Drifting

 

“It is crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off” Hebrew 2:1MSG

It’s beautiful to see an individual make a decision for Christ. Like the scripture says and I paraphrase, there’s joy in heaven(even among brethren on earth) when one soul recognise Christ (Luke 15:7).

The steps to accept Christ begins with the recognition and acceptance of the salvific work of Christ for you and mankind- the recognition and acceptance of Christ as your Lord (your Guide, Compass & Everything in totality), confession of sins, receiving of forgiveness. It is a decision to let go of the world (its lust and frivolities) and live a far better life (making impact and benefiting both here on earth and in the life afterward -heaven), and making momentary effort to commune with God through prayer, studying and living the Word.

Truly, it isn’t as easy as some professes, perhaps that could be the cause for some people’s reverse decision. But for a heart willing to decide and anchor to the grace made available, success is sure in spite of the momentary challenges and trials that ensue.

While we see and hook-on to the grace daily, of course consider the joy that fills our heart and would be ours later, we can keep moving patiently in the midst of the hurdles and the sins that does so easily beset us(Hebrew 12) until we meet face to face with our Master and Maker.

If you’re yet to make that decision, it isn’t too late to do so now. Decide in your heart that you’re ready to walk with the Lord, and in His strength willing to give up the frivolities that has kept you away from Christ. And you’re willing and ready to accept Christ, study the Word and live your life in accordance with the scriptures. And if you have already done so, let’s keep moving and trusting in the grace that has been made available for us until our departure or Christ coming.

It could be so grave to know and see even today, some who had accepted the faith, decided to walk in the Path of Life and at some point begin to gradually move backwards instead of making daily progress.

While so lot of people often go with a wrong conception of their maturity in the faith as the number of years they’ve made this decision, its important to iterate emphatically that, our maturity in the faith isn’t just your level of experience, service, and commitment in the things of God, but our daily progress & encounter with Him. Of the number of years you’ve been in the faith, we need to constantly ask ourselves, the level of progress we’ve made.

Often times I begin to wonder and search my mind on what could have made some to think of reverse movement. Yes, for several of those who had retarded in the faith, their reasons and challenges certainly aren’t same. But whatever be it doesn’t worth it, and fixing our eyes on Christ, we can gradually progress and scale through those hurdles.

Our eyes can only be fixed when our roots are deeply found in Christ. It is in daily communion with the Lord that we can find grace through the scriptures to constantly stay close, constantly study and constantly strife to live by it(Word). Hence, James advice, ” Therefore we must give the most ernest heed to the things we’ve heard, lest we drift away”. Heb 2:1. NIV

We must make every effort to hold firm to the truth we believed else it becomes an abomination returning to slavery after we’ve been saved. No wonder the scripture says, its difficult to restore those who were once in the faith.

…it would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them… 1Pt 2:21 NLT

Living the Word isn’t magic and it’s never either by doing just what you’ve been instructed to do, by somewhat ‘elders or fathers’ in the faith.

Discipleship is certainly a necessity for maturity but also, it very important strife for daily grow through which one must come to attainment of spiritual maturity, where we no longer need to drink milk (1Pet 2:2) or be tossed about by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14) but become matured Christians who eat raw food/bones.

Today every kind of false doctrine sweeps in from all corner. The level of Church proliferation has so drastically increased not with the intention to spread the Gospel and fulfil the Great Commission but with some sort of selfish and ulterior motives to use and harm Christians.

New converts today, even some ‘matured’ Christians are easily brainwashed by the winds of doctrine they welcomed, simply because they lack rooting in the scriptures.

When those assumed to be matured are victims to this propaganda, I wonder what’s the fate of the 'baby' Christians. The only escape to the tricks and pranks of the devil and his agents is complete rooting in the word of God.

Drifting is a gradual process. It happens continually until one come to realisation that there’s a gradual negative change in the person’s life. It may as well happen unaware to some people- these changes may be unnoticeable to the individual until someone calls their attention to it. And that is why we ought to encourage and admonish each other in the word.

