THANKSGIVING

I am grateful to God for His Grace. This year has been tough but God has been so faithful. 

See you in the new year.

THE RIGHT CHOICE

Joshua 24:15

"...then choose for yourselves this day who you will serve..."

GOD is so gracious that despite being GOD, HE gave man the gift of choice. HE wont force us to do what HE wants us to do. You either choose to follow HIM or choose to follow the world.

The choice to serve God is not an easy choice to make because we, as humans get easily swayed by the pleasures of the world. It is easier to spend 24 hours watching TV or surfing the internet than it is to read and study the Bible for 1hr. We can talk with our friends for 5hrs stretch but we cant spend 30mins praying to GOD. Why? Because good things don't come easy, thats why!

I asked God to give me wisdom to understand why choosing HIM over the world was the right choice. This is because in order for a person to be convinced to do something, he has to first understand what he is about to do and also why he has to do it.

After asking GOD for wisdom 

(James 1:5; if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask GOD, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.")

 The HolySpirit opened my heart and mind to these revelations:

1. Perception of life:

The world's view of life is Y.O.L.O ( You Only Live Once). You flex life to the fullest and then die. Thats it? What a rip off!

But GOD's view is in John 3:36

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for GOD's wrath remains on him". 

I would take eternal life over Y.O.L.O anytime, thank you very much.

2. Government:

The devil is the prince of the world. John 14:30 and the devil himself reiterated this fact in Matthew 4:8-9 where he showed Jesus the world and its splendour and promised to give all to Jesus if Jesus would bow to him. (LOL)

But GOD is the Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, All powerful, the Most High GOD! All power in Heaven and on Earth belongs to Him.
Job 26:14,  "These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?

Psalm 95:3, "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods."

Job 9:4, "He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?

Okay, GOD's authority is far above that of the devil. In order words, the devil himself is subject to GOD. Now why would i choose a subject over a Lord? I aint stupid!

3. Reward

The worldly reward is limited to his followers. And this reward is that although you gain a lot of worldly pleasures which are fleeting in nature, but this choice is at the expense of your soul.

Mark 8:36

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul"

GOD rewards Everyone! Whether you choose to follow GOD or the world. Irrespective of your choice, You still get a reward according to your deeds on earth.

Revelations 22:12

" Behold, I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and i will give to everyone according to what he has done."

His reward for those who follow him is eternal life in paradise while for those who follow the world(devil) is hellfire. 

The world hates GOD but GOD is so full of love that HE gave His Son to redeem man. He gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can be saved. Thats true love! 

Its no brainer, GOD WINS!

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

A Good Father

The worst day of my life was 8th June 2015. The day i lost my father. Words cannot explain the feeling of loss and emptiness that overwhelmed me. At first, I was angry with GOD. Remembering all His promises of Life and not death. At that point i thought GOD had failed me. 

The devil tormented me with regretful thoughts:

' I should have done this better'

' I should have spent more money on him and time with him'

' I should have done this or done that'

Through all this, the Holyspirit never left me. I was so angry. I made up my mind to stop going to church because i wanted to avoid anything that would remind me of GOD's promises but GOD found other ways of reaching out to me. 

On Social media,

Different accounts and handles posted, tweeted and retweeted 

psalm 30:5

"Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning"

 Open Heavens devotional read :

Matthew 5:4,

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 

On the internet,

Revelation 14:13

"...blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, so that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow with them"

 

I realised God wanted me to talk to him and for the first time since the loss, i cried. I told God how much i love my father and how much it hurts that HE has taken him away from me so prematurely. I told GOD how empty i felt. I uttered the dreadful words: "I am now fatherless"

 

Then i attended the Global Leadership Summit, which i thought was a circular summit, one of the speakers spoke about dealing with the death of a father with the scripture:

Psalm 68:5

"Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling"

Again, i wept but this time, the tears were those of relief. I realised that i was not alone. GOD took my father to fill that role in my life. The role of a Father. The One that will protect, love and care for me. The One that will supply all my needs according to His Riches in glory and HE has been faithful. 

THE ALMIGHTY GOD IS MY FATHER!

Seek Ye First

Dear bloairy,

I have to say my life hasnt been easy. I wake up with worries...

"OMG, its another day. What will i eat? What am i gonna wear to work? Speaking of, i hate my job. My boss is so annoying. And my colleague(s).... Rolling my eyes... Not to mention the irritable customers/clients i have to deal with. As if my life isnt tough enough...oh gosh, i cannot deal..."

And then i remember that i have not prayed yet...

"...Good morning Jesus and thank You for the gift of life....'

AT NIGHTS... 

I go to bed with regrets...and more worries.

"... Now the day is over. I really should have put 'whatsherface' in her place. Well, next time... What will i wear tomorrow? I need to buy more clothes but i need money to do that. *sigh*... So 'whatsherface' is getting married and i am still here... Still Unhappily unmarried! I should have said yes to 'whatshisface'.... Oh gosh.. This is too much for me. If i were married, i would have done this and that, been here or there...."

