a clean car, room or area with a fresh smell of flowers or fruits. Have you also noticed how the smell of a nice perfume can change the ambience of a  gathering? When you hug someone wearing a nice perfume, the smell lingers long after they have left. The names of some perfumes are comely that you would like to see or smell them; Beautiful, Pretty,Pleasures and so on.

Even so God has called us to diffuse, exude the sweet fragrance of Christ everywhere we go among Christians and unbelievers alike. It is very easy to be a Christian in church and another person when at work or among our circular friends in order not be considered weird. Every time I plug an airfreshner  into the socket I feel good about my environment because the smell is nice. When we exude the fragrance of Christ among believers, God is glorified, when we attest to our relationship with Christ through our lifestyle and conduct, unbelievers cannot but marvel at how God can be evident in a life. Kindness, good works, selflessness,  righteous living, holiness and contentment make others see God in us and through us. I ask myself just the same way I would love you to ask yourself; what kind of fragrance do I bring into God's nostrils by my lifestyle? The ingenuity of manufacturers is seen in their ability to bring whatever smell you want to perceive to you; lavender, ocean, tropics, strawberry, spices and so on.

2 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing".

Have you ever sat close to someone who smells dirty and nasty? Phew! You will choke, puke and your system will be upset for as long as they hang around close to you. That is exactly how we are to God among believers or unbelievers when our lives do not glorify God. Do you give off a sweet smell to God  by the way you treat your spouse? Do you represent God positively to those around you or are you always an offence to others? Pride, ego,cheating, lying, selfishness, greed and violence make us irritating before believers and unbelievers alike. I mixing fragrances so its hard to identify what am wearing. So also we can mix the fruit of the spirit and unbelievers and believers will always sum ourlives up as sweet fragrance. When you mistreat or abuse your spouse you become pungent unto God's nostrils. When your way of life falls short of God's expectations you become a bad odor and not a fragrance! God has deposited in us all it takes to make a difference. So you need to yeild unto God totally in order to be a sweet fragrance.  

Blessings!

Complementing or Competing

Sometime ago, I was thinking about  a couple; the wife is a fast talker, high achiever and self-motivated. The husband is more of a 'home' person, he has his own business and they both are doing well.  He seems to be happy with whatever makes his wife happy and really does not have exceptionally lofty dreams. His wife is ambitious constantly working on one new project or the other. Their lives are fascinating because they just seem to have a high level of understanding. The wife understands her husband's nature and seems to always make time for whatever makes him happy too. It makes me wonder, how come some people find it easy to understand each other while others never seem to speak the same language talkless of understanding what either party is saying.

To complement means to add to, enhance, improve or bring to completion. The question to ask is do you complement your spouse, are you a team player at work or can you function with other people when working on a project at church or in any other group you belong? Is it always your aim to outshine (nothing wrong with that please), win, be the centre of attention at the expense of others? Do you enjoy listening to yourself talk and scarcely tolerate a word or two from others? Evaluation and review bring improvement. So it will only be logical to bring our personal lives under evaluation so as to improve.

 

Competition on the other hand  means; rivalry for supremacy, contest for some prize, honor or advantage. When the Lord dropped this in my heart I said but there are some competitions that are healthy... Yes, perhaps at work for fun or at home. Maybe if you have a business then you do have to engage in competition. However, we are considering this topic from the perspective of our home, work and ministry. A godly home shouls be void of any form of rivalry for supremacy, God is not an author of confusion and such He has given us a pattern of how things should work. The man is the head, the woman the help meet. Every couple should figure out how to form a strong team and war against the enemy not against each other. This means am not allowed to compete with my spouse in terms of: education, possession and material things etc.

Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to

the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing,

even life for evermore". 

 

At work, you are required to demonstrate team work, emotional intelligence, hardly does any organization want to hire you just because of what you know these days! You are expected to know how to work with others. If you and I swallow our egos and pride to function outside, why can we not do that at home? Charity begins at home... Husbands and wives, siblings, friends, ministry partners, we get a lot done by complementing(improve, enhance, add to and bring to completion) ourselves than by competition. God expects us to honor one another and if I rival with someone else to attain honor or advantage, I do not advance the kingdom of God. The word of God expects you to prefer another in place of honor. 

A level of humility is required to be able to complement others especially if you think you know better or your are more experienced! Do it anyhow to promote peace. May this new month usher in unspeakable joy, peace, abundance in all areas of your life in Jesus name.

