₦airaland Forum

Hummm

Are you doing what you’re supposed to do?

Sat, 4 Jan 2025

‘For we are … created … to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10

In his book, How Successful People Grow, John Maxwell identifies three kinds of people:

1) People who don’t know what they would like to do… They lack a strong sense of purpose … They dabble. They drift. They … have no idea what to shoot for. I believe the main reason is that they don’t know themselves as well as they should and thus remain unfocused in their growth.

2) People who know what they would like to do but don’t do it … Sometimes they aren’t doing what they want because they worry that it will cause them to neglect other responsibilities, such as providing for their families. Sometimes they aren’t willing to pay the price to learn, grow, and move closer to where they want to be. Other times fear prevents them from changing courses to pursue their passion. No matter what the reason, they, too, miss their potential.

3) People who know what they would like to do and do it. These people fulfil the Scripture: ‘For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

The third kind of people know themselves, possess a strong sense of passion, are focused on purpose, grow in areas that help them move closer to their purpose, and do what they were created to do. The best word that describes them is fulfilled. Finding yourself and growing to your potential can be a bit of a catch-22. You have to know who you are to grow to your potential. But you have to grow in order to know who you are.’ The solution is—spend time with God and let Him direct you.

Yinmu

Abiding: the secret of perpetual fruitfulness

Fri, 3 Jan 2025

‘He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…’ John 15:5

If serving the Lord stresses you out, read what Jesus said: ‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:4-5 NKJV). When you see grapes on a vine, it’s a picture of effortless growth.

One day when the great missionary J. Hudson Taylor felt overworked and worried, he read a letter from a friend who had found the secret of abiding in Christ. The letter profoundly moved Taylor, and he realised that his unity with Christ should create joy and fulfilment, not worry and stress. Soon afterwards, Taylor wrote to his sister, saying, ‘As to work, mine was never so plentiful or so difficult: but the weight and strain are now gone. The last month has been perhaps the happiest in my life; and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul … I looked to Jesus and saw that He had said, I will never leave you. Ah, there is rest. For has He not promised to abide with me? As I thought of the Vine and the branches, what light the blessed Spirit poured into my soul!’

So pray: ‘Lord, instead of me striving to see how much I can do for You, I’m going to abide in You and see how much You can do through me.’ That’s a prayer God will answer.

The importance of being alone with God

Thu, 2 Jan 2025

‘When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.’ Matthew 14:23

Jesus was both human and divine. Because we tend to think of Him as the Son of God more than the Son of Man, we overlook what we can learn from His human experience. When Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people, His divine power and prerogatives were on display (see Matthew 14:13-21). Yet after the event, we see His humanity in ways we should be able to identify with. After dismissing the crowd and sending the disciples away, Jesus withdrew to a solitary spot on the mountainside to be alone with God. After such a miracle, most of us would be celebrating. And those around us would have a hard time understanding why He sent them away. But Jesus understood that His power did not come from the crowd but from His Father, so He created time and solitude to be alone with Him. The relationship Jesus had with His Father is a picture of the relationship you, too, can have with God. Three things describe it:

1) Intimacy. ‘For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; …’ (John 5:20 NKJV).

2) Dependency. ‘… the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’ (John 5:19 NKJV).

3) Obedience. ‘I can of Myself do nothing … I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me’ (John 5:30 NKJV). What do you need to send away in order to have such a relationship with the Lord?

Be more closer to God.

Frigga13:
Thanks for this my brother ..

Compliment ..

Happy New year . Wish you everything good.
God bless you

amen & amen ooooo in Jesus name 🙏

Happy New Year bro

Start by forgiving

Wed, 1 Jan 2025

‘Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32

If you would like to start the New Year with a clean slate and travelling lighter, let go of the old grudges that are weighing you down. American author Philip Yancey describes forgiveness as ‘an unnatural act’. He says, ‘You don’t find dolphins forgiving sharks for eating their playmates. It’s a dog-eat-dog world … not dog-forgive-dog.’ Bitterness and hatred come naturally when you have been hurt. Forgiving is supernatural and requires the grace of God, but remember, Jesus said, ‘But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’ (Matthew 6:15 NIV).

