₦airaland Forum

AmuDimpka:
how when youbhanent seen blueprint

I know where the project is going on right now. It will be of great benefits to the people. Lagos is moving.

Impressive

Forming healthy relationships

Fri, 20 Jan 2023

‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3

If you’re recovering from a bad relationship, it’s a mistake to rush into another one. Unhealthy people make unhealthy choices. Some wounds take longer to heal than others, but you can count on this promise: ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’ All God asks is that you give Him a chance. Start by taking time to search His Word to find out how He feels about you. His opinion is the only reliable foundation on which to build your self-worth. If a perfect God with full knowledge of your struggles and shortcomings can love you, the message is—lighten up on yourself!

You can only love, or be loved again, with the same wholeness with which you love yourself. Next time make sure your choices aren’t predicated on need or the fear of being alone. And be careful: when you don’t value yourself, you attract people who won’t value you either; people who will use you for their own ends. You deserve better, so hold out for it.

You train others how to treat you by how you treat yourself. And as you become spiritually and emotionally whole, you will start seeing how unhealthy some of your former choices have been. If some people walk away, so be it. Sometimes you have to give up less in order to have more. The God who said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone’ has new relationships in mind for you. But He is waiting until your values and self-perception line up with His. So, take it step by step, one day at a time. And remember to rejoice—your best days are still ahead!

Blending two families

Thu, 19 Jan 2023

‘Live in peace.’ 2 Corinthians 13:11

The Brady Bunch was a popular television show where a mum and dad with six kids created one big happy family without conflict or rivalries. The problem is it seldom happens that way. So here are three challenges you will need God’s help with:

(1) It’s common for kids to see a new step-parent as a usurper. Their loyalty to the memory of their departed mother or father can be intense. For them to welcome a newcomer feels like an act of betrayal. This can place the step-parent in a real bind.

(2) It’s common for one child to move into the power vacuum left by the departed parent and see themselves as a surrogate spouse. The status and power that come with this supportive role is very strong, and a youngster can be unwilling to give it up.

(3) Each of us is irrationally committed to our flesh and blood while being merely acquainted with others. So, when conflict arises in the family, parents are almost always partial to those they brought into the world. And when children sense this tension between parents, some of them will try to exploit it to their advantage. That’s why, statistically, second and third marriages have a higher failure rate than first ones. But there is good news: ‘With God all things are possible.’ (Matthew 19:26 KJV)

What should you do? Seek professional counselling as early as possible. Yes, it costs, but a divorce will cost you even more. And include God; He can give you the patience, wisdom, and love you need. ‘Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.’ (2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV)

Handling temptation Christ’s way (2)

Wed, 18 Jan 2023

‘After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.’ Luke 4:13

Observe this:

(1) Temptation comes when you’re alone without support. Just as a wolf looks for the sheep that wanders from the safety of the fold, the Enemy rejoices when you neglect Christian fellowship and cut yourself off from other believers. You may think the Lord is always with you, but that doesn’t mean the devil won’t tempt you. The Bible teaches us how to overcome temptation: ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT)

We are born, and born again, to walk this journey with others. United we stand, divided we fall is a popular motto. ‘They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.’ (Act 1:14 HCSB) Paul writes, ‘For the body is not one part but many.’ (1 Corinthians 12:14 NASB) Walking in step with other believers increases your protection against Satan.

(2) Your greatest weapon in the hour of temptation is knowing God’s Word. Jesus repelled Satan’s attacks by quoting it. Satan is rendered powerless when he is confronted by a believer who declares, ‘It is written!’ You must decide to take a stand, but it’s your stance on God’s Word that makes the Enemy retreat. When Satan approached, Jesus didn’t go looking for a Bible; He quoted the Word He knew by heart. That’s your key to victory. John says, ‘I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s Word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.’ (1 John 2:14 NLT)

Handling temptation Christ’s way (1)

Tue, 17 Jan 2023

‘For forty days He was tempted by the devil.’ Luke 4:2

Here are some practical pointers from Jesus for handling temptation:

(1) Your temptations are like the ones He faced. ‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.’ (Hebrews 4:15 HCSB) You say, ‘But you don’t understand how bad my temptations are.’ No, but Jesus does. The fact that He was tempted in every way, means He has been there, felt the urge, and understands your vulnerability first-hand. You can turn to Him when temptation hits, confident He has walked the same path and He will help you.

