it's my RIGHT!

As I read the portion in scripture again of how Jesus went to be baptized by John and the latter discouraging him, I was reminded of how frail we are as humans....
I'm sure if Jesus were a man not a deity; he won’t have gone. First he had no sin to be baptized of- John's baptism was of repentance from sin, and two, he was superior to John... If I asked if any of us will do same, I will not get many affirmatives except those whose eyes God has opened to the virtue and benefit of humility.
This struck me more perhaps because of a situation I witnessed. I went to a shop quite late to pick up an item-granted, it was past anybody's closing time....even though I had called earlier, and I was expected, it required everybody going  a lot out of their way to satisfy me...and the apprentice  flatly refused to be bothered even though his boss was willing to bend. To my utmost surprise he stood aside while his boss was lifting heavy objects out of the way...a boss not only paying him but old enough to sire him!
I'm not trying to cast a stone, as I can readily name 5 events where I behaved in a manner similar to this(In fact that's why I'm writing this- to call myself to account and open people's eyes to it), but that it’s a common practice does not make it right. It’s a reflection of how horrible how society has become. We talk to older people anyhow; authorities are flouted; youths/children sit in buses while senior citizens queue, we even jostle with them for space, we meet adults with loads and don’t bother to collect it from them to mention but a few!
Aside what it does to morals, it’s a sin similar to rebellion and that's what made the angel Lucifer (AKA Satan) fall). Aside this, we lead others to hell because when they see us get away with it, they are tempted to do same-the devil did same with the other fallen angels. As a matter of fact in the scene I narrated earlier, when the apprentice refused to work, the porter working for them to move heavy objects followed suit!
May the Lord not call for our soul at a time we are not ready.
These kinds of things usually happen when we are not ready to put ourselves under. To submit. When we know too much about our rights! The bible admonishes that we should rather be exploited rather than exploit others, but a man who always insists on his right can’t do this.
I have so much to say about this matter, but I will conclude with these two points so I dont ramble.
1. All authority is put in place by God.
2. There is nothing we have that we were not given by God. Even human rights. Remember Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4.

FREEDOM

I don’t know where to start from but I hope I make enough sense so I can share this at the end of the day... I have been thinking a lot about freedom, perhaps because its America's independent anniversary weekend. My prayer these days is'' Lord, grant me grace that I may walk within the confines of your word'' The reason may not be too farfetched as I'm under pressure, and the probability of making a mistake is higher now than ever, and since it’s my will to live for and please God, this prayer sometimes has a desperate undertone.
However, I have been reading a lot about freedom lately-not consciously- I mostly stumble upon them. A particular literature said independence viz a viz freedom should be encouraged so far as no one other than oneself is hurt. I agree, and at the same time disagree.
As children of God, we have freedom. In fact the bible says we are not bound anymore; impliedly, we were bound before, however, this freedom is not to gratify every evil desire of the flesh.(Rom. 5 vs. 12-13;8 vs. 2) I have a thousand illustrations playing through my mind but cant share all because it’s confusing even me... But imagine a wild animal, its free in the forest- its own God created domain i.e. Living in God's will...but if brought to a city for instance it has to be bound or at best controlled so that when it starts to do what it will naturally do-(which is not usually bad) chaos will ensue.
The bible says sin was not sin before the law came...Rom 7 vs. 7-12
But to think of it, how free are we? Is the world really free or are we thinking the way our mind is conditioned to think???? It’s been said that the best leaders are those who have been able to cause others to buy into their concept and act it out... Adverts, Jingles, Mass media... etc have all collaborated and made us buy ''into this world and its system'' the onus is on us as Christians to re-create our world, by the word of God...Rom 12 vs. 2...because this world and its system is passing away(1 Cor . 7 vs. 31)!!
Only the truly wise fear God and walk in his ways. Prov. 1 vs.7
I rest my case!

The road less travelled

Like its been said, two people may look at an object and see two completely different things.

While the butler forgot Joseph in prison and Joseph saw abandonment, God saw the greatness awaiting him; while David was running from cave to strongholds, God was seeing training.

Whether we like it or not, character is built by adversity, and a wise Christian on finding himself in a situation need only ask God, what virtue is there for me to learn in this?

It may seem like a cliche, but that's why cliches are what they are.......

As Christian its pertinent for us to understand that God has our back and that even though the journey takes us to the back side of the dessert, our God is not any less stronger nor has his love for us waned.

Any parent of a grown/ matured adult will tell you that you can't live your child's life for him/her and no matter how much a parent loves a child he can't be allowed to seat for that child's exams. Parents who have attempted this have brought up spineless adults or adults who have to learn life's basic lessons as an adult at best.

A basic function of life's lessons as thought by God is usually Godly character and fruit of the spirit and I'm yet to see that Christian who developed the fruit of endurance for instance without having to wait on God for anything....

Its not quite possible, and we can only do God's perfect work when we reflect his attributes....(If you don't understand, neither do I)

Another point worthy of note is that God is all knowing and that he's our creator. This will enable us know that nothing we do then comes as a surprise to him. He told Jer that before he was born, he knew him-his whims and caprices; his hang ups etc. He has done a SWOT analysis on him and therefore had wired him so that only he is able to accomplish the purposes to which he is sending him.

God is all knowing, that's why we can't spring surprises on him and while he's pleased when we obey him at all times and in all things, he's not shocked when we sometimes get it wrong and even at that point he has a remedy ready if  we come to him in repentance and submission-he can even bring good out of it-Rom 8 v 28.