Think about it—there is not one single, solitary reason God should ever forgive our sins, yet the offences He pardons us for every day far outweigh anything we will ever be asked to forgive our parents, spouses, and friends for. The Bible says forgive ‘... each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ ( Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Forgiveness opens the doors of a prison, where you are both the prisoner and the jailor. Grudges not only isolate you from people who were once friends, they shorten your life by producing deadly enzymes that contribute to a host of physical ailments.

One man told his counsellor, ‘I wish my brother could come to my wedding, but we haven’t spoken in years.’ The counsellor asked, ‘How come?’ Pausing, the man replied, ‘It sounds ridiculous now, but I don’t even remember!’ Drifting apart is the natural result of an unforgiving spirit; forgiveness reverses the trend by healing broken relationships. It’s a scientific fact that forgiveness adds years to your life. As a rule, when you talk to individuals who have passed the eighty-year mark, you find they’re at peace with themselves because they have learned to forgive and let go.

I don't know what to say to be honest 😔

Your quiet time (4)

Tue, 31 Dec 2024

‘I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah.’ Psalm 3:4

Sometimes Jesus rose early in the morning to pray; other times, He prayed all night long. So, your quiet time can be morning, evening, or whatever time works best for you. You’re not punching a time clock where God pays you; accordingly, He is inviting you to spend time with Him. David said, ‘I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah.’ (Psalm 3:4 NKJV) Throughout the Psalms, this little word ‘Selah’ occurs seventy-one different times. It means to pause and think. There is no specific length of time attached to the pause. Instead, it seems left up to the individual.

Selah. It’s a call to rest and reflect, to be still and breathe deeply, to settle into the moment and remain for a while. The Selah thought appears to be at the centre of quiet time with the Lord. When the Lord says, ‘Selah,’ He is saying, ‘Stop doing, and sit at My feet. Just belong to Me.’ What an invitation! It’s everything you have longed for and everything you need. And believe it or not, people who often have the hardest time doing it are involved in ministry. Like Martha, they excel when it comes to serving. And the danger is that by doing lots of things for the Lord, we feel like that excuses us from sitting at His feet and spending time with Him as Mary did.

If you have been remiss, negligent, or inconsistent in this, re-establish your quiet time with the Lord and refuse to let anything keep you from it.

Your quiet time (3)

Mon, 30 Dec 2024

‘Revive me, Lord, according to Your Word.’ Psalm 119:107

When everything in the psalmist’s life began falling apart, he prayed, ‘Revive me, Lord, according to Your Word.’ That’s what your quiet time with God does. So, why don’t we have a consistent quiet time with God? Two reasons:

1) We think our quiet time must be a long time. Start small. Reserve five minutes to open your Bible and meditate on a brief portion of Scripture. Chat with God about it. Tell your needs to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the whole day. Good news! You have just experienced a quiet time! So, tomorrow, repeat it. As your spiritual appetite grows, you will find yourself putting aside more time—ten minutes, then twenty, and that time will keep on growing.

2) We think our quiet time must be free of all noise! Instead of avoiding hustle and bustle, Jesus wants to connect with you there. Begin to find creative ways to connect with the Lord all day long. Listen to worship music while you clean and sing along, pray, and learn memory verses. ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’ (Colossians 3:23 NKJV).

Listen to the Bible while you drive—excellent apps are available. Pray while exercising—develop your faith muscle! Take a coffee break with God—do your Bible study at a café. Go for a walk with Jesus, pray for others, and praise God for the outdoor beauty He created. Welcome Him into your routines, and the mundane will turn into holy moments. Give the Holy Spirit your consent to interrupt, then do what He says. To put it another way—do life with Jesus.

Your quiet time (2)

Sun, 29 Dec 2024

‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses.’ Hebrews 4:15

One of Satan’s most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings. That’s a lie; don’t believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God. With that in mind, read this Scripture noting that the High Priest refers to Jesus. ‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT).

Another lie that Satan will tell you to keep you away from your quiet time is that the greatest saints in history spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That’s true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin! Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: ‘When you’re hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn’t until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!’

So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn’t feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you ‘taste and see that the Lord is good: …’ (Psalm 34:8 KJV), you will want more and more time with Jesus—which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.