 

Altering the Norm

I come from a culture where people have an explanation for every occurence. However, anytime a situation defers explanation, people will say; that is destiny! It cannot be changed. Premature death, generational curses, failure at the edge of success, barreness and so on are somethings that people link up to destiny, may your destiny not be destoyed or derailed in Jesus name. The story of a man that most of us know encourages us to face any peculiar situation with the boldness that comes from the power of prayer to the God of Israel.

 

I Chronicles 4: 9 - 10 NLT;

"There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez^[c] because his birth had been so painful. ¹⁰ He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

 

When people look at your situation, to them it seems hopeless and they try to console you in human wisdom, giving examples and talking about how you can cope or manage with an unpleasant situation,you are the one who will have to pray and keep praying to the God of Israel! God has given us access by the blood of Jesus to ask and receive in the name of Jesus. Jabez could have coined a pet name for himself so people will not know his full name... What situation are you battling with and it seems there is no way out, you trace your lineage and the evidence is glaring, you look around you and it seems none of your relations has been able to win this particular battle. You are being told that is how it is, just learn to live with it!

 

Jabez sought a solution to alter what seemed to be the norm. His birth was painful, so he had to bear that  signage of a name that repels people wherever he turned to for the rest of his life as if he caused it! Are you paying for a crime you knew nothing about just by being associated to the perpetrator; parents, spouse, family? Then it is your turn to call on the God of Israel to change  the ugly situation that wants to become normal in your life.

 

Perhaps you are from a polygamous family and when you gave your life to Christ you thought that aspect of my life is over, now I can have a marriage that is planned God's way. The enemy seems to be mocking you by the civil war going on in your home and you seem to have no control over it. The best time to rise in the place of prayer is now and alter the norm.

 

The Lord is a very present help in times of trouble! Keep calling him, he does not ignore or forsake and He will grant your request just as He did Jabez's.

Prisoners of Hope

How many times have we petitioned God over and over about a particular issue and it seems that He just does not want to respond? For some not so pressing, non-time sensitive issues, it is easy to hold on and keep our faith. However, when they are glaring and issues that can bring embarrassment unto us, we tend to lose hope and seek alternatives. Most of the time, our alternatives bring nothing but trouble and guess where we return to? God's presence and often we return with baggages...

When you trust God for a marriage partner and you are well over forty years, your options are limited and you just can't go grab a man/woman on the streets, if you make such move, you are bound to miss it, you are back to square one! Whatever you are hoping for; job, healing, a child, restoration in your marriage or finances, you need to hold on fast to your faith, God does not fail neither does He abandon or ridicule His own. I have seen one too many people who have hastened to help God only to be back asking Him to help them clean up their messes! We have an assurance that cannot fail in the word of God: Zechariah 9:12

 Return to the stronghold,
 You prisoners of hope.
 Even today I declare
 That I will restore double to you.

Prisoners of hope are those who have committed all unto God, so whether alive or dead, they continue to hope in God. These ones do not seek their own ways to make things happen and then return to God to clean up after them. Rather they trust God's faithfulness enough to come through for them.

Psalms 31:24  NKJ Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

 

Are you a prisoner of hope? Have you given up on your marriage, that seemingly troublesome child or your business? He has the ability to restore all that you have lost as well as your dignity. Does this mean you shouldnt make effort where you need to? No! It means do not allow the anxiety of what tomorrow will bring to waste the strength of today!  Be assured that God will never fail you, as He has said so shall He do regardless of what you see or what humans say. Hold on do not lose faith, God will surely repay you double for your trouble!

Best Form of Revenge

Have you ever been betrayed, disappointed, rejected, slighted or treated with disdain? Maybe you had relatives who were better than you when younger and your family was one that needed 'handout'. You remember how you were not wanted by friends because you didnt not belong or your in-laws treated you badly because you could not conceive. Maybe you had a very strong accent and some co-workers are always out to ridicule you. The list is almost limitless when you consider what we do to one another in terms of being mean. Do you as a Christian treat others badly? Then that is not the nature of Christ, we His children and should reflect His nature.

If you fit any of the scenarios above and God has elevated you, what is your first instinct towards those who were nasty to you? Remember vengeance and payback is mine says the Lord, Deut. 32:35.

