Friday, April 23, 2010

...When Calamity comes knocking...

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans[c] raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across[d] the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

Job 1:13-20 (NKJV)

Again, i will attempt to do a brief introduction of this very familiar story. Curtain opens on Mr. J. A pious man. Holy, Desirous of pleasing God and extremely wealthy. He is probably the Bill Gates of his time or something along those lines... He has 10 children. Hundreds and Hundreds of cattle and is very influential. Like Lady B in the last story, he belongs to the Elite Club and in fact, the Bible records that the meeting would not start until Mr. J arrives - he is extremely influential.

One day, oblivious to the fact that spiritual exchanges had occured in the heavenlies, Mr. J, begins receiving series of terrible news in quick succession. All his cattle were gone. All his children had died.All his camels were dead. His servants had been taken away. All he had spent the better part of his life building and amassing(Mr. J was about 70 years at this time)had vanished in less than an hour - on the same day!


While i was studying this morning, i caught a very interesting truth that i thought i should share. Job had come face to face with the worst thing that could happen to any man. He had lost ALL.

In your case, it could be the death of a child.
It could be the loss of a job.
It could be the exit of a loved one from a relationship.
It could be a divorce.
It could be the death of a parent.
It could be the betrayal of a trusted friend.

For Job, it was the LOSS of all!

Job's reaction after receiving the news really interested me. The Bible records that after he heard this news, he arose, he tore his robes and shaved his head (signs of deep and grave mourning) and then he worshipped!

What do you do when calamity comes knocking?

Do you murmur?
Do you blame others?
Do you blame youself? (that's me (more like that was me (i have changed now after writing this)!!!?)!)
Do you judge?
Do you blame God?
Do you try to rationalize?

For Job, he mourned his children and then acknowledged God as the source of all he had and was. he understood immediately that God was sovreign and could do whatsoever he pleased...(for thou has created all things and for thy pleasure...)

I admire Job's strength of character.

The Lord opened my eyes this morning to see that how you react to calamity is linked strongly and directly to how (if ever) you will come out of this calamity!

To keep this short, i will move directly to the end of Job's story:

12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

Job 42:12 (NKJV)

Because Job worshipped the Lord in the face of his calamities, the Lord restored him and made his end greater than his beginning!

I am here to encourage someone today, no matter how bad it seems. No matter how alone you feel. No matter how bleak that situation is. No matter how much you have lost, if you will just worship Him. If you will just acknowledge Him as sovreign over your life, YOUR LATTER WILL BE GREATER THAN YOUR PAST.

Dear Lord,

I come before you this morning once again. I praise you. You are the source of all we have and are. I give you praise my father. You are awesome! You are great! You are King.

I thank you for your word today. I thank you for the realization that our response to the things that happen to us determine our eventual outcome. Becuase you are the one who works in us to will and to do according to your good pleasure, i ask that you give us the hearts of true worshippers. That we may continually worship you at all times. In season. And out of season. In the name of Jesus!

I pray father that our latter(s) shall be greater than our past(s) in the name of Jesus.

Thank you father!

Love,
Your daughter!

Friday, April 16, 2010

TAKE GOLIATH DOWN!

...Once again, Max Lucado hit the nail on the head. This blessed me. I hope it does the same to you...
Goliaths still roam our world. Debt. Disaster. Dialysis. Danger. Deceit. Disease. Depression. Super-size challenges still swagger and strut, still pilfer sleep and embezzle peace and liposuction joy. But they can’t dominate you. You know how to deal with them. You face giants by facing God first.

Focus on giants—you stumble.

Focus on God—your giants tumble.

You know what David knew, and you do what David did. You pick up five stones, and you make five decisions. Ever wonder why David took five stones into battle? Why not two or twenty? Rereading his story reveals five answers. Use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Let your thumb remind you of …

1. THE STONE OF THE PAST
Goliath jogged David’s memory. Elah was a déjà vu. While everyone else quivered, David remembered. God had given him strength to wrestle a lion and strong-arm a bear. Wouldn’t he do the same with the giant? A good memory makes heroes.

“Remember His marvelous works which He has done” (1 Chron. 16:12). Catalog God’s successes. Keep a list of his world records. Has he not walked you through high waters? Proven to be faithful? Have you not known his provision? How many nights have you gone to bed hungry? Mornings awakened in the cold? He has made roadkill out of your enemies. Write today’s worries in sand. Chisel yesterday’s victories in stone. Pick up the stone of the past. Then select …

2. THE STONE OF PRAYER
Note the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer. Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Eph. 6:18 MSG).