Your quiet time (1)

Sat, 28 Dec 2024

‘You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your Word.’ Psalm 119:114

What’s stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with ‘shoulds’ and ‘ought tos’; like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, ‘Maybe later, when life slows down.’ We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the Enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him. David wrote: ‘The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple. For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me … My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming”’ (Psalm 27:4-6, 8 NLT).

When David wrote those words, there was no temple or ‘house of the Lord’. So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words ‘you’re my place of quiet retreat’ mean you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.

ChizzyBuna:
my mother was the first that went to village to clean and get our village house ready.

Meanwhile my dad excuse for not joining her was that he has some workers his trying to settle their salary before going to village for christmas

Meaning he arrived village 24th night while my mum had been in village since 21st december.

Clearly my p man use that excuse to knack...SMH
Only God will judge that man!!

Now i just arrive the house in town and this man had the audacity to not even dispose the condoms
3 Beer bottles litrerd on the floor
Asin i just dey regret entering his room. I no fit look that man the same again

why are you bitter? I read someone advising you that you should talk to your Daddy first. Will you be happy seeing your daddy & Mummy having a serious misunderstanding because of this? And don't you think the rest of the family will bring all the blame on you? My candid advice to you is to first talk to your Daddy about it before you will know the direction to go.
My 2 cents

God has a plan for your life

Fri, 27 Dec 2024

‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good … to give you a future and a hope.”’ Jeremiah 29:11

Paul was totally invested in what God had called him to do. Are you? When it comes to barriers to success, we are usually our own worst enemies. Taking the steps necessary to fulfil a God-given dream will cost you. You will have to work hard. You will have to make sacrifices. You will have to keep learning, growing, and changing. Are you willing to do that? Most people aren’t. Ask people when they will do what they want to do, and most will answer that they hope to do it ‘someday’. Why not now? Because you’re not ready? Perhaps you’re not. But if you wait until you are, maybe you will never do it. You only get ready by starting. And if you’re willing to start, here are some things you can count on.

First, it will be different from what you imagined. Second, it will be more difficult than you imagined. Third, it will be better than you imagined. Mark Twain said that the two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day they discover why they were born. If you want to discover why you were born, spend time with God. His Word says, ‘“For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT).

Frigga13:
Bless you bro
Thank you

thank you more for reading sir. God bless you

Lessons from the life of Joseph (4)

Thu, 26 Dec 2024

‘Joseph … did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.’ Matthew 1:24

There are divine purposes that must be faithfully watched over and protected in order to be fulfilled. Joseph gives us three keys to seeing God’s promises fulfilled. The first is mercy, and the second is faith. Let’s look at the third: Obedience. ‘Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus’ (Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV).

Joseph obeyed God when humanly speaking the circumstances didn’t make sense. He obeyed God when his mind was challenged with doubts. He obeyed God when his emotions were in an uproar. He obeyed God when it meant leaving home to live in Egypt until Herod died. For Joseph it meant leaving behind an established trade and business, and their family and friends. It meant living in a land where he did not understand or speak the language. And he didn’t know how long they would be there: weeks, months, years? Though Egypt was a hard place to be, it was a place of obedience.

And God’s promises to us are protected and fulfilled—in places of obedience. God reveals His will to us, miracles happen, provision comes, and we are safe—in places of obedience. Are you waiting for a promise to be fulfilled? Are you looking for an answer to prayer? Use the keys of mercy, faith, and obedience.

Lessons from the life of Joseph (3)

Wed, 25 Dec 2024

‘An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream…’ Matthew 1:20

In Joseph’s life we see three keys to experiencing the fulfilment of God’s purpose and promises in our lives. The first is mercy. Let’s look at the second: Faith. ‘But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit”’ (Matthew 1:20 NKJV). Joseph had intended to privately divorce Mary. Then God told him the divine plan. What was Joseph’s part? To exercise faith in a most difficult set of circumstances. To trust God when the situation could not be understood or explained rationally. God showed him four things:

1) God reminded Joseph of his identity: ‘Joseph, son of David.’ God wants you to know who you are ‘in Christ (see Ephesians 1:18-19). You have a special identity as a member of His redeemed family.

2) God assured Joseph that he didn’t have to be afraid. What enabled Joseph to overcome his fear and move forwards? Hearing from God. Having a word from the Lord to stand on. That’s what you need too (see Isaiah 30:21).