I discovered that the best form of revenge is not paying back in the same token but to do well for yourself. If someone had said you will not amount to anything or that you are over ambitious because of your family history, you do not have to live their self-fulfilling prophesy and remain at the level they imagine you should be. Remember Joseph; he had dreams but nobody believed him, the devil went to all heights to make sure his dreams did not come to pass. His own siblings were the ones who sold him into slavery hoping that he would die or become a slave at best.

 

Joseph played a key role in emerging out of that situation even in slavery; he distinguished himself, Portiphar does not second guess or look over his work, in prison he was in charge. The focus here is when he had sailed through and broken the chains of Egypt around his neck. Genesis 45: 4-5 The Message

"Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives."

 

When we have been treated badly, slighted or disrespected, it is easy to "execute" vengeance upon the perpetrators, giving them a dose of their own medicine. However, that brings us to the same level as those people. Joseph was able to see the good in the evil that his siblings planned for him, He recognized the hand of the Lord in his promotion and elevation. When we allow bitterness and anger to continue because of the way we were treated in the pass, we not only entangle ourselves with the way of the world but give the enemy an inroad into our lives. So whether you are going through a rough time or you went through it in the past, learn to look beyond that and deal well with those who have treated you badly...they meant it for evil but God has turned it out for your good. Afterall, God has been good to you in bringing you beyond the limitation they set in place for you. So it if it is your spouse? The grace of God is sufficient for you to live above that, forgive, commit your way unto the Lord and strive to attain a higher height in your calling in life. Human beings can scarcely argue with result or evidence... If you do well for yourself, no one can look down upon you but rather look up to you. So the best form of revenge is do exceedingly well and move beyond the hurts, limitations and betrayal. God's got your back!

 

More than a Song...

My church just concluded our annual Destined For Distinction Conference; each week we had a  guest Minister who ministered; prayer, healing, spiritual motivation and music concert to round up the conference on the last Friday of September. However, on Thanksgiving Sunday, the last day of their ministeration; Midnight Crew team was called up to minister, phew! the lights went out in the whole of the church neighbourhood! Of course those who knew about electricity went into action; we thought it was an overload of some sort. However, after about five to ten minutes, Patricia of Midnight crew started leading worship, no intruments, no microphone just our voices! Her voice could only carry so far, she enjoined everyone to connect with God in their own way, everybody went on their knees, faces to worship God. It was awesome as the presence of God was almost tangible! We all had to come into a place of intimacy, no jamboree! After sometime, lights were restored but you could tell that each one of us had exprienced God Himself and not Midnight crew! This Crew members were worshippers and not entertainers!

I was touched in a different way and I knew that God requires more than a song, offering,tithe or our time in activities or department where we function in our various churches! God desires our worship, fellowship and focus. When no one is watching or present, are we able to connect with God or do we require an audience, microphone or drums to worship Him?

Little wonder Jesus told the woman by well in John 4:23-24 NKJ

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

 

God called you to be His own and He expects you to worship Him without any reservation. It is not about anyone else, God expects you to worship Him without distraction; physical, emotional or psychological. The next time it is worship time, position yourself to be blessed, praise Him, Love Him, appreciate Him for what He has done and would yet do. Often times, what is yet to be is a major distraction to worshipping God! God is King over all the earth and we should worship Him as such. Have you ever been to the palace of an earthly king and see how homage is being paid? Earthly kings give gifts to those who praise them, eulogise them and make them feel good. God deserves much more than that! He is the King who rules on High! The understanding and knowledge of the fact that God has all our needs and wants enable us to come into the place where He alone is. God looks beyond our dancing and singing, He sees the reins of our heart and is able to judge if what we do is carnal or true. Only when we worship Him as He deserves can we obtain whatever we want from Him. Lets remember this song and return to the heart of worship.

When the music fades and all is stripped away,

And I simply come, longing just to bring

Something that's of worth, that will bless your heart

I bring you more than a song

For a song in itself is not way you have required

You search much deeper within, through the way things appear

You're  looking into my heart...

 

God bless you and keep you as you have a God-centred week. May your desire be granted as you Worship Him.

 

Blessings.

Your Tongue

The tongue is a very small part of the human body yet it plays a significant role within and outside of the body. It helps in the process of digestion to get the body nourished, it can determine how God and man respond to you. The tongue has the ability to bless, curse, say positive or negative things and it can connote pride or humility in the way it comes across.