(2) Temptation often comes after spiritual victory. Jesus had just been baptised, the Holy Spirit descended on Him, and God declared His pleasure in His Son—then Satan struck full force (see Matthew 3:16–17; 4:1–11). High spiritual moments can leave you with your guard down, susceptible to attack. Paul says, ‘Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV) People often crash and burn after big accomplishments. Ministers, for example, can be prone to temptation after delivering a great sermon.

(3) Temptation comes when you’re exhausted. Forty days without eating had left Jesus physically depleted. When your resources are drained, you’re a target for attack. Lack of sleep, unhealthy diet, stretching yourself too thin, no exercise, anxiety, and discouragement can open the door to temptation. When you feel down, your focus blurs, your awareness is dulled, your spiritual edge diminishes, and you’re not on guard against the Enemy’s approaches and schemes. The Bible says, ‘Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

Beware of an elitist attitude (3)

Mon, 16 Jan 2023

‘Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God and at the right time He will lift you up in honour.’ 1 Peter 5:6

Have you ever looked down on someone because they didn’t share or possess the advantages that you enjoy in life? Do you feel superior to others in any aspect of your life? Do you believe that being part of a particular denomination puts you in a special class? Maybe your well-toned physique makes you feel superior to the overweight multitudes. And what if you are renowned in your community? Do you think you should always be escorted to front-row seats at public meetings? If so, it’s time to submit your attitude to the Holy Spirit.

But when it comes to elitism, there is another side to the coin. It’s possible to label a person or a group as elitist merely because they enjoy a particular advantage that you find intimidating and alienating due to your own self-doubt, or to try to improve your image in others’ eyes. Politicians do this. A candidate may accuse his opponent of elitism simply because of access to family wealth, or a diploma from a prominent university, or a high profile, or influential friends. As a result, that opponent accuses the other of reaching out to blue-collar workers and being disingenuous about how regular and down-to-earth they are.

In the final analysis, it’s not what you do but what you believe that establishes whether you have an elitist attitude. The truth is, it’s easy to spot pride in others and hard to see it in yourself. That’s why Peter writes, ‘Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honour.’

In 1579, a tall African man now known by the name of Yasuke arrived in Japan.

His height was roughly 6 feet, 2 inches and he had skin like charcoal historians said. The average height of a Japanese man in 1900 was 5 feet 2, so Yasuke would have towered over most Japanese people in the 16th century.

In 1579, his arrival in Kyoto, the capital at the time, caused such a sensation that people climbed over one another to get a glimpse of him with some being crushed to death, according to historian Lawrence Winkler.

In 1581, the Bantu man alongside Alessandro Valignano set foot in Japan’s capital and booming metropolis, also serving as headquarters of the then daimiyo, Oda Nobunaga. It was here that accounts describe multitudes of people from far and wide coming to witness the tall, strong dark-skinned man.

So strange was this man, that natives likened him to a deity and once broke down the gates of a missionary church to catch a glimpse of him. Oda Nobunaga upon seeing this wonder of a man himself ordered that he strip down and wash off the dark ink from his skin convinced that he might have been a missionary playing a joke. Much to his surprise, no ink came off nor did the skin tone change in the slightest.

Genuinely intrigued by this enigma of a man, Nobunaga quickly took an appreciation for his integrity, but of more significance perhaps, his physical prowess even openly stating that he possessed the strength of ten men! It was with this royal decree that he entered into Nobunaga’s service effectively becoming a samurai. The mysterious Bantu man was even accorded a name, Yasuke!

Other than a piece of land and a house upon it, Yasuke like other samurai was afforded two blades. A long sword- (katana) and another short ceremonial sword. In addition to this, logic dictated that Yasuke learnt how to not only fight but carry himself honourably and diligently as thousands of samurai did before him.

Through the ranks, he rose quickly and soon enough, Yasuke was Oda Nobunaga’s closest companion. He even had the rare privilege of dining with the warlord, a fete even native allies were yet to achieve.

