Teach Nigeria to number Her days…

Happy Independence Day celebration to you all.

It is interesting how we as a nation have come this far, we have come through a lot of things since we became a nation; civil war, militancy, coup, political crisis, transition from military rule to democracy and the latest one insurgency etc. It is amazing how we have come through it all and still remain as a nation. Each time I think of how we have come through it all, this scripture always proves true ‘…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17).

Come to think of it, if Nigeria was a human being… wow… she is growing old ooo!

A lot of people have different argument on whether we should celebrate as a nation or not, I have my own opinion also, but above all, I have a prayer ‘...teach us (Nigeria) to number our (Her) days (oh Lord) that we (she) may apply our (Her) heart unto wisdom (that she is growing old ooo)’ Prov. 90:12 

God bless Nigeria.

Following Jesus from a distance

"And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end." Matt 26:58

'Backsliding is not only when you turn back from Him, but also when you refuse to follow Him closely as before'

The distractions from our society and the effort we put into trying to make a living is practically seperating us from our maker. But since we are still walking in a close enough sight to what we used to be/do, we do not know we are already slidding back and if care is not taking, it is a matter of time and He will be out of sight.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Cor 13:12

Shalom.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO VIEW THE UPCOMING BLOOD-HARVEST-SUPER MOON THAT CAPS THE EPIC TETRAD

Aimee Herd : Sep 25, 2015 : EarthSky.org

"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…'" Gen.1:14

No doubt you've been hearing about the upcoming "Blood Moon" (lunar eclipse) on the night of Sept. 27-29depending on where you live. (Photo by Fred Espenak/via EarthSky.org)

What makes this one very special is that it is also a Harvest Moon and a Super Moon, and on a spiritual level, it occurs during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles.

This Blood Moon is the grand finale of the "tetrad" of 4 lunar eclipses (or Blood Moons—called such because Earth's shadow causes the moon to appear reddish in color) that have occurred at 6-month intervals.

If you are living in the USA, the Super/Blood/Harvest moon will take place in the early evening of Sunday, September 27th—(that's September 28 at 2:51 Universal Time).

A great resource for all things related to this spectacular celestial event is EarthSky.org, which explains why this full moon is called a Harvest Moon, a Super Moon and a Blood Moon, as well as exactly when you will be able to view it where you live.

To access this info from EarthSky, click here.

How did Jesus Christ do it?

 

In our present society where we have a lot of and different types of public address systems in our Churches and preaching grounds before our ministers and preachers can preach, HOW DID JESUS CHRIST PREACH TO THE CROWD WITHOUT A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AND THEY ALL HEARD HIM?

Society, the Church and same sex marriages

Marriage is a fundamental social institution that does not exist just for the emotional satisfaction of two individuals but for the greater good of the community which stands under the blessing or curse of God. Societies that put emotional fulfillment before right actions and principles will soon give way to a multitude of addictions and deep corruptions and collapse. God will judge any society that institutes same sex marriages.

When was Jesus Christ Crucified and Resurrected? Definitely Not Good Friday

Source: Designpics

When was Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected? Did He really die on Good Friday and come back to life on Easter Sunday?

Jesus Christ said He would be in the grave for three days and three nights. How can you count that from Good Friday afternoon to Easter Sunday morning?

Answer:

WALKING WITH GOD

I remember growing up, I had this friend who we will walk each other home after every visit.

At some time, we would have walked from my house to his own house in the bid of my trying to see him off home. Whenever this happen, we decide to walk back half way between our homes and try to say the goodbyes for the day; we enjoyed each other company and would have lost the sense of time and distance while talking. I know this is not new to you if you had/have a friend like mine.

I was given this illustration about Enoch’s walk with God. Whenever God came down for a visit, Enoch would see Him off and return back home, sometimes after so many days. Until one day, he got caught up so much in the conversation that he didn’t come back again because God took him. I like the version that says “Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him.” Gen 5:24(MSG) - …’he was simply gone’ (lost his person into the person of God, forgot his cares and was consumed in the thought of God…) you can understand/interpret that on and on in the perspective of your experience every time you fellowship.

Would you rather be lost in yourself, your cares or the worldly cares?

He is calling you today to a walk with Him, come off to a place of rest.