 

How many people have issues with family, friends, spouse, co-workers just because of the way they talk, comment or convey messages? There comes a time in the life of an individual when he/she should know when to speak or keep quiet. The book of proverbs is a wealth of resources that if one pays attention to the content, folly will be so far from such a person. Proverbs 15:1 The Message:

¹ A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. 

 

I once met an individual on the bus and she told me she lost her job, by the time we almost got to our respective destinations, I could tell a thing or two about her attitude. Perhaps that's why she got fired, maybe not... I have had the opportunity of talking to men who have issues with their wives, the main reason why these men get upset is their wives attitude and stinging comments...Yes, there is no smoke without fire, perhaps the men have other issues but when we learn to tame our tongues, then we would defuse anger. James 3:5-9 NKJ

5"See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."

 

Silence is golden in certain situations, for the most part a child of God most learn to briddle the tongue since your words can make or break another person. Have you not noticed how some children play out or live the words that have been  deposited in their lives negatively? Try and complement your spouse and see the look on their faces. A lot of times, our tongue issues are not with outsiders but mostly with our spouses and people close to us. Let us learn to tame that little part of us that has the ability and tendency to set on fire the cause of nature. 

 

Could you ensure you say something positive to your friend or spouse this week and make sure you are sincere...

 

Cause and Effect

I have come to realise that you need to enter every environment as a learner for you to avoid jumping to unnecessary conclusions. I was talking with a friend this past week, she had waited for the fruit of the womb for almost 8 years after marriage. Needless to say that everywhere she turned to,  friends were quick to say "very soon your joy too will be full" because they all knew her 'pressure point'. She had to recoil into her shell as she became a public spectacle. She went further to say, some concluded that she must have carried out so many abortions that her womb had become perforated. She smiled as she said those words and I could not help but say congratulations to her all over again.

 

Perhaps you are going through a situation; difficult marriage, childlessness, lack or poverty, difficult children,sickness, joblessness etc and you have heard negative comments to your own ears;she is not a good home maker that is why she is having challenges in her home, he is just a college graduate, he may have to go back to school to get a good job etc.  Be of good cheer! The disciples who walked closely with Jesus jumped to similar conclusions when they came across a man who was born blind;

 

John 9:2-3 The Message 

"His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" ^3-5Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do."

 

It is not all the time that people go through challenges because of the sin they have commited. Like Jesus said, it is to the glory of the Lord. If you are going through challenges and you are wondering where you have missed it, whom you have offended or people are suggesting that you are reaping the fruit of the seed planted by your parents. I want you to be encouraged, God alone will be glorified concerning your situation in Jesus name. People's conclusion about you does not matter, it is God's conclusion and report that will have the final say. God has said I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy on! You are a candidate for His mercy through Jesus Christ, your testimony shall be heard and God's name shall be glorified in Jesus name.

 

Let us all remember that people do not necessarily go through challenge because they have sinned, we all have our challenges and we look unto God to sort us out. So the next time you are facing a difficulty or you come across someone facing one, it may not necessarily be due to cause and effect. You are blessed, do make it a great day!

Show me your friend.

I am always excited anytime I am part of a women's conference whether physically or virtually. I once watched a women's conference and I could not help but be amazed at the number of 'heavy-duty' women at a single conference. I am sure you are wondering what I mean by 'heavy-duty'... yes, each of these women were sold out to God in one form or the other, their sole mission; to transform women's lives in a godly manner, to empower and to educate them. As each one was introduced, she was either a prophetess, pastor or prayer warrior not just by title! They were professionals; lawyers, accountant, architects etc. It wasn't their title or professional qualifications that interested me, but the fact that they had so much in common for God...

Birds of the same feather flock together... It makes me wonder the kind of conversation those women would constantly have! How much positive influence they will have one on the other. The kind of spiritual and physical networking, the kind of sharpening they will bring to one another and the kind of sweet and life transforming fragrance they will emit everywhere they go... Trust me they were all good looking and it was not their Gucci or Prada that added value to them but the glory of God upon their lives. 