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says: “Today when you hear His voice (which often comes through a known voice-human), don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled” Heb 3: 13-15NLT

 Sometimes we struggle to figure out if the person God is speaking through isn’t saying all of these to his/her benefit. Of course mirroring their comments or response with the Word can truly prove whether they are on your side and for your good or their selfish interest.

And for those who constantly mirror their lives with the Word, you’re sure to see these piecemeal changes and necessary action(s) -counselling, prayers and more rooting, taken.

And so, just like Peter,

“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities and the need to remain firm, although you know them and are established in the truth that you have”. 2Pt 1:12.KJV ( I hope you do same to me too).

Let’s not be caught suddenly by the tricks of these doctrines and as a result slip/drift or continually give in and fall till the day of the Lord( God forbid).

Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent. Rev 2:5 KJV

P.S: I hope you’ve been blessed by this episode? All we’ve got to do is take a few minutes, reflect and see if there are areas of drift in your walk with God and make effort to constantly study the Word and mirror our lives daily with the Word to avoid drifting.                                           

God bless you.

Shalom!

Remote Locations

Living in a developing area could be so challenging especially with the difficulties of communication, access road, electricity, portable drinking water and other basic amenities and infrastructures. Of course you’ll understanding what’s involved most especially if you recently relocated from the towns and cities.
When you’re in need of something which ordinarily could be fetched in the nearby superstore or even kiosk in the ‘developed’ area, you have to travel some distance away if not go to the market in fact.
Not only that, in the developed area; people within the neighborhood, the environment and other things around you may serve as sources of inspiration at one time or the other. But the case is quite different in the developing areas. And of course you can imagine what a remote area which may be thousands of kilometres or miles away from the suburbs would be like, if you have not had an experience of it before.

If you’ve worked in a remote location you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Life is completely different as from home.
When you’re retiring to/from work base, you don’t move unprepared else you’ll return several number of times with self-annoyance.

For those who out of circumstance find themselves living in such an environment, they probably don’t have any option other than what is obtainable there.
Either you’re alone in isolation or with very few number of persons who are engaged with a responsibility.
Its either they seek ways in collaboration with others to gradually transform the environment to suite their taste or completely depend on whatever is available to them.
Sometimes you have no neighbours to chat or discuss with, no friends to visit, no connectivity to the media, internet, power, no one share problems with, get/give advice or you may gradually become redundant in your reasoning etc.
While we count the unending list of disadvantages living in the remote locations, there are also few benefits attached of which I’m only gonna share one with us.

I like to illustrate this using the experience of the four thousand crowd Jesus fed(spiritually & physically) in the wilderness across Dalmanutha.
When the crowd followed Jesus and the disciple to a desolate place to hear the word, they spent three(3) whole days just to have an encounter from Jesus’ word. The scripture never mentioned if they all had food right from onset. It never also pointed out their worries from the short disconnection from friends, family and their usual life. But presumably they were very much comfortable with that isolation from the other part of the world just to have an encounter, a suiting word, a burden relieving word from Jesus Christ. (Mrk 8).
It reminds me of undergraduate days in schools when no other environment will provide an ample opportunity to quench the hunger and taste to hear from God other than an isolated places some kilometres away from the hostels and lecture halls.

They weren’t only satisfied and comforted by the word, but in the midst of possible hunger(as humans) that may ensue, all their dependence were on Jesus who they know wouldn’t leave them go without additional blessing(spiritual or physical).
And so it is with us most times. God allows us find ourselves in some arid, patched and bereft places/situations of life; where we are left with no choice than to wholly and completely depend on Him.
When we’ve come to full realisation that He’s able to make All things out of whatever bared and bleak situation we find ourselves, we can then trust in His providenceand depend on Him as our Only source of help in all circumstance of life.
So no matter the degree of desolation in the remote we eventually find ourselves, and no matter what situation we’re in, certainly we can trust God to do far exceedingly above our imaginations(Eph3: 20), the things we cannot do for ourselves all from His glorious wealth of riches(Phil 4:19).