3) God gave Joseph direction. He was to take Mary as his wife, be a father to the child, and name Him Jesus. And what’s the lesson for you? Be teachable and follow God’s instructions. It’s by faith and obedience that you will reach your God-given destiny.

4) God assured Joseph that He was at work in the situation. When you know that, you experience peace of mind and a new perspective.

Lessons from the life of Joseph (2)

Tue, 24 Dec 2024

‘Joseph … decided to break the engagement quietly.’ Matthew 1:19

Joseph’s life of silent action gives us three keys to living in God’s promises. Today, let’s look at the first key: Mercy. We are introduced to Joseph in the middle of a personal crisis. He is in love with Mary. And he believed that she loved him … until he heard she was pregnant. How should he respond? Openly shame her? Or surrender her to a public stoning as the law of Moses required? No, he chose mercy over malice and anger and revenge.

The mercy of Joseph preserved the life of Mary and protected the unborn child Jesus so that He could fulfil His destiny and become our Saviour. And this understanding, forgiving, and merciful carpenter helped to raise an understanding, forgiving, and merciful Son. A Son who would confront prejudice and hatred; who would rise above the discrimination of His culture and treat a Samaritan woman as an equal; who would release ‘the woman at the well’ from a lifetime of failure and emptiness, and also bring hope and salvation to an entire city; who would tell a guilty woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned by a religious mob, ‘… “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more”’ (John 8:11 NKJV). A Son who would accept sinners not as bad, but as lost.

One of Joseph’s other sons, James, would one day grow up to believe in Jesus and write one of the books of the Bible in which he said, ‘But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds’ (James 3:17 NLT). Has someone hurt you? Follow the example of Joseph and show mercy.

Lessons from the life of Joseph (1)

Mon, 23 Dec 2024

‘Joseph … did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.’ Matthew 1:24

You can search the Gospels and you won’t discover a single word spoken by Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph. But he is irreplaceable in the story of Jesus’ birth. Here is why: God used Joseph to protect and preserve the life of the Saviour. So today, let’s look at the lesson we draw from the life of Joseph: You are responsible to protect God’s unborn purposes and promises in your life. Right now, there is a part of God’s will that is yet unknown and to be experienced in your life. A promise yet to be fulfilled. A word yet to be realised. A ministry yet to be launched. A family member yet to be saved. They are divine purposes that are presently unseen and unborn, and they must be watched over and protected so that they can come to pass.

Just as Herod ordered the death of every Hebrew baby boy under two years of age in order to eliminate Jesus, Satan will do everything he can to stop God’s plan and purpose from being accomplished in your life and in the lives of your loved ones. This will help you to understand that the battle is not over your past or your present—but over your future. What should you do?

First, be on guard. ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8 NIV).

Second, put a prayer covering over your life and your loved ones: ‘I looked for someone … who would … stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land …’ (Ezekiel 22:30 NIV).

‘Do not disturb’

Sun, 22 Dec 2024

‘Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not.’ 2 Timothy 4:2

In training Timothy for ministry, Paul says, ‘Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching’ (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT). Most hotels have a sign you can put on your bedroom door that says, ‘Do Not Disturb’. That sign on your door means you want to relax, sleep, or not be bothered. Hanging that sign on your hotel room door is acceptable, but putting it on your life isn’t. Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t always do things on our timetable or in ways that are convenient for us? Paul told Timothy that when it came to serving the Lord, he was called to do it ‘whether the time is favourable or not’. We need to remember that whatever God asks us to do, it’s always worth any inconvenience or difficulty we face in the process. And He will always make a way for us to accomplish His will when we are obedient to Him.

The Bible says, ‘For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.’ (Romans 8:7-8 NLT). Notice, this ‘sinful nature’ doesn’t please God. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us. What it does mean is that He is not satisfied, nor will He accept behaviour ‘still under the control of their sinful nature’. So take down your ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and commit to walking in obedience, for it’s the pathway of blessing.

