One of the very many things that I will be eternally grateful to my parents for is the wonderful name OLUWANIFEMI given to me by them. Oluwanifemi is a Yoruba name which when translated to English means GOD LOVES ME. Somehow, I got the understanding at my tender age that my name is more than a means of identification but that of a great message from God telling me personally of His wonderful love for me and I keyed into it. By that name, God revealed His love for me even when I was too young to know Him or understand what His love entails, or have someone letting me know of the Bible stories telling of God's love for humanity. Some of the narrations told me by my mother of all that happened to her while she carried me in her womb as well as other things that happened to me while I was still a young child that would have snuffed life out of me, but which I miraculously survived further affirmed that God really loves me. I know and I am convinced that God Loves Me.

One of the many incidents I can never forget where this knowledge saved me was when I had very bad kidney problem as a result of terrible measles' attack when I was about 8 years old. I wasn't taken to the hospital but was being treated with different herbal mixtures at home for weeks until things almost got out of control. Nearly, all the hairs on my head fell off remaining few strands that were thick and standing like grass. My whole body - from my head to toes was swollen due to serious retention of fluid (edema). I became bed ridden as I was very weak, unable to walk coupled with my eyes that were almost closing shut. I was a sorry sight to look at; I looked like an overblown balloon with difficulty breathing. When my mother eventually took me to the hospital, the medical personnel first rejected me on the ground that I was brought in too late and that I was as good as dead. However, when the white doctor saw the way my mother and I wept profusely, he had compassion on us and decided to just admit me for admission sake since there was still life in me. I remembered telling my mother not to cry anytime I saw her crying that I knew God would not allow me to die because He loves me. To the amazement of all and to the glory of God I recovered very fast.

My embracing God's gracious salvation through faith in His only begotten son Jesus Christ in 1972 and reading and studying His Holy Scripture gave me an in-depth understanding of His great love for me as an individual. From the Bible, I learned that I am His beloved child, His chosen one, His peculiar treasure, His delight, the apple of His eyes and much more. I also learn that His love for me is unconditional, eternal, sure, true, unfailing, unchanging, unfathomable and cannot be compared to any type of love be it love of earthly parents, friends or lover. What a great privilege and honor to be loved by God, the Creator, and Possessor of heaven and the earth. Merely thinking of the fact that I am the object of His love and affection, one He has set his heart on in love is something that intoxicates me. It is something I am eternally glad and grateful to God for. My favorite verses of the Scripture on His love for me are;
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3,
Also
"Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life." Isaiah 43:4.

The fact that God loves me is a reality I carry about with me everywhere I go. "God loves me" is a phrase that the Holy Spirit has used to minister hope to me through the thick and thin of life. I am an individual that have experienced sore troubles in life, I have faced betrayal, been jilted by a lover, and desertion, failure, frustration and disappointments and have been plagued with terrible infirmities that many did not survive but which I had miraculously survived by God's Grace. I have experienced astounding Miracles of God in my life and family, many which I testified of in the churches I attended. I discovered over time that no matter what I am passing through, once I am able to recollect and reflect on the fact that God loves me, I get revived and energized. The more I dwell on the thoughts of His love for me, the more confidence and peace of mind that is beyond human understanding I get in my turbulent times. Dwelling/basking in God loves is something that has lifted my spirit and makes me fearless and courageous.

GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT HE LOVES YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL
This write up is not about me at all, it is about God who is Love and His sure, great immeasurable love for each one of His creation especially the Christian believers, John 3:16.

It is pathetic that though many in Christendom profess being loved by God with their lips, yet they don't possess the knowledge of what God's love for them entails or believe in God's love for them as individuals. As a result of this, many have not been able to reciprocate His love by loving Him too, neither could they trust, rely, be faithful, committed and dedicated to Him as expected of them. They have also missed out of all the beautiful experiences and blessings of knowing and believing God's love as individuals.

The simple truth each and every child of God (the believers of Christ Jesus) should know and believe deep down their heart is that God loves him or her truly, uniquely and eternally as He loves Jesus Christ His only begotten son. God's love for Jesus Christ is the standard of His love for each one of us and also a standard of our love for Him because we are His adopted children. God's love for us is so sure to the extent that there is nothing another person, even one's own self could do to make God love us less. God's love for each child of His preceded when we were formed in our mother's womb and it not based on any good thing that we have done as individuals but simply of His grace wherewith, He has chosen in Jesus Christ to love us, 1 Peter 2: 4, 9. Being loved by God and called His sons is the highest honor bestowed on us, 1 John 3:1

It is important to know and believe that God loves you so much as an individual and that you belong to Him. This is because what you believe works for you. He knows everything about you and has wonderful plans for you, Jeremiah 29:11. God relays His love for each of us as individuals in all He has created and freely given to us to enjoy. His love is revealed in all our Lord Jesus Christ went through in our place to grant us salvation such as leaving His throne of glory in heaven to earth and be borne of a woman. He suffered mockery and shame, flogging and abuse, crucifixion and death on the cross of Calvary. No greater love than this has anyone else for us, John 15:3. His love for us is new every morning, Lamentation 3:22-23. All activities we do daily such as our daily waking to life, uprising, strength, walking, talking, eating, sleeping, thinking and others are all proofs of His loving grace we have through Jesus who strengthens. All the numerous good things of life given to us such as water, sunlight, rain, fresh air, peace, love, power, and vitality to enjoy are all proofs of His love and mercies and not because we deserve them. If not for His love that protects, delivers, guides, keeps and heals us from our infirmities, we would have been consumed by the enemies of our lives, Lamentations 3:22-23. The gift of His abiding presence in the person of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts are also evidence of His love. God tells us many wonderful things about His great love for each of us in His Holy Book among which is; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

God's love for each of us is unconditional, true and real and strong and nothing can separate us from His love, Romans 8: 35-39.
35)"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or unclothedness, or peril, or sword? ...
37) Nay, in all these we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."


God loves you and so do I.

Read more posts on www.lovelashblog.com
See part 2 here: https://www.nairaland.com/5417932/specially-loved-god-part-2

GistMore3:


https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/ebonyi-varsity-student-hospitalised-after-41-day-fasting/amp/

I really felt for him. May God Almighty, the hope of the hopeless and help of the helpless answer him in Jesus name.

drginger:
It depends on how far you take your faith, for me religion matters, same thing happened to me, but I walked away, he was all good and thinks religion is no big deal, he wasn't ready to convert but he said I could still go to church after marriage. I care abt the names my kids Wil bear, would they be going for islamia while I go to church? What about your family? Or you don't mind about their support? There are things that would unveil in marriage that you may not see now, I was really in love my friends were scared! But I took a bold step and walked away, love is not enough. But again it depends on how far both of you take ur faith. What I felt at that point could not take me away from the love of Christ. Dude got married with 2kids presently and your sister is still not married yet, but il take that same decision again and again

I made the mistake of believing that religion does not matter when I married my late husband who was a muslim. He assured me his cooperation and support in my Christian walk. However, few years into the marriage he changed, and even denied ever telling me all he assured me of at that time. His friends, family members and co workers of same religion with him greately influenced him negatively against me. I survived only by God's grace.

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING AND BELIEVING THAT GOD LOVES YOU

The importance of knowing and believing in God's love for us as individuals can never be overemphasized, some of which are
1) It fulfills the desire and yearning of our Heart; Man being created in the image and likeness of God who is Love shared in this wonderful attribute though in a smaller degree. This implies man is wired to love and be loved by God. There is a great desire and yearning for love when we lack the assurance of being loved by God. Nothing fulfills and satisfies the yearning of the heart as knowing and believing in God's loves for us as individuals.
2) We are in the end times. The negative effect of this is the high rate of inhumanity and wickedness, high rates of divorce and betrayal, desertion, rejection, disappointments, and many heartbreaking issues. Knowing and believing God's love for us give us the assurance of true, unfailing and lasting love our heart can rest on.
3) A problem many of us are battling with is the feelings of guilt and condemnation. Knowing and believing God's unconditional love for us gives the assurance of forgiveness and acceptance by God. This frees the mind and makes one bold and confidence to approach the throne of God.
4) It is an antidote of doubt; Knowing and believing God's love removes every doubt and uncertainties about God's Love. One thing Satan has successfully used to make many Christian become miserable and discouraged especially when faced with challenges is making them believe the lie that God does not love or care for them. Among the things Satan wanted to achieve by making people doubt God's love is to make them weak spiritually so as to be able to unleash his three cardinal attacks which is to steal, kill and destroy, John 10:10.

To believe that God does not love or care for you is to believe the greatest of all lies made against the very essence and character of God which is Love. God is Love and compassionate, 1 John 4:8. God loves every soul in the world both the believers and unbelievers alike. God's love for humanity is the foundation of creation, the reason for creating man in His image and likeness and the giving of dominion. It is the foundation of salvation and all that God has given and done and He is doing for mankind. How could God whose very Essence is Love, the source of all true love be said not to love and care? How could God who loves and cares for you right before you were born till this present time even while you were yet a sinner stop loving you? It is not possible for Him to stop loving and caring for you because of the attributes of His Love which are; great, (Ephesians 2: 4-5) endless, true, boundless, changeless, steadfast (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 136:26). Is it possible that a God who cares for even the ants and sparrows will not care for the one He created in His image and likeness? How could a God who gave His only begotten son Jesus Christ to the world turned around not to love those whom the Son died for. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8; 1 John 4: 9-11.

No matter what happens, you must not give up your faith in God's love for you because He loves you so much. Remember that Job did not give up on God's loving-kindness and care for him in the face of the huge losses and could trust without wavering, Job 13: 15-16. King David was sorely persecuted, yet he remained steadfast because he never for once lose sight of God's loving-kindness for Him as he indicated in Psalm 26:3, 40: 10

Challenges are not indications of the absence of God's love for you, Hebrews 12: 6. Neither is it that God's love is on trial. The intensity of the challenges you are passing through is not an indication of you not being loved and cared for by God. He is with you in all you are passing through even when it seems He is far away or hidden. He has promised to be with you always Isaiah 43:1-3.
God loves and cares so much about you in whatever you are going through. One indeed becomes worried and full of anxiety when we see or experience things contrary to our expectations of what we think God's love and care implies. This is where many of us get it wrong, God's love like any other of His Attributes is beyond human wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Remember His ways are not like our own. Part of God's way of showing His love is through chastisement to make you develop godly characters, Hebrews 12:6. Remember faithfulness to God does not guarantee believers freedom from sufferings, pains, and troubles. However, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, Romans 8: 28. Jesus Christ told us we would face tribulations. This is because we live in a fallen world characterized by terrible happenings. He, however, promised us His presence, grace and help in time of trouble. We must never lose the assurance of God's Love and care for us. When you lose the assurance of God's love and care the first thing that would happen is that you would be angry and bitter against God. With anger and bitterness comes complains and murmuring against God. From complaining and murmuring comes despondency, hopelessness and the wish to die.

I may not know what you are passing through, the sorrows, the hardship, the pains, the burdens you are carrying. However, one thing I know and I am sure of is that Jesus loves you.

BE GROUNDED IN HIS LOVE.

God's desire for each of us is to grow into the stature of Jesus Christ in every area of our spiritual life including the area of the Father and son love relationship between Him and us. This implies God desires we go beyond knowing and believing in His love for us to become grounded in His love, deep-rooted, remaining strong and steadfast in our faith in His love for us no matter the turbulence faced. This is the key to eternal life, spiritual strength and being filled with the fullness of God as Apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesians 3:14-19;
14) For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17) That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.
18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth and height;
19) and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all fullness of God.
The truth we must know is that our being born-again is the beginning of our love relationship with God and it is important that that love relationship must be sustained and maintained on our side. God's love for us is endless is a love we have to explore and enjoy forever. It is something we have to consciously live in. This implies we must consciously walk in, eat in, sleep in, confess it, talk about, act upon, think about, meditate about bask in it it is by so doing we get to know him better, trust, love be steadfast and unshaken
When one lives in the joyful comfort of God's loving-kindness and care, one becomes optimistic amidst discouragement, strong amid weakness/brokenness, patient in the midst of tribulations, brave amid danger, calm amid strive, cheerful amid gloominess and hopeful amid hopelessness.
Knowing God's love, understanding and being rooted in God's love involve certain deliberate actions by you, such as;
1) Spend time alone with Him in prayers and studying His Holy Scripture.
2) Live in the consciousness of God's love for you.
3) Learn to thank Him always for all things and in all things
4) Talk about His love for you to otht\ers.
5) Reciprocate His love for by Loving Him with all your heart and loving Others
6) Tell Him of your love for him

COME AND ENJOY GOD'S LOVE WITH ME
If you are reading this post and you are wondering about the possibility of you having this kind of Father and son love relationship as described above, I want you to know that it is possible, you can. God loves you, irrespective of your race or skin color. He loves you whether you are rich, poor, male, female, educated, tall, short, disabled or whatever. Jesus was given for you "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
Repent of all your sins and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

VISIT WWW.LOVELASHBLOG.COM FOR MORE POSTS

One of the very many things that I will be eternally grateful to my parents for is the wonderful name OLUWANIFEMI given to me by them. Oluwanifemi is a Yoruba name which when translated to English means GOD LOVES ME. Somehow, I got the understanding at my tender age that my name is more than a means of identification but that of a great message from God telling me personally of His wonderful love for me and I keyed into it. By that name, God revealed His love for me even when I was too young to know Him or understand what His love entails, or have someone letting me know of the Bible stories telling of God's love for humanity. Some of the narrations told me by my mother of all that happened to her while she carried me in her womb as well as other things that happened to me while I was still a young child that would have snuffed life out of me, but which I miraculously survived further affirmed that God really loves me. I know and I am convinced that God Loves Me.

