Be patient, God is at work

Sunday 28th April 2024

‘Wait for the LORD and keep his way …’ Psalm 37:34 CSB

When things don’t happen as quickly as we want them to, we can become anxious, frustrated, irritable, and negative. And if you’re a ‘make it happen’ person, you can rush ahead of God and get into trouble. ‘A person's steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way.’ (Psalm 37:23 CSB). Think about it: if you’re following the Lord, you can’t go faster than the One who is leading. So, just take the next step and trust Him to work things out for you. God knows what you don’t know.

At best, you are working with limited knowledge. Do you believe your steps are being ‘directed by the Lord’? Do you believe He has a plan for your life? Do you believe He cares for you and has your best interests at heart? If you do, then stand on this Scripture: ‘Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.’ (Psalm 37:34 CSB). God knows what He is doing. He works according to His schedule, not ours. When will God ‘honour you with every blessing’? Answer: ‘in due season’. Impatience is a sign of two things:

1) Immaturity. Babies cry until you pick them up, and children don’t want to wait for anything. But a wise parent knows that often the child is not ready to handle what they’re demanding.

2) Doubt and unbelief. ‘For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised.’

Jesu 🙆...... Let me check out Boluwatife quickly for safety.

Don’t be so controlling!

Saturday 27th April 2024

‘In honour giving preference to one another.’ Romans 12:10 NKJV

Do you get upset when you cannot control others? Or moody and irritated when people don’t do what you want? Do you react when your mistakes are pointed out? Or try to force people to comply with your demands? Do you exaggerate your pain, sickness, or need in order to gain attention or sympathy? Or criticise the opinions and choices of others and position yourself as superior? Do you become angry and abusive when someone disagrees with you or challenges your authority? Are you reluctant to compliment others but quick to try and fix something you think is wrong with them? Do you find it hard to say, ‘I need you’? Do you try to drive a wedge between your loved ones and anyone else who gets close to them? Do you ‘give orders’ to those you interact with, rather than using the simple courtesies of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then the word for today is—don’t be so controlling! The Bible says, ‘Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another’ (Romans 12:10 NKJV). That means stopping to consider how your behaviour affects other people. You say, ‘But I just happen to have a strong personality.’ Sorry, that doesn’t let you off the hook! ‘A servant of the Lord must… not quarrel but be gentle to all …’ (2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV).

So, if you’re a controller, start changing your ways! And if you’re being controlled because you fear anger and rejection, it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Seek help from a trusted friend, church leader, or healthcare professional, especially if you feel at risk. Ask God to help you stand firm and refuse to be controlled any longer.

Take time to wonder and worship

Fri, 26 Apr 2024

‘Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good …’ Genesis 1:31

The first reaction recorded in Scripture is God’s reaction to His own creation. He stepped back at the end of each day, looked at what He had made, and said, ‘It’s good.’ Then, on the sixth day, when creation was complete, He said, ‘It’s very good.’ This is why we feel so spiritual when we watch an ocean sunset or the towering summit of a mountain.

Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship.’ It’s standing in amazement of the Creator and His creation. It’s translating the beauty of creation into worship of the Creator. It’s thanking God for splendid sunrises, dazzling stars and unique snowflakes. It’s giving credit where credit is due—to the Creator. The psalmist captured it in the words: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God …’ (Psalm 19:1 KJV).

Such wonder is also an act of worship. One pastor writes: ‘The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. The earth spins on its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while it rotates 360 degrees on its axis every twenty-four hours, it is also hurtling through space at the unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. Quite an accomplishment!’ So, take time to wonder and worship God.

Be a disciple of Jesus

Thu, 25 Apr 2024

‘The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.’ Acts 11:26

Today is ANZAC Day. It’s a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand troops in World War I in 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. The British led a campaign aimed to secure a sea route to Russia by capturing Constantinople, now known as Istanbul. However, the mission faced immense challenges, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. Sacrificing your life for a cause is incredibly honourable. When you think of the sacrifice Jesus made for us so we could have eternal life, would you not gladly lay down your sinful life to become His disciple? Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; it happens when you place your trust in Christ. But becoming a disciple is the work of a lifetime; it calls for denying yourself and saying yes to the will of God every day of your life. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Three things:

1) To listen to Him and learn. That calls for reading, studying, memorising, verbalising, and applying the truths taught in the Scriptures to your life each day.

2) To follow Him wherever He leads. This may call for changing your plans, forfeiting some of your relationships, and giving Him access to things you would like to hold on to.