Reach for your potential

Sat, 21 Dec 2024

‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ Job 8:7

Your personal potential is what you may be—the person you can become. God, who sees the end from the beginning, knows your potential and will help you to reach it. But you have a part to play. You must desire growth and commit yourself to it each day. Growth is a pathway that never ends: ‘They go from strength to strength; …’ (Psalm 84:7 NKJV). Just as your DNA differs from every other person, so does your personal growth pathway. To discover your God-given purpose, you must grow in spiritual awareness. To become a better person, you must grow in character. To progress in your career, you must develop your skills. To be a better spouse or parent, you must grow in your relationship skills. To achieve your financial goals, you must grow in your understanding about how money works. The aspects of growth differ from individual to individual, but the principles are alike for every person. And if you’re serious about growth, you must integrate what you’re learning into your routine.

You cannot change your life until you change something you do every day. Growth only takes place when knowledge becomes experience. That’s why keeping a growth journal is so important. It helps you to see how far you have come, what you have learned, the extent to which you have changed, and how far you have to go. If you continue to learn and grow daily for many years, you will be amazed at how far they will take you. ‘Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ (Job 8:7 NKJV)

Hummm

.....the news is so saddened

Doing God’s will

Fri, 20 Dec 2024

‘I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.’ Psalm 40:8

Doing God’s will can be difficult, but it always brings a sense of fulfilment and reward. David experienced resentment from his family, betrayal by his boss, and rejection by his friends. Yet he could say, ‘I delight to do Your will, O my God.’ To fulfil your God-given destiny, you need to be passionate. Passion gives you an advantage every time. One person with passion is more effective than ninety-nine who only have an interest. Passion gives you energy and keeps you going when others give up. Indeed, it keeps you going when you want to give up! Not only will God give you a passion for His will, but you will also discover abilities you didn’t know you had. They may be undeveloped, but they’re there waiting to be tapped.

Some of us have inherent abilities, and we know who we are and what to do. Others must work hard to make these discoveries. Your goal should be to waste as little of your life as possible. There is a big difference between having a God-given dream that pushes you to achieve and pulling a concept out of thin air that has no relation to who you are and what you’re called to do. Just as a soldier on the front line must stay in communication with headquarters, you must pray daily and search God’s Word. When you know that you’re doing what God has called you to do, you experience joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of conflict, and confidence when everything around you is falling apart. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is more important than knowing you’re doing the will of God.

Are you called to go or to stay?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024

‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them…’ Isaiah 42:16

Sometimes following God involves leaving a secure and lucrative career. Moses left a palace, Elisha left a farm, James and John left their fishing boats. But sometimes, following God means staying where you are and maximising every opportunity He gives you to promote His Kingdom. When David returned from battle with the spoils, some of his soldiers didn’t want to share them with those who had remained behind. But David said, ‘… The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike’ (1 Samuel 30:24 NIV).

What you must seek God about is, ‘Am I called to go or to stay?’ It’s amazing how many people you meet who don’t like what they do for a living. Why do they do it? Because we all have to make a living. But what if God is calling you to do something different? It’s a risk making a change from what you’re currently doing to what you believe God wants you to do. You might not succeed. Or discover you don’t like it to the extent you expected. Or not make as much money. But the greater risk is staying when God calls you to go. Why? Regret! Knowing you never attempted to do what God had called you to do. You may say, ‘I have many unanswered questions, and there is much I don’t know.’

Read this Scripture: ‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.’ (Isaiah 42:16 NIV).

A heart for others

Wed, 18 Dec 2024

‘Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.’ Psalm 41:1

On December 18, 1933, a curious ad appeared in a Canton, Ohio, newspaper: ‘Man Who Felt Depression’s Sting to Help 75 Unfortunate Families. Anonymous Giver Known only as “B. Virdot”, posts $750 to Spread Christmas Cheer.’ All the reader had to do was describe their plight in a letter and mail it care of ‘general delivery’. The appeals poured in. Oddly, no one knew a ‘B. Virdot’, and people wondered if such a person even existed. Then within a week, cheques began arriving in homes all over the area. Most were modest, about five dollars, and all were signed ‘B. Virdot’. Throughout the ensuing years as the story was told, the identity of the philanthropist remained unknown.