It is recorded, Yasuke rode with Oda Nobunaga into battle and unleashed his ferocity and raw strength, laying waste to all who stood up to the tower of a man relative to the native’s short build. More to this, it was customary for Yasuke to ride alongside his master Oda Nobunaga as he surveyed newly conquered lands. A position of envy to many of Oda’s subordinates. Worse still, occupied by a foreigner. This was not going to last long, however.

In 1582, on their way back from conquest, Nobunaga famously split his army and sent them forward to scour the area for new lands to conquer while he rested in a temple nearby. A surprise attack was launched and Nobunaga’s remaining forces were quickly overpowered. To avoid capture, Nobunaga was forced to commit ritualistic suicide (sepeku).

In the midst of the chaos, Yasuke saw the futility of the fight and rode ahead to secure Nobunaga’s heir, Oda Nobutada. Despite waging a defence fit for the history books and Yaskue’s best efforts, the young prince’s armies were overwhelmed and he too was forced to commit sepeku.

In the same breath, Yasuke was captured and was quickly banished owing to him not being native Japanese. He was sent back to the Jesuit Missionary Church where he was met with his former master Alessandro Valignano who sang and rejoiced upon his safe return.

Much about him remains a mystery: it’s unconfirmed which country in Africa he hailed from, and there is no verifiable record of his life after 1582. But Yasuke was a real-life Black samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga, one of the most important feudal lords in Japanese history and a unifier of the country. Yasuke is now the subject of two films and a Netflix Anime series.

Beware of an elitist attitude (2)

Sun, 15 Jan 2023

‘It was not I but God who was working through me by His grace.’ 1 Corinthians 15:10

Anytime you think less of someone because they’re not a member of your race, denomination, gender, or social group, you’re displaying an elitist attitude. Elitism is rooted in pride, and ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.’ (James 4:6 NIV) Here are two Bible examples of the elitist they are not one of us attitude:

(1) When God poured out His Spirit upon the seventy elders who led Israel, they all prophesied. Two of them were not present when it happened. Later, Joshua saw them prophesying and reported it to Moses. ‘“My lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”’ (Numbers 11:28–29 NKJV) Joshua believed that only a select group were qualified.

(2) ‘John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in My name will soon be able to speak evil of Me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.”’ (Mark 9:38–40 NLT)

If you exclude others or feel superior to them in any aspect of life, read these words from Paul: ‘But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favour on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace.’

Beware of having an elitist attitude (1)

Sat, 14 Jan 2023

‘Don’t think you are better than you really are.’ Romans 12:3

Paul writes: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.’ (Romans 12:3–6 NLT) Paul is teaching us this important principle: ‘Don’t have an elitist attitude.’

If you are an elitist, you must deal with the truth that every advantage or favour you enjoy is a gift from God (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). Whatever God has given you or allowed you to accomplish must never be used for personal exultation. Even if you think you achieved each of them on your own, read these words and take them to heart: ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being… He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honour and gave Him the name above all other names.’ (Philippians 2:3–9 NLT)

Don’t be self-righteous

Fri, 13 Jan 2023

‘Do not think of yourself more highly than you should.’ Romans 12:3

Jesus told this story: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to Heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ (Luke 18:10–14 NLT)

The lesson in this story is that God has more tolerance for an honest sinner than a self-righteous Christian. When the Pharisee was congratulating himself for the sins he didn’t commit, he was guilty of the sin of spiritual pride. Ask yourself what good behaviour is a source of pride to you? Do you measure others by your performance and mark their scorecard accordingly? The only performance that makes any of us acceptable to God is based on Christ’s performance on the cross. ‘God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)

The righteousness that saves us is imputed—not earned. So don’t be self-righteous!

Meditate—percolate (5)

Thu, 12 Jan 2023

‘The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.’ Psalm 19:8

‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.’ (Psalm 19:7–8 NKJV)

‘More to be desired are they than gold… sweeter also than honey… by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.’ (Psalm 19:10–14 NKJV)

This prayer shows that the psalmist regarded meditation as an utter necessity to his spiritual life. And if that was true for him in his day, how much more vital is it for you today! You need to bathe your mind each day in the waters of God’s Word so that your words and thoughts are pleasing in His sight. Choose a time during your day, whether it’s the start of the day, at coffee break, during your lunchtime, coming home from work, or before falling asleep at night to reflect upon the truth of God’s Word. The greatest changes in your life will come through the process of meditating on the Scriptures—just letting the Word of God filter and percolate through your mind and into your life. First-class Bible reading calls not for snapshots but for timed exposures.