One of the many incidents I can never forget where this knowledge saved me was when I had very bad kidney problem as a result of terrible measles' attack when I was about 8 years old. I wasn't taken to the hospital but was being treated with different herbal mixtures at home for weeks until things almost got out of control. Nearly, all the hairs on my head fell off remaining few strands that were thick and standing like grass. My whole body - from my head to toes was swollen due to serious retention of fluid (edema). I became bed ridden as I was very weak, unable to walk coupled with my eyes that were almost closing shut. I was a sorry sight to look at; I looked like an overblown balloon with difficulty breathing. When my mother eventually took me to the hospital, the medical personnel first rejected me on the ground that I was brought in too late and that I was as good as dead. However, when the white doctor saw the way my mother and I wept profusely, he had compassion on us and decided to just admit me for admission sake since there was still life in me. I remembered telling my mother not to cry anytime I saw her crying that I knew God would not allow me to die because He loves me. To the amazement of all and to the glory of God I recovered very fast.

My embracing God's gracious salvation through faith in His only begotten son Jesus Christ in 1972 and reading and studying His Holy Scripture gave me an in-depth understanding of His great love for me as an individual. From the Bible, I learned that I am His beloved child, His chosen one, His peculiar treasure, His delight, the apple of His eyes and much more. I also learn that His love for me is unconditional, eternal, sure, true, unfailing, unchanging, unfathomable and cannot be compared to any type of love be it love of earthly parents, friends or lover. What a great privilege and honor to be loved by God, the Creator, and Possessor of heaven and the earth. Merely thinking of the fact that I am the object of His love and affection, one He has set his heart on in love is something that intoxicates me. It is something I am eternally glad and grateful to God for. My favorite verses of the Scripture on His love for me are;
"The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3,
Also
"Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life." Isaiah 43:4.
The fact that God loves me is a reality I carry about with me everywhere I go. "God loves me" is a phrase that the Holy Spirit has used to minister hope to me through the thick and thin of life. I am an individual that have experienced sore troubles in life, I have faced betrayal, been jilted by a lover, and desertion, failure, frustration and disappointments and have been plagued with terrible infirmities that many did not survive but which I had miraculously survived by God's Grace. I have experienced astounding Miracles of God in my life and family, many which I testified of in the churches I attended. I discovered over time that no matter what I am passing through, once I am able to recollect and reflect on the fact that God loves me, I get revived and energized. The more I dwell on the thoughts of His love for me, the more confidence and peace of mind that is beyond human understanding I get in my turbulent times. Dwelling/basking in God loves is something that has lifted my spirit and makes me fearless and courageous.

GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT HE LOVES YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL
This write up is not about me at all, it is about God who is Love and His sure, great immeasurable love for each one of His creation especially the Christian believers, John 3:16.

It is pathetic that though many in Christendom profess being loved by God with their lips, yet they don't possess the knowledge of what God's love for them entails or believe in God's love for them as individuals. As a result of this, many have not been able to reciprocate His love by loving Him too, neither could they trust, rely, be faithful, committed and dedicated to Him as expected of them. They have also missed out of all the beautiful experiences and blessings of knowing and believing God's love as individuals.

The simple truth each and every child of God (the believers of Christ Jesus) should know and believe deep down their heart is that God loves him or her truly, uniquely and eternally as He loves Jesus Christ His only begotten son. God's love for Jesus Christ is the standard of His love for each one of us and also a standard of our love for Him because we are His adopted children. God's love for us is so sure to the extent that there is nothing another person, even one's own self could do to make God love us less. God's love for each child of His preceded when we were formed in our mother's womb and it not based on any good thing that we have done as individuals but simply of His grace wherewith, He has chosen in Jesus Christ to love us, 1 Peter 2: 4, 9. Being loved by God and called His sons is the highest honor bestowed on us, 1 John 3:1

It is important to know and believe that God loves you so much as an individual and that you belong to Him. This is because what you believe works for you. He knows everything about you and has wonderful plans for you, Jeremiah 29:11. God relays His love for each of us as individuals in all He has created and freely given to us to enjoy. His love is revealed in all our Lord Jesus Christ went through in our place to grant us salvation such as leaving His throne of glory in heaven to earth and be borne of a woman. He suffered mockery and shame, flogging and abuse, crucifixion and death on the cross of Calvary. No greater love than this has anyone else for us, John 15:3. His love for us is new every morning, Lamentation 3:22-23. All activities we do daily such as our daily waking to life, uprising, strength, walking, talking, eating, sleeping, thinking and others are all proofs of His loving grace we have through Jesus who strengthens. All the numerous good things of life given to us such as water, sunlight, rain, fresh air, peace, love, power, and vitality to enjoy are all proofs of His love and mercies and not because we deserve them. If not for His love that protects, delivers, guides, keeps and heals us from our infirmities, we would have been consumed by the enemies of our lives, Lamentations 3:22-23. The gift of His abiding presence in the person of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts are also evidence of His love. God tells us many wonderful things about His great love for each of us in His Holy Book among which is; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

God's love for each of us is unconditional, true and real and strong and nothing can separate us from His love, Romans 8: 35-39.
35)"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or unclothedness, or peril, or sword? ...
37) Nay, in all these we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Visit www.lovelashblog.com for complete and other related posts.

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

King David and six hundred men had set out on a rescue mission of their wives and children who were taken captives by unknown invaders. They had inquired from God and He had assured them of success and full restoration. However, God did not tell them the identity and location of the invaders 1 Samuel 30:10.

On their way, David's men saw a very sick Egyptian man in the field. They had compassion on him and brought him to David. The sick man was well attended to. He was given good food and drink and was revived back to health, 1 Samuel 11-12.
Surprisingly, the Egyptian on being questioned about his identity after he had become revived, gave all the information David and his men needed to know about (a) who the invaders of Ziglag were, (b) where they had taken the captives to, (c) and also led them to the place they camped 1 Samuel 30: 13-20. With the information given by the Egyptian, David and his men were able to kill almost the invaders and recovered all that the enemy had taken away from them and also took much spoil from the Amalekites 1 Samuel 30:13-20. Truly, helping others has tremendous benefits.

HELPING THE NEEDY AND THE POOR
God Almighty is a compassionate God (loving, kind, sympathetic, caring and merciful) Psalm 78:38; 86:15; 111:4; 112:4. The Bible makes us know He has a special concern for the poor, needy and the oppressed/helpless and the weak ones which include the orphans, widows, aged childless people, the prisoners, the sick, fatherless and motherless and destitute. Jesus in various ways showed His compassion on all poor and needy people He met such as in Matthew 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13.
As God's children, it is expected of us to be compassionate and show sincere concern for the welfare of others most especially the less privileged as was practiced by Job as revealed in Job 30:13-21. God values our showing genuine love, kindness, and mercy to others than all other of our pieties and charged us to do this in Luke 6:36; Hosea 6:6; Daniel 4:27; Micah 6:6; Zachariah 7:9-10; James 4: 17; 1 Peter 3:8.
The importance God attaches to our showing of great concern to all most especially the poor and the needy is revealed by Jesus making us know that whatever we do to others including the less privileged ones be it good or bad is done unto Him Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 25:34- 46. Therefore believers are to take good care of them genuinely, unconditionally, cheerfully and relentlessly, Deuteronomy 15:10. Fulfilling the two greatest commandments is connected to this.

The way David and his men treated the sick man found in the field was a perfect example of what God wants us to do. This is what loving our neighbor implies as the parable of Jesus about the Good Samaritan revealed in Luke 10:30-37. It was a show of love that is genuine, unconditional, does not count the cost, selfless, love that looks beyond tribe, class, and religion. True love is expressed by sincerely helping persons in need with what we have. Turning our backs at those in need of our help is to close our hearts to them, Deuteronomy 15:7-11. Showing a sincere concern for the poor and the needy is proof of our love for God and it also proves that we know Him, 1 John 3:17. When you genuinely love God, you cannot see people suffering and not assist/help them.

Unfortunately, showing compassion to others is one area many individuals Christian and the church are not doing as they ought to. And this is the major reason for lack of power in the body of Christ because God works only where love is in action. It is also the reason many individuals are having problems in different areas of their lives. How do you want God to show you mercy or help with your problems when you do not show mercy or help others?

Many Christians have been made to believe that the paltry offering tagged welfare offering taken once in a month for the poor and the needy during Sunday service is what having compassion on the needy entails. The truth we should all know is that helping the poor and the needy goes beyond just giving them a small quantity of rice, paltry amount of money and used cloths during Easter and Christmas celebrations. It involves showing genuine concern and compassion which involves showing mercy and love to them, visitation, feeding, housing, empowerment, clothing and much more. The poor and the needy people we are to help are not only members of our congregation; they extend to our poor family members, neighbors, our domestic and office staffs, people of other believes in our environment, and those that fate brings across our path on daily basis. Helping the poor involves personally going all out and reaching unto them in love even when it is not convenient for us to do so. We should not wait until they beg us for help before helping them but should be sensitive enough to observe when another person needs our assistance just as Jesus was sensitive of the plights of the 5000 people he fed in Matthew 14:14-21. Our motive of helping others should never be for payback by the individual so helped or as a show-off but unto God.

YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE AT ALL NOT TO HELP
King David and his men had every reason not to render help or assistance to the poor sick Egyptian they saw in the field if they had chosen not to for reasons such as:
1) Time was not on their side. They were in pursuit of those unknown invaders who made away with everything and burnt down the whole city.
2) They were not in the best shape and mind, they were sad and in great distress.
3) They were not in their time of plenty since they did not meet their wives' in the camp, They were most likely to be with whatever was left from those they took along with them to the Philistines camp.
4) They too had more than enough of those who were sick (two hundred men who were faint) they left behind at the brook of Besor.
5) He was a total stranger and in a very bad state of health and would be an additional burden to them. Yet, All these reasons notwithstanding, David and his men chose to help the man. They had compassion on him. They saw him, valued him as a fellow human being, pitied him, show him love and kindness and took very good care of Him. These are all God desires we do to our fellow human most especially those who are suffering, James 1:27.
If David and his men could help the poor sick man under the circumstance they found themselves and at that point in time, then we have no excuse at all not to render assistance to those genuinely in need around us as we are told in Matthew 5:42;10:42:19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 6:30. Helping the poor is a deliberate choice we have to make. We must do away with selfishness, tribalism, discrimination, suspicion, religious bigotry, sentiment based on doctrines and traditions taught by selfish men of God that have been preventing us from helping those we should render help to.
Helping others in need was a part and parcel of David's life. More than half of his followers were those who came to him for help 1 Samuel 22:2.

BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS OF HELPING THE POOR AND THE NEEDY
I am sure David and his men could never have envisaged that the poor, sick and helpless man they assisted would be of any help to them. However, he turned out to be the medium God used to reveal who the invaders they were looking for were and lead them to where they camped. It is very good and rewarding to help those in need. This is a perfect example of what happens when we genuinely reach out to others in love.

God has placed on our paths of life certain human angels of help to help us out of trouble or unpalatable predicament, to inform us and to lead us to our breakthroughs. Often times they come to us as paupers, mad, sick, weak, and helpless people.

To be continued...
See http://lovelashblog.com/2019/07/07/the-many-blessings-of-having-compassion-on-the-poor-and-the-needy/

God Loves you and so do I.

Prophet Samuel had come to David's family house on God's instruction to anoint him as king in place of King Saul (1 Samuel 16:1, 3). All would have thought it would be a smooth ride to the throne for David since God initiated it, however it was not so. David passed through series of troubles, persecutions, and perils for nine good years before he could ascend the throne.