Prayer spawned David’s successes. His Brook Besor wisdom grew out of the moment he “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). When Saul’s soldiers tried to capture him, David turned toward God: “You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Ps. 59:16).

Invite God’s help. Pick up the stone of prayer. And don’t neglect …

3. THE STONE OF PRIORITY
Let your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority: God’s reputation. David jealously guarded it. No one was going to defame his Lord. David fought so that “all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:46–47).

David saw Goliath as a chance for God to show off! Did David know he would exit the battle alive? No. But he was willing to give his life for the reputation of God.

What if you saw your giant in the same manner? Rather than begrudge him, welcome him. Your cancer is God’s chance to flex his healing muscles. Your sin is God’s opportunity to showcase grace. Your struggling marriage can billboard God’s power. See your struggle as God’s canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy. Announce God’s name and then reach for …

4. THE STONE OF PASSION
David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. On one side of the battlefield, Saul and his cowardly army gulped. On the other, Goliath and his skull-splitters scoffed. In the middle, the shepherd boy ran on his spindly legs. Who bet on David? Who put money on the kid from Bethlehem? Not the Philistines. Not the Hebrews. Not David’s siblings or David’s king. But God did.

And since God did, and since David knew God did, the skinny runt became a blur of pumping knees and a swirling sling. He ran toward his giant.

Do the same!

Let your ring finger remind you to take up the stone of passion.

One more stone, and finger, remains:

5. THE STONE OF PERSISTENCE
David didn’t think one rock would do. He knew Goliath had four behemoth relatives. For all David knew, they’d come running over the hill to defend their kin. David was ready to empty the chamber if that’s what it took.

Imitate him. Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. One day or month of resolve might not suffice. You may get knocked down a time or two … but don’t quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.

David took five stones. He made five decisions. Do likewise. Past. Prayer. Priority. Passion. And persistence.

Next time Goliath wakes you up, reach for a stone. Odds are, he’ll be out of the room before you can load your sling.

...God bless you!...

...What do you say? and to whom?...

And he said to his father, “My head, my head!”
So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”
So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
And she said, “It is well.”
2 Kings 4:19-23 (NKJV)

...While i was praying this morning, the HS opened my eyes to another aspect of speech. (I must be in dire need of refining my speech as this seems to be all HE speaks to me about these days :)) I thought i should share.

It is important who we speak to and what we say. The Bible has made it clear that eventually, our lives take the pattern of our speech. My text is a very widely read and known story of the "childless" woman who continually housed Elisha until he prayed to God for a son for her. A brief background on the life of this woman will illustrate the points i intend to drive, better:

...Lady B was very wealthy. Beautiful. Comfortable and highly influential. She had everything women in her time desired (or at least almost everything). She was the only female member of the "Elite Club" and was well respected in the gates. She stood up tall and seemed not to have a care in the world. But late at night, she would cry to God for a child. She had gone on this way for years and now, Sir B was almost 85 - she gave up all hope for a child and decided that God had blessed her in other ways and probably did not want her to have a child. She was very God fearing (obviously.) In comes the spooky prophet who always dressed strangely. Lady B was intuitive. She knew immediately that he was no ordinary man and catered for his needs. He in turn, blessed her. He petitioned God for a child for her and after over 40 years of waiting, Lady B, as God had promised, bore a son...
(I'm sorry, fiction is not one of my strengths but i guess we all get the picture...:))

A few years later, possibly 5 or 6 years, this precious child of Lady B dies suddenly after a possible attack of Malaria (well, what else could i call it? he had a headache, a bit of a temperature and i am a Nigerian...). And that is where the Holy Spirit began speaking.

At the point of the Child's death, Lady B was the only person who knew. She held her son in her hands till he died. Her only son. The son she had waited over 40 years to have.

The Bible records that she went quietly and laid the Child on the bed of the Prophet. She did not scream. She did not wail. She was quiet.

Now, in the Bible, there is no stronger relationship described or defined than the relationship of marriage. According to scripture, the two (who are married) become one flesh. This concept of marriage was stronger in the time of Lady B than it is in our time YET Lady B said not a word about the death of her son to the father of that same son.

When asked as to why she had to visit the Prophet at a strange hour, she replied - "It is well!".