Fighting for the soul of Nigeria

The recent political situation in Nigeria is becoming really scary, when every fabrics of our existence as a nation (the religious settings, traditional leaderships, our markets, our youths, entertainment circles etc.) are all been attacked with MONEY in an attempt to corrupt it. A lot of conscience have been bought by MAMMON; it is so scary that even the saints are talking of collecting their share and still cast their vote anywhere they wish – what an irony.

Knowing God’s Voice

‘…His sheep follow him because they know his voice.’

John 10:4 NIV

Here are seven occasions when knowing God’s voice is all-important: 

Samson: Six packs or Seven locks

The general perception of a strong guy is when he has six packs and big abs; something like a supper man physique. In fact, that fits into the picture of a wrestler or a boxing champion. A lot of these people and guys work a lot on trying to get this kind of feature. My question is does it really depict strength?

The Silent years in Jesus’ Life (Part 2)

It is obvious that the period of 18 years which is between 12 to 30 years of Jesus life was not expressly written about, but we are not in total darkness as to what he did or would have done as regards the challenges raised in the Part 1 of this article.

It is worthy of note that Jesus had Godly parents, His mother a virgin accepted a word from God that could cause her public shame, Luke 1: 38. His father Joseph too was adjudged a righteous man, Matt 1:19.

This gave a good foundation to understand the kind of persons that gave him counsel and also the kind of persons he submitted to. ‘Then he went down to Nazareth with them and WAS OBEDIENT TO THEM’. (Luke 2:51a)

Christmas: Reincarnation of Herods – Are you one of them?

A story was told of a family that gave birth to a baby and invited friends and families to celebrate with them. As the guests come in for the celebration, they kept dropping their jackets on the couch because it was cold outside. Whenever anybody came into the house, he or she either hangs or drop the jacket and goes off shouting in celebration of either meeting a long lost friend or relative, and so the celebration continues.

At a point, someone asked, where is the baby we came to celebrate? Alarmed by that question everybody began to search for the baby. Suddenly, the mother remembered she laid the baby on the couch. As she rushed to lift off all the jackets on the couch, alas the baby has suffocated and died. What a tragedy! The reason for their celebration is dead because they did not pay attention.

Politics and Marriage our Nigeria Experience

It is very notable that our patriarch in the bible all were particular about the kindred and family their children especially their heirs get married to. Also the same is the advice of our parents and elders in the society. At times we flaunt this advice and get away with it as we believe every person is different on their own and should be treated differently, but most of the time we get our fingers burnt when we see the effect that the family a person came from can have on them. “If your parents never had children, chances are you won’t, either”. Dick Cavett

Nigeria politics a case of how do you answer a fool

The recent event in the past week in our politics has thrown up some reactions among the elites and the religious circle. Some have blamed the members of the federal house of representative for jumping the fence, saying it is not an honorable thing to do while others are saying that that is the right thing to do.

Same day, in the Ekiti State house of assembly, Seven house members impeached the speaker of the state house while the remaining house member ran away from the state saying their lives where threatened and would prefer to be honorable by going to the law court. People have also said they should have waited in there State and defend their mandate.

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM

In our world where we want to boast and pride ourselves in what we have or have achieved and look with haughtiness because of our influences and affluence,

This is what the Lord says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,  but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,"  declares the Lord.  Jer 9:23-24 NIV

The knowledge of and about God humbles a man because he will see and realize his vanity/ nothingness without him.

In this end time with all its peril and uncertainty; “…but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Dan 11:32-33 NKJV

Little wonder Paul after all and through all still cry out and say;  

“… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,..” Phil 3:10-11 NKJV

Lord I want to know you more. Help us to see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly day by day. Amen.

God of Serendipity

Moses had a dream at 40 years of age but had forgotten about it at 80. He had resorted to working in the business of his father in-law. One day when he left the house to look for his daily living as usual, he had a life changing discovery that brought him back on the part of destiny.

Saul Kish went out on a search for his fathers’ asses, but in his search for them he had a life changing discovery that stamped his name on the sands of time.

One day, Ruth went out to gather sheaves but came having a life changing encounter.

The woman beside the well wanted to come and fetch water as usual but on that faithful day he had a wonderful discovery; a man that told her everything she had ever done. Hence, her life and story was changed forever.

All this people were just going about their life not knowing that the hand of God was on them to bring them into a SERENDIPITOUS experience and after such encounter there was a shift in the story of there life.

You may have started this year and it looked like everything still continues as usual, I want you to watch out for the God of Serendipity.

‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way’

Adapted from Mensah Otabil

The Silent years in Jesus’ life

“What was happening in the life of Jesus between 12 and 30 years, I would like to know? Have you ever thought of that before?” I was asked by a young man.

“Did He ever experience teenage pressures?”

“Did he have friends they played together? If he did, where did they disappear to when he became 30?”

“Did His friends ever disappoint him or broke His heart or said any bad thing about Him and He wanted to retaliate?”

“Was He faced with the pressure of trying to ‘sag’ His trousers, have girl friends, and hang out at joints or clubs if there were any?”

AN ADVENTURER’S STORY

It was a bright early morning in a game reserve, as I wanted to enter, ‘’Hay guy where are you going?’’ said the kite. ‘’Don’t you know the animals are having their morning devotion? I won’t be surprised, we are not like you human beings who wake up having your day started with a lot of life worries’’. “I thank God” interrupted the peacock coming from the morning devotion together with the cow. “All the rich people in the world even Solomon wasn’t well dressed, as I am, even the best known designers like Nike, Adidas et cetera are not able to make a design as beautiful as this”.

“As for my shoes” the cow cuts in, “there has never being a fitting and life long lasting shoes in the world with all the leathers you have. So for all these and others we have to thank God before we begin the day. “Cow what are you waiting for? ‘’Said the Ant. “We have a visitor’’, he replied ‘’O man, I guess you are in search of what to eat? We ants, 

GIVE ME ISAAC

God:   Give me Isaac!

Me:    Why Isaac? Why not meet Abraham

God:   You are Abraham

Me:    Here you come, then where is Isaac?

God:   Isaac? That gift, talent and the opportunities which you’re not entitled to because of your ‘’age’’, but I gave you, is he?

Me:    So you are now collecting him back?

God:   No! I’m saying sacrifice him

Me:    Ok! Ok! I will gather and do just that now, is that ok by you?

God:   No!

Me:    Here we come again, what else?

God:   I want you to sacrifice him at Moriah

Me:    No, No! You are getting too far. Do you know what I have gone through to convince Sarah to allow me sacrifice him? I have to take him to Mesopotamia for God’s sake, Moriah is local, Old fashioned, too demanding and rugged. Sarah wouldn’t even agree to that, not even going.

God:   She wouldn’t understand because she laughed when I wanted to give him to you she doesn’t have to go with you because she pushed you to having Ishmael.

Me:    Alright, you won. Ok! You won

God:   Remember it is cheerfully given Isaac

Me:    Now, Moriah, I come alone without Sarah. I come, without Ishmael. I come, my servants. I come, let Isaac now be accepted.

God:   Wait! He is a gift; that is, when I gave him, I knew I wouldn’t take him back

Me:    So you are trying me, or should I say testing me?

God:   No! I am God. I test no one

Me:    So what’s your mission for bringing me all this way?

God:   For you brought Isaac, not only that, but to this mountain, not minding Sarah’s idea of fashion and all sorts, or your desire for fame and some more, I am giving you this calf, as if that is no enough to sustain you all you all your life, I am giving you the ‘’whole earth”

Me:    JEHOVAH JIREH!

THE COLT WITHOUT JESUS

It is another Passover feast, people begin to gather together, buy gifts and send gift items to loved ones and so on.

Also, can you remember that it was just last year that Jesus rode on a colt through this route and people were shouting ‘’hosanna!’’, hailing Him and spreading their clothes and palm fronds on the ground for the colt to step on; it was also a glorious day for the colt to be used as the Lord’s chosen vessel.

However, do you know what happened just yesterday? That same colt moved majestically through this same path again, looking right and left, but it did not catch anybody’s attention. In fact, it was languishing in a state of disappointment about how the crowd did not hail and honor it this time around, it crossed the path of a truck pusher who poured dirt on it and shouted; ‘’who is the owner of this stupid ass?’’ the colt was enraged and cried aloud; ‘’Have you all forgotten me?! I was the one who carried Jesus and you honored and gave me a royal welcome as He rode on my back. Have you suddenly forgotten? ’’

Then in the midst of these lamentations. It was approached by an elderly Jewish man who said to it;’ have you forgotten that you are just an ordinary colt? The honor you received was all because you carried Jesus on your back, and if you want that honor once more, go and carry Jesus again and stop disturbing both yourself and the rest of us.’ With a great sense of sober reflection, the colt consequently went back home and learnt not to go out on its own orders.

Are you like this colt? ”…for without me, you can do nothing…’’ John 15:5