Of all the unpalatable troubles that King David faced before he ascended the throne, the most heartbreaking with the most devastating effect on him was the evasion of Ziglag by the Amalekites. David and his men had discovered that the city had been burnt to the ground, all their properties, wives and children had all been taken away. It was an incident where David the young courageous, fearless, God-fearing and a great man of faith was said to have cried till he had no more strength in him and also was said to be greatly distressed because his people threatened to stone him, 1 Samuel 30:4, 6. The Ziglag invasion was a dark and trialing time for David. He had lost everything- his wife, his children, his properties, the people who had followed him believing him to be their messiah had lost confidence in him and even threatened to stone him. King Saul was after his life, the throne for which he was being persecuted seemed to be unattainable; he did not know what the Philistines who turned him back from following them to battle would do to him and his men when they return. It was a time that seemed the whole world was against him and everything seemed to have collapsed under his feet with him about to go down too.

At this point, two options were before him; he could give up in hopelessness, bemoaned his miserable life, losses, and sufferings and pray to God to kill him as Prophet Elijah did in 1Kings 19:3-4; or he could give himself to God in total surrender to perfect His will for his life. However, he chose the latter, which was to give himself unto God, "He encouraged himself in the Lord his God." He remembered in the face of all his losses that he still has a loving, merciful, dependable and faithful God and he put his faith in Him.
It is worth pointing out that this very worst situation of his life where all his resources had utterly gone was what God had used to jolt him back to his faith in Him. David's strong faith in his God that made him to courageously faced and killed Goliath; fought and won many battles had actually become compromised before now when he gave up in despair and cried in sore perplexity for his life and fled to the land of the Philistines for refuge from King Saul,1Samuel 27:1.

Interestingly, unknown to David was the fact that at that darkest and trialing point of his life where all seemed to be lost, God was working on his behalf at the back of the scene to finally put an end to King Saul's (his adversary's) reign. King Saul and his sons died at the battlefront in their battle with the Philistines and the throne of Israel became vacant by divine powers. A few days later the dark nights of the years of his running for his life being pursued by King Saul came to an end, and he was enthroned to the throne. Surely, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose," Roman 8:28.
No one can tell what could have happened if David had given up to despondency and hopelessness instead of encouraging himself in the Lord as he did. In his hopeless state,

a) He probably could have dared the people to stone him as they threatened and they would have done so and killed him.
b) He could probably pray to ask God to kill him as Prophet Elijah did and get a similar response Elijah got from God 1 King 19:4,15-16
c) He could also have opted to kill all those who wanted to kill him in revenge. Doing so would have left him with no one. Whichever way, it would have spelled doom for him.

THE LIGHT AND DARK SIDES OF LIFE
Life has its dark and bright/sunshine sides. Everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike will experience these moments in life. They are subject to change, one gives way to another just as the day gives way to the night, and the night to the day. When we are in the bright side of life we have everything going well and smoothly for us as planned and at times beyond our plans. Our sunshine times are times to make hay, rejoice and enjoy our lives and glorify God who made it be so. However, it is important we have at the back of our hearts that no matter the amount of brightness of the sunlight in the sky, there are bound to be dark clouds also. This implies no matter the good times we have in life, there will definitely be times of storms, hardship, sorrow, helplessness, and hopelessness. Life is not all sunshine!
Dark times are inevitable. When one is going through dark times, everything would seem to be against one and contrary to one's expectation. Dark times are times of storms in the form of sickness, hardship, joblessness, affliction, persecution, losses, financial crisis and several others. Dark times can become tasking and tough that it might even get to a point whereby our very existence would be threatened; such was what Apostle Paul spoke of as being "pressed out of measure, above strength and having the sense of death in himself " 2 Corinthians 1:8. Dark times have their usefulness; they are times characters are built. Stars shine brightest in darkness. Remember, for any big tree seed to germinate it must be buried in the darkness of the earth for days.
It is worth noting that often times dark and trialing times come when we are at the edge of a major breakthrough in a certain area of our lives just as David experience a dark and trailing time just before he ascended the throne.

SEEING GOD IN YOUR DARK SITUATION
In our dark times, it might seem as if God has forsaken us or that He does not know what we are passing through. The truth is that He knows all about you including all you are going through because He is Omniscient and reigns in the affairs of men. He has not forsaken or forgotten about you because you are carved in the palms of His hands, Hebrews 13:5. Dark times are no indication of the absence of God who made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him is dark water and thick clouds of the skies, Psalm 18:11. Therefore have it at the back of your heart that when it seems God is not there, God is still there in our dark times as He is in our sunshine times. He has promised to be with us at all times and situations, Isaiah 43:2. His light still shines because darkness cannot comprehend Him, John 1:5. The Lord is the light of our life and IN HIS LIGHT YOU WILL SEE LIGHT, Psalm 36:9. God's plans for you are still in place and He is working out the perfection of His will and purpose in your life. One thing we should be assured of is that whatsoever, God allows in our life falls is within His plans for us which are not evil but good to give us an expected end, Jeremiah 29:11. Another thing we can be assured of is that God would meet us just as God met David when all his resources had utterly gone and he had reached the darkest hour. God will never abandon us, "when we have come to the end of our resources with a sense of sickening helplessness and heartbreaking destitution; then at what seems to be the last minute, providential intervention transforms the whole picture".

WEATHERING THE STORMS OF OUR DARK TIMES
Just as David could not envisage all the troubles he had to face on his way to the throne, no man can fathom out all that God had lined up for us on our way to achieving a goal or purpose. David weathered the storms of his dark hours well and became victorious so must we. The way one responds and react in our dark moments will determine whether one will be a victim or a victor. These steps below will be of great help:
1) Be steadfast in faith in God: It is very easy in times of trouble to become overwhelmed with our emotions and disbelieve God's words and promises to us. Dark times are not times to doubt God love, goodness, faithfulness, and mercies. Trust God in your situation and believe He is in control of it Don't lose your confidence in God. Be steadfast and unmovable in your faith "In stability shall you be established, Isaiah 33:6. Wait upon the Lord, Psalm 27:4. Don't go about looking for help from people and places where there is no help, Jeremiah 3:23. When our faith fails us, and when it seems all our life is crumbling right beneath us then God remains and underneath our sinking feet, we find the everlasting arms.
2) Pray to God for divine assistance: When we have come to our wits end, the best thing is to call unto our Father who charged us saying "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me," Psalm 50:15. You will receive solutions to your problems as those of old in the same situation did as revealed in Psalm 107:25- 30.
3) Believe and confess God's words as David told us he did in Psalm 27:13. What we believe and confess determines what happens to us. Remember with the mouth man confesses into salvation. Study God's words (Bible) daily. With God's word, you will not stumble because it "will be a lamp unto your feet" Psalm 119:105.
4) Praise God in your dark hours as Paul and Silas did in Acts 16:23 -26.
5) Be of good cheer: It is important to maintain a cheerful countenance in our dark moments because it is medicine to your bones. The heaviness of the heart makes the body stoop low. In Psalm 27:6 believed to be a Psalm written by David in his dark hours, he mentioned that he would offer unto God a sacrifice of joy by singing praises to God
6) Persevere: From David's life we learn that on our way to fulfill destiny, we may be confronted with seeming unending sufferings and trials and troubles to the point at which it seems we can't take anymore and as if our spirit will snap. However, you must not give in to despondency and hopelessness. With perseverance, you will soon reach the end of seeming unending walks in the long dark tunnel with no flicker of light and discover the light at the end of the tunnel. Although such times can really seem hard, tough and make one feel so helpless and hopelessly stranded. Nevertheless, whatever the storms we encounter in our lives, we should never give up because it must come to an end just as no matter how long the night, it must give way to daylight.
The road of life is very rough, it must be endured to the end, only those that endure to the end shall be victorious. Jesus has not promised us a trouble-free life but a victorious ending. When the going gets tough, the tough get going, tough times don't last but tough people do. Tough times don't kill. It is temporal. Therefore, no matter what happens, don't give up when facing dark times. One thing we can be assured of is that God would meet us just as God met David when all his resources had utterly baffled and he had reached the darkest hour.
Are you passing through a situation where it seems there is no way out? Don't give up! God is the way maker, He will make a way for you where there seems to be no way. Don't end it, when it is not yet the end. Keep hope alive, don't ever give up. Remember that weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning, Psalm 30:5.
If you are reading this post and you are not a believer in Christ Jesus, this is yet another opportunity for you to receive help from God to come out victorious over your trialing and dark life situations. Repent of all your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

NEVER GIVE UP WHEN FACING TOUGH TIMES, KEEP MOVING YOUR VICTORY IS NEAR.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

There are certain situations of life that bring us to a terrible state of hopelessness and discouragement. We are talking of situations where looking to the left nothing seems to be left, looking to the right nothing seems to be right, looking backwards everything seems to be held back, and looking forward nothing seems to be forthcoming. I mean times when all we had worked and labored for and things we are holding unto come crashing at our feet. What can one do at such times?

What of times when people we had loved, cherished, helped and cared for, those who are supposed to support and encourage us turn their backs at us and antagonize us. Times when there is no one to help wipe away our tears and no one to lean upon. Who/where do we go to for
help?

The Bible gives us a perfect solution through the life experience of King David, the man after God's heart. According to the Scripture, a time came when Ziglag city of the Philistines where David and his band (1 Samuel 22:1-2) had taken refuge on realization of King Saul’s desperation to kill him by all means was burnt to the ground and their wives and children were taken to an unknown place by an invading enemy in their absence 1 Samuel 30:1-. It was a very devastating and hopeless situation for David and his men that it was recorded that (David inclusive) “they lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep,” 1 Samuel 30:4. What a terrible state of despondency to find oneself? To worsen the already bad and terrible situation for David whose two wives were among those carried away; the people whom he trusted including his family and friends who should comfort and encourage him threatened to stone him because they saw him as the cause of all their problems.
David was very distressed (1 Samuel 30:6) and at a cross-road for many reasons.
(1) king Saul was after his life because he did not want him to succeed him as king. David never desired to be a king but was chosen and anointed as one by God. He was now a fugitive.
(2) The Philistines he ran to for refuge are untrustworthy and did not like or trust him and had rejected him from fighting for them
(3) Those who had invaded and ran away with their families and properties were unknown; the place they were taken to and their welfare unknown.
(4) The people who were with him that he regarded as his own turned against him and were threatening his life. Definitely, he was on his own.
(5) He did not even know how long he had to wait and run before ascending the throne he was being persecuted for.

It is interesting to know that, amidst the terrible, helpless and discouraging situations, David did not give in to despair or hopelessness. How and what did he do? He simply turned God-ward, “he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30: 6. This implies he took his focus and mind from all the unpalatable situations and happenings around him and placed them on the Lord his God. He brought to mind God’s past faithfulness, His power and providence, goodness, care and love. He put his trust in His God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. He took solace in his God whom he knows loves him and would never forsake him. He encouraged himself in his Lord and God, the present help in the time of trouble who had delivered him in the past from out of the paw of the bear, and out of the hand of Goliath and who has promised that “no weapon fashioned against us shall ever prosper” He took solace in his God who had taken him from following after sheep and anointed him as king and had given his words of helping him to ascend the throne.
He was not disappointed because God helped him to recover all that was taken away when the Amalakites and other invaded them, 1 Samuel 30:17-20.

As long as one is alive and in this fallen world of sin under the devil, one is bound to come across disappointing and discouraging situations. The time we are in now is not helping matters. there are so many unforeseen circumstances and horrible happening in the society such joblessness, failures, hardship, disappointment, temptations and trials, illness, losses, delayed blessings among other life challenges. All these are capable of making the heart sad, sorrowful, dejected, discouraged, dismayed, full of anxiety, downcast, depressed, broken hearted and depressed. To worsen the already terrible situation is the simple fact that humanity has lost it as prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The love of many have waxed cold, divorce is on the increase, deceit, desertion, cruelty and other man’s inhumanity to man are the order of the day. People have stopped caring. They no longer have time for anybody but themselves. Times as these are the most harrowing and trialing times anyone could face and these are times that utmost care must be taken so as not to take certain decisions or steps one would regret which the feelings of discouragement and despondency are capable of causing. God charged us to be courageous in Psalm 37:5 and Joshua 1:6. Such times are not times to think of packing it up or think of taking one’s life. It is not a time to become emotional because it can become overwhelming. It is not a time to give in to self-pity or to run from post to pillar.

At such times, it is important for one to remain strong and courageous in God as King David did by taking the steps he took as thus:
a). King David had a personal faith relationship with God. This is not a matter of belonging to one church denomination or the other. It is to become born again by confessing one’s sins and believing in Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior.
b) He put his trust in God, because God knows about what he was passing through and He is in control.
c) He sought God’s face in prayers and his strength was renewed Isaiah 40:28-31.
d) He did not put his trust in any man or in himself. Anyone that puts his trust in man would meet with disappointment and discouragement, Psalm 146:3.