Then in 2008, long after his death, his grandson opened a tattered black suitcase collecting dust in his parent’s attic. That’s when they found the letters dated December 1933, along with 150 cancelled cheques. Turns out that B. Virdot was really Samuel J. Stone, and the pseudonym was a hybrid of Barbara, Virginia, and Dorothy, the names of his daughters. Interestingly, there was nothing privileged about Sam Stone. He was fifteen when his family emigrated from Romania and settled in a Pittsburgh ghetto. Sam’s father hid his shoes so he couldn’t go to school, forcing him and his six siblings to roll cigars in the attic. Eventually, Sam left home to work on a barge and then in a coal mine. By the time the Great Depression hit he owned a small chain of clothing stores and lived in relative comfort. Nevertheless, he had a heart for others—and his actions proved it. Can that be said about you?

Be willing to look foolish

Tue, 17 Dec 2024

‘God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.’ 1 Corinthians 1:27

A pastor writes: ‘Poll after poll has found that most people’s number one fear is speaking in public. Death ranks number two. That means some people would rather die than speak in public. Why? It’s the fear of looking foolish … But faith is the willingness to look foolish. Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert. Sarah looked foolish buying maternity clothes at ninety. The Israelites looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets. David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot…The wise men looked foolish following yonder star. Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the middle of the lake. And Jesus looked foolish hanging half naked on the cross. But that’s the essence of faith. And the results speak for themselves. Noah was saved from the flood. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. David defeated Goliath … The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. And Jesus rose from the dead … The greatest breakthroughs, miracles, and turning points in Scripture can be traced back to someone who was willing to look foolish.’

Why? Read this Scripture: ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”’ (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV). So here is your choice: live by earthly thoughts and ways and be accepted by people or live by heavenly thoughts and ways and be accepted by God. When you see it from that perspective, your choice is clear.

Nazgul:
I wasn't having this experience before. Cos I know that even as at last year I do eat late sometimes.

It started around early or middle this year. And it's been getting worse. Now I won't even be able to finish the food I'll just sleep right there while I'm eating.

leave food till next morning abeg..... whenever it's past 6/7pm.

Trust God and take action

Mon, 16 Dec 2024

‘He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.’ Ecclesiastes 11:4

There is a time to be cautious and a time to throw caution to the wind. And it takes discernment to know the difference. If you’re waiting for perfect conditions before seizing an opportunity, you will be hesitating until you die. The Bible says, ‘He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.’ (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NKJV) More often than not, the only thing between you and the fulfilment of your dream is an excuse: ‘I’m too busy … I don’t have enough money … I’m unqualified … I’m not ready yet … I have lots of problems.’ News flash: no one is ever ready.

Immediately before Christ’s first miracle, he shows a hint of hesitation: ‘… My time has not yet come’ (John 2:4 NLT). But Jesus had a mother who loved Him enough to persuade Him. In his book Jump In!, Mark Burnett writes about his path to TV-producer prominence. Burnett created hit shows like Survivor and The Apprentice. He writes: ‘Nothing will ever be … perfect, and nothing can be totally planned. The best you can hope for is to be about half certain of your plan and know that you and the team you’ve assembled are willing to work hard enough to overcome the inevitable problems as they arrive.’ Note the words ‘the best you can hope for is to be about half certain’. That’s a pretty good paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 11.

So, don’t ‘observe the wind’, and don’t ‘regard the clouds’. After you have prayed and prepared, it’s time to trust God and take action.

Praying passionately

Sun, 15 Dec 2024

‘Always labouring fervently for you in prayers,’ Colossians 4:12

Here is what Paul said about Epaphras, a disciple so obscure you probably don’t recognise his name: ‘Epaphras … is … always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, …’ (Colossians 4:12-13 NKJV). James writes, ‘… pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’ (James 5:16 NKJV).

To be fervent is to be passionate! Bishop Joseph Hall, a seventeenth-century Anglican minister, was once imprisoned in the Tower of London for his faith. He lived his final years on a farm in the country writing devotional classics. Here is what he remarked about prayer: ‘An arrow, if it be drawn up but a little way, goes not far; but if it be pulled up to the head, flies swiftly and pierces deep. Prayer, if it be only dribbled forth from careless lips, falls at our feet. It is the strength of [discharge] and strong desire that sends it to heaven, and makes it pierce the clouds. It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be; nor the divinity of our prayers, how good the doctrine may be—which God cares for. Fervency of spirit is that which availeth much.’

The Lord answers the prayers of those who pray passionately. So, get serious about prayer and give yourself fully to it!