Who are your friends? Who do you turn to when you hit a snag? What kind of counsel have you been listening to? What is the unifying force between you and your friends and what is your reference point? When you are at your wits end and you need to confide in someone who are those you turn to? Friends who will tell you it does not matter, that God is not a mean God, that you can lie, compromise the word of God or cheat and God will forgive you? When you share with your friends your challenges, what is their usual response? Do your friends pray with you or do they provide carnal solutions? Perhaps they tell you that you learn from the mistakes of others and should "help" God? A king in the bible consulted his friends and they gave him the counsel that got him into trouble:

1 Kings 12: 8-11 KJV

⁸But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:  ⁹And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
 ¹⁰And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
 ¹¹And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹⁶So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

The counsel of his peers led to the tearing away of the kingdom from him! What a colossal loss! It is important to x-ray every counsel in the light of the word of God. Every counsel that does not conform to the word of God will only lead you into trouble! It is up to you to decide whose counsel you will listen to Acts 5:29 When a  godly counsel does not seem popular, watch it, in God's own time it will yield the right fruit. 

It is better for God to be pleased with you and for a particular process to take longer, than for you to take short cuts only to be miserable at a dead end! You need to begin to examine who your friends are and what counsel they give you. Are you willing to show God who your friends are? Shalom!

Blessings.

Stress

I once got an email on how to reduce stress in ones daily life. The list contained little details such as; waking up a little early to make an appointment, having an extra set of house keys outside the house and so on. So what is stress? Stress is your body's way of responding to demands. There are good and bad stress and our bodies will fail to function if we have too much or two little of stress. Stress could be emotional, physical or environmental.

Emotional stress is internal, it is worrying about things that you really can not control. It could also be as a result of challenges in your relationships; marital, with friends, siblings or parents.
Physical stress could be as a result of too much work, schedules and activities.
Environmental stress is a product of your physical environment; noise, crowd, traffic jam and so on.

Weekends are supposed to be time off work for some people but I find out that it ends up being the busiest of times and before you know it you end up going back to work completely exhausted. Stress has a negative impact on relationships, therefore, it is important to live ourlives in such a way that we limit the amount of stress we go through. New mothers are constantly exhausted from the demands of nursing an infant and attending to home affairs as well. Some men work twelve, fourteen hours at work in order to make ends meet and advance in their careers...
It is important to balance our work, church and recreational life. When we do too much of one thing it will impact other areas of our lives negatively.

What do you do to de-stress? Comments welcome.

Signs of Times...

She screamed at the top of her voice as she ran out of the bedroom into the kitchem, resting her back on the fridge she slid down to the floor. Hot tears poured down her face as she held her head in her palms. She was trying to figure out what had gone wrong, where she had missed it. This was the same guy who would spend hours on the phone with her whispering sweet nothings to her, the same guy would walk her home after evening service telling her how much she meant to him.
Bisola and Fowope had been married for two years, they had both waited on the Lord and without any aorta of doubt knew they were meant for each other. Fowope was a Sunday school teacher while Bisola was a member of the choir, both were dedicated workers in their local church. They had read books about Christian courtship and marriage and they had no doubt in their hearts that they were meant one for the other.

The latest events have made both of them wonder whether Christian marriage is just a mirage and that every home is supposed to experience turbulence. Fowope who had been gentle, considerate and caring all of a sudden seemed selfish, overbearing and cold. Bisola could not understand what happened to the sweet side of her husband. His speech lacked courtesy and love and every time they have an arguement he would say just about anything to spite her and make her blood boil. She had called his attention to it several times; she had tried her best to talk with him in the calmest and most polite way possible, but he would always respond with disdain and discount all the issues that hurt her. He was more concerned about meeting the needs of his brother and sister who were in their third and final  year  at the university.

Bisola sought the counsel of one of her friends who also is a Christian.  Tell him you want out! Nobody can treat you like a piece of property or crap. Yes you are a christian but perhaps you need a break, you need your space to think clearly. You do not have to endure the kind of treatment he is giving you. You are literate and you have a good job, you can do better than that. Her friends word rang in her ears as she drove back home. She was more confused now than ever,  everything that Dina said was correct but she was not expecting her to counsel her along that direction. Her head was spinning as she navigated the bend to her house. What should she do now? She wondered. To be continued...

What should she do? I welcome your comments.

On the ground of your word...

He had not been toying all night, rather he had been toiling all night. Effort, experience, skill, wisdom and know-how had all failed him.

Luke 5:4-6 NKJ

"Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

 ⁵And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

 ⁶And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake".

 

Yes, Simon Peter, a seasoned fisherman of his time had a challenge and it was real bad, himself and his colleagues had been at it all night and there was not a single "minnow" to show for their work and ability. Talk about frustration, discouragement, despair, anger, and loss of confidence in his ability as a skilled man. He wondered where he had gone wrong or what he had failed to do.