DON’T GIVE IN TO DISCOURAGEMENT AND DESPONDENCY.
Let us find unfailing refuge in God’s righteousness, His faithfulness, love and promises in times of trouble.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.
Visit www.lovelashblog.com for other encouraging posts

feodan:
Bible verses, i don't think is all to our problems.
me as an example, i'm going through my hardest time as im writing this post.
i ones loved the lord, trust in is word, evangelise, pray, fast, live a holy live, do his will and serve him.
but it happens in january i backslide and seens then, my life is now worse than when i was in d world be4 i repented.
it was not my will to backslide, but i lose it when i was faced with a challenge that has to do with what i have maid up my mind i'm never gonna do again.
salvation is the best thing that have ever happened to me, cuz i found hope, peace, joy, in serving him.
now as i speak to u, nobody on this earth trust me anymore, my mum is fed up. Every member of our church that ones loved me while serving God no hated me as hell.
i was thinking of committing suicide when this matter become worse, but d only thing that kept me back was that. My mum is a widow, and my elder brother is dead. My sis has given birth to 2 different kids @ d age of 25 for two different men.

please read my post on "How not to become a victim of suicide( Don't fall out with God) from www.lovelashblog.com. If you are looking for someone to talk to email me nifemilash@gmail.com. Thanks

Aside from the most popular Bible verse which is "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16, I believe the next most popular Bible verse is "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Philippians 4:13. There is hardly a motivational speaker, be it a Christian or a non-Christian that doesn't use that statement during their motivational talks. It is a statement many people are very conversant with and use for inspiration. This great Scriptural verse has been a source of motivation for many. It is a statement that assures one of being adequate or equal to things, physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. It is a statement of the victorious spiritual life of grace. Glory and thanksgiving be unto the Almighty God and our father for all Scripture.

Ironically, a lot of people may have discovered that despite quoting that particular verse severally, they still suffer inadequacies in many areas of their lives and are wondering why.

Well, the simple reason it doesn't work for some people is that they have missed out on the very secret to the "I can do all things" life. This secret lies in the two words "through Christ". The truth is that the declaration "I can do all things" is just a statement of determination, however, it has no power of enablement in itself because it is an ordinary phrase. The words "through Christ" gives meaning and life to the whole phrase of "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The two words "through Christ" makes the difference. Several verses of the Bible affirms God as the source of all strength and not ourselves 2 Chronicles 22:23, Psalm 18:1,32. Jesus Christ alone is the enabler and the source of the strength needed to do all things in life. Jesus Himself pointed this out saying "….without me, you can do nothing," John 15:5. Without "through Christ" the "I can do all things" is just an ordinary phrase that cannot hold water.

HOW TO LIVE THE "I CAN" LIFE
Although, going by the reason of humans being created in the image and likeness of God with His breath of life in their nostrils, we are with so much power and strength in us to do all things. However, due to the fall in the Garden of Eden owing to the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve to God's commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge good and bad, man got disconnected from God, the source of his strength in life and became inadequate in many areas of life, Genesis 2:16-17; 3: 1-24. Nevertheless, God in His mercy and love gave us His Son Jesus Christ through whose death we are reconciled and reconnected back to our source of strength. Through the Holy Spirit, the believer has the imparted life, grace, power and wisdom of our Lord Jesus and can do all things.

It is God's desire for all His children to live a victorious and joyous life and He has given unto us everything needed to achieve it. To achieve the "I CAN" life, it is important to do these:

1) Become genuinely born again by believing in Jesus Christ, repenting and confessing all sins and accepting Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and savior

(2) Abide in Him by daily living in communion with Him - It is important you maintain your contact with him and guard against anything that will make you lose contact with him. Losing contact means instant disconnection from the source of spiritual strength as Jesus reveals in John 15: 1-6.

(3) Yield yourself totally to Him by allowing him to do all things through you, Romans 12:1. Note that it was only when Saul yielded himself totally to Jesus that he became Paul the Apostle who was mightily used by God.

(4) Stop looking at things on the human level but through the eyes of faith in Jesus. Looking at things from the human level makes things seem so big and our own sufficiency so obvious and eventually make us conclude we are inadequate and can't undertake great things. Taking our eyes from ourselves unto Jesus shrinks into surprising littleness those things considered so big and impossible and gives us the confidence of "I can."

(5) Endeavor to read through the whole books of the Bible. In the Bible, you will discover how God gave strength to many ordinary people like you and I to do great exploits. He gave the slave-born Moses strength to champion the great Exodus. He strengthened David, a young shepherd boy to kill Goliath. He has strengthened so many in our generation to become spiritual giants.

The power to receive strength to do the extraordinary has nothing to do with your physical stature. The Scripture says "by strength shall no man prevail", 1 Samuel 2:9. You can actually do that particular thing you needed to do that you have been afraid to do because of the feelings of inadequacy. Look inward and stop looking at your inadequacies. Go to God in prayer and ask Him to give you the strength to undertake whatever you want to do.

REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT AS A CHILD OF GOD, YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS YOU,

May his beautiful soul rest in peace. Amen.

There are lots of lies, false and dangerous information about God and life being propagated by the social media, internet, authors, video games, commercial advertisement, the educational sector and some religious organizations that have led to the increase of suicide in the society. Unfortunately, many people especially the youth believe these lies and falsehood hook, line and sinker to the detriment of their own lives. It is of great importance that each individual knows the truth to be able to discard the lies because only the truth can set free.

I have classified the lies into the following four categories:

*Lies about God
*Lies about Life
*Lies about life’s challenges
*Lies about suicide

1. LIES ABOUT GOD
Foremost in this group is the lie that man does not need God. This in fact is the greatest of all lies from the pit of hell. To believe that man does not need God is to believe that man does not need blood and air to stay alive. As far as life is concerned, God is the Ultimate need of every living thing. He is life, the source of all life and the owner of every life. We all need God because He is our God and creator, Psalm 100:3. He is our very existence. In Him we live, move and have our existence, Acts 17:28; Job 12:10. Man without God is mere clay, Job:12:10. The ability to do anything, enjoy anything and live properly is a gift from God that comes only when we enter into a right relationship with Him and submit to Him as our Lord and God through Jesus Christ.

The simple fact that the fallen world we are in has tactfully removed God from all its system, By not acknowledging Him as God is the reason the whole world is in total disarray and chaos, Romans 1:19-32. God is the number one need of each individual and the whole Universe. The emptiness and purposeless living of many are signs that God is needed. He created us in his image and likeness, it is only proper He is given his rightful place as the controller of our lives.

Unfortunately, people who believed they don’t need God in their lives find it very easy to allow others have access and control of their lives. Many have allowed Satan to have free access to their lives. Meanwhile, the Holy Bible describes Satan as merciless, unsympathetic, evil, a liar, an adversary, a deceiver, a devourer, a thief, a destroyer and a murderer. Your guess is as good as mine concerning the type of life such people would have. Some believe that what they need us their fellow human beings and prosperity. Their possessions, chariots, silver and gold are their gods, Psalm 20:7. They put their trust in man whom the Bible warned us against in Psalm146:3-5. Pathetically, when faced with serious life’s challenges which in most cases are beyond human comprehension and what money could solve, such people realize the unreliability of human beings and futility of possessions. On this realization and with no one but themselves to turn to, they become recluse or deranged; they lose hope, become depressed, give in to suicidal thoughts and eventually carry out the evil act. Life without God is life in crisis.

Another lie the devil has been using to lead people to suicide especially when faced with challenges is that God does not love or care. This is a grand lie made not only to discredit God but also aimed at destroying the believer therefore utmost care must be taken not to believe this lie.

One thing Satan wants to achieve with this lie is for you to turn your back against God and hate Him. Hatred for God in one’s heart is the worst thing anyone could do because it means hating all goodness, life and forfeiting everything God has in store for those who love Him, 1 Corinthians 2:9. It means incurring God’s wrath, Deuteronomy 32:41; Proverbs 8:36.

Satan comes with this lie targeted at the two most needed and cherished things yearned for by humans which is being loved and cared for. Once this lie is believed, it worsens, weakens and destroys the heart already in pains, disturbed, and disheartened, and makes the believer become hopeless and depressed. Love and the assurance of being loved by God performs great wonders in the heart of man. When one lives in the joyful comfort of God’s loving kindness and care one becomes optimistic amid discouragement, strong in spite of weakness/brokenness, patient amid tribulations, brave amid danger, calm amid strive, cheerful amid gloominess and hopeful amid hopelessness.

It is a great lie that God does not love or care for you as it counters the very essence and character of God which is Love. God is Love and compassionate, 1 John 4:8. God loves every soul in the world both the believers and unbelievers alike. God’s love for humanity is the basis of creation and the foundation of creating man in His own image and likeness and the giving of dominion. It is the foundation of salvation and all that God has given and done and He is doing for mankind. How could God whose essence is love, the source of all true love be said not to love and care? How could God who loves and cares for you right from before you were born till this present time even while you were yet a sinner stop loving you? It is not possible for Him to stop loving and caring for you because of the attributes of His love which are; Great (Ephesians 2: 4-5), Endless, Boundless, Changeless. Steadfast (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 136:26). It is not possible that God, whose love and care preceded your birth and conversion not to care or love you anymore? Is it possible that a God who cares for even the ants and sparrows not care for the one He created in His own image and likeness? How could a God who gave His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to the world turn around not to love those whom the Son died for. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, Romans 5:8; 1 John 4: 9-11. It is not just possible as revealed in Romans 8: 35, 37-39

35)” who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or unclothedness, or peril, or sword?

37) nay, in all these we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38) for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of god, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

No matter what happens you must not give up on your faith in God’s love for you because He loves you so much. Remember that Job did not give up on God’s loving kindness and care for him in the face of the huge losses and could trust without wavering, Job 13: 15-16. King David was sorely persecuted, yet he remained steadfast because he never for once lost sight of God’s loving kindness for Him as he indicated in Psalm 26:3, 40:10

Challenges are not indications of the absence of God’s love for you. Hebrews 12: 6. Neither is it that God’s love is on trial. Whatever the intensity of the challenges you are passing through is not an indication of you not being loved and cared for by God. He is with you in all you are passing through even when it seems He is far away or hidden. He has promised to be with you always Isaiah 43:1-3.

God loves and cares so much about you in whatever you are going through. It is true that one becomes worried and full of anxiety when we see or experience things contrary to our expectations of what we think God’s love and care implies. This is where many of us get is wrong, God’s love like any other of His Attributes is beyond human wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Remember His ways are not like our own. Part of God’s way of showing His love is through chastisement to make you develop godly characters, Hebrews 12:6. Remember, faithfulness to God does not guarantee believers exemption from sufferings, pains, and troubles. However, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, Romans 8: 28. Jesus Christ actually told us we would face tribulations. This is because we live in a fallen world characterized by terrible happenings. He, however promised us His presence, grace, and help in time of trouble. We must never lose the assurance of God’s Love and care for us. When you lose the assurance of God’s love and care the first thing that would happen is that you would be angry and bitter against God. With anger and bitterness comes complains and murmuring against God. From complaining and murmuring comes despondency, hopelessness and the wish to die.

I may not know what you are passing through, the sorrows, the hardship, the pains, the burdens you are carrying, however one thing I know and I am sure of is that Jesus loves you. Hear what God says to you in Isaiah 54: 4, 10- 12

My beloved, hold on to God’s promises no matter how long you have to wait. Lamentations 3:1-27; Habakkuk 3:17.

2. LIES ABOUT LIFE

The first lie in this group is that pleasure and materialism is a way to fulfillment and happiness in life. This is a lie because the scripture makes us to know that a man’s life is not depended on his possessions and that true happiness is from God. Unfortunately, the devil is using this lie to send many teenagers, youths and adults to their early graves in two ways:

i) he either makes them get involved into sinful sex, drug abuse, alcohol, reckless lifestyle and all illegal means of making money all in the pursuit of fulfillment and happiness in life

ii) he makes those who wanted to belong but couldn’t be involved in such things to believe they are missing out of life thereby making them see themselves as social misfits and failures.

It is a deceit that not being involved in sexual immorality, drug abuse, alcoholic, partying, reckless lifestyle and making money illegally makes one a social misfit or failure!

Eventually, when those get involved in pleasure and materialism are confronted with the true realities of life that basing one’s values in life on fame, achievements, wealth, and sensual pleasure all ended up to boredom, emptiness, and disillusionment according to Ecclesiastics 1:2, they lose their equilibrium, become discouraged, depressed, despair and commit suicide.