Meditate—percolate (4)

Wed, 11 Jan 2023

‘Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.’ Psalm 119:97

Bible meditation is different from meditation as we know it in our society. Meditation, as popularly taught by the Eastern philosophies, tells you to empty your mind. That’s the exact opposite of what the Scriptures say! Bible meditation means filling your mind with the truth God has revealed. David was a king. Imagine the pressures and problems, demands and decisions he faced each day. Yet he said, ‘Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.’

Have you observed that we waste so much time doing mundane things such as waiting on hold on the phone, queueing, or driving to work? Some city dwellers often spend an hour or more commuting to work. If this adds up to ten hours a week, that’s forty hours a month and four hundred and eighty hours a year. That’s an extraordinary amount of time! The question is, what are you doing with your mind during this time? Will you drive along with your mind in neutral or listen to the radio, or get angry at all the drivers around you?

Instead, think of it as a great opportunity to get your mind into gear to grow spiritually and mentally! What exercise does for your body; meditation does for your soul. The Bible says, ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) An office sign reads: ‘You are not what you think you are. But what you think—you are!’ If you want your life to be different, start thinking differently; meditate on God’s Word!

Meditate—percolate (3)

Tue, 10 Jan 2023

‘You shall meditate on it day and night.’ Joshua 1:8

Bible meditation has fallen out of favour. Why? Because we live in an instantaneous society, and a preoccupied society. We have so much stuff coming at us from TV, mobile phones, email, texts, snail mail, satellite links, cable news feeds, and podcasts that we hardly have a moment to react—much less reflect.

Get real! You can’t download spiritual maturity by hitting a few keys on a computer. That’s why the Scriptures speak so often about meditation. God, the author of the Bible, gave Joshua the formula for succeeding in your career and prospering in whatever you put your hand to: ‘Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.’ (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

To succeed in life, you must do something. Do what? Meditate in God’s Word! How often? Day and night. So, what portion of Scripture were you thinking about this morning as you started your day? Or while driving to and from work? For that matter, when was the last time you consciously reflected on any Bible truth or principle? If you can’t remember, start making some changes right away. Paul told Timothy: ‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.’ (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV) And that’s still the rule!

Meditate—percolate (2)

Mon, 9 Jan 2023

‘I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.’ Psalm 119:15

Let’s take this meditate-percolate idea a step further. (If you’re a tea drinker, substitute the word brew.) Maybe this will help you ease into meditation instead of feeling overwhelmed by the thought that you don’t have the time or discipline to do it. This is not an all-or-nothing challenge. Take small steps. If you have only ten minutes, maximise each one of them. You don’t have to read ten chapters of your Bible. You’re not doing a book report for school, and you’re not going to be graded on a test.

God’s Word is so rich with truths that you can take one verse, one phrase or one idea and let it percolate and brew in your mind, whether you have ten minutes or two hours. Instead of watching TV or constantly checking your phone for messages, just sit still, drink your coffee or tea, and let God’s indwelling Spirit interpret, enlarge, and enrich His Word as you roll it over and over in your mind. Think about it when driving or during lunch or coffee breaks. Some days you will feel like you have hit the jackpot spiritually; other days you will feel like you have added a little more to your basic Bible knowledge. Consistency is the key. Move slowly from one verse to the next, meditating and considering God’s ways as you go. Do this for one year, and you will have 365 Scriptural insights to draw on. Can you see how this could change your life for the better?

Imagine the evil carried out between this 2 beautiful people because of bread by the devil.