P.S: I believe you’ve been blest by this short piece?
All you’ve got to do is trust and find confidence in God in any circumstance of life you find yourself and believe He makes All things beautiful in His time.
God bless you.
Shalom!

Patience

Photo Credit: AwakenDesign

Hello readers,
How’s your day and week going?
I really do apologise for this long break reaching as many as has anticipated something from my end. There are just times when other things seem to take much more attention/ allotted time than required; even though it ought not be so since others are also important.
I do really appreciate you for your understanding. Much thanks.

Today, I like to be sharing with us on patience- a virtue so rare especially in today’s world. Not many people in fact consider it a virtue and as such, it can only be found in just a few and minute proportion of humanity.

When you consider the makeups of great people and the contributing virtues that brought them where they’re today, patience is never left out.
The word patience is defined as any of the following:
Ability to bear pains or trials calmly or without complaint.
Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain.
Not being hasty or impetuous.
Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity

Everyone of the definitions above apply here, so calmly and patiently read through even if I’m not able to touch an area that applies to you( hopefully I will).

Each bit or stage of our decisions and plans requires a quantum of patience in other to achieve desired goals and expectations.
Let’s begin gradually.
When everything we plan is progressing/ working smoothly, patience helps you wait for the next stage even though it gonna take place in few seconds. Of course what gives you the assurance is the fact that everything is in order and will go easily.
On the contrary, when the unseen/unexpected occur, disrupting the smoothness and easy-ride in our plans(short-term or long-term); the tendency exist for agitation, nervousness, fear and worries.
Being calm in the midst of this adversity or the resulting pains(worries of unsuccessfulness/lack of actualization) that ensue requires virtue – patience.
No wonder the scriptures will admonish; “Be careful for nothing but by Prayers and Supplications with Thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God” Philp 4:6.
Patience tells you that instead of worries, substitute Prayers.
Patience tells you that instead of pain, identify the particular issue and bring it to God.
Patience tells you to substitute faith for fear.
Patience tells you that instead of shouting aloud in regret and hopelessness, shout aloud of the things God has done.

(N/B: Calmness isn’t idleness and applies differently in either short-term or long-terms.)

On the short-term, every action that must be put in place to achieve desired goal within set time is necessary. While our actions are also necessary on the long-term, it require much of waiting, praying, listening, praying again and even waiting/more actions.
Patience does not require sitting idly except we receive that expressly as an instructions from God.
It will requires an understanding of the situation and allowing every divine and natural circumstances that must take its course to play.

Patience never walk alone but alongside faith and action.
But this action must be the correct one, applied correctly and in due time.
Abram at a point lost sight of God’s promises after a long waiting even though he sealed it with sacrifices (covenant). By the wife’s conviction he took a wrong step( wrong action), loosing faith just as Sarai did.

See how she concluded it ” The Lord has kept me from having any child…” Gen 16:2.
It seems He forgot that covenants never fail except the terms weren’t sealed.

Oh my God! The pressures are to cause us lose faith, take the wrong action like Abram and Sarai, but my prayers in such moments has always been God’s wisdom to take necessary actions to avoid idleness and mounted pressures(and I think yours should be same or even more).

While some people are naturally endowed with patience, it is important to state emphatically that full manifestation of patience is indeed a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22) little wonder it is a lacking virtue in so many even yet, our differing strength for patience.

As a way to patiently wait on God, we must always remember how important we are to God. Like the stars in the sky, God identifies each one of us by a name, checks on us momentarily, knows and sees what we go through.
So whether you aspire to reach the peak of excellence, achieve desired/set goals, patience can give them to you. Even if your circumstance has drain all the strength you’ve got for patience, don’t lose hope in God, be encouraged and seek Him to top-up.

“‘To whom will you compare me? 
Who is my equal??’ asked the Holy One.
Look into the heavens. Who created the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling them by their names. And He counts them to see that none are list or have strayed away…Is a 40:25ff.”

Yet even when our strength seem exhausted, waiting on God is a sure way to regain strength and vigour,soar higher and remain at the top.