Life is good and beautiful and is worthy of being enjoyed because life on earth is of short duration compared to eternity. God is not against the enjoyment of one’s life as the story of creation reveals among others that man’s comfort and enjoyment on earth was of topmost priority of God at creation, Genesis 1: 26-31; 2:7-25. God’s desire for us to have the best of life made Him give us His only begotten son to give any who believed in him abundant life after sin made a ruin of man’s life due to man’s disobedience in the garden of Eden. God has given us everything to enjoy.

However, the truth is that the story of creation also reveals man was created to fulfill a destiny – God’s plan, purpose and will (Genesis 1: 28) and in total dependence on Him. This is to say that life and all life’s activities must be done with God in view and the fulfillment of His purpose and will. Only then will such things not degenerate into superficial levity and sinful enjoyment which results is trouble and unhappiness. We can only find fulfillment and happiness if we look for them in God and His will by having faith and trust in Him, only this makes life worthwhile. This is to say that our activities can bring satisfaction and happiness only if one has a personal relationship with God. There is no true fulfillment, pleasure, and happiness of life when lived apart from God and of no benefit of others.

Within this category is yet another lie of the devil that life goes as planned. This is yet another deceit the devil is using to make the people become discouraged, depressed and commit suicide when things don’t work as they had planned it should be. The Scripture reveals that only God’s plan and purpose stands but man’s plans are subject to change.

It is a good thing to have good plans for one’s life, however, understanding certain truths about life would make us understand why things may not work out as planned and help us brace up when things don’t work as planned. The Scripture tells us certain facts about life that may likely not make things worked out as planned.

a). Life is spiritual. It is like as a wind, something not visible to the naked eyes. It is beyond the physical and what our senses can determine. This implies it is not something tangible that we can get hold of and get under our control.

b). Life is a great mystery. This implies many things about life are beyond human understanding and comprehension. Many things about life are enshrouded in great mysteries, they can only be known when it unravels itself, we only know of the moment we are in and not the future. Life is past finding out.

c). No one is sure of life, Job 24: 22. This implies no one can know or declare categorically what will happen in the next minute, Ecclesiastes 10:14. This is because life is full of uncertainties, it is unpredictable. Unforeseen incidents that one never envisaged such as ill health, accidents, misfortunes, natural disasters, death of loved ones and many others can happen suddenly and force many us to abandon our plans.

d). Life like a coin has two sides of everything and they work hand in hand and we can’t have one and avoid the other. The two sides are positive and negative sides; unpleasant and uncomfortable, light and darkness, male and female, day and night, dry and wet, the spiritual and physical aspect of life. There is the evil and good side, life/death, light/dark side, up/down, positive/negative, beautiful/ugly, fair/unfair, mountaintop/lowland, physical/ spiritual, plenty/lack, deep/shallow, happy/sad, strong/weak, desert/oasis, straight/bend, hard/soft, sweet/bitter.

e). Life like nature has its own times and seasons as listed in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Life’s times and seasons like that of nature are not static but dynamic. It changes from one season to another without warning thereby making no condition permanent. Every man will experience his/her own share of the different seasons and times. Each season has its own times and purposes. The Scriptures also reveal certain truths we should know about times and seasons:

They are divinely determined and fixed by God and cannot be changed by any. Acts 17:24-26.Job 14: 5.
The Scripture also reveals that no man can predict or know when a change of time will come upon him. Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.
This implies that no man has the power to have prior knowledge of occurrences of life. This reveals the futility in consulting evil powers of divination, horoscope and many others that claim to foretell times and seasons. Change of times comes suddenly upon a man like as it did David, Joseph, Job, and all others before us and its duration differs from one man to another depending on the divine purpose it is meant to serve.

f). Only God’s counsel stands. God alone knows all that exists. He knows each day, time, seasons and everything that is good for us. He has an eternal plan that includes the purpose and activities of every person on earth, Jeremiah 11:29. Our plans if not dedicated to God have no permanent value. We must see life as a gift from God and look to Him to work out his purpose for us and for this reason we are charged to commit our ways to God for their establishment.

3. LIES ABOUT LIFE’S CHALLENGES

The first lie in this area is that your challenge is peculiar to you alone. To believe this is like believing you are the only human being living. Believing that one is the only one passing through a particular problem can be very disheartening and discouraging. It makes the victim judge that something is terribly wrong with him or her to warrant what he or she is passing through. Once this happens, self-criticism sets in, with self-criticism comes self-doubt which leads to low self-esteem and self-pity. When self-doubt happens, self-isolation sets in where the victim starts avoiding or disassociating from family and friends until he or she becomes totally withdrawn and go into seclusion. Once in seclusion, loneliness sets in. Loneliness will make the victim stop taking good care of him or herself, indulge in poor eating habits of either overeating or under eating or excessive intake of alcohol or drugs. With loneliness is self harm and destruction.

You must not believe the lie because no challenge/problem is unique or peculiar to any particular individual. Most challenges are universal. It is a common phenomenon, Ecclesiastes 9: 2. This means that whatever circumstance you are facing now is common to mankind and not peculiar to you alone. “Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5: 9).

See complete post here - http://lovelashblog.com/2018/12/30/how-to-avoid-becoming-a-victim-of-suicide-part-6-dont-believe-the-lies-of-the-devil/

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I

SAY NO TO SUICIDE. Visit www.lovelashblog.com to read on how to avoid becoming a victim is suicide.

Suicide is never a way out of life challenges. WE SAY NO TO SUICIDE. Visit www.lovelashblog.com to read on how to avoid committing suicide.

Please, don't do it. Consider your loved ones.

According to the Scriptures in I Samuel 1:1-10, the Philistines gathered together their armies in battle against Saul and the Israelites. There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath a man of great stature and experience in battle. Goliath came out and challenged the men of Israel. When King Saul and the men of Israel heard Goliath challenges they became dismayed and greatly afraid and fled, 1 Samuel 17:8-11. However, when David an inexperienced but courageous youth who was sent by his father to his brothers who were among the Israelites army heard the same challenging words of Goliath, his faith in the Living God of Israel became greatly aroused and he accepted the challenge to fight one on one with Goliath. David remained strong in faith in his God; fearless, unperturbed, undaunte and courageous despite his brother's taunting words and further threats by Goliath. He faced Goliath, one on one in battle and killed Goliath with just a stone from his sling! 1 Samuel 17: 40-52.

Nonetheless, a day came when David the courageous, fearless and man of great faith in God found himself in a perplexing situation. David in his attempt to hide from King Saul who was after his life went to Achish the King of Gath for refuge. On getting there he heard what the servants told Achish about him and he became hopelessly afraid to the extent of feigning himself mad, scribbled on the doors of the gate and let spittle fall down upon his beard, 1Samuel 21:11-13. What could have made this great man of faith, and a mighty man of valor who was not afraid to face Goliath be afraid to the extent he portrayed?

The answer is simply this; the way he handled what he heard in his heart at the two instances. At the first occasion (the battlefront), he did not take to heart all he heard. This implies he took Goliath's threats, his brother's and King Saul's discouraging words lightly. He did not give room in his heart to them and as such, they had no effects on him. However, at the second instance, it was recorded that "he laid up in his heart the words he heard the servants of Achish the King of Gath" said about him. 1 Samuel 21: 12. This implied that he allowed what he heard to sink into his heart and this had adverse effects on him. He "became sore afraid."
The truth revealed during these episodes in David's life is that the way one handles what one hears matters a lot. The words we take to heart influences the heart/mind.

NATURE OF OUR SPOKEN WORDS
Spoken words are spirit and powerful. Spoken words have the power to build, destroy and influence the heart and attitude of the hearer. Spoken words fall under two categories godly/positive and devilish/negative words.
Godly/positive words are positive, good, sure, right, true, pure, lovely, kind, full of praise, light, wise, and holy words.

Negative words are bad, toxic, evil, terrible, untrue, and wicked words such as; curses, lies, abuses, condemnation, threats, blackmail, deceit, flattery, destructive criticism, mockery, jesting, and malicious.

HOW THE WORDS WE HEAR INFLUENCE THE HEART/ MIND
Man is a triplicate having a body, soul and spirit. He is a complete spirit being having all that is needed to relate to God and the spirit realm. The body (flesh) is the dwelling place of the spirit. The body has some sensory organs with which he contacts with the physical world he resides. The soul which is spiritual comprises of the heart/mind described as the center and director of human activity. It is the center of intellect/ mentality, intuition, thoughts and imaginations. It is the place of emotions and feeling and also of affection. It is also the place of human will, decision making, desires, and wishes. It is also the place our characters and morals are formed. The heart/mind is conditioned by the inputs from the physical and spiritual realms which could be negative/evil or positive/ godly. The two ears and eyes are the information inlets from the physical world to the heart.
Whenever the ears hear any positive or negative spoken words, such words are passed straight to the heart as inputs. When the heart/mind receives it, it accesses it and chooses whether to retain/keep it or not. The heart easily disposes of it what it does not want and retains what it wants.

When positive words are kept in the heart it influences the intellect/mentality, feelings and emotions and the will-power positively. Since positive words are good, true, pure, lovely, wise, and holy inputs they influence the heart positively in ways such as; generates good thinking and imaginations, help build up one's faith, love, and hope, heal hurting hearts like healing balm, encourages, rejoices, edifies and keep the heart at peace and in good health. Proverbs 12:5.
However, when negative words get to a mind/heart, and the heart chooses to keep it, it influences the heart/mind intellect/mentality, feelings and emotions and the will-power negatively. Since negative words input are bad, toxic, evil, unkind, terrible and wicked, when it is stored in the heart it makes the heart provoked, dark, defiled corrupted, poisoned, harden and heavy. As such, the heart becomes afraid, provoked, sorrowful, bitter, weak, sad, foolish, troubled, unstable, angry and hopeless, depressed, bitter, confused, sad, dampened, discourage and hurt badly. All these are not good for the heart and must be avoided.

KEEP ONLY POSITIVE WORDS IN YOUR HEART
With all written so far, the importance of keeping one's heart from the influences of negative words cannot be overemphasized. God enjoined us to do this saying "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life"
One of the ways the devil is using to get a lot of people to become downcast, sad, insecure, discouraged, depressed and even sick in these present times is by making them swallow or take to heart everything they hear hook, line and sinker.
Pathetically we are living in the fallen world that lies in sin and wickedness under Satan and full of evil people whose mouths are full of negative words. These days, bad news is the order of the day. Apart from this, people enjoy using profane, abusive, provocative, hurtful, slandering words, curses, abuses, reviling, vulgar, threats, mockery, condemnation, destructive criticism and jesting on individuals. How can one help the situation?

It is a fact that there is no way one can escape from hearing negative words; nevertheless, one can choose what one wants to take to heart or reject because nobody can force down into your heart what you don't want there. Not every word we hear have effect on us, but only those ones we take to heart affects us. Many of the things we hear on a daily bases are nothing but trash and toxic, good only to be ignored and discarded in the refuse dump. Therefore one must carefully chose the right words to take to heart as charged in Ecclesiastes 7: 21a "Take no heed unto all words that are spoken;.."

It is important to remember that people would say negative things about you as long as you are alive even when you are dead as they did to our Lord Jesus Christ, but don't take such things to heart. People would curse you and threaten you but know that as long as you are innocent that "the curse causeless shall not come" Proverbs 26:2, Lamentation 3:37. Whatever people think or say you are is of no significance. Rather, what God says and what you believe, think and say about yourself are all that matters and the word of God says you are love and honorable, Isaiah 43: 4. Where possible, avoid being anywhere evil news is being discussed and avoid associating with negative people that tell you depressing words Pay no attention to those who talk behind your back, because for them to talk at your back implies you are ahead of them and they cannot face you. Reject and declare null and void every divination and enchantment against you, Numbers 23: 23.
Whatever anybody says about you is just an opinion and not a fact. People may judge and condemn you, however, don't take such to heart because God's word for you is "no condemnation" Romans 8:1.

Don't let their words of condemnation break you down because no one has any right to judge you, instead condemn whoever has risen against you in judgment, Isaiah 54:17.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT AND BE ENCOURAGED.

God loves you and so do I.

Visit www.lovelashblog.com for more.

In the early morning of Tuesday 23 of April 2019, I came across a disheartening thread on Nairaland Forum https://www.nairaland.com/5148194/kolapo-olowoporoku-oau-student-commits/5#77785568 about a final year student of O.A.U, Ile-Ife by name Kolapo Olowoporoku said to have committed suicide over failure in repeated courses and I wept. I believed his death was an avoidable one if only those who observed that he looked depressed as written in the thread had shown a little care and concern to find out what was bugging him and helped him; my condolence to his family, friends and loved ones over his demise.