Meditate—percolate (1)

Sun, 8 Jan 2023

‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.’ Colossians 3:16

Meditating in Scripture is one of the great keys to spiritual growth. In the first psalm, David writes, ‘In His law he meditates day and night.’ (Psalm 1:2 NKJV) But the word meditation is not one that a text-and-Twitter generation relates to very well. We imagine sober-faced monks wearing hairshirts and chanting on bended knees as the sun rises every morning. As a result, we want to run in the opposite direction. We admire such people, think God has to call us to such a thing, and conclude that He certainly hasn’t called us to do it. Or we think meditation is a discipline that requires hours of uninterrupted time, and time is the one thing we don’t have in surplus. And the result? We live busy but spiritually barren lives.

Some of us think meditation is fine, but we believe there are other spiritual growth and character development areas we need to work on first. So, what’s the problem? We don’t understand what it means to meditate, or the rich benefits it will give us. A spoon of instant coffee is okay if you just want the basic taste of coffee. But if you want more—if you want to enjoy the flavours of the coffee in all their richness—you have to let it percolate. So, we could paraphrase the Scripture this way: ‘In His law, he percolates day and night.’

That is what Paul meant here: ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.’ Today, enjoy the aroma, taste the flavour, and experience the strength.

Learn to manage your emotions

Fri, 6 Jan 2023

‘He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.’ Genesis 50:21

If you have read the story of Joseph, you realise he had every reason to be angry, bitter and vindictive for the despicable way his brothers treated him. But what does he do? He doesn’t get enraged. He doesn’t even get even. He helps Egypt, the land that enslaved and falsely imprisoned him, to survive famine. He feeds his family when they come begging for food. He forgives, and in doing so, he is freed from his negative emotions. He resolves past issues, does not allow them to deter his destiny, and stays in God's favour.

As second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph held the power of life and death over those who had hurt him. Yet he told them: ‘But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now, therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.’ (Genesis 50:20–21 NKJV) We all have emotional reactions in our relationships; the problem isn’t the anger or the disappointment—unless your emotions control you. Whenever anger causes you to damage the things God has given you charge over, your emotions are being mismanaged. You give territory to the devil when you fail to manage your anger.

‘And “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.’ (Ephesians 4:26–27 NLT) So, the word for today is—learn to manage your emotions.

tydi:
May we never be at the right place at the wrong time or any victim of circumstances this year in Jesus name .Amen

Amin oooo Jesu.

This year think ‘possible’ (3)

Thu, 5 Jan 2023

‘Then he had another dream.’ Genesis 37:9

Joseph had two dreams. The second was bigger than the first. His first dream was a field of sheaves; the second dream was a sky full of stars. So, the word for today is—dream one size bigger! Henry Curtis said: ‘Make your plans as fantastic as you like because twenty-five years from now, they will seem mediocre. Make your plans ten times as great as you first planned, and twenty-five years from now, you will wonder why you did not make them fifty times as great.’

There is only one way to keep growing: make your goal a step beyond what makes you comfortable. That will force you to keep growing! And it will also set you up to believe God for greater things. Most people want their lives to keep improving, yet they value peace and stability at the same time. They forget that you can’t improve and stay the same. Growth means change, and that means challenging the status quo. Thinking possible means you can’t settle for what you have now. There will always be people around you who want you to give up your dream and embrace the status quo. Love them, but don’t be led by them.

As you begin to believe God for greater things and others try to throw cold water on you, remember that right now, as you read this page, other people around the world are thinking about curing cancer, developing new energy sources, feeding the hungry, improving the quality of life, and winning whole nations for Christ. They are beating the odds and challenging the status quo—and you must, too.

This year think ‘possible’ (2)

Wed, 4 Jan 2023

‘Without faith it is impossible to please Him.’ Hebrews 11:6

The Bible says, ‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) Here is something God can’t do: be pleased without faith!

Twelve spies entered the promised land, but only two came back and said, ‘We are well able to overcome it.’ (Numbers 13:30 NKJV) God had promised it to them, but the majority thought it couldn’t be done. People who think possible not only create forward-looking, optimistic pictures of the future in their own minds but also in the minds of others. And the opposite is true. Nothing is more embarrassing than watching someone do something that you said couldn’t be done. Now, believing you can doesn’t guarantee you will, but believing you can’t guarantees you won’t!

So, how’s your approach to life? When you face the unknown, the undone, or the untried, do you focus on all the things that can go wrong or all the things that can go right? Aerospace engineer, Wernher von Braun, said, ‘I have learned to use the word impossible with the greatest caution.’ He was the scientist who made it possible for the first man to walk on the moon!