P.S: If this has blessed you, you can’t afford to hunger and crave for patience and if you think your strength is exhausted, trust God for more and remember He is ever mindful of you.

Singing…

1. At the foot of the cross, where grace and suffering meet
You’ve shown me your love through the judgement you’ve received
You’ve won my heart X2

Refrain:
Now I can thread this ashes for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Come in to kiss the feet of mercy
I LAY EVERY BURDEN DOWN at the foot of the cross.

2. At the foot of the cross, where I’m made complete
You’ve given me life through the death you bore for me
You’ve won my heart X2
Refrain

For comments, request and suggestions, don’t forget to reach us by completing the form below. We’re sure to respond to your need as quickly as possible. God bless you.

…read more

Consider the Joy

Everyone of us encounter temptation and obstacles(impediments) in life. Be it an obstacle to our physical dreams and aspirations or to our spiritual race. These obstacles abound to impede our speed, break us down or probably destroy us completely. Mind you, some are there to make us stronger and come out better than we’re though.
When it comes to our spiritual race, there they exist in greater percentage, and have no regard for any so long as you’re determined to follow Christ and to finish strong.
If the devil could tempt Jesus and make effort to ‘deceive’ the author of a book using the lines of His writeup, then neither I or you is free from the devil’s temptation and deception.
In fact, if you do not experience any, maybe you need a proper check if you probably aren’t playing game with the devil.
Remember, Jesus already forewarned us of this, though, not as those without hope or without the necessity to overcome but as a reminder to emphasize its certainty and our preparedness and determination to scale: “… here on earth you’ll face many trials and tribulations but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”John 16:33.
Now even in the absence of other things, the hope from Christ is enough to help us scale.

It’s one thing recognising a temptation and another determining to overcome it.
As a lad in the Lord, so many things will still remain unclear as to what constitute sin and as a result, a swift departure from the path may be certain due to ignorance.
Well, today, even I myself don’t know how true it is for someone to say s/he is ignorant of the makeup of sin.
Our world today advertise sin per seconds, most children even know what’s sin than the adult.
Yes they still need guide and discipline in other not to consider some acts as ordinary especially in our present world where technology brings everything too close.
They require discipleship, nurtured in the word, constant guide along the right path and the help of the Holy Spirit.
Uncle Peter advised: ” As new born babe, desire the sincere spiritual milk that you may grow thereby.” 1Pet 2:2

For the adults, the challenge is not the recognition of sin and its forms but resistance and complete obedience to God.
Severally, when the urge to fall to these temptation ensue, you will hear the Holy Spirit speaking within you, developing ideas and grace to resist but when our flesh has craved and is completely immersed in these things, aligning with the prompting of the Holy Spirit becomes an issue. This results to war between the flesh and the spirit. Remember these two are never friends and can never be.
In Gal 5:16ff, Paul listed out the outcome of any decision made under the control of the Holy Spirit or the flesh.

” For our old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires which are contrary to our sinful nature. These two are constantly fighting each other, AND OUR CHOICE ARE NEVER FREE FROM THEIR CONFLICT.”

Whenever we’re faced with temptation, its a game of winning or loosing depending on your level of growth in the Lord. And for every game, someone must win, whereas the other automatically becomes a loser( its not optional).
For the loser, a saddened and heavy heart is sure, especially when you’ve putted in your best.
And for the winner, a heart full of joy and jubilation.

Two things are significant about winning: the Passion to win and the willingness to offer permission to the Holy Spirit for assistance(Strength).

And you know the Holy Spirit is meek and gentle in character. He will teach us, caution us, help us see a bigger picture as to make better decisions but the choice is left to us.
So many of us desire desperately to win in every of our spiritual battles. That’s why when there’s a call for rededication, you see tears flow, broken and remorseful hearts that felt shouldn’t have been found wanting.
One thing is sure for each of those moments we failed that grace was and is readily made available to us but our willingness to permit the Holy Spirit to help us becomes our major issue.

