In one of his messages, Pastor E A Adeboye said there is someone in the congregation who had been involved in several killings. He said such a person should stand up because God has decided to forgive him/her. All he did was say some words of prayer for 'those' who stood up.
Mind you lives have been wasted. The life of a potential lawyer is probably one of them. The bread winner of a family might have been a victim. One of those who got killed is possibly destined to positively affect the whole world. Several potentials ended untapped.
Sincerely, if I were God; I'll make a public show of the merciless and shameful death that will be the lot of these murderers. But, who am I to question God. His judgement is final.
Won't it therefore be wise to secure oneself from these unscrupulous and ruthless elements? Will you consider hidding from them an act of cowardice? To make matters worst, these people are everywhere. Changing location is certainly not the answer. Where do we then hide?
If you ask me, I'll suggest a hide out. It's right about the safest place anyone can be. No witch, no assasin, no individual, no power of darkness can penetrate the place. It is so fortified that no opponent dares it.
The place is called 'the secret place of the most high'. Anyone residing here is automatically under the shadow of the Almighty God and you know where shadow stays right? It's always beside its owner.
God has opened his arms wide enough to contain everyone who accept his offer of love. And like a mother hen, he broods over and protect his own from these 'hawks'. As for me; I refuse to be wasted, join me please!
All you need do is confess your sins to God and ask that He forgives and cleanse you. Promise to do his good will henceforth. I want to welcome you to 'the secret place of the most high if you've genuinely did that! Stay right here to maintain your safety. Go to the nearest Bible-believing church and associate with them, it will help keep you under the shadow of the Almighty.
Thursday 31 May 2012
Wednesday 23 May 2012
KNOWN ENEMY
An African proverb says “an enemy that you know can no longer harm you”. This however, does not hold true for some of us who know our weaknesses and still suffer because of their poor management. It is commendable that we are sometime able to frankly identify our weaknesses. It is a different ball game to see to the proper management of such weaknesses. What then is a weakness?
Weakness is a character or possession that one is so much attached to even if it prevents the fulfillment of one’s purpose. There was a time in my life when laziness dealt with me. I knew I was lazy and often time blame laziness for my misfortune. But, I was not determined enough to request for God’s backing in order to combat laziness and instill hard work in myself. Thank God for His timely help when I later asked for it.
I was discussing with a young man of about 24, 25 years old. He told me that he should have been a graduate considering when he finished his secondary school education but for stubbornness. Later that same day, he annoyingly left home and decided to leave for the village the next morning just because of his sister’s negligible provocation. He was able to identify his weakness but could not tame it.
The rich young man in the New Testament was too proud to do away with his weakness and was unable to fulfill his vision of having eternal life. When you sincerely do not know your weakness, prayerfully ask God and He will point it out to you. Honest people can also tell you but do not behave like that young rich man who got angry when told to get rid of his riches –which was his weakness. Rather, acknowledge it and start the process of checkmating it.
When you know your weakness, you have conquered it twenty percent. Your determination and work towards putting it under control increases the percent to sixty. God’s introduction into the plan makes it hundred percent. Just as the knowledge of your weakness alone cannot put it under control, so can your determination and work do little or nothing about it. Everything must go together.
Peter knew he cannot do anything without Jesus. He was therefore determined to do anything to stop him from been taken away. Unfortunately for him, Jesus was taken away and he had to face his weakness squarely. With determination and God’s backing through Holy Spirit, he overcame after all. Three thousand men gave their lives to Jesus after his first sermon.
That is to prove to you that your determination and work without God is nothing. Identify your weakness(es) today and start the process of combating it. Read relevant books, take advice from experienced individuals and live under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This may be a life long process!
Weakness is a character or possession that one is so much attached to even if it prevents the fulfillment of one’s purpose. There was a time in my life when laziness dealt with me. I knew I was lazy and often time blame laziness for my misfortune. But, I was not determined enough to request for God’s backing in order to combat laziness and instill hard work in myself. Thank God for His timely help when I later asked for it.
I was discussing with a young man of about 24, 25 years old. He told me that he should have been a graduate considering when he finished his secondary school education but for stubbornness. Later that same day, he annoyingly left home and decided to leave for the village the next morning just because of his sister’s negligible provocation. He was able to identify his weakness but could not tame it.
The rich young man in the New Testament was too proud to do away with his weakness and was unable to fulfill his vision of having eternal life. When you sincerely do not know your weakness, prayerfully ask God and He will point it out to you. Honest people can also tell you but do not behave like that young rich man who got angry when told to get rid of his riches –which was his weakness. Rather, acknowledge it and start the process of checkmating it.