 

Perhaps, you too can related with his situation... Maybe you have tried your best at work but your boss is just bent on frustrating you, your spouse is just determined to frustrate your efforts to live a christian life. Maybe yours challenges are financial, emotional or medical and you are about giving up totally. Are you afraid of going back to school or trying that course again? Has human technology and knowledge failed you in one area of your life or the other?

Jesus is saying to you like He said to Simon; Launch out!. Regroup, replan, recommit yourself unto God and the truth of His word.

 

Peter got his miracle on the ground of the word of God, sometimes, it may not make sense; will God go to immigrations and pull out my file, will the judge rule favourably about my case, will my promotion ever come, how will I cross this great hurdle? A million and one questions that are only answerable on the ground of His word.

 

As you start this week, purpose to face your challenge on the ground of His word and you can be sure victory and testimony is certain.

 

Blessings.

This Way To...

I am always amused each time I hear comments about villages, hamlets or small towns. People who live or come from big towns sometimes poke fun at individuals from villages by saying; "are you not from this way to village?" We are familiar with big sign boards at the entrance of cities saying "Welcome to ..." and then there usually is a slogan of what makes the city stand out. However, when you travel on the highway and you are approaching a small village, there will be a small wooden sign post with the inscription; "this way to..."

 

There is a similarity between the above description and the road to eternity. Mathew 7:13 NIV

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it".

 

Jesus himself is the Way, the Truth and Life. In other words, there is a need for a personal encounter in this race to heaven. It has to be more than a fad, routine or what is expected of you. Jesus is the compass as we run this race and He alone is the one who give us strength and grace to carry on. We are faced with discouragement and we tend to grow weary by the distractions on the road, however, we are called to remain focused and run the race set before us. Having an encounter means; acknowleging that you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, repenting, confessing and forsaking your sins, inviting Jesus into your heart as your Lord and saviour and asking Him to lead you through His word to heaven.

 

Maybe you are wondering what am saying, there is a need to bring your life under the management of the Lord Jesus Christ so He can become your Lord and saviour and write your name in the lamb's book of Life. If you have made this decision but have become weary and it seems that His promises will never come through because of life's challenges, know this that He is not a man that He should lie!. Whatever He has said will come to pass. If your focus is shifting, or you have become familiar with the whole process, vocabulary and activities in Church, there is a need to go back to the place of rededication and commitment back to the Lover of your soul. Jesus loves you!

 

Live this week with a conviction that you know whom you believe and let your light shine. Let men know that "This way is to eternal life" through your life style.

 

Blessings

 

 

Doubt your doubt

Have you ever noticed that every time you decide to take a bold step, do something unique to improve yourself or situation, you begin to second-guess yourself?. You doubt if you have heard from God or you are just following your imagination; if for any reason you come across challenges you tell yourself you probably were biting more than you can chew. So when this happens what do you do? Do you give in to your doubts and abort your God-given idea? Do you keep at it, continually watering it with prayer in faith? Do you always turn around every time there is an obstacle in the way? I understand there are times we make a wrong decision and we have to turn around to regroup, however, I am talking about instances when you are double sure and yet you chicken out because of challenges. You have to learn to doubt your doubt.

 

The story of a young man who was facing a not too pleasant situation; he had heard about the God of Israel and the mighty works in the past: Judges 6:12-16 KJV

¹²And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

 ¹³And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

 ¹⁴And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

 ¹⁵And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

 ¹⁶And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

 

God does not use your stature or status to determine where He wants to take you to or what He wants to use you for. When He has promised, do not look at your situation to wonder where or how He would do what He has promised. That is why you have to hold on to the word of God and doubt every doubt that comes your way.

 

Perhaps you have purposed to improve yourself academically and you have the admission letter but not the money, start a business, learn a trade, invest into your future, improve your marriage relationship, serve God better, spend more time with your family, whatever decision you have made lately, go for it. Yes, it is now mor than ever that the negatives forces will rear their heads to discourage you. Do not allow the enemy to sow the seed of doubt into your heart. Remember his sole ministry is to steal, kill and destroy. The first step to carrying this out is to have you doubt what God has promised or spoken to you about.

 

Like the word of God came to Gideon; "Go in this thy might"! Doubt every voice that makes you question the feasibility and possibility of what God has said to you. You need to doubt your doubts so you can arrive at the place of your destiny!!!