I personally can recount of some battles I’ve lost. The regret, remorse and pains that filled my heart may sometimes end up keeping me from moving ahead or even believing I can again overcome. Of course grace has really played significant roles in my life on these occasions and its never taken for granted.
On the contrary, I can never forget some I’ve won and at each end of the battle I feel the joy deep within my heart especially when I don’t expect it to be easy.
That joy keeps me going and boasted to believe I can win similar one or even greater subsequent ones.

No wonder the writer of Hebrew records and encourage; “Therefore since we are surrounded by so a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight that does so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame; and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2.

The passions and desires of our sinful nature will always hunt us and only when we remember that we’ve nailed them to the Cross of Christ, recognise the grace made available to us and consider the glory and joy which will be God’s and ours respectively, can we overcome its urge and subject them continuously under our feet.

May we find grace to overcome always. You shall overcome. Amen.

P.S: If this piece has encouraged you, all you need do is appreciate God and let’s seek ways to continuously win the battles of the life cos we’re wired to win.
Don’t fail to reach us through the details on our contact page if you have any issue you’ll like us to share, write or encourage.
God bless you.
Do have a great week ahead.

Easy Way?

Most of life's path is often full of struggles and difficulties as such its much rare finding an easy means to your goal. When our experience is made much of struggles and we expect God to make things easy soonest and its not forthcoming, we gradually get so weary to the extent of giving up even on several issues of life.
Today, in fact technology is making things much more easier and faster than it were before. This technological changes has left so many with a preconception that things should and will always be easy, fast and smart as the speed of light.
Some will rather prefer no other means except the shortest that leads to their 'destination'.
Of course the desire to seek short means is humane and has existed from the inception of creation but tends to be quite much today.

We always anticipate an easy path when God sends us on errand, an easy means to His purpose for us, shortcuts to our dreams and destiny etc.
So many often don't bother to take a thoughtful consideration.
What could the path look like?
What will the end be??
Is it likely to yield the desired outcome???
Even when they understand fully that the endpoint of the short means is disastrous, they still endanger themselves to be prey of such route simply cos their mind is so conditioned and preoccupied by short means- fastest route.

Little or nobody consider it sane anymore to tarry along a long path.
In fact, when you think of the long route, you're considered a big fool, you're described with a common term ju man- novice, immature etc not just by anybody but acquaintance per say.
Well, their opinions really may not count all the time cos you're the very person to wear the boot.
In other to make the right choice, we must put to remembrance our related experiences or that of others, consider the likely effect or consequence that may result and seek God's guidance.
The question then is, how often do we try to fathom the end of the route when we're in a hurry to commence our journey??
Even with our veiled imagination, we may still not be able to comprehend vividly the outcome at the end.
If such were possible, perhaps, we will be better guided on which route is best. Thus, it is not only important to conceptualize the path but also seeking God's guidance.


When the Israelites has wailed over their humiliation in Egypt for several years, at God's command Pharaoh gave up in holding back to them.
With their anticipation for The Promised Land- Covenant Land: a land flowing with milk and honey, ofcourse they would hope to get there within seconds if possible to enjoy the good of that land.
Unfortunately God knowing their heart decided to lead them along the wilderness.
When you carefully consider the scripture about their Exodus from Egypt, the experience was more of a detour when there exist a shortest distance between Egypt and Canaan. God rather led them through the wilderness. Exo 13:17ff.

Let's look at that action humanly now. Does it look sane leading the ones you love along a 'stressful/uneasy' path?
Of course not, so long as we do not see in the light of God.

" Who has known the mind of the Lord, who can tell what He is thinking? Who has ever given Him counsel? 1Corinth 2:16, Isa 40:13.
For no eyes has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him- Isa 64:4"

God specifically told Moses, follow the path of the wilderness leading through the Red Sea to Canaan stating His reasons: " Perhaps if the people are faced with a battle along the path running to the Philistine's land, they might change their minds and return to Egypt".
Does that prevent them from obstacles, pains and struggles along the wilderness?? No.
In fact, it seem that they met more along that path which extended each day's journey lasting for a year. Gesssssssss! That's incredible & unbelievable.
A forty days journey took forty years. If they were to overcome 40 challenges through their journey, that will imply 14,600 number of pains, tears, bitterness, hunger, bereavement etc.
Had they not gotten to Canaan even in less that forty days if they had followed the land of the Philistine? Yes of course, though to our imagination still.
God's decision and time are always the best for us at any moment. Our major challenge remains impatience.

