₦airaland Forum

.

......

AMAZING GRACE

My life is evidence that the grace of God can transform the vilest of sinners into the best of saints. I was a wayward child. My parents were separated when I was just two years of age, and I became a pickpocket at eleven. I stole money to buy alcohol, tobacco and to go to cinemas. Living with my father, I left home for days sometimes, and returned any time I wanted. He was crossed with me because of my recalcitrance and waywardness. Twice, he took me to the reformatory, but instead of becoming a better person, I became a rebel.

He later sent me to a boarding school, where unfortunately, I met a group of boys who wielded corrupting influence on me. They introduced me to hard drugs and marijuana, and before long, I became a drug addict. I terrorized everyone in school, including my seniors, teachers and the principal. I had to change school twice. That means I attended three high schools. The principal of my last school was demoted to the level of a classroom teacher because of my hooliganism.

At twenty-six, I became a notorious criminal. I was involved in organized crimes and all sorts of nefarious activities. Everybody was afraid of me. I was an alcoholic, a heavy user of cocaine and tobacco as well as a womanizer. I smoked close to one hundred sticks of cigarettes, including marijuana, daily though I painfully managed between thirty to forty sticks whenever I had little or no money on me.

At a point, I was no longer intoxicated by alcohol. I also did everything for money including extorting and robbing innocent people, sometimes at gunpoint. The only thing I didn't do was to kill in cold blood. I believe God restrained me from maiming and killing people so that I don't degenerate further into sin, because I completely lost my way in life. Were it not for His intervention, I would have been lynched or necklaced.

God, in His mercies, delivered me from the jaws of death several times. Twice I escaped the fury of an angry mob, and once I survived the scare of gunshot after some good samaritans, who thought I was a victim of an armed robbery attack, rushed me to the hospital. I was shot by a rival gang of hooligans. I never believed I would be alive today to tell the story, but I'm alive and kicking. Thanks to God's amazing grace.

I will never forget the day I met Jesus. I was invited to a Christian boot camp by one of the good Samaritans that took me to the hospital when I was shot. He told me the boot camp would commpletely transform my life. I detested Christian gatherings because I blamed God for all my woes in life. But by complete transformation, I thought he meant meeting VIP's who will get me off the street by giving me money, a lucrative job or setting me up on a huge money-making business. Well, I was glad I attended. Praise the Lord!

It was a large gathering. The people were very friendly and accommodating. I sat in their midst, curiously watching all that was going on. I was eager to meet the VIP's and start a new life. But to my surprise, a man climbed the rostrum and began to preach about repentance, surrendering to Jesus and forgiveness. He suddenly pointed in my direction and said, "My sinner friend, you've got to repent of your sins now, and plead for God's forgiveness." Though I learnt later that he wasn't talking to me in particular but was led by the Holy Spirit to point in my direction, I was angered by his words and action. "Why should he call me a sinner? Who does this holier than thou person think he is? I said to myself. "I'm a good person but just a victim of circumstance." He interrupted my thought with some quotes from the Scriptures. Though I can't remember any of the Scriptures he quoted now, those quotes pricked my heart. They revealed to me my true state and where I was heading. I realized for the first time in my life that I was a sinner bound for hell. I began to imagine the horror of hell and seeing myself inside it. I tried to shut out the imagination but couldn't. Everything the preacher said afterwards in his sermon painted a picture of my life and my tragic end if I didn't repent of my sins and accepted Jesus as my Saviour and Lord.

He gave an altar call to those who were ready to receive Jesus. Contemplating whether to respond to the altar call or not, I suddenly heard a baritone voice said to me, "Go out now and surrender your life to Me. If you miss this opportunity, your life will be miserable." The Voice struck great fear in me. I looked round to know whose it was but didn't see anybody talking. Rather, everyone was enraptured by the sermon. Obviously, the voice wasn't the preacher's, though it sounded so loud as if it was amplified by a microphone. I believed nobody besides me heard the voice. Shaking like a leaf, I quickly made my way to the altar. While everyone who came to the altar prayed on their feet, I fell on my knees and wept uncontrollably for a long time, repeating the phrase, "God, I repent. Please, forgive me my sins." I don't know how long I cried, but when I stood up, everyone had left the altar, except me. Apparently, the preacher had left me alone to pray through to my salvation.

To make the long story short, I felt as if a yoke had been removed from my neck. A still voice, not the loud baritone one I heard earlier, said to me, "Welcome home child. Your sins are forgiven you." As if confirming what the voice just said, the preacher said to me from the rostrum, "Brother, it is well with you. I call you brother because you are now a child of God; you're born again. Go and sin no more."