 

Have a prosperous and blessed week:)

 

 

Keep your guard up

Do you not feel like giving up these days when you are faced with discouraging attitudes around you. As a Christian you have expectations; perhaps you have been a Christian for a while and it seems as if everyone just does whatever they need to do to get by. Sometimes getting by could mean watering down what you have received, compromising your stand a bit, not a whole lot! Pride has taken on a new color and flavour and it is not just what it used to be; recognizable from a distance. The devil has a way of painting even the most evil things to make it appealing to the strongest of Christians these days. Perhaps you hear everybody blowing their own trumpet and wonder why you should be silent or humble when it is the squicky wheel that gets the grease. Coloring the truth and not being too strict on the flesh even though its our worst enemy. I was at a gathering sometime ago, it seemed as if everyone wanted to show how much of the scriptures they knew, how much research they can do, nothing wrong with showing off your knowledge of the word mind you, at the end of the day, I left the place feeling kind of empty. I then asked my friend what happened there? Is there a problem with me? How come I was feeling the way I was feeling, totally unmotivated or edified even though I had been with believers and we had talked about the word of God.   

 

A scripture had been in my subconscious all week and I went to check it out in another translation of the bible, wao! that was it, it lifted my spirit up and I can not but share it. For as many as are feeling down even as Christians, for as many that are discouraged, thoroughly put off by the things they see, do not be. That is another trick of the enemy, if I cannot get them to parties and worldliness, I will bring another version of it on home or church delivery!  Let the scripture verses below elevate your spirit; 1 Peter 5:8-11 The Message

 

^8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

 

So in the face of every challenge and difficulty (not financial or material now but spiritual),  keep your guard up knowing that God has better plans for us and they are eternal and glorious. Is it not encouraging to know that God has the last word, not the devil or those who are wearying your hands. Keep your guard up!!

 

 

Excuse Us...

One of the easiest way to get yourself out of a difficult situation or refuse responsibilities is to give an excuse. How many times have you refused to help someone in a tight corner and justify it by saying; I have my own issues that am facing, so why should I then be loaded with your own extra responsibility. We give excuses at home; spouses tell each other reasons why they can not assist each other, at work, at church and so on. We often take the habit of giving excuse to high heights that they become detrimental to our own progress in life. How many of us give excuses about why we have been stuck at a dead end job for years? We have excuses for why we have not grown spiritually -  it is our Pastors fault. We give excuses for our lack of promotion and say it is because we are people of color, our accent, the boss does not like us and the list goes on. Hear what the slothful man says; Proverbs 22:13 The Message:

"The loafer says, "There's a lion on the loose! If I go out I'll be eaten alive!"

 

Does this sound funny or outrageous but that is directly from the Bible. Is that not what we do when we refuse to; grow cordial and production relationships at home or at work, when we procrastinate about going back to school, starting that business, winning souls, getting married, living holy, not going to church or having a personal relationship with Christ,changing our attitudes for better towards our spouses and maybe children?

 

There will always be a valid excuse for what you fail or refuse to do. However, that does not make it right. What are you afraid of pressing forward to get? Life is full of challenges; but for those who will reach out, remain oblivious to the consequences of failure for trying, there are ample opportunities and those are the ones who willl lead and rule over the weak, lazy or procrastinators.

 

Stop giving excuses and start pursuing your God-given dreams and purpose, receive God's wisdom, grace and courage to launch into the deep.

 

You are more than you think! See you at the top.

Good Judgement

 It is very easy to be attracted to a man or woman because of their height, looks, dressing, phonetics, diction and wealth. People may be drawn to an individual because of their sense of humor, or wit. However, there is a quality that is very important, it makes a difference betweeen a wise and foolish person - Good Judgement. This is a quality that will distinguish an individual especially a woman in the midst of many. Judgement is defined as ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action, good sense; it also means discretion.

 

I Samuel 25:3

"A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. ³ His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite".

 

You wonder why an intelligent woman will marry a mean and brutish man... but that is not my focus here.  A woman is always faced with decisions not only for her immediate family but for her extended family as well. Often times she is a sisters, mother, sibling and daughter. She has to be able to exercise good judgement in dealing with her in-laws and if she lacks good judgement, trouble can stem from this for her. How many woman are being accused of stealing their husbands from his family because they lack good judgement?  In some families a man can become alienated from his family members if the wife does not have the ability to exercise good judgement. Well, you may be quick to quote "and a man shall leave and cleave"... Very true but you as a woman should understand the role of good judgement in maintaining peace between your husband and his parents, siblings and even his friends.