The fact is, every of our life's path is made of certain degrees of obstacles and challenges. And God knowing His beloved(you) full well, wouldn't subject them to such without reasons. He didn't just sent them along that path without guide but through the day and night, the pillar of cloud and fire respectively were their compass.
God leads us along the path with opportunities to learn, and gain prerequisite knowledge to our destination. Each obstacle we successfully overcome becomes a stepping stone to another.
Every step is guided and each experience is worth it and these experiences cumulatively create/turning a baby into a full grown, matured and strong adult in every sense. James1:2-4, 1Pet 1:7.


This mean there are experiences God expects us to learn whenever we're faced with challenges, whenever our request isn't granted, whenever we lose something/someone we cherish so much - God's delay are not His denials. Even in His denial of our particular need, there's a lesson He's placed before us.

And then I ask myself a simple question each time I'm faced with a challenge. How much of the experience for this path I'm I learning/have I learnt??
What in particular does God want me/you to learn in our challenging times?

P.S: In case you wonder why this pieces ended with a question, its simply because I don't even have your satisfactory answer to that question neither do I have that of mine but going to God in prayers is the means to that.
If this pieces has blessed you, all you've got to do is finding an answer to your questions.
If you have areas you'll like us to share, don't hesitate to place a call or forward a message with the details on our contact page.
God bless you.
Shalom!

Three Stranded Cord

I love to sincerely apologise for the lateness of this post as scheduled. This isn't intentional but resulting from my ill health and I think its for a purpose.

Its wonderful realising we weren't made to be wholly introverts, even when you can classified yourself as such; we always want to find someone to tell a story, someone to air our problems, share our visions and dreams, share our pains, someone to love & be loved and confide to etc.
That's really perfect, sweet and wonderful especially in marriage, I can imagine it(even though I'm not married).
When it comes to marriage where you completely spend the rest of your life with each other notwithstanding the differences & challenges that abounds, it means a careful decision need be made.

Two, the scriptures say is better than one, perhaps is one of the reasons people love to find a companion.
Finding a compatible partner who will love, cherish, tolerate and caution/ rebuke your errors and mistakes is what everyone seek in a relationship.
But the sincere truth remains that no such perfect person exist alone and as such, no matter how compatible you both might be, your differences remain, your errors will surface someday. It's through this married period that you both begin to understand more of the differences you never noticed during courtship and work on each other.

No matter how loved you both might be, fault will be seen, each person will be provoked or err someday.
How then can both person from a different background and culture go together?
They must be able to see or reason in agreement.
One party must be willing to believe, sacrifice even when it hurts and accept the other's view and ability even if their reasons may not be realistically visible.
Each person must be willing to forgive and let go of each other's error.
This can only be possible if love exist amongst you.

It is love that corrects with respect, teaches without pride, rebuke with humility and consistently make effort in patience for both to see everything in the same perspective in other to move in one direction.

The question then is:
Will it always be so?
Won't there be time to probably get angry because s/he isn't teachable?
Won't their be time for s/he to see in my own view?
Must it always be you, you, you and you?
What about me?

The truth is, our spirit and soul being resides in this mortal body thus, for every effort we make, someday the body will grow weary and we will gradually get tied of:
Being patient and kind to the other person if its not also coming from them.
Being humble and subjecting our views to he's/ her's.
Being selfless for the benefit of the other.
Believing in him/her.
Or even get tied of tolerating the other etc.
You'll hear other voices saying enough, s/he isn't ready to learn, s/he is not appreciative, rude and that and that and that.
The weaknesses that makes us human, that we thought had disappeared will again begin to germinate.
The errors, faults and shortcomings you taught were negligible has now become too great and difficult to overlook, you begin to get irritated even by the things that had previously made you smile, brought you laugher or even completes your day; love begins to wax cold.