3) To be devoted to Him. One day, Jesus said to Peter, ‘…“Do you love Me more than these?”’ (John 21:15 NKJV). Note the word ‘more’. To be a disciple means to love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. And it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding life you can live!

I forever stand with Israel 🇮🇱

Make an impact

Wed, 24 Apr 2024

‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus ...’ Hebrews 12:1-2

The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, ‘If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.’

Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: ‘Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I will.’

C.T. Studd, one of England’s greatest athletes, shocked the world when he gave up fame and fortune to be a missionary to China. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,’ he explained.

Missionary Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr in South America, said, ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.’ The day you were born, God had a track for you to run on. But to win, you must get rid of:

1) Anything that weighs you down, and

2) Anything that trips you up. ‘… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV).

How to deal with difficult people

Tue, 23 Apr 2024

‘If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ Matthew 5:41

Jesus said, ‘If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ (Matthew 5:41 NIV) Roman soldiers were permitted to force a Jew to carry a burden a mile for them. They treated Jews as tools to be used as required. So, what do you do in that kind of situation? Jesus invites us to take the high road. A Roman soldier could be a young boy who was probably poor himself. All he receives is local resentment. So, you finish the mile and say, ‘You look tired. Can I help you some more? Can I carry it for you another mile?’ That would blow the soldier’s mind. Nobody would expect that! That’s what you’re called to do! When someone takes advantage of you, you want to think negatively towards them rather than seeing them as a person with their own story.

It’s said that a friend offered to introduce English essayist Charles Lamb to a man whom Lamb had disliked for a long time. ‘Don’t make me meet him,’ Lamb said. ‘“I want to go on hating him, and I can’t do that to a man I know.’ Understand this: you can give the gift of empathy. You can remember that the person you don’t like is also a human being. You can put yourself in their place. You can take the time to imagine how they feel, what they have been through, and how life has treated them. When you do that, your problem becomes an opportunity to practise being Christ-like. Isn’t that what you want? Isn’t that what you signed up for in the first place?

Exploiting 😥

God knows what’s best for you

Mon, 22 Apr 2024

‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.’ Proverbs 19:21

We’ve all heard the saying, , ‘The devil is in the details.’ But for a redeemed child of God, He is in the details! When you set your heart on something, and it doesn’t happen, it’s only human to experience disappointment. At such moments, here is what you need to keep in mind:

1) At best, you’re always working with limited information. You may know the end result you desire, but God knows what’s best for you, and He plans accordingly. ‘I am God … declaring the end from the beginning … saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure”’ (Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV).

2) Trying to work outside of God’s will is like attempting to dig your way through a solid wall with a fork. Instead of digging your way out of a prison, you dig your way into one when you demand to get what you want. Do you really want to carry out a plan God hasn’t ordained? Can you depend on Him to know what’s best for you? ‘For the LORD of armies has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?’ (Isaiah 14:27 NASB20).

It’s better to be disappointed temporarily than end up with something you can’t handle. The story of Israel reads like this: ‘… He … redeemed them from the hand of the enemy … Then they believed His words; they sang His praise. They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel … and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul’ (Psalm 106:10, 12-15 NKJV). Trust God, and He will give you what’s best.

......at the age of 65 years? 😥

Choosing a leader

Sun, 21 Apr 2024

‘Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’ Matthew 15:14

There are plenty of good leaders around—don’t be afraid to follow them. But what about the ‘blind guides’ that Jesus talks about? Here are some signs to help you identify and avoid them:

1) Inflexibility. True leaders have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart. They rejoice in your growth and aren’t threatened by your development. They won’t try to ‘keep you in the nest’ when it’s clear that you’re ready to fly.

2) Elitism. Look out for the ‘we-alone-are-right’ attitude. When someone can’t acknowledge and fellowship with other members of God’s redeemed family, something’s wrong. The word exclusive is often another word for paranoid.

3) Money-grubbing. Here is God’s standard for leadership: ‘… not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness;…’ (1 Peter 5:2 NASB20). The Bible also says good leaders are ‘… worthy of double honour …’ (1 Timothy 5:17 KJV), which means twice as much. But look out for those who teach that you must only sow your seed into their field and nowhere else.

4) Accountability. Beware of the untouchable, ‘I-am-God’s-anointed’ types. No matter how gifted we are, we all have blind spots and need to be confronted and counselled from time to time. Solomon said, ‘But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV).

Here is what Jesus said about the religious leaders of His day: ‘… “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”’ (Matthew 15:13-14 NIV). When choosing a leader, you don’t need a blind prima donna; you need one with a servant spirit.

I stand with Israel 🇮🇱

....wetin Obi dey look for up & down? 😥

Think before you speak!