She obviously had confidence in something no one else would have seen. The story did not end there. She saddled her donkey and asked her servants to ride as fast as they could -

She went ahead and saddled the donkey, ordering her servant, "Take the lead—and go as fast as you can; I'll tell you if you're going too fast." And so off she went. She came to the Holy Man at Mount Carmel.
2 Kings: 4:24-25 (The message)

The story still did not end there. The spooky prophet saw her from afar and sent his servant (His PA) to meet her and ask what was up. She replied in the same way she responded to her husband - "It is well!"

Eventually, she gets to meet the spooky prophet personally. She opens up and tells him that her son is dead. She cries for the first time since the boy died and insists that the spooky prophet (and not his grouchy PA) follows her down to her house.

The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a few things.

If Lady B had not insisted on responding with her "It is well" mantra, her son would never have come back to life. Once she had told her husband the reason for her reverting to the prophet, he would have given a 1001 logical reasons on why they should have burried their son immediately.

Many times we whine and complain about dead (or dying situations) to the wrong people! Lady B waited until she met with the very representative of God. We too ought to wait!

When faced with overwhelming challenges, there are steps to be followed:

1. Lay the dead child on the bed of the man of God - In our case, it may be a failed marriage, a threath of job loss, a dying parent, a recalcitrant child, a dying relationship, loneliness, depression, financial incapacitation, you name it. All you need to do, is lay this situation on the ALTAR of God through prayer.

2. Reply "It is well" - Do not talk about the problem with just anyone. Rather, talk about the solution. Reply that your job is secure in Christ. That your marriage is filled with the peace of God. That your promotion on that job is sure. That you are filled with the joy of the Lord. That you are blessed financially! Tell the world the opposite of what you are experiencing! Reply "It is well".

3.Saddle your horse and speed to the prohet - Everyone needs someone to speak to. Saddle your horse and speed to the Church. You could speak to your spiritual father or mother. A mentor installed in your life by God, a prayer partner or a prayer leader. Have someone you are accountable to in Christ. You may speak to such a person. This mentor must be a person of prayer and the word of God and should be chosen by God himself!

Bottom line, speak the things you want to see.
It will be only a matter of time and dead things will come back to life!
Remember, the question is what are you saying? And to whom?

I love you.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

...Day 1 after...

Ok, so i do not leave you guessing and so my life may minister to someone in my situation, i was sort of dumped yesterday. Ok, maybe not dumped, LOL!!! because we were never in the actual dating process but i thought we had a chance at it and then i was rudely shocked...

and as usual, i ran back to the potter. He was there with open arms!

Great is thy faithfulness O Lord!


Sometimes i look at how far i should be in my Christian walk with God and i wonder how HE still tolerates me at this level...

One day after, i am strong! The mercies of God, the new mercies of God for each day have really sustained me...

The word for today in Psalm 47:4b has also enabled me put my life in perspective - the Lord chooses my inheritance for me... If the only one that can be called good chooses for me, if the Sovreign Lord of all the earth makes the choices for me, If the creator of all things and all peoples is the one that determines what my future would be, then set backs such as these pale in the light of where i am going.

it is knowledge of the above that has not allowed me dwell in self pity or even wish that things had gone better between me and he.

i am glad he made his choice. i admire the strength of his character but i am even "gladder" that the Lord has better things in store for me...

I compromised once or twice. I did things i should not have. I put the Lord second at many times in the duration of the non-existent relationship. I repent. Not because it is now over but because i know that He is and always should be my first love.

Very few people read this blog right now, but if the Lord leads you here, and you are in a relationship that is not working. Or with a partner who does not reciprocate the emotions you show, you are not alone. Like the apostles said, there are millions like yourself passing through these trials.

1. Return to the drawing board - sincereley seek the face of God. Inquire at his temple whether you should be in the relationship or not.

2. Keep yourself busy with other things. Read, engage in volunteer activities,go for prayer meeting picnics with single Godly friends.

3. Be real with God. Tell Him :"If you don't help me, i'm gonna make a fool of myself so please help me..." Pray fervently.

The right man will come. He is around the corner. The Bible says "He will satisfy your desires with good things" all u need to do, is seek His Kingdom...

Dear Lord,

I thank you for my friend who did not think that dating me was a good idea. I bless you because you are the one that works in him to will and to do according to your good pleasure. I bless you because you took that desicion and not him. Thank you.

Thank you for his life. Thank you for where you are taking him. Thank you for how far you have brought him. I give you praise for his life in the name of Jesus.