It could in fact be the other party and you're making every effort to save it yet its not working and your mindset could be nothing but giving up.
The thoughts to stay away or even divorce will gradually usurp and then foolish ideas that will facilitate it will begin to flow from nowhere.
Oh! God...
Where did I get it all wrong?
Why didn't I notice these things before now??
Why didn't I follow that guy/girl???
Through these times, 'love' has been the only bond between you both. Why is it waxing cold now? Where has it gone to?? What else is missing???
Just be patient a little more and you've got to know why.

A friend of mine joined me to a wedding in the Church and after every inquisition from both parties and the congregation on reasons why the couples may not be joined together, finding none, the priest declared them husband & wife, with their hands knitted with a pastoral stole.
And she asked me ' Why is the pastor tying them?'
Then I trying giving a simple illustration to settle her mind but postponed the discussion further till I'm able to get an illustrative tool.
Fortunately later during the day, I got two kind of braided ropes I needed for a work. One, with simple double braid and the other triple and I gave them to her as little assignment to help me out in unbraiding each.
It took her quite sometime to loose the triple braided rope cos she had to roll each single length over the other till its loose end to end.
When she was done with that, she exhaled and said ' e no easy oooo- its not easy'.
Then she quickly located each pieces of the double braided rope and simply held each end, drew it and extended each single length.
Then I asked her, how did you see the ease in loosing both types of rope? How come you finished the second one so easily??
She smiled and said ' the double braids is simpler, in fact very simpler'
Then I drew her attention back to the weeding and explained to her thus:
Each two person finds something interesting amongst each and that brings a feeling of mutual benefit and love in them. When both desires and continue to see more of that, it gives them the propensity that they both can make something good out of it.
They may go forward searching and comparing their divine purpose, goals and aspirations to see that both are compatible or one can compliment the other.
They will then decide whether they can spend the rest of their life with each other after other relevant considerations.
And then a decision for marriage is made.
The stole with which the pastor tied them symbolically represent a Third Strand, a Sweetener, a Bond to keep them together in union till they're parted by death.
That answers your question I'm sure?

Having seen, known and recognised possible weaknesses and strengths in each other, does it tell if each person is void of errors and faults other than those known?
Of course not.
Well, yes to some anyway.
But circumstances abound to separate you,
Forces are there to pull you apart,
Finances will attempt to,
Friends and relatives may do same,
Irritating attitudes will so same.

Your love will grow weak but Christ is both the Bond and the Third Strand that will keep you together, actively bonded, unbreakable, tough, continually loving and moving.

Take away the Third Strand, the bond is weak and bound to be broken.
Take away the Third Strand, there's no marriage sweetener.
Take away the Third Strand, each strand only see but itself. Envy will flow, hatred will flow, jealousy will return, pride will tell you' I'm still here', and selfishness will say ' I'm part and parcel of you, did you forget?'
But when Christ- Third Strand is in place, He does not only knit both of the two, He intertwine with each strand (person) wholly, creating a uniformity and homogeneity in all strand making them just Three Strand but One.

P.S: Let me use this medium to say congratulations to those whose image appear here while praying that their bonding strand be found in Christ.

If this pieces has blessed you, find out what number of strand your union is. If you're yet marriage, be sure in both cases you're bonded/ will be bond by nothing else other than Christ.
It can only be Three Strand.

...read more

Called to Success or Faithfulness

Hello friends & readers

Trust God your day’s going smoothly and you’ve no reason whatsoever stressing yourself in the just resuming week?
Well, if that’s the case, whatever maybe the cause, don’t forget to find time for relaxation & refreshing. You can read up one of our previous articles on Service & Solitude on this issue.

Today I like to dedicate this as a gift on my birthday to all my fathers in the Lord, mothers and youths who understands their place in making positive impact in the general public (especially children) and in the reconciliatory mission.