 

Abigail averted trouble from coming to her entire household due to Nabal's folly. She was not there when her husband said the wrong thing but she knew if she did not move into action straight away, trouble was looming and large too! Do we try to nip things in the bud when it comes to interpersonal differences or do we assume "it is non of my business attitude"? Am I asking you to meddle in family matters as it relates to your in-laws? No! However, there are instances when your good judgement is able to save the day as it did in the case of Abigail. How many relationships with friends have gone sour because a wise woman was not there to make peace. As a Christian woman, ask God for wisdom to exercise good jugement in all situations.

We can learn the following from Abigial:

She knew what to do - ability to decide V18 - 19

She was conversant with the word of God and knew what to say, she prophesied about David's future and she was able to secure a place for herself there. V 28-31

She was strong, smart and quick to act - her ability to think on her feet made it possible to avert the wrath of David

She was prepared - She did not have to go to the market to get what she took to David

 

Good judgement will avert danger, preserve and improve relationships and channel resources aright. May we be able to do that which is right in the many decisions we need to make in Jesus name.

 

Blessings.

Words of my mouth

Each time I remember one of my friend's room mate in university, I smile. A christian whose life I always remember with admiration because of the way she has trained her lips to only utter words that will bless. Each time she has to exclaim, she would say "Lord have mercy on me, Lord wash me with your blood"  and in Yoruba language too...lol. A whole lot of us christians do not care about what we say when we exclaim, we use phrases that masquarades use; 'yeepa', s-word, f-word and so on. The psalmist says in Ps. 19:14 NKJ  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer" Ps. 19:14
 

Words have such a great impact on the lives of those we say them to depending on the type of words. When a mother praises a child and tells the child how good he/she is it shapens and affects the child's self confidence. When a mother rains curses on a child, it is little wonder if the child does not turn out well. How many of us mothers say things we do not mean in annoyance? Words define,construct and destroy. Whether you are joking or serious, it is important to pay attention to the kind of words that you utter as their weight can rest heavily forever on those you say them to.

 

Women are very powerful but it is important to watch how you use your power. If you curse your spouse out of bitterness or anger, you will have to spend time on your knees again trying to undo the harm of harsh words uttered in anger. How many husbands say words that ridicule their spouses and such women curl back into their shells afraid to ever venture into anything? You can bring the best out of anyone when you say good words to them or about them. Have you ever been around a king who is being eulogised? The man will be ready to part with something substantial. Words do not exist in vacuum, they always find fulfilment somehow. May blessings find fulfilment in ourlives in Jesus name.

Prov. 10:21 NKJ

"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgement".

Prov. 10:31 NKJ

"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut off".

 

So any where you find yourself, let your words bring blessings and nourishment to all those who hear you. Let your company be such that people desire not because of the hottest gist or gossip but for edification.

 

You are blessed beyond any curse :)

Failure to plan

Men do not plan to fail but they sometimes fail to plan. If you will not embark on a project without thinking it through, why would you commit your future into someone's hands without fear or care of what could go wrong? You cannot afford to be carefree in the issue marriage as God does not expect you to go in and out of a marriage relationship. I see around today so many broken relationships and my heart bleeds because a lot of the heart aches around can be avoided. 

=>Why do people fail to prepare? A lot of female friends are in a hurry to go into marriage because their friends are getting married.

=>They can not wait to wear the latest designers and look like a princess on their wedding day.

=>They are of age

=>Their parents are waiting to have friends and family attend their daughter or son's society wedding.

=> There is this guy or girl I can not get over

=> They need someone who will split the bills with them

Have you ever asked yourself why you want to get married? You need to look yourself in the mirror and answer that question candidly. If the reasons are primarily because of other people's interest, then you need to slow down and understand what God's idea of marriage is all about.

Marriage is a union between a man and a woman. It is primarily for procreation, companionship and fellowship. God's idea of marriage is not for selfish purposes but He desires to fellowship with married couples in a peaceful union and as such He has outlined how they should live together in His word Gen. 2:24 NKJ "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh".

How do I plan when I do not even know who I will be getting married to? Well, you need to pray and ask God for His will. Even if you are in a place where there are no marriageable men/ladies God is able to bring your own spouse to locate you. Remember you can not pattern your idea of marriage after Hollywood's and expect things to work out God's way. I welcome your comments and questions. Blessings.