This is the month of enlightenment (as you spoke to me) and exceeding great reward (as you spoke to our local assembly, i pray that these two shall be his portion. I pray that his hunger for you will never end. I pray that his service in your vine yard will not go unnoticed.

i pray that according to your word, you would lead him in the paths that he should follow. I give you praise in the name that is above all names, the name of Jesus.

I pray for myself and for all other females who might have faced the self esteem issues attached to and with rejection at one time or the other in life, i pray o Lord for total healing in the name of Jesus!

I pray for a realization of who we are in you! I pray for a revelation of our inheritance as Daughters of the King. I pray that our focus shall continually be on u and like Rebecca, we will continue in service until we are found by that one who you have chosen for us from the beginning of time...

I love you Lord. You are awesome! I thank you for the joy in my heart. I thank you that that same joy will locate a depressed daughter of yours and cause a turn around...

i pray for christian writers, teachers, speakers and the entire body of christ - that you might increase the annointing upon their lives, strengthen them and make them better equipped to win souls for you.

You are awesome!
You are great!
There is no one else like you!
There is none so accurate!
There is none so mighty!
There is none so great!

i love you with every strand in my being!
Thank you Lord in the name of Jesus!

your daughter,
The daughter of the great King,
Ngozi


Planning for the maiden retreat of the Daughters of the King fellowship is under way. Please support us with your prayers and love.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

i know HE is the potter but sometimes, just sometimes, i take things in my own hands.....

I got this post from Erere (a friend from QC) and it not only mirrored how i feel most of the time but also blessed me tremendously:
Do you mean to tell me that this isn't over yet? I and my potter have been here in this little shop since the wee hours of the morning. The only thing I've enjoyed so far is how He placed me on the table and began to knead me as though I were an extraordinary piece of dough. He rubbed me and turned me upside down, and then He rubbed my back-side too. How sweet!

But it is now getting really late and the Potter still isn't done.

"Lay very still, don't be anxious. I am not yet done with you."

"But Potter, why? I think I look okay."

"I know you do, but I need to finish up your left side to make you "more than just ok.""

"Can I get a tattoo there?"

"A tattoo is not the best option, little Clay."

"But Potter...I've seen other vessels with the same tattoo."

"I will give you something more worthy than a tattoo."

I fell silent for a few seconds, then I told Him that He knew best (even if I wasn't really feeling His agenda). How sure was He that His master-plan was any better than my tattoo idea?
___________________________________


...for me, many times i have struggled, and the potter has had to start all over again.

Many times i have gone to places where i felt i should be, but where the potter knew i shouldn't and he had to go back one step in the mould.

Many times i rushed into relationships without asking the potter - i came out hurt.

Many times, the potter started working in one direction and i pre-empted him, overtook him and went the wrong way - He had to start all over again...

I'm glad the potter does not just throw HIS hands in the air and give up on me.

The Potters book says that HE will be with me even till the end of the age...

I am glad i have the potter. Just today, it dawned on me that i had gone the wrong direction again and i came back and there HE was, ready to continue moulding me into that master piece - irrespective of what others think!

Thank you Jesus!
Thank you master Potter!
Thank you Lord

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

...the pain of rejection...

O! the pains of rejection.
the pains of rejection
the pains of rejection.

Dear Lord,

Never again. Never again. You and you alone will i aim at pleasing.
Thank you for this chance. Thank you for the Daughters of the King. Thank you because never again...

never again...
never again...

I love u Lord!

With all my love,
ngozi

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Forgive me Lord for i have sinned.

Forgive me Lord for i have sinned.
I saw a dead child today on Awolowo Road -
At least, he looked dead to me...
and i passed by on my bike and hurried off to work.
Should i not have stopped?
Could i not have helped?
but i was afraid....
plus the bike man refused to even give me audience...
but i was afraid. period.
if i had insisted, he would have dropped me off.
i was afraid to help. i was afraid. i was confused...
i have tried to whip up excuses for myself but they are not helping me at all...
i am sorry Lord!
i pray for the hit and run driver. That the peace of God may envelope him.
I only imagine his own guilt!
receive the sould of the Child dear God for now he is home to rest.
rest from the corruption.
rest from the poverty.
rest from the darkness of this world's order.
And when it is time for me to go, may i not be condemned by the things i have failed to do such as help in times like this.
May I be welcomed into the pearly gates of paradise for relying on the Saving power of Christ...

Amen.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Does my accent give me away?