Sat, 20 Apr 2024

‘If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.’ James 3:2

The Bible has a lot to say about the danger of our words. James devotes an entire chapter to this subject: ‘For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.’ (James 3:2 CSB) Now, there is an aspect of self-control to consider! The Greek sage Publius said, ‘I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.’ And novelist William Edward Norris wrote, ‘If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care; to whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.’

King David puts it this way: ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle …’ (Psalm 39:1 NASB95). That’s what it takes—a muzzle! David is talking about making a conscious commitment to watch what you say, and if you want to accomplish this, here are three principles you need to live by:

1) Think first. Before you speak, pause for ten seconds and mentally preview your words. Are they accurate or exaggerated? Kind or cutting? Needless or necessary? Grateful or complaining? What you don’t say today, you won’t have to explain tomorrow.

2) Talk less. Your chances of getting into trouble increase exponentially when you talk too much. That’s why compulsive talkers often find it hard to keep friends. Conserve your verbal energy.

3) Start today. Already, you have read enough to help bring your tongue into submission. So take the time to think before you speak and watch how it enriches your life.

I stand with Israel 🇮🇱

Finding self-worth

Fri, 19 Apr 2024

‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.’ Matthew 6:33

When you read God’s Word, you discover how He feels about you. As a result, your memories begin to heal, your self-worth is restored, and you stop living with a devalued self-image. When that happens, you no longer believe that ‘anybody’s company is preferable to my own’. In a survey of supposedly happy couples, over 50 per cent said they wouldn’t marry the same person again. Why? Because the answer to loneliness isn’t people; it’s purpose!

The apostle John was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos when God showed him the glories of heaven, and he wrote the book of Revelation. Paul was alone in a Roman dungeon when he wrote half the New Testament. God did some of His best work when He was alone with no one to applaud Him, so He praised Himself: ‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. …’ (Genesis 1:31 KJV). Can you do that? It’s nice when others speak well of you, but when you can speak well of yourself, it reflects your opinion of yourself—and that’s the one you live with every day.

Beyond loneliness, there is a contentment born of necessity. When your options close in the natural realm, you find doors opening to you in the spiritual realm. So, work on deepening your relationship with God. As you do, you will find joy, and you will also develop qualities that make you attractive to the right people. It’s why Jesus said, ‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.’ (Matthew 6:33 NASB20) This includes self-worth

I want to see the view from the sky. Use the drone now please 🙏

.......and those kids are fatherless now, imagine? 🤔. How many of such kids will grow up in our society in the future? Anyway, there's no happening without the knowledge of God. I believed God knows all about it.

It is well.

Use the gift God gave you

Thu, 18 Apr 2024

‘God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.’ 1 Corinthians 12:18

Have you ever opened a Christmas present only to be disappointed at the one you were given? You look around and see that others received a nicer present than yours. You noticed that some even received two great presents, which puts a damper on your Christmas experience. Maybe someone noticed your disappointment and offered to swap your present for something you like better.

The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We may be unhappy at the gift we’ve received from God and envious of the gifts God has given others. So, you take it upon yourself to swap it for something you like better. That’s why so many people are running around claiming to be an apostle, a prophet, or a teacher—they’re gift-swapping. You don’t get to decide what gift God gives you. The Bible says, ‘God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.’ (1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV)

Sometimes, it takes years for you to recognise your gift and start operating in it. Instead of coveting another person’s gift, be thankful for your own and ask God to use it to bless as many people as possible. And if you have questions about it, search the Scriptures. Paul says, ‘God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29 NIV); ‘However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one's faith;…’ (Romans 12:6 NASB20); ‘… But, each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that’ (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV). ‘But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.’ (1 Corinthians 12:11 NKJV). So, use the gift God gave you.

Marlon Brando/Godfather

Btruth:
You need God’s help

Wed, 17 Apr 2024

‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ John 15:5

Self-help books and motivational speakers are like cheerleaders standing on the sidelines shouting, ‘You can do it!’ They can be helpful, but if the ‘you can do it’ philosophy always held true, we wouldn’t need God. Paul understood this. That’s why he wrote, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Discovering the will of God requires faith for the impossible and a childlike dependence on Him. The Bible is full of men and women who discovered their destiny in the perfect will of God by doing things that would ordinarily have been impossible to do on their own. For example:

1) Noah and his impossible project. Noah was commissioned to build a ship the size of an aircraft carrier – by hand – and on land!

2) Abraham and his impossible promise. At ninety, after years of trying unsuccessfully to be a father, God told him his children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the sea.