Suicide as a result of failure and poor results especially by youths is a problem becoming one too many in Nigeria and must be addressed and I decided to write to condemn it as a follow-up to all that I have written on suicide in my blog www.lovelashblog.com. Kolapo was said to have become depressed and committed suicide as a result of poor results though there might be other underlying contributory problems too. Depression is real and it is a common problem across all ages. DEPRESSION IS DANGEROUS AND MUST BE HANDLED WITH CAUTION.
According to the renowned Christian counselor Gary R. Collins, Ph.d. "depression overwhelms its victims with feelings of despair, fear, exhaustion, immobilizing apathy, hopelessness, inner desperation, and thoughts of suicide." Unfortunately, depression is said to be high among youths schooling than their counterparts not in school. Therefore, the Federal Government and all arms of government and religious leaders should as an act of urgency establish counseling centers and create units in the hospitals for depressed persons. SALES OF POISONS SHOULD BE CENSORED.

Since Kolapo was said to have become depressed as a result of poor results in school, we shall be looking at some of the likely causes of him becoming depressed as a result of this such as:

1) Overrated University education and certificate: From his name, he is most likely to be an indigene of Ekiti state of Nigeria. Ekiti state is one state where University education and certificates are overrated. Right now in Ekiti state possessing a first degree is almost like having just S.S.C.E. Ekiti has the highest number of Professors in Nigeria. Almost every family in Ekiti can boast of at least a Ph.D. holder and many master's degree certificate holders. So, having poor results for someone coming from such state or family background that set unrealistic high and rigid educational standards is capable of making one feel unworthy and depressed. Striving to meet up with parents high demands in education is one area where many students come under great pressure and this must stop.

It is worth knowing that although meeting up with the high standards of attainment in education or in other areas is good if one has the capability. However, it is not what determines one's success in life, God is. Therefore, it is not a big deal either one attained the set high standard successfully or not. The most important thing to do in anything is to ensure one puts in his/her utmost best. Once you are satisfied that you have done your best then leave the rest. If your best effort does not meet up to the set standard then forget about it and move ahead with your life. Once you see that you are not measuring up to standard in your course of study, seek for counsel and consider a change of course of study. Please, go for the courses of your interest because you are the one to read for it and your interest in it helps in achieving success. No matter what happens God's plan will surely come to pass even in the face of failures. If I may ask you who is contemplating suicide because of failure these questions:
How many of the Nigeria heads of states by whichever title they are called, Governors, Senators, and Kings past and present are university/polytechnic graduates? How many of the millionaires, billionaires, contractors, oil migrates, businessmen and women, musicians and theater artists and great Artists are university graduates? How many of the university graduates who came out with good results are working with their course of studies and how many are working with their certificates?
I am not undermining the value of obtaining good results from the University or being a University graduate. University Education and certificate are good, however, it is not the determination of success in life as we can see in the lives of great people who are university dropouts such as Bill Gates of Microsoft fame; Steve Jobs of Apple fame; Michael Dell of Dell computers fame; Mike Lazaridis of Blackberry fame; Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook; Julian Assange of Wikipedia. SO DON'T KILL YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE TO DROP OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

As a retired teacher, I can say it categorically that some of the parents that set high standards for their children contributed to their children's poor performances in the universities because they forced their children/ward to read courses such students are not interested in or can cope with academically just for their selfish /status seeking interests. PARENTS SHOULD STOP FORCING THEIR CHILDREN TO DO COURSES OR ANYTHING THE CHILDREN HAVE NO INTEREST TO STUDY.

2) Physiological pains of failure: He was said to have failed two repeated courses, implying he has to rewrite then again the third time which he did not want to do. He tolerated the first failure probably thinking he did not put in his best efforts at the first attempt perhaps due to his activities in student unionism. He most likely had read hard in preparation for the exams of the repeated courses with high hopes. But alas he failed them again! This second-time failure broke him totally; he then gave up on himself and committed suicide. Or could his suicide action be an indication of anger at himself or his lecturers? No one but himself knew the reason why he did what he did since he left no suicide note.
Failure could be a very painful experience especially when one had put in so much effort and when one has the assurance to have done one's best. Failure in certain aspects of life considered as walkovers could be embarrassing. Nothing compares with the disappointment that one feels in such a situation. It is very demoralizing, making one confused, downcast and hopeless, all which leads to depression. However, suicide is not the way out! Failure as much as it hurts is also a necessary part of life. Failure is not an end of life so don't give up and don't kill yourself because you failed. Failure, like other challenges in life, is a common experience which implies everyone had failed at one time or the other. That you failed is not an indication that it is over for you until God says it is over. "Failure doesn't mean you are a failure, it just means you have not succeeded yet" says Robert. H. Schuler.

The number of times you failed at doing something is not an indication that you cannot overcome it. It is worth knowing that many of the world successful people such as Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of U.S.) Albert Einstein, Sir Dyson, Charles Darwin, Colonel Harland Sander the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken just to mention a few endured most failures in life. They didn't give up by killing themselves; rather they kept on trying and trying until they succeeded. PLEASE DON'T KILL YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU FAILED JAMB OR ANY EXAM AT ALL. When you are faced with any difficulty including failure, know that many others have passed through it and came out successful at the end. "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" 1 Peter 5: 9.

3) Shame is likely another cause of his depression: Kolapo was said to have been the class representative if his set and also an Exco (former financial secretary of the student association of the University); these are positions of authority and power for the brilliant ones and not just for dullards. Class representatives and Excos are famous and popular students known by lecturers and students. A close study of his passport photograph used for the write up announcing his death revealed he was good looking and fashionable. Therefore, putting all these together, one can conclude he belonged to the high class of the University. His failure in repeated courses must have caused him great shame in view of his status. Shame is a feeling arising from the consciousness of something one considers embarrassing and dishonorable done by oneself. It makes one very sad, angry, lonely, empty and depressed. It is not easy for many people to accept, face and manage failure. His shame would be multifaceted
a) Shame of being seen attending lectures while his mates had graduated and completed their mandatory NYSC.

b) Another might be the shame of repeating the exams with those who were his juniors perhaps.

c) His shame was public. Shame is of two types private and public. Private shame is what one feels all alone when one's problem is limited to oneself alone e.g. an unpublicized rape case. Public shame is the shame one faces when one's case is known to many people. The fact that he was an office holder implied he was a public figure that people expected much from, and his failure was very obvious. As a public figure, many on seeing him on the campus while his mates had left would ask him what he was doing on the campus. He most probably could no longer withstand all the finger pointing and him being an object of discussion and gossip on the campus.
One thing I wished he and others who would allow shame to overwhelm them is that there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing that happened to one that has not happened to others before. It is not a big deal for a leader to fail. After all, leaders are human beings and all humans fail at one point or the other. Therefore there is nothing to be ashamed of when one fails. The fall of a man is not the end of his life. "Don't be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again" Richard Branson. "A failure doesn't mean you are unworthy. Nor does it preclude success on the next try" says Leonard Miodinor.

4) Loneliness: Another problem that most probably might have made him depressed as a result of the poor result was loneliness. It is very obvious that he must have been alone and lonely due to many factors. Firstly, his mates, friends, and associates had left for NYSC leaving him behind. Secondly, failure tends to make one feel unworthy thereby making one to withdraw/isolate oneself from others. Another thing likely to have happened is a likely fall out with God which would make him feel that life has no meaning and purpose. Last but not the least is the fact that challenges particularly failure makes many so-called friends and associates to desert one because according to John F..Kennedy "victory has a hundred fathers but failure is an orphan." Kolapo was definitely alone and lonely. Gary R, Collins, Ph.D. has this to say about loneliness, [i]"Loneliness is the painful awareness that we lack close and meaningful contact with others. It involves a painful feeling of isolation, and sadness and a deep desire to connect with others. Even when they are surrounded by others, lonely people may feel left out, unwanted, rejected, or misunderstood. Frequently there is depression, self-criticism, restlessness, and anxiety, accompanied by a longing to be wanted…Lonely people sometimes have hopelessness that can lead to despair and even thoughts of suicide." [/i]Suicide does not end loneliness; therefore it is not an option. Can anyone think of a lonelier place as a lonely grave in the bush?

One truth we should know is that everybody feels lonely at one time or the other and get over it. However, there are certain life situations that makes one have long overwhelming feelings of loneliness. In such cases, one needs the help of God through renewed commitment and assurance of a better tomorrow, support and help by family and loved ones to get over it on time.

I was sad when I read that portion that revealed that people said they noticed "Kolapo looked depressed but they did not know what made him depressed" therefore they did nothing to find out what was wrong. What else do they need to see to know that he needed help than his looks? Please know that a change in a person's look or appearance reveals their inner state of mind. A person with a depressed appearance is no longer in control of himself or what he does. Such people need help very fast. For this reason, there is the need for each and every one of us to be our brother's keeper by showing love and concern to those we perceive are having challenges by visiting them and empathizing with them. We should keep them company and give them encouraging words that will make them see the bright side of life. At times, they should be made to seek health care because depression is a mental health problem.

Departmental Course advisers should please do their work and recommend the weak students to counselors who would follow them up. More than anything Universities should put in place ways of counseling students with poor results or with carry-overs. Please read more on how to know a person who might be contemplating suicide from www.lovelashblog.com.

5) Insensitivity of parents and friends: It is a pity that many families and friends are getting less concerned and showing little or no kindness and empathy to those who need it in their families. The humiliation, ridicule and mockery some children that have challenges with their education or other areas are subjected to in many African homes could be likened to the distress and agony someone carrying soldier ants infested log of wood on one's head suffers. They receive lots of bashing from left and right. Most parents and the society at large are of the opinion that when someone fails, that person is either lazy or not serious, which on most occasion is not the case. An African parent sees every avenue as one to remind the child that he failed. He would be told to go and start reading whenever he is seen without a book. A child that failed dare not do anything wrong without the parent not linking it to the reason he failed. Greater trouble awaits anyone that failed and has brilliant elder/younger siblings because that would be a cause for endless comparisons. It is annoying that same parents who forced their children to read courses they did not want to read in the University or who used the money to buy admission for their children who are not qualified would turn around to heap blames on such children for failing.

African parents should please try and be more understanding and encouraging. It is high time we learn to be more understanding towards those our children/ward having educational challenges. The time they are facing challenges is not the time such children should be subjected to insults and abuses because such a person is already going through some emotional pains that come with failure. What they need are your support and understanding.

Some so-called friends would use the opportunity to say all forms of rubbish in the name of giving advice. Miserable advisers they are. Nothing is as painful as been mocked and tongue lashed by people who should understand our plight and comfort us.

To those who might find themselves in unpalatable situations please know that what people think or say you are is of no significance rather what God says and what you believe, think and say about yourself is all that matters. Note that some of the world's successful people such as Albert Einstein, and Charles Darwin, and several others endured lots of insults from family members and they did not give up. If you fail, never give up because failure is not an end.

Kindly visit http://www.lovelashblog.com/ for similar posts.

Please, if you need someone to talk to, I am available.

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

Lifedontireme123:
I want to commit suicide today but i don't know how to do it to make it look like its not suicide.pls someone should help me with a better idea,don't want to spoil my family's name.am no longer useful in this world.

Whoever or whatever made you believed that you are not useful lied. Please, suicide is not an option. Is there no member of your family that you can talk to for help? You can reach me @ nifemilash@gmail.com

You can go to see him and the wife, but please go along with two more people.

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.

There are different methods suicide victims use in killing themselves. Some of the methods are drastic and graphic. Some are tactful or subtle so that the suicide can never be suspected as the cause of death of such victims. Many of the supposed natural but sudden deaths we hear of people dying in their sleep, as well as lone car/bike accidents, are actually tactful suicides. Many are gradual in that, death comes very slowly; it takes a long time before the victim dies. Involving in life-endangering habits such as smoking, drug abuse, and heavy alcohol drinking despite being warned of the dangers even on the packages of these substances belong to this group. Included also is stopping medication or doing what doctors advised against when medically ill. Intentional involvement in hard drugs trafficking and other crimes in countries where doing such carry death penalty is another type of suicide. Although, in this case, death comes through a second party (the official death executioners), yet the victims are responsible for their deaths.