When you know your weakness, you have conquered it twenty percent. Your determination and work towards putting it under control increases the percent to sixty. God’s introduction into the plan makes it hundred percent. Just as the knowledge of your weakness alone cannot put it under control, so can your determination and work do little or nothing about it. Everything must go together.
Peter knew he cannot do anything without Jesus. He was therefore determined to do anything to stop him from been taken away. Unfortunately for him, Jesus was taken away and he had to face his weakness squarely. With determination and God’s backing through Holy Spirit, he overcame after all. Three thousand men gave their lives to Jesus after his first sermon.
That is to prove to you that your determination and work without God is nothing. Identify your weakness(es) today and start the process of combating it. Read relevant books, take advice from experienced individuals and live under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This may be a life long process!
Sunday 20 May 2012
WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING
A preacher once woke a man sleeping on the decking of his house with his bell early in the morning. The man was challenged seeing someone go about, doing God’s work. After sometime, he (the man) saw a woman who was carrying what he assumed to be valuable goods. The woman got to a junction and dropped the load so as to take the remnant.
Before she came, the preacher was already on his way back. When he (the preacher) got to where the woman kept her goods, he stopped jingling his bell and checked to make sure no one is around. Being convinced that no one is watching, he took the goods and attempted to go away with them. Unknown to him was the fact that someone was up there watching.
This is a very sad funny story but we all at one point or the other, find ourselves in this kind of situation. We often look right, left, front and back to be sure no one is watching. Unfortunately, we do not remember to look up or down. Looking down might at least remind us of our death. It might remind us the fact that everything is vanity and nothing more. It could also bring to mind that men are from ground and there will they return.
Up there is an eye that never blinks. An eye that never miss one out of the eighty-six thousand, four hundred(86, 400) seconds in a day. The eye sees, analyzes and record every action of each individual human, simultaneously. It is capable of playing back what had been recorded several millenniums back. Is the fear of such an awesome eye not worth it? When no one is watching…God is!
Before she came, the preacher was already on his way back. When he (the preacher) got to where the woman kept her goods, he stopped jingling his bell and checked to make sure no one is around. Being convinced that no one is watching, he took the goods and attempted to go away with them. Unknown to him was the fact that someone was up there watching.
This is a very sad funny story but we all at one point or the other, find ourselves in this kind of situation. We often look right, left, front and back to be sure no one is watching. Unfortunately, we do not remember to look up or down. Looking down might at least remind us of our death. It might remind us the fact that everything is vanity and nothing more. It could also bring to mind that men are from ground and there will they return.
Up there is an eye that never blinks. An eye that never miss one out of the eighty-six thousand, four hundred(86, 400) seconds in a day. The eye sees, analyzes and record every action of each individual human, simultaneously. It is capable of playing back what had been recorded several millenniums back. Is the fear of such an awesome eye not worth it? When no one is watching…God is!
Saturday 19 May 2012
THERMOSTATIC AND THERMOMETRIC BEINGS
Thermometer is an instrument that measures the temperature of a body. It does this by adjusting its own temperature to that of the body it comes in contact with. Thermostat on the other hand, is an instrument used for keeping the temperature of a place constant. It does this by constantly supplying heat until the environmental temperature equals the one it gives out.
Human beings can be grouped either as 'thermometric being' or 'thermostatic being'. Don't even try looking up these grouping in any Science textbook neither should you 'Google' it -you won't find them anywhere else!
Some people are just like the chameleon. They adjust their attitude to suite that of those living wherever they find themselves. They care so much about what people will say if seen doing the right thing as against the wrong thing in vogue. These people are those I call the 'thermometric beings'! They are easily influenced.
When a 'thermostatic being' gets to a gathering, boredom becomes a past experience. They cannot be in a place without everyone noticing. Everybody in the street soon start doing whatever they do. They influence!
Where do you belong? For me, I'm a 'thermometstatic being'! (That's a joke). Seriously, let's ask ourselves these seemingly negligible questions: Do I really have to follow multitude to do evil? Do I have to take or give bribe because people do it? Do I have to have sex before marriage because my friends do it? Do I have to drop an empty sachet of 'pure water' because there are thousands of it lying of the floor? Do I have to cheat before I can pass an exam? Do I have to dress indecently just because it's the trendy fashion? Do I have to rain abuses on policemen because of...(no comment)? Do I have to chant curses on PHCN officials each time there's power cut? I can go on and on... We must learn to do the right things not minding what others do. Let others be positively influenced by you!
Human beings can be grouped either as 'thermometric being' or 'thermostatic being'. Don't even try looking up these grouping in any Science textbook neither should you 'Google' it -you won't find them anywhere else!