John Andrew Holmes said: ‘Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.’ If you want to achieve something, give yourself permission to believe it is possible—and trust God for success.

This year think ‘possible’ (1)

Tue, 3 Jan 2023

‘With God all things are possible.’ Matthew 19:26

Read these two Scriptures: ‘With God all things are possible.’ (Matthew1 9:26 KJV) ‘Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.’ (Matthew 13:58 NKJV) Those two verses mean this: many things that are possible remain undone because of doubt and unbelief. So, this year, think possible. If God’s Word says you can succeed, but you’re failing, it may mean that you don’t really believe what He says, or you’re not willing to do your part. When you think ‘possible’, it increases your energy level. Who gets energised at the prospect of losing? If you know something can’t succeed, how much time and energy are you willing to give it? Nobody goes looking for a lost cause. You only invest yourself in what you believe can succeed.

So, when you think possible and trust God for success, your faith becomes the energising force. Some people believe that possibility thinkers are naive or foolish. If you’re one of them, answer this question: how many highly successful people do you know who are continually negative? How many impossibility thinkers are you acquainted with who achieve big things? None!

The first step to thinking possible is to stop yourself from searching for and dwelling on what’s wrong with each situation. People with an it-can’t-be-done mindset have two choices: they can expect the worst and continually experience it, or change their thinking. And that begins with eliminating the negative self-talk you hear in your head before you have even opened your mouth. ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.’ (Proverbs 18:21 NLT) In order to think ‘possible’, you must believe and speak ‘possible’.

LeoDeKing:
Obinna, next time, use "have".

like English is his mother language!

Enjoy each day of this New Year (2)

Mon, 2 Jan 2023

‘I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you.’ John 15:11

You need to enjoy each day of your life for Christ’s sake because He paid a very high price for you to be able to.

Jesus said, ‘I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10 NKJV)

Jesus said: ‘These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.’(John 15:11 NKJV)

He said, ‘Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.’ (John 16:24 NKJV) Jesus actually prayed that you would have joy: ‘But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.’ (John 17:13 NKJV)

With Jesus Himself praying such powerful words about His desire for you to have joy, how could you ever doubt that God wants you to be happy and enjoy your life? As a redeemed child of God, you’re a walking advert for Christianity! Don’t go around looking severe, stern, strict, sour, and censorial, believing that you’re coming across as spiritual. No, that’s a turnoff to non-Christians! You need a new mindset; a Scriptural one that will enable you to enjoy life and make you a more enjoyable person to be around.

Kobojunkie:
Read John 14 vs 25 - 27 & John 15 vs 26 - 27 & John 16 vs 4 - 15 to realize that these your mogs and pastors are playing games on you. None of what this man fed you lot has to do with Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, clear evidence that what they teach you does not come from Jesus Christ or HIs Gospel. What they feed you is nothing but Religion born of the doctrines and traditions of men.

you again?

Enjoy each day of this New Year (1)

Sun, 1 Jan 2023

‘Let’s celebrate and be glad today.’ Psalm 118:24

Each day is a gift from God. Apart from your salvation, today is the most valuable gift you will ever receive. When you receive a gift, what do you do? Thank the giver, unwrap it, and enjoy it. Getting the idea? Make an effort to focus on and enjoy every moment of your life. If you tend to be a planner, take care that you don’t start planning the next project while you’re still doing the current project. Otherwise, it will steal the present moment from you.

Although being focused is good, it’s easy to get so focused on your work that you fail to enjoy the magic of the moment. For example, don’t get so focused on your work that you find it difficult to stop for a moment and enjoy the things that are going on around you. If your children are still little it’s particularly important to enjoy the cute things they say or do because if you miss these precious moments, you will never get them back. We should celebrate life and the people God has placed in our path. Life is to be enjoyed, not dreaded or regretted.

Solomon wrote: ‘Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labour. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.’ (Ecclesiastes 2:24 NKJV) Note these two phrases:

(1) ‘From the hand of God’ means it’s God’s will for you to enjoy every day.