Whatever means or method or reason for committing suicide is wrong and evil. Suicide is frowned at in the society, condemned by all religions and unacceptable by most customs across the globe. In a good number of Nigerian’s tribes and traditions, death by suicide is considered as a sacrilege, a curse, and an abomination, therefore suicide victim’s corpses are treated with disdain; no final bath, no new final covering cloth, no coffin, no grave and no burial rites. Victim’s corpses are usually taken far away from the communities they belonged, carried to the evil forest and left there to be consumed by wild beasts and birds of the air! In some communities the victim’s families are stigmatized and compelled not to mourn the dead victims. Such families would also be made to perform certain rites and expensive sacrifices to appease the gods of the land and to cleanse the evil act from the land. Is this not a double tragedy for the victim’s family members?

Honestly, I feel pity for those who commit suicide because I believe that making such a decision and executing it, is very harrowing and traumatic for the victims! Anything one does intentionally that causes such excruciating pains and sorrow to the individual is not worth it, therefore suicide is a wrong thing to do. Any action that would make family members and loved ones grieve become stigmatized, and sorrowful for years to come is not something good at all. My heart and prayers are with those who lost their loved ones to suicide. May the good Lord comfort and console you all in Jesus name. Amen.

Please if you are contemplating suicide, please have a rethink, consider what the future holds, your family, loved ones, and friends.

Suicide is a sin against God and humanity. This is a fact we all know and is a reason why most of the suicide victims who left suicide notes asked God, family members, friends and associates for forgiveness over their evil actions. However, of what benefit is a suicide letter of apology or asking for forgiveness when already dead, and when so much damage beyond repairs had happened? I consider that instead of writing a suicide note to be read after one’s demise, it would have been better to have written and delivered a-save-my-soul letter to the people that would be hurt and traumatized by one’s suicide action, telling them about the problems being faced and asking for help while alive? This would have given them an insight into problems being faced and the opportunity to render assistance.
See complete post here- http://lovelashblog.com/2018/08/31/what-is-suicide/

In the early morning of Tuesday 23 of April 2019, I came across a disheartening thread on Nairaland Forum https://www.nairaland.com/5148194/kolapo-olowoporoku-oau-student-commits/5#77785568 about a final year student of O.A.U, Ile-Ife by name Kolapo Olowoporoku said to have committed suicide over failure in repeated courses and I wept. I believed his death was an avoidable one if only those who observed that he looked depressed as written in the thread had shown a little care and concern to find out what was bugging him and helped him; my condolence to his family, friends and loved ones over his demise.

Suicide as a result of failure and poor results especially by youths is a problem becoming one too many in Nigeria and must be addressed and I decided to write to condemn it as a follow-up to all that I have written on suicide in my blog www.lovelashblog.com. Kolapo was said to have become depressed and committed suicide as a result of poor results though there might be other underlying contributory problems too. Depression is real and it is a common problem across all ages. DEPRESSION IS DANGEROUS AND MUST BE HANDLED WITH CAUTION.
According to the renowned Christian counselor Gary R. Collins, Ph.d. "depression overwhelms its victims with feelings of despair, fear, exhaustion, immobilizing apathy, hopelessness, inner desperation, and thoughts of suicide." Unfortunately, depression is said to be high among youths schooling than their counterparts not in school. Therefore, the Federal Government and all arms of government and religious leaders should as an act of urgency establish counseling centers and create units in the hospitals for depressed persons. SALES OF POISONS SHOULD BE CENSORED.

Since Kolapo was said to have become depressed as a result of poor results in school, we shall be looking at some of the likely causes of him becoming depressed as a result of this such as:

1) Overrated University education and certificate: From his name, he is most likely to be an indigene of Ekiti state of Nigeria. Ekiti state is one state where University education and certificates are overrated. Right now in Ekiti state possessing a first degree is almost like having just S.S.C.E. Ekiti has the highest number of Professors in Nigeria. Almost every family in Ekiti can boast of at least a Ph.D. holder and many master's degree certificate holders. So, having poor results for someone coming from such state or family background that set unrealistic high and rigid educational standards is capable of making one feel unworthy and depressed. Striving to meet up with parents high demands in education is one area where many students come under great pressure and this must stop.

It is worth knowing that although meeting up with the high standards of attainment in education or in other areas is good if one has the capability. However, it is not what determines one's success in life, God is. Therefore, it is not a big deal either one attained the set high standard successfully or not. The most important thing to do in anything is to ensure one puts in his/her utmost best. Once you are satisfied that you have done your best then leave the rest. If your best effort does not meet up to the set standard then forget about it and move ahead with your life. Once you see that you are not measuring up to standard in your course of study, seek for counsel and consider a change of course of study. Please, go for the courses of your interest because you are the one to read for it and your interest in it helps in achieving success. No matter what happens God's plan will surely come to pass even in the face of failures. If I may ask you who is contemplating suicide because of failure these questions:
How many of the Nigeria heads of states by whichever title they are called, Governors, Senators, and Kings past and present are university/polytechnic graduates? How many of the millionaires, billionaires, contractors, oil migrates, businessmen and women, musicians and theater artists and great Artists are university graduates? How many of the university graduates who came out with good results are working with their course of studies and how many are working with their certificates?
I am not undermining the value of obtaining good results from the University or being a University graduate. University Education and certificate are good, however, it is not the determination of success in life as we can see in the lives of great people who are university dropouts such as Bill Gates of Microsoft fame; Steve Jobs of Apple fame; Michael Dell of Dell computers fame; Mike Lazaridis of Blackberry fame; Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook; Julian Assange of Wikipedia. SO DON'T KILL YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE TO DROP OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

As a retired teacher, I can say it categorically that some of the parents that set high standards for their children contributed to their children's poor performances in the universities because they forced their children/ward to read courses such students are not interested in or can cope with academically just for their selfish /status seeking interests. PARENTS SHOULD STOP FORCING THEIR CHILDREN TO DO COURSES OR ANYTHING THE CHILDREN HAVE NO INTEREST TO STUDY.

2) Physiological pains of failure: He was said to have failed two repeated courses, implying he has to rewrite then again the third time which he did not want to do. He tolerated the first failure probably thinking he did not put in his best efforts at the first attempt perhaps due to his activities in student unionism. He most likely had read hard in preparation for the exams of the repeated courses with high hopes. But alas he failed them again! This second-time failure broke him totally; he then gave up on himself and committed suicide. Or could his suicide action be an indication of anger at himself or his lecturers? No one but himself knew the reason why he did what he did since he left no suicide note.
Failure could be a very painful experience especially when one had put in so much effort and when one has the assurance to have done one's best. Failure in certain aspects of life considered as walkovers could be embarrassing. Nothing compares with the disappointment that one feels in such a situation. It is very demoralizing, making one confused, downcast and hopeless, all which leads to depression. However, suicide is not the way out! Failure as much as it hurts is also a necessary part of life. Failure is not an end of life so don't give up and don't kill yourself because you failed. Failure, like other challenges in life, is a common experience which implies everyone had failed at one time or the other. That you failed is not an indication that it is over for you until God says it is over. "Failure doesn't mean you are a failure, it just means you have not succeeded yet" says Robert. H. Schuler.

The number of times you failed at doing something is not an indication that you cannot overcome it. It is worth knowing that many of the world successful people such as Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President of U.S.) Albert Einstein, Sir Dyson, Charles Darwin, Colonel Harland Sander the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken just to mention a few endured most failures in life. They didn't give up by killing themselves; rather they kept on trying and trying until they succeeded. PLEASE DON'T KILL YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU FAILED JAMB OR ANY EXAM AT ALL. When you are faced with any difficulty including failure, know that many others have passed through it and came out successful at the end. "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" 1 Peter 5: 9.

3) Shame is likely another cause of his depression: Kolapo was said to have been the class representative if his set and also an Exco (former financial secretary of the student association of the University); these are positions of authority and power for the brilliant ones and not just for dullards. Class representatives and Excos are famous and popular students known by lecturers and students. A close study of his passport photograph used for the write up announcing his death revealed he was good looking and fashionable. Therefore, putting all these together, one can conclude he belonged to the high class of the University. His failure in repeated courses must have caused him great shame in view of his status. Shame is a feeling arising from the consciousness of something one considers embarrassing and dishonorable done by oneself. It makes one very sad, angry, lonely, empty and depressed. It is not easy for many people to accept, face and manage failure. His shame would be multifaceted
a) Shame of being seen attending lectures while his mates had graduated and completed their mandatory NYSC.

b) Another might be the shame of repeating the exams with those who were his juniors perhaps.

c) His shame was public. Shame is of two types private and public. Private shame is what one feels all alone when one's problem is limited to oneself alone e.g. an unpublicized rape case. Public shame is the shame one faces when one's case is known to many people. The fact that he was an office holder implied he was a public figure that people expected much from, and his failure was very obvious. As a public figure, many on seeing him on the campus while his mates had left would ask him what he was doing on the campus. He most probably could no longer withstand all the finger pointing and him being an object of discussion and gossip on the campus.
One thing I wished he and others who would allow shame to overwhelm them is that there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing that happened to one that has not happened to others before. It is not a big deal for a leader to fail. After all, leaders are human beings and all humans fail at one point or the other. Therefore there is nothing to be ashamed of when one fails. The fall of a man is not the end of his life. "Don't be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again" Richard Branson. "A failure doesn't mean you are unworthy. Nor does it preclude success on the next try" says Leonard Miodinor.

4) Loneliness: Another problem that most probably might have made him depressed as a result of the poor result was loneliness. It is very obvious that he must have been alone and lonely due to many factors. Firstly, his mates, friends, and associates had left for NYSC leaving him behind. Secondly, failure tends to make one feel unworthy thereby making one to withdraw/isolate oneself from others. Another thing likely to have happened is a likely fall out with God which would make him feel that life has no meaning and purpose. Last but not the least is the fact that challenges particularly failure makes many so-called friends and associates to desert one because according to John F..Kennedy "victory has a hundred fathers but failure is an orphan." Kolapo was definitely alone and lonely. Gary R, Collins, Ph.D. has this to say about loneliness, [i]"Loneliness is the painful awareness that we lack close and meaningful contact with others. It involves a painful feeling of isolation, and sadness and a deep desire to connect with others. Even when they are surrounded by others, lonely people may feel left out, unwanted, rejected, or misunderstood. Frequently there is depression, self-criticism, restlessness, and anxiety, accompanied by a longing to be wanted…Lonely people sometimes have hopelessness that can lead to despair and even thoughts of suicide." [/i]Suicide does not end loneliness; therefore it is not an option. Can anyone think of a lonelier place as a lonely grave in the bush?

One truth we should know is that everybody feels lonely at one time or the other and get over it. However, there are certain life situations that makes one have long overwhelming feelings of loneliness. In such cases, one needs the help of God through renewed commitment and assurance of a better tomorrow, support and help by family and loved ones to get over it on time.

I was sad when I read that portion that revealed that people said they noticed "Kolapo looked depressed but they did not know what made him depressed" therefore they did nothing to find out what was wrong. What else do they need to see to know that he needed help than his looks? Please know that a change in a person's look or appearance reveals their inner state of mind. A person with a depressed appearance is no longer in control of himself or what he does. Such people need help very fast. For this reason, there is the need for each and every one of us to be our brother's keeper by showing love and concern to those we perceive are having challenges by visiting them and empathizing with them. We should keep them company and give them encouraging words that will make them see the bright side of life. At times, they should be made to seek health care because depression is a mental health problem.

Departmental Course advisers should please do their work and recommend the weak students to counselors who would follow them up. More than anything Universities should put in place ways of counseling students with poor results or with carry-overs. Please read more on how to know a person who might be contemplating suicide from www.lovelashblog.com.

5) Insensitivity of parents and friends: It is a pity that many families and friends are getting less concerned and showing little or no kindness and empathy to those who need it in their families. The humiliation, ridicule and mockery some children that have challenges with their education or other areas are subjected to in many African homes could be likened to the distress and agony someone carrying soldier ants infested log of wood on one's head suffers. They receive lots of bashing from left and right. Most parents and the society at large are of the opinion that when someone fails, that person is either lazy or not serious, which on most occasion is not the case. An African parent sees every avenue as one to remind the child that he failed. He would be told to go and start reading whenever he is seen without a book. A child that failed dare not do anything wrong without the parent not linking it to the reason he failed. Greater trouble awaits anyone that failed and has brilliant elder/younger siblings because that would be a cause for endless comparisons. It is annoying that same parents who forced their children to read courses they did not want to read in the University or who used the money to buy admission for their children who are not qualified would turn around to heap blames on such children for failing.

African parents should please try and be more understanding and encouraging. It is high time we learn to be more understanding towards those our children/ward having educational challenges. The time they are facing challenges is not the time such children should be subjected to insults and abuses because such a person is already going through some emotional pains that come with failure. What they need are your support and understanding.

Some so-called friends would use the opportunity to say all forms of rubbish in the name of giving advice. Miserable advisers they are. Nothing is as painful as been mocked and tongue lashed by people who should understand our plight and comfort us.