 

This was totally unhealthy spiritually, physically, mentally. However i couldnt help myself. It was an inevitable routine i subjected myself to every single day. 

So recently i decided to seek Jesus' thoughts on my routine and this led me to 

Matthew 6:25-33

"Therefore i tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what will you wear....

...Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...

...But Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

Kingdom, yea?

 I decided to search further. what is this Kingdom Christ spoke of... And i was surprised that i wasnt the only one curious about this mysterious Kingdom. Brother Nic was also curious in John 3: 1-8.

However bro Nic was a lucky chap because he had the opportunity to ask Jesus directly what this kingdom meant.

 The weird part is that bro Nic was a teacher yet he didnt understand the concept of 'the kingdom of God'. John 3:10 (so what was he teaching his students all those while. Good thing he snuck out in the night to get clarity from Jesus)

In John 3:10-11, Jesus pointed out the fact that there are two categories of people. The 'you people' (the category of people who have no knowledge nor understanding. i think i am included in this category: the Outsiders) and the 'WE'( the category of people who speak of things out of evident knowledge and understanding: the Insiders)

Being an insider seems so attractive and according to the Bible, becoming an insider is by living according to the rules of the kingdom. And one of the rules of the kingdom is in Matthew 5:25-33

Seek ye first- make the things of God priority over the things of the world and the good things of the world will be given to you.

Therefore in the spirit of seeking first the kingdom, i have decided to create an imaginary waste bin for all my worries. The next time i am plagued with worries, i will mentally dump them in this bin.

What will i eat tonight? ------>waste bin

My boss and his incessant trouble------------------->waste bin

My annoying colleagues and clients--------------------> waste bin

I cannot afford to buy all those fancy clothes and shoes--------> waste bin

Etc---------------> WASTE BIN!!!!!!!

#NoMoreWorries

Goodbye, Old things; Hello, New things!

Majesty,

Your Grace has found me just as i am, empty-handed but alive in Your Hands.

Majesty,

Forever i am changed by Your Love, in the presence of Your Majesty.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Its easy to say i am a new creation in Christ therefore old things have passed away and everything has become new. I used to be a professional at 'talking shop'.

What does it mean to be a new creation?

 I have always struggled with living righteously. Every time  i backslide i feel a great conviction in my heart (i am usually grateful for this because it assures me that i am not completely lost to the devil yet. Thank You Jesus!)

So each time i have this conviction, i say to myself:

"Sweetie, you cant do this no more. God isn't happy with this"

The truth is that i meant it when the words rolled out of my mouth. However the problem is i was simply talking shop. I failed to engage in any activity that aided my determination to stop sin. 

James 2:12

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

I was naive to the glaring fact that as soon as i was determined to stop sinning, the local demon dialled the devil's number and reported this new development to his royal evilness.

1 Peter 5:8-9a

Be self controlled and alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith....

So this time i got my relief from the aforementioned scripture; self control, alertness and serious resistance! 

SELF CONTROL:

Proverbs 29:11b

"...but a wise man keeps himself under control."

In order words, anyone without self control is a fool. (Lord Jesus, please have mercy) and the devil is attracted to fools because he is a fool.( i mean, He was the chief choirmaster but due to his folly he was expelled from Heaven. Foolishness of the highest order)

  

However anyone with self control has the fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL.

Having the fruit of the Spirit means having the Spirit Himself by God's grace. And this grace brings Salvation(Freedom).

Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'NO' to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...

 Also

1 Peter 3:7

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

In order words, God's grace gives us self-control and we need self control in order to pray.

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed

This scripture delves us into the next action point-----------

ALERTNESS:

1 Peter 1:13a

"...prepare your minds for action..."

Jesus always stressed the importance of staying alert.

Luke 21:36

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen..."(SCARY SOMETHING)

Matthew 24:44

"So you also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."(that day wont be funny)

Even Apostle Paul said...

Ephesians 6:18b

'...be alert and always keep on praying...'

Being alert is nothing else but the soul running up and down, to and fro, busy everywhere. It is the heart engaged with diligent observation of what comes from within us, what comes from outside us and into us.

 It is important to be alert in order to effectively resist the devil--------

RESISTANCE:

The only way to deal with the Devil is to resist him. This is done by resisting the first stirring of temptation. Anyone who doesn't watch against temptation will certainly fall before the power of temptation.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Temptation is not sin. Satan may tempt us by putting evil thoughts into our mind, but we can push them right out again with God's help. However it is important to understand that it is not possible to fight satan with your own strength. We need to draw power to resist sin from Jesus Christ daily. He effectively and effortlessly resisted the devil in Luke 4:1-13. Therefore it is necessary that we draw our strength from Him.

In conclusion, to become genuinely a new creation in Christ, it is important to be self-controlled, alert and resist satan by the Grace of God.

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the sweet fellowship of the HolySpirit be with us now and forever, Amen.