For the first time in my life I slept like a baby when I got home. Thoughts of condemnation that buffeted me every now and then were all gone. The urge to smoke and take alcohol was also gone.
Since then, I have become a different person. Everybody around me is amazed at my transformation. Words are not enough to explain the change that occurred in my life, but I know this is not my making. It's the grace of God. As I tell this story, I'm a pastor of a gospel church with branches in many parts of the world, and I'm happily married with four children. Praise the Lord! My life now has meaning and direction. I am who I am today by the grace of God.

Oh, Grace, Grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, Grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sins.

What God's grace did in my life, it will do in yours, no matter what you've done. Just confess your sins to God, repent of them, accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, and the amazing grace of God will transform you from a sinner to a saint.

.

Flowers

Paper flowers

More flowers.......

Paper flowers......

Our recent sewing project- Designer Throw Pillows!

More of our works......

Thelmaace:
This is indeed insightful, being that the current employment situation in our country is horrible!! I indeed feel that most corpers and even undergrads should be introduced into the system of DIY (do it yourself) methods, that in turn will widen their creative thinking.. Most Nigerian youths ain't even thinkers!

Thank you.

pacino26:
I wish I could move you down to Enugu. you'll really help in shaping the future of some young people.
Kindly add my sister inlaw to your whatsapp group 07065401343. Cost of your video tutorial and waybill pls to the same number.

Thanks for your comment & interest in my work. I've sent a message to your sister-in-law. Distance is not a barrier nowadays. People in different parts of the country are benefiting.

By Choice, NOT By Chance.
Ever since the Garden of Eden Liberty was given to mankind They had freedom to make choices Right or wrong, God's word defined
Scores of references are recorded Of those who exercised this right Consequences, would always follow Defining what would be their plight
Abraham and Lot were free to choose The city or open plains Lot chose glamour and bright lights There, immorality brought him pain
The people were were admonished In Joshua twenty four, fifteen To choose whom they would serve Between good or evil, they could lean
Ruth chose to glean in the fields For that which reapers left behind Her humble gestures merited grace Rewarding her with peace of mind
Today, Jesus still stands at the door "Come unto me" is His plea The destiny of all is determined Choosing Him, -- can set us free.
--- Choices by Colan L. Hiatt

Paper decor

Our recent paper creations........

If you've tried any of the free tutorials here, please post your photos and share with us!

Post photos of your work if you've tried any of our free tutorials here, please.

More photos

Step by step photos

How To Make A Cosmetic Bag.

Materials:
1. Any bag material of your choice
2. Belt for taping around
3. Zipper
4. Matching thread

Direction For Sewing

1. Cut a large rectangle of 12.5"x 8" (body of bag). 2. Cut 2 small rectangles of 4.5"x 2" (side panels or gusset). 3. Cut your zipper to size. Sewing. 1. Hem the top of the two side panels. 2. Sew your zipper to the two 8" end of the large rectangle for the body of the bag. 3. Sew the side panels to the two sides of the bag. Sew from the outside so that the cut edges are exposed. 4. With your belt, tape around the two side panels to neaten them. 5. From the tail end of your zipper side, tape around the top portion of the bag to neated and finish the bag. Allow some excess taping of belt at the front end of the zipper to create a handle to hold the bag.

Shobow:
Ma pls add me 08082500993

Noted.

chise:
Good one Op

Thanks

A CHRISTIAN HOME
O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour, Where Christ is Head and Counsellor and Guide; Where every child is taught His love and favour, And gives his heart to Christ, the Crucified: How sweet to know that though his footsteps waver, His faithful Lord is walking by his side.
O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers, Who always place their hope and trust in Him; Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers, Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim; A home where each finds joy in serving others, And love still shines, though days be dark and grim.
O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master, The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung; Where prayer comes first in peace or disaster, And praise is natural speech to every tongue; Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster, And Christ sufficient is for old and young.
O Lord our God, our homes are Thine forever! We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care; Their bonds of love no enemy can sever If Thou art always Lord and Master there: Be Thou the center of our least endeavour Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13.

I'm standing on the Rock(3ce) Jesus is the Rock.

skribbles:
Please add 08143614718

Added.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

njiasi30:
Dis race we are running is not easy, I pray dat God will make I and my family a heavenly candidates. Amen.

Amen.