Some people are just like the chameleon. They adjust their attitude to suite that of those living wherever they find themselves. They care so much about what people will say if seen doing the right thing as against the wrong thing in vogue. These people are those I call the 'thermometric beings'! They are easily influenced.
When a 'thermostatic being' gets to a gathering, boredom becomes a past experience. They cannot be in a place without everyone noticing. Everybody in the street soon start doing whatever they do. They influence!
Where do you belong? For me, I'm a 'thermometstatic being'! (That's a joke). Seriously, let's ask ourselves these seemingly negligible questions: Do I really have to follow multitude to do evil? Do I have to take or give bribe because people do it? Do I have to have sex before marriage because my friends do it? Do I have to drop an empty sachet of 'pure water' because there are thousands of it lying of the floor? Do I have to cheat before I can pass an exam? Do I have to dress indecently just because it's the trendy fashion? Do I have to rain abuses on policemen because of...(no comment)? Do I have to chant curses on PHCN officials each time there's power cut? I can go on and on... We must learn to do the right things not minding what others do. Let others be positively influenced by you!
WHY DESTROY?
It takes a minimum of seven days to build an average house but it won't take up to seven seconds to demolish the tallest skyscraper. You won't ask me how if you are technology inclined. Destroying things seems to be a lot easier than creating them.
Some people derive a kind of devilish joy when they destroy things. They are not satisfied until whatever comes to their hands is spoilt. Some catch fun when others are crying... The sponsors of this dreaded 'Boko Haram' sect belong to this group of people.
Another form of disastrous destruction is the one that's done with the tongue. Tongue, they say is the smallest sense organ but as small as it is, it can destroy the whole body. In it lies the power of life and death -so says the Bible.
Yes, you may not be destructive when it comes to physical destruction, what about those scars you've left in the hearts of people through careless use of tongue? What about the verbal abuse you've constantly engaged in? Have you ever had a second thought on those comments you made when you were angry? Remember that we all will give account of every single word that we utter someday.
Watch what you say and how you say it...your life depends on them. By 'them' I mean your statements, comments, phrases, words! Always think twice before talking. Don't let your mind be on your lips! ...don't destroy what you can or cannot create cos you are a creative being! You are created to (pro)create!!
Some people derive a kind of devilish joy when they destroy things. They are not satisfied until whatever comes to their hands is spoilt. Some catch fun when others are crying... The sponsors of this dreaded 'Boko Haram' sect belong to this group of people.
Another form of disastrous destruction is the one that's done with the tongue. Tongue, they say is the smallest sense organ but as small as it is, it can destroy the whole body. In it lies the power of life and death -so says the Bible.
Yes, you may not be destructive when it comes to physical destruction, what about those scars you've left in the hearts of people through careless use of tongue? What about the verbal abuse you've constantly engaged in? Have you ever had a second thought on those comments you made when you were angry? Remember that we all will give account of every single word that we utter someday.
Watch what you say and how you say it...your life depends on them. By 'them' I mean your statements, comments, phrases, words! Always think twice before talking. Don't let your mind be on your lips! ...don't destroy what you can or cannot create cos you are a creative being! You are created to (pro)create!!
THE COCOON
I once read a story of a man who saw a young butterfly that was struggling to get out of its cocoon. After sometimes, he thought of helping the poor little creature. This he did by tearing the cocoon apart thereby freeing the butterfly.
It was after he tore the cocoon that he noticed that the butterfly has an extra-large abdomen that prevented it from flying. The cocoon was actually there to shape it to size by expelling some of the body fluid. This man unfortunately did more harm than good to the butterfly.
That's why I'll like you to see those difficulties, those challenges, those hard times, those financial constraints, those delays, those disappointments, those pains, those frustrations of yours as 'cocoon'. They are there to shape you!!
There is certainly no glory without a story. If you don't know, I'm telling you now that that gold that shines so bright went through fire of some thousand degree Celsius. Whatever you're going through now is a process. Trust me; you're coming out glorious and like the eagle, you'll soar so high!!!
It was after he tore the cocoon that he noticed that the butterfly has an extra-large abdomen that prevented it from flying. The cocoon was actually there to shape it to size by expelling some of the body fluid. This man unfortunately did more harm than good to the butterfly.
That's why I'll like you to see those difficulties, those challenges, those hard times, those financial constraints, those delays, those disappointments, those pains, those frustrations of yours as 'cocoon'. They are there to shape you!!
There is certainly no glory without a story. If you don't know, I'm telling you now that that gold that shines so bright went through fire of some thousand degree Celsius. Whatever you're going through now is a process. Trust me; you're coming out glorious and like the eagle, you'll soar so high!!!
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