For two days now, i have been reading keenly the betrayal and the crucifixion story from the account of Matthew and a lot of things have jumped out at me...

I will reproduce Matthew 26:73

"After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said "Surely you are one of them for your accent gives you away..."(NIV)

"And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” (NKJV)

"A short time later, some people standing there went to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of those who followed Jesus. The way you talk shows it." (NCV)

I have reproduced this passage in three different versions of the Bible.

The scenario is the last denial of Jesus by peter.

While i was studying this morning, the Holy spirit opened my eye to see a fundamental part of christianity - our speech. While a large number may argue that the scripture above refers to Peter's accent, i believe this scripture makes it clear that Peter had followed Jesus so much in ALL aspects of his life that he began speaking the way Jesus did. For those who may argue that the scripture deals with a geographical accent, i have one question to ask: Was Peter the only one from Galilee in the whole Arena? (i know i said one question but another one popped up in my head now - forgive me) Were all Galileans (if there is such a word) followers or disciples of Jesus? Certainly NOT! This passage was not referring to a geographical accent.

Peter had studied and followed Christ so much that he began to speak the same way Christ would speak even unconciously! When the Holy Ghost opened my eyes to this, my mind immediately went to members of Christ Embassy...Every member of Christ Embassy you encounter has the same prayer style as their Pastor - Pastor Chris. So much so that if you meet a Christ Ambassador (if that is what they are called...) for the first time, you know immediately what church he belongs to!

My question this morning. first to myself and then to anyone reading is: Does my (your) accent betray me(you)? Can people listen to you and know immediately that you are a Christ follower? Do they need to dig deep into your Facebook profile to realize that you are a Christian? Do the fruits of your lips give you away like Peter?

Peter was so filled with the likeness of Christ and loyalty to him that even in the face of Danger, he gave himself away with his speech. He had to expressly deny Jesus and even then, his denial was not convincing....Many times, we dwell on Peter's denial on Jesus - how many times have we wondered how so grounded in the faith he was, to be:

1. Around the crucifixion site in the first place at such a dangerous time; and
2. To be given away by his speech...

i admire Peter. For after his fall, like Christ commanded, he strengthened the brethren (and that includes you and I).

Back to our topic.

Our speech.

How many times do we align ourselves with the way the world talks. How many times do we forget that we are not OF this world? How many times can we boast of being set apart by our speech? We are children of the King yet we speak like children of the Slave...

I am resolved that my speech will give me away.

Many times, we fear that people will call us hypocrites for saying one thing and doing another - say the right things anyway!(It is God that works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure - He will help you stand!)

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech be full of grace and seasoned with salt...Beleievers should speak with a flavour. A difference. A touch of class that would distinguish us from the brash, harsh and dark world!

We cannot claim to be a people set apart and yet mingle so comfortably with the world. We go to the same places, listen to the same music and exclaim the same way.

Recently, i have been trying to change my very frequent exclamations of "Shit" to "Sugar". So far, i have not been 100% successful but God has seen my efforts and is helping me to do according to His will.

Let your speech betray you.

How many times do we click the like button on facebook for status reports and updates that do not glorify the name of God? How many times do our own updates reflect the patterns of this world? Can you be accused of being a Christ follower?

The Spirit revealed a lot. I will continue on this thread as the Spirit directs but till then, a word of prayer:

Dear Father,

We come to you in the name of Jesus, the name that is above all names.
We thank you for bringing us into a new month. We thank you for sustaining us for your word says that we slept and awoke becuase YOU sustained us. Thank you Lord!
We recognize that we were created to bring you Glory. For all times when our lives have fallen short of your Glory, we apologize this morning in the name of Jesus!

Dear Lord, we pray that in line with your word, we will speak the things that we ought to. We recognize that the battle to change our speech pattern is not a battle against flesh and blood but we also realize that our weapons are mighty and able to make us victorious in this battle.

Thank you Lord because henceforth our speech is seasoned as with salt.
The words of our mouth shall be acceptable in the heavenlies.
Our speech shall betray us and show that we are sold out to you and to you alone!

We pray against the dangerous sin of compromise. We stand in the gap for all believers and we pray that we may sell out for you and you alone!

Thank you father for answered prayers in the name of Jesus!

Amen.

...A God bless you at the end of a conversation, a Bless you when a neighbour sneezes, a Shalom to a friend or a brother or even just an sms with a scripture will definitely betray you. It takes just about 21 days to build a habit - this is worth a try!

i love you!