3) Mary and her impossible pregnancy. Imagine telling your husband-to-be, ‘I’m pregnant, and the baby’s father is the Holy Spirit.’ God has always chosen ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and they all had something in common. Every one of them was called to be part of something bigger than themselves. And because of their willingness to yield to God and allow His purposes to be revealed and fulfilled through them, He used them in amazing ways. God takes pleasure in doing things through us that only He can do so that, in the end, He will receive all the glory, honour, and praise.

Emi le ṣe ohun gbogbo ninu Kristi ẹniti nfi agbara fun mi.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

You need God’s help

Wed, 17 Apr 2024

‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ John 15:5

Self-help books and motivational speakers are like cheerleaders standing on the sidelines shouting, ‘You can do it!’ They can be helpful, but if the ‘you can do it’ philosophy always held true, we wouldn’t need God. Paul understood this. That’s why he wrote, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Discovering the will of God requires faith for the impossible and a childlike dependence on Him. The Bible is full of men and women who discovered their destiny in the perfect will of God by doing things that would ordinarily have been impossible to do on their own. For example:

1) Noah and his impossible project. Noah was commissioned to build a ship the size of an aircraft carrier – by hand – and on land!

2) Abraham and his impossible promise. At ninety, after years of trying unsuccessfully to be a father, God told him his children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the sea.

3) Mary and her impossible pregnancy. Imagine telling your husband-to-be, ‘I’m pregnant, and the baby’s father is the Holy Spirit.’ God has always chosen ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and they all had something in common. Every one of them was called to be part of something bigger than themselves. And because of their willingness to yield to God and allow His purposes to be revealed and fulfilled through them, He used them in amazing ways. God takes pleasure in doing things through us that only He can do so that, in the end, He will receive all the glory, honour, and praise.

NHS Hospital @ Seven Kings......lol

Ewuju......😁

Your limited window of opportunity

Tue, 16 Apr 2024

‘Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.’ Deuteronomy 4:9

Let’s read what God said to the parents who entered the promised land: ‘"Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, …’ (Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV). Notice the progression here. First, ‘take heed to yourself’. Next, ‘teach them to your children’. Your ability to influence and mould the children you care for is based on your credibility with them. When the principles you live by produce joy, peace, strength, kindness, discipline, and success, the children who look up to you will begin to take you seriously. And you have a limited window of opportunity. There are skills that can be learned during early childhood that become much more difficult later on.

Have you ever wondered why it’s so simple to teach preschoolers any language they hear? And they can learn it perfectly, without even a trace of their own accent. Fifteen or more years later, they will have a much harder time attempting to make those same sounds. This is explained by a process called ‘phoneme contraction’. The larynx of a young child assumes a shape needed to make any sounds he or she is learning to use. It then sets in those positions, making it impossible or challenging to make other sounds in later years.

A child’s attitude towards parental leadership and the guidance of carers is similar. That’s why it’s essential to ‘shape the will’ during the preschool and early years by balancing unconditional love with consistent teaching and firmness at home. If you miss that opportunity, the adolescent years can be rougher than they need to be.

When your time comes, and you are destiny to travel.....help will surely come with the little that you have. Trust me on God with it. Talking from experience as back as 1993.

Goodluck buddy.

Congratulations to both of them

My heart goes to his family and their 2 kids. 😥

nofuckz:
How can this be, teacher?

whatever challenges, stages and situations we are passing through in life, there's definitely going to be a light after the tunnel for us in Jesus name.

Good morning

Give children convictions to live by

Mon, 15 Apr 2024

‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children ...’ Deuteronomy 6:6-7

If you’re a parent, are you trying to keep your children under lock and key in order to keep them out of trouble? Or if you’re a teacher or Sunday school leader, do you try to impose strict rules? It won’t work. You’re not keeping them out of trouble; you’re simply postponing it. Things like curfews, dress codes, internet use, and checking up on their friends are part of good parenting and good teaching. But when you are not around to guide them, they need sound principles to live by. And those principles can be found in God’s Word: ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.’ (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NIV).

Isn’t it interesting that each succeeding generation views the previous one as old-fashioned and out of date? And that’s not all bad. Every generation believes there is a better way to do things, and that is the foundation for progress. That’s why getting from Liverpool to New York takes only seven hours by plane instead of three weeks by sailing ship. God’s Word can stand the test of scrutiny. So, instead of shutting them down, invite children to ask questions and challenge assumptions, then help them arrive at solid scriptural convictions to live by. As someone who cares for children, there is no greater gift you can give them.

Forever, I stand in loyalty with Israel 🇮🇱.