What I'm trying to say is this- no matter our shortcomings-perceived and real- God is able to achieve his purpose for and through our lives. The only indispensable factors is our willingness and Obedience-Is 1 v 8. Ask the rogue turned Prince, God is Able!

July

July. Month of our many celebrations in my family. My baby sister's valedictory and my younger brother's birthday. Ideally, I would have asked what the fuss was all about. I mean 3 people have been through secondary schools in my family, and we had all gone through birthdays before, so na wetin? But God reaally opened my eyes to see the purpose of our thanksgiving. In spite of the waters that had threatened to drown us and the fires that wanted to burn us, we were still together and we were not doing too badly. We were in health, we have shelter, my siblings are not doing poorly in school as a matter of fact, they were doing very well. Things were falling in place for the one who is job seeking and me; well I'm in God's hand. God opened my eyes to see that we were not where the devil wanted at all. We were doing above average even outside of our 'circumstances' and some even use us as prayer point ( I pity them!!!!) so we rolled out the drums  and celebrated. In thanksgiving and in expectation of that which he will do...but kai, this thing hard o....

What do you think of waiting?

What do you think about waiting? I think it’s a necessary evil. I have had to wait for many things over time, and it’s not always a pleasant experience. I mean who would not want to have whatever they wanted now?! I mean NOW!!! Why do we have to queue for BRT for instance, or wait for so long at TFC for a meal...yeah. We even have to wait for some of the mundane things. Any pregnant woman will tell you she wants her baby, now!!! What with the indigestion, lugging around of the extra weight, the hormonal changes, the weight gain, nausea (for someone who has never been pregnant before, se I try?)  Anyone also waiting for recovery, as in after a sickness will also tell you he wants to get out of the hospital today!! Infact yesterday sef. But these waiting periods are necessary. If the pregnant woman is delivered before her time, she enters a fresh waiting period, this time for her child to gbo enuf for normal life, and if it’s too soon, then it’s a worse kind of waiting. For the convalesce who can’t wait for recovery, she risks going through it all over again. I have been there, and that's a story for another day, I heard wen!!!

When God created Adam and Eve, they had a simple enough instruction- till the garden and cultivate it. Everything they needed was to join them. Before we start cussing at them, the children of Israel also did same, when Moses went to the mountain for the law, and spent 40days coming back, even the high priest was tempted into idolatry. If you think its easy try sitting still in one position for 24hrs...u no fit. Yet the Lord said in returning and in rest shall our strength be...

It’s not an easy thing to wait. It’s tedious under any circumstance, but it’s a gestation period...a time of preparation. Though we are not to go into hibernation mode, we can engage in activities that make our waiting easier and prepare us for our expected ends. However, we have to be careful not to help God at this stage or engage in activities that will compromise the process.

 God help us.

Battle Scars

I looked down at my feet today and saw some scars, dark patches and stuff. I had the instinctive reaction of covering it immediately. They were dark and it  marred the rhyming that my leg's complexion was finally getting. Before I could discredit them....I remembered what they signified. A particularly big one was a dark patch. I got it a year ago when I had funny swellings on my feet. It was attributed to Kidney, Liver, Heart and almost all vital organs' malfunction. I'm here today, and I'm grateful all I have from the experience are dark patches here and there.

Others are dark patches from needle pricks from an illness in 2009..they had exhausted all the veins in my arms and legs. Yes. Every viable one had been used and then my legs’ were called on. Thank God all I have are dark patches as memorials from the experience.

Many of us have battle scars like that... The bulge from the baby, the limp from the accident that claimed lives but God spared yours, the scars from the fire...these scars take different forms.

I'm grateful to God for my scars. It shows the wounds have healed.

Let this thankfulness remain O Lord!!!

Freedom

I don’t know where to start from but I hope I make enough sense so I can share this at the end of the day... I have been thinking a lot about freedom, perhaps because its America's independent anniversary weekend. My prayer these days is'' Lord, grant me grace that I may walk within the confines of your word'' The reason may not be too farfetched as I'm under pressure, and the probability of making a mistake is higher now than ever, and since it’s my will to live for and please God, this prayer sometimes has a desperate undertone.
However, I have been reading a lot about freedom lately-not consciously- I mostly stumble upon them. A particular literature said independence viz a viz freedom should be encouraged so far as no one other than oneself is hurt. I agree, and at the same time disagree.
As children of God, we have freedom. In fact the bible says we are not bound anymore; impliedly, we were bound before, however, this freedom is not to gratify every evil desire of the flesh.(Rom. 5 vs. 12-13;8 vs. 2) I have a thousand illustrations playing through my mind but cant share all because it’s confusing even me... But imagine a wild animal, its free in the forest- its own God created domain i.e. Living in God's will...but if brought to a city for instance it has to be bound or at best controlled so that when it starts to do what it will naturally do-(which is not usually bad) chaos will ensue.
The bible says sin was not sin before the law came...Rom 7 vs. 7-12
But to think of it, how free are we? Is the world really free or are we thinking the way our mind is conditioned to think???? It’s been said that the best leaders are those who have been able to cause others to buy into their concept and act it out... Adverts, Jingles, Mass media... etc have all collaborated and made us buy ''into this world and its system'' the onus is on us as Christians to re-create our world, by the word of God...Rom 12 vs. 2...because this world and its system is passing away(1 Cor . 7 vs. 31)!!
Only the truly wise fear God and walk in his ways. Prov. 1 vs.7
I rest my case!