(2) ‘That his soul should enjoy good in his labour,’ means you must look for things to celebrate each day. And you can start doing this—today!

Five resolutions to work on

Sat, 31 Dec 2022

‘Run with perseverance.’ Hebrews 12:1

Susan Alexander Yates suggests five resolutions to work on.

(1) Reach someone who doesn’t know Christ. God commands us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16); that won’t happen if we spend all our time with believers. While reaching out feels scary, you’ll see God work through you when you take the risk.

(2) Be more grateful. ‘I used to wake thinking about all the things I had to do and the people who needed me. I got depressed before I got out of bed! So I started meditating on God’s character traits, thinking about how awesome God is, and my perspective changed.’

(3) Spend quality time with your spouse. ‘I used to have a raspberry patch. In the early years, I tended it, and it produced prolific crops. Then I got busy, and weeds took over. The same thing can happen in your marriage. We get busy with kids, our careers and church. We think about spending time together when life calms down. The problem is life never does. Don’t let the weeds choke your marriage. You’re raising future husbands and wives who need to know a happy marriage takes time.

(4) Say no to something. Maturing means you postpone something you’d like to do to focus on something more important. In 10 years, what will matter most—that you signed your child up for another activity or said no and had family dinners together?

(5) Pursue Christ with fresh vigour. David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12 NIV) Vary your routine, pick a new topic for Bible study, or begin a new journal. If you still feel stale, ask God to show you the reason.’

‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and… run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

SyrusdeHansome:
I can never eat dog, cat, snake, duck nd rabbit. I can't eat unfried chicken. Add urs

May the Lord never take away snake (big one though) & duck away from the list of my favorite meat in Jesus name. You miss snake meat, especially inside egusi soup, you miss something finish.

Heroicvic:
Pele and millions of people died today but only his name is mentioned

I think it's time for us to stop existing and start living so that we can be remembered like this legend for a good legacy

how I wish our leaders could borrow this your statement to think on it?

Don’t look back (2)

Fri, 30 Dec 2022

‘Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Isaiah 43:18–19

We should not be boastful about our successes. That doesn’t necessarily mean we must forget the great projects we have completed. We are to work and live with excellence unto God, and He takes pleasure in our successes when they are offered to His glory. But we should forget past successes if they have defined our identity or caused us to be complacent, smug and self-congratulatory. We’re not to handle the past, dwelling on past glories.

Similarly, we must make sure our stories of God’s work and grace in our lives are not all old. If we can only point to instances of God’s faithfulness from five years ago but none from the last few weeks, our connection with Christ isn’t very current. Paul warns the Philippians against those who would put their confidence in human criteria and accomplishment: ‘If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more.’ (Philippians 3:4 NIV), he said, citing his power that many in his day would have coveted.

But his focus wasn’t on his past: ‘Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ… But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 3:7, 13–14 NIV)’ The good news is that God doesn’t analyse your past in order to determine your future. He says, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Learn from the past, leave it, and don’t look back!

Samunique:
At least, they should leave and stay there in peace, not painting the nation black after they left. If you destroy your home who will build it for you ?

I wonder

Don’t look back (1)

Thu, 29 Dec 2022

‘Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Isaiah 43:18–19

Don’t look back. It is fruitless. You can’t change the past. Paul says, ‘I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.’ (Philippians 3:13 NLT)

(1) We must forget our sins. Obviously, we must remember our sins in order to confess them. But having done so, we must let them go. The fact that God forgets is like calling Heaven and being told that there is no record of any offence. They have been erased as if they never existed. Satan would lure us to live in guilt and fear. He pulls us into the shadowboxes of memory so that our worst sins continually replay on the walls of our minds. We need to be very clear here, or we’ll miss the liberating point. It’s not as if forgiveness is real only if we experience some kind of holy amnesia. It’s not up to us. It’s up to God. And the Scriptures say that God forgets our sins (see Hebrews 8:12).

(2) We must forget our shame. Paul could have been a prime candidate for shame. He had presided over the harassment, imprisonment, torture, and murder of innocent human beings. But God’s grace is stronger than our shame. We can forget our slithering shame, for Jesus took it when Jesus died and rose again. He scorned it, beat it, broke it. We need not take it back.

The word for today is—‘

Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.’