We tend to define our goals as a success by the level of achievement we make at the end of each. Though our perspectives differ when it comes to the definition for success in life.
To some, it is fulfilling God’s purpose and to others success is achieving set goals and objective and yet to another set, success is being happy – the means to happiness is not a consideration factor to them.
Well, as for me, I will go with the first two definitions and the issue then is knowing what’s God’s purpose for you.
It had been intriguing going further in other to discover God’s purpose for us but please pardon me cos I will like to leave it here till some other day.

Defining success in terms of our set goals is left to the individual’s conclusion whether every objective was achieved.
On the other hand defining success isn’t very easy when it comes to a goal set by another person. The reason is this, first every objective of the goal must be understood. Secondly each event or milestone of the project/goal must be executed in line with the plan.
Thirdly, the result must be to the satisfaction of the owner/stakeholder.

Success in life generally, I believe is divine and eternal and that makes it a bit challenging to infer that one is successful. Since a common view to success is tied to the number and magnitude of achievements made.
Everyone then pursue to see positive results/achieve a lot in other to be described as such if not become fame.

Does it then mean that fame is success?
Does wealth then mean success??

In the call for ministry, ministers, preachers and evangelist, teachers etc are easily described as successful people using the magnitude of their congregation, effectiveness, prophetic powers, miracles performed and even the amount of wealth they’ve accumulated as statistics.
Then I begin to wonder, does God also use these statistical values for His measurement to describe a successful minister?
Well, maybe to some extent and maybe not.

What then could really be the rest of His others measuring tool if part is?
That’s left for God to answer anyway.

So many ministers today can easily come to conclusion after a long delay of reformation, transformation and divine wind of encounter/revival in their congregation, that God made a mistake calling them into ministry simply because their congregation isn’t growing( in all ramification) like others.
Does that make God a lair if you’re sure He called you?

Yes it is true, so many weren’t called, yet they go out in the name of the Lord as messengers and oddly many of today’s ‘miracles’ emanate from their end. God certainly knows those He called. Like the words of a child ”

God never called them neither did they call God but they gave God a flash( as in a phone flash) and tell the world ‘God has called me’“.

The little few called begin to measure themselves with the uncalled. The world and even members of the congregation today make things worse by complaining and comparing their church with others and heaping more burdens on minister.

That your ministry isn’t flourishing as expected,
That your congregation isn’t growing rapidly,
That your disciples aren’t living out the message,
That you pray for healing and it isn’t forth coming,
That you cannot perform miracles,
That your finance isn’t growing,
That you’re persecuted,
That some people even your overseer and fellow ministers hated you,
That life isn’t encouraging, whatever natural reason you might think of etc, isn’t enough reason to get discouraged.

John Piper said ” I am so discouraged. I am so blank. I feel like there are opponents on every side”  when he wanted to leave the ministry, yet he never walked away since 1986.
Today he’s well known cos of the numerous people he had led to God.

God called Jeremiah right from the womb and gave him every word of assurance( Jer 1:4-5). These words were enough to keep him going in the face of Any hurdle to his call yet his ministry never thrived like others. His people hated him more than any other. His people never repented despite his lamentation and rawness of his message and prophecies. He saw them slaughtered, enslaved and scattered, when he pleaded for Judah, the Lord rejected his plea;  vowed to bring death, war, famine and destruction to whom it’s due.
Yes he felt so bad regretting his birth by the mother saying
” Alas!, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends” (Jer 15:10 ) but he continued till the end.

Your ministry may be like that of Jeremiah, Moses and others who never tasted success but its not enough reasons to give up on God or walk away from your call because you may not be called to a visible success but unto faithfulness.
And surely, your reward for being faithful till the end will come soonest.

Do you sense a call from God? Where in your ministry have you encountered discouraged?? How do you define success???
Are those discouragement enough to give up on God????

If this pieces has truly blessed you, all you need do is appreciate God for grace to hace heldon till now and find reasons to continue to trust and walk faithfully with Him.

Shalom!

..read up more