To those who might find themselves in unpalatable situations please know that what people think or say you are is of no significance rather what God says and what you believe, think and say about yourself is all that matters. Note that some of the world's successful people such as Albert Einstein, and Charles Darwin, and several others endured lots of insults from family members and they did not give up. If you fail, never give up because failure is not an end.

Please if you need someone to talk to, I am available.

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I.

If you have truly confessed your misdeed to God, He has forgiven you. All you need to do is to forgive yourself and move on with your life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR. THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH. MORE OF HIS BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME.

SAY NO TO SUICIDE. DONT KILL YOURSELF FOR BEING DUMPED BY ANYONE AT ALL. LET WHOEVER WANTS TO LEAVE GO. LIFE GOES ON. WHOEVER LEAVES YOU IS NOT WORTHY OF YOU.

It's a common thing to hear persons caught in any evil act to accuse the devil of being the one who pushed them to carry out such acts or that their misdeed was the work of the devil. True as it were, it is important to say it emphatically here that each individual is responsible or is the architect of all satanic invasions and activities in his/her life! The reason being that Satan cannot forcefully enter into any one’s life without the person intentionally or unintentionally creating a chance or an opening for him to enter. What I am saying in essence is that as terrible, relentless, wicked, crafty and powerful the devil is, he cannot force himself into anyone’s life; he needs the individual to give him the chance to enter! All Satan needs to invade a person’s life is just a little chance, as small as the mustard seed in the mind/heart and all other space in one’s life would become his territory and domain of operation and such person would become his servant to carry out his nefarious activities. This is why we are charged to take very good care of the heart, Proverbs 4:23.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A CHANCE IN YOUR LIFE

When the devil wants to be given a chance into one’s life, he comes subtly through lies, deceit, and enticement mostly during one's unguided hours because he is a liar and a deceiver, John 8:44; Revelations 12:9.
Once the devil has the smallest chance in a person’s mind, he plunges it into total darkness thereby causing chaos and confusion. With the heart in darkness, he gets an advantage over one’s life and enslaves the heart. The devil is evil and wicked, he binds any life he enters and influences them towards evil, immorality and destruction in their thoughts, emotions and actions.

He further carries out his three cardinal duties of stealing, destroying and killing in the person’s life, John 10:10. He buffets and inflicts the person’s body with sickness. He tempts the individual and subjects him/her to grievous spiritual warfare. The incident that happened at the Garden of Eden gives us a very good example of what happened in a life invaded by Satan. All was well in the Garden of Eden until Eve entered into a conversation with devil the serpent and that conversation led to the ruin of all God’s wonderful plans and all the beautiful things that life had to offer them.

WAYS ONE CAN USE TO GIVE DEVIL A CHANCE IN ONE’S LIFE

1) Committing any form of sin is the commonest means of giving the devil a chance in one’s life. Sin is what Satan has been using to gain entrance into man's life right from time immemorial. For this reason, God gave humanity His laws to guide and protect us from sinning. Sin is Satan’s property and once it is in any man’s life it points and attracts the devil to such lives for invasion. It was because there was no sin in Jesus’ life that Satan could not have power over him and Jesus could say “the devil came but found no property of his with me". Satan could not touch Job’s, his family and all he had until he had God’s permission to do so because Job was a righteous man, Job 1:1-11.

2) Idol worshiping and belonging to the cult is another means of giving the devil a chance into one’s life. The devil is behind every form of idol worshiping and occult practices. Every form of sacrifice and rituals made in any idol’s shrine or satanic temple or any other designation to any other power or name apart from the Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth are means of opening up one’s life for satanic invasions and covenanting with the devil.

3) Loving the world: The World is described as lying in wickedness (1 John 5:19) because the world and many things in it is controlled by Satan and exists independent of God. Many things of the sinful world all look good, enticing and appealing yet not easily accessed to all. Satan has used the love and desire to acquire the things of the world to lure many into the occult and other evil practices. Therefore we are charged not to love the world and anything in it, 1 John 2: 15-16.

HOW NOT TO GIVE SATAN A CHANCE IN ONE’S LIFE

1) Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and hatred toward others. Satan dwells where there is no love for this reason we should not abhor bitterness in our hearts, 2 Corinthians 2:11.

2) Don’t join the occult for any reason at all such as for power, children, fame, politics appointment/position, wealth, protection and others. Doing so involves giving of one's soul to the devil for which Jesus asked “what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose your soul" (Matthew 16:26). Your soul is worth more than everything in this world that the devil is giving in exchange for it.

3) Don’t involve in any of these occult practices such as astrology, Ouija board, tarot card, parapsychology, fortunetelling, metaphysics and magic. Don’t listen to the enticing words and promises from the cultist who would not reveal the price you would pay until you have sworn to the oath of secrecy, by then it is too late.

4) Don’t visit any seer, babalawo, or prayer house of any prophet for anything because many of them are agents of darkness. Don’t perform any bath outside your home. Don’t perform or contribute money towards carrying out of any sacrifice or ritual. Don’t put any incision on any part of your body.

5) Don’t eat food offered to idols, 1 Corinthians 10: 19-20; Deuteronomy 32: 17; Psalm 106:35-38.

6) Don’t read or bring anything belonging to the occult such as books, rings, things dedicated to idols such as artifacts into your dwelling place.

7) Give no room to sin. Confess and repent of any sin you mistakenly fall into immediately.

Don’t be unequally yoke with an unbeliever, 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18. Have nothing to do with any person known to belong to the kingdom of darkness. If you marry the daughter/son of the kingdom of darkness you have Satan as your father in-law and he has every right to visit your home at will, Philippians 3:2.

9) Don’t be where evil is being perpetuated. Speak no evil of no one, Acts 23:5. Hate that which is evil, Romans 12:9. Recompense for no man evil for evil, Romans 12:17. Be not be overcome by evil, Romans 12:21. Don’t imagine evil things, Zec. 7:10;8: 17.
Follow not that which is evil, 3 John 11. Abstain from every appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians. 5:22.
More than anything try and resist the devil, James 4:7. This implies you should do everything in your power to avoid having anything to do with Satan because no one can be too careful with him. He would outwit you!

Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness with God's words, so read your Bible and pray always.
God Loves you and so do I
Kindly visit www.lovelashblog.com for more posts

Why did you swear with your children's lives and not your own life stupid woman?

Suicide does not solve any of life's problems. So don't do it. Read more on how to identify those contemplating suicide and what to do to stop them from carrying out the dastardly act. Visit lovelashblog.com

SAY NO TO SUICIDE. Check wwwlovelashblog.com on writeups on how to avoid becoming a victim of suicide.

Jesus asked the impotent man who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years by the pool of Bethesda saying, "…. Wilt thou be made whole?" John 5:6. The man replied "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: ..." John 5: 7. Can you imagine someone staying at a spot in total redundancy and uselessness for 38 years or thereabout while waiting for someone to help? What a waste of precious years! We, however, thank Jesus, the help of the helpless for His intervention and His word of Life that brought instant hope, faith, and healing to this man.

The man's statement revealed among other things that he had developed the mindset that the only means of getting into the pool was to be helped by some else. Unfortunately, he did not get anyone for thirty-eight years and remained in a hopeless situation. His failure to get someone to offer help over the years had probably made him resign to fate and stopped him from making attempts to enter the pool by himself. I believed that since he could move by himself as revealed in his statement in John 5:7, determination and a little more effort by him or a change of strategy would have made him go in the pool.

"I have no one to help me" is a common phrase used these days by certain people especially the youths when asked why they are not doing something tangible with their lives. People in this group have already developed the mindset that they cannot do or achieve anything worthwhile on their own except they are being helped or assisted by another. It is appalling to see intelligent, able-bodied men and women wasting and rotting away in their parents' houses or roaming the streets not doing anything concrete or meaningful with their lives because they are waiting for a relative who would send them to school or set up a trade for them or help them one form of employment or the other.
These people have taken the African close family/culture of helping family/village members as liberty for laziness and idleness. The most annoying thing is that some of them believe it is their right to be helped or assisted and they get offended when people they consider should help out can't do so due to one reason or the other. They even resort to going about to say terrible things and stories about such people. Enough of that nonsense! Nobody is compelled to help anyone. Help received is a privilege and not a right! The earlier people realize they are on their own in this life, the better for them. Would the people in this group please wake up from their deep sleep and find something doing? If there is nobody to be of assistance to you, then help yourself please! One thing many in this group have failed to realize is that nobody is ready to invest in anyone found idle or lazying about.

Having the mindset that one cannot do anything worthwhile by oneself except he/she is being helped or assisted by another is a negative mindset and it is unchristian. It is a attitude that wastes one's precious time, talents and abilities. It should not be encouraged at all in all levels of human development from childhood to old age even amongst the disabled individuals. There is nothing that makes one feel helpless, incapacitated, demoralized, frustrated, discouraged, redundant, disoriented, useless and depressed as having the mindset that one cannot achieve certain feats in life without the backing of someone else. It leads to being overly dependent on other people which is very dangerous and deadly because humans are not dependable, only God is dependable.

It is true that the beauty of life lies in helping others and that being helped makes life less stressful. If you are privileged to have people lending you a helping hand in whatever endeavor in life, that is good and well. Appreciate your helpers. If on the other hand, you don't have anyone to give you any support, it is good and well also. Embrace your situation the way it is. It simply means you have enough of the grace of God needed to achieve whatever you desire to do embedded in you. So, do what you need to do without waiting for assistance from anyone.
Beautiful and great things can be achieved without the help and assistance of other people. Many things are better done alone. People in the literary world and artists can attest to the fact that they are better off working alone. It only demands determination, putting in more effort, time and focus on whatever you are doing. Going through history and the Scriptures, one discovers that many of the great men and women achieved what they achieved alone. Nature also teaches the same. Take a look at the sun. It is all alone in the great expanse of the sky. It has nothing around it to assist it. Yet, every morning it rises all alone, in all its glory and shoots its rays of light abroad to all the nooks and crony of the world, Psalm 19:'4-6. In our modern day, many of the billionaires both believers and unbelievers alike are self-made.

Each individual child of God including you has the capability to do and achieve whatsoever he/she desires to do or become in life with or without the help of another person. This implies you can accomplish anything you dream of all alone. You have all it takes to do what you want to do. It is in you, just look inward and believe in God and believe in yourself. The Scripture says "if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes", Mark 9: 23. Whatever has made you believe you cannot achieve anything alone is false and whoever told you that you cannot attain certain things/ success in life without the help of certain people lied. The Scripture says I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME, Philippians 4:13.

My Brothers and Sisters, for how long would you continue to wait for the promised help that has not been forthcoming for years now? Know what you want and help yourself, do the little you can do. If you don't know what to do ask the Lord in prayers and He would show you how to go about it. Do something for yourself, God has given us the assurance in His word that whatever we lay our hands on will prosper. Instead of waiting for someone to come and give you 'big money' for that your dream business why not engage yourself in what your power or little money can bring. Start a business with the little you can gather, little drops of water makes the ocean. If your plan is to go to the urban city, then make the move to go and stop waiting for someone to come and take you from your village. Go out with your resume and scout for jobs yourself instead of waiting for someone to get you a job. Instead of endlessly waiting for a promise of white or blue collar job somewhere, why not seek any legitimate available job? If your desire is to go to school, self-sponsor yourself by working and doing a part-time job as I did in my early years. You can become that person you dream of becoming with determination and hard work and God on your side.
Let go of whatever and whoever is making you afraid to take a step towards achieving your dreams. As a believer, you have the spirit of Jesus Christ the Sun of righteousness in your indwelling. The sun does not need any introduction or help from anyone to shine. And no power on earth can hinder the sun from shining. Do something significant with your life today. Your generation is waiting for you to manifest. It is time for you to allow that sun in you that has been in obscurity to rise and shine. IF OTHERS BEFORE YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE YOU TOO CAN. ARISE AND SHINE!

If you are reading this post and you are not a Christian know that being alone without Jesus can be really frustrating and hopeless. Please, come to Jesus, the help of the helpless and hope of the hopeless
Come to Him now by taking the steps written below;
1) Admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23; 6:23.
2) Repent of all sins. Acts 3:19. 1 John 1:9
3) Believe that God loves you and that Jesus His only Son died for you. Romans 5:8, Acts 10:40&43
4) Invite Jesus into your heart. Revelations 3;20

GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I. If you need someone to talk to or to pray with, don't hesitate to reach me or visit www.lovelashblog.com

Concerning this matter, I have this strong feeling the so called friend had something evil he wanted to do or plant in the house in the absence of the wife. He was angry because his plan failed. That man is not a good friend at all.