₦airaland Forum

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Having a beautiful, fulfilling celebration and looking forward to the new year

The following are the keys to having a fulfilling celebration
Put the glory of GOD first
Being a source of succour to souls
Joy and Peace of the Holy Spirit in your life
And every other thing will follow suit

Thank God for HIS steadfastness, mercies, blessings
Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your life especially your dark areas
Prayerfully meditate on HIS word on how to sanctify your life
Confess your sins
Act on the dark areas by taking positive actions like:
Forgiving those you are begrudging
Rejecting sinful sexuality
Rejecting lies, etc
Pray and ask for HIS forgiveness
Pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire/ guide you on a way forward in line with GOD’s plan for you
Ak for HIS guidance on steps to actualize HIS plans for you
Make these inspired direction your New year resolutions
Once sanctification of your life is your new year resolution you are on the right track

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Station 14

Jesus is placed in the sepulcher

They placed HIM in an unused tomb and the people still set guards – who said the devil is not afraid of the WORD !!!
Make it your weapon as St Paul said – Sword of the Spirit !!!

Everything they did only made the resurrection glorious and wonderful

And how the Apostles and HIS Mother must have felt – fear, disappointed, shamed, defeated, etc but they somehow kept a little flame alive in themselves. That is why they could even dare to visit the tomb when told that HE is risen
Notice that it is even to the most unexpected that the LORD chose to reveal HIMSEL to first.

Don’t get frustrated, get attached to HIS words, promises. The power of resurrection is knocking at your heart.
No matter what, our LORD does not condemn anyone. It is only the devil that help us to condemn ourselves to reject GOD’s help and offer for reconciliation and life !!

Reject his accusations and accept life in CHRIST !! Don’t give in to despair and despondency. It is like rejecting the Love of the HOLY SPIRIT

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Station 13
Jesus is taken down from the cross

Even with everything that happened when HE breathed HIS last, the devil was not about to let go. The people in their bid to ensure they prevail, had HIS side pierced by a lance because HE had died when they wanted to bring HIM down !! (that piercing must have been replicated in the heart of the Mother)

Is it an offence to die on time?
Well, they pierced HIS side and blood and water gushed forth. What a miracle!! The enemies just opened for us a way to Heaven
Water to wash our filth
Blood to inebriate us
Pray and ask the Almighty GOD to graft you into the pierced side of JESUS that you may take root in HIM, germinate and bear fruits that glorifies GOD
That way, HE becomes your vine and you HIS branch.
And you now draw water from the well of salvation, the spring of life

What about the people that volunteered to bury HIM? Joseph or Arimathea and Nicodemus
Next time you about to criticize some people whom you believe they don’t go to Church, etc remember you may be so wrong !!
All go to Church, but you may not be there when they come.
Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus –though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews, but he had courage to approach pilate – open knowledge!!
Nicodemus first went to Jesus at night time.
It may seem that they were hypocritical in their faith in Jesus at first but the last now became the first !! where were the first ones!!

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Station 12
JESUS dies on the cross

JESUS hung on the cross held by nails in HIS hands and feet for three whole hours
HE watched his torturers gamble for HIS clothing
The people mocked HIM
The devil tempted HIM to come down from the cross to prove Himself
They gave HIM vinegar to drink

The agony was so much and HE felt derelict – “My GOD, My GOD why have YOU forsaken ME”
Even at that HE prayed and commended us to HIS mother – “Mother behold thy son, son, behold thy mother”
But HE remained there on the cross for us !! what obedience and love in action !!

HE then breathed out HIS last and Heavens bore witness and spoke for HIM –Lk 23: 44 - 49

44 It was now about noon.
45 The sun was hidden and darkness came over the whole land until mid-afternoon; and at that time the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus gave a loud cry, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And saying that, he gave up his spirit.
47 The captain on seeing what had happened, acknowledged the hand of God. He said, "Surely this was an upright man."
48 And all the people who had gathered to watch the spectacle, as soon as they saw what had happened went home beating their breasts.
49 Only those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, especially the women who had followed him from Galilee; they witnessed all this.

So whatever may betide you that seems to frustrate you, keep your focus on GOD, never forget the love that made HIM allow HIS only begotten SON to be crucified. Let the name of JESUS ever be on your lips. HE did not die in vain !!!

In that your Gethsemany like period, remember these golden words of Ps 30
2 I extol you, O Lord, for you have rescued me; my enemies will not gloat over me.
3 O Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
4 O Lord, you have brought me up from the grave, you gave me life when I was going to the pit.
5 Sing to the Lord, O you his saints, give thanks and praise to his holy name.
6 For his anger lasts but a little while, and his kindness all through life.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but rejoicing comes with the dawn.
7 Once in my prosperity I said, "I shall not be troubled."
8 Yet it was you, O Lord, who had me stand on the rock; as soon as you hid your face, I wavered!
9 To you, O Lord, I called; to you I begged for mercy:
10 "What good would there be in my destruction, in my going down to the pit?
Would my dust give you praise?
Would it prove your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; O Lord, be my protector."
12 But now, you have turned my mourning into rejoicing; you have taken off my sackcloth and wrapped me in the garments of gladness.
13 And so my soul, no longer silent, now sings praise without ceasing. O Lord my God, forever will I give you thanks.

The beauty of passing and through and overcoming trials, agony, frustrations, etc is that the devil doesn’t seem to realize that the reward is so glorious!!
So keep up with fighting the good fight. Always look on the crucifix and draw your strength from the crucified ONE !!

Station 11
Our LORD JESUS is nailed to the cross

Meditate on how HE submitted to be nailed to the cross

HIS agony each time the nailed was hammered into his hands and feet.

The pain must have been indescribable

How did HIS disciples and relations feel?

Were they humiliated?

What of the Mother?

When you are worried and ashamed at your humiliation before your family and friends, remember what HE went through for your sake

He was crucified in between two thieves !!! And one of the thieves even mocked HIM !! But HE bore all for our sake

Remember HIS words: When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am HE and that i do nothing of Myself. What the Father has taught Me is what i preach. Now the prince of this world is to be overthrown. And when i am lifted up from the earth, i shall draw all men to Myself" - Jn 8:28, 12:31 - 32

Regard whatever your source of frustration is as a gate way to glorification of GOD in your life via triumph of HIS cross

Man and his desire to command GOD!

James 5: 15 - 20
15 The prayer said in faith will save the sick person; the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
16 There will be healing if you confess your sins to one another and pray for each other. The prayer of the upright man has great power, provided he perseveres.
17 Elijah was a human being like ourselves and when he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, no rain fell for three and a half years.
18 Then he prayed again: the sky yielded rain and the earth produced its fruit.
19 Brothers, if any one of you strays far away from the truth and another person brings him back to it,
20 be sure of this: he who brings back a sinner from the wrong way will save his soul from death and win forgiveness for many sins.

John 5:31
31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone honors God and does his will, God listens to him.

Prov 15: 8
8 Yahweh detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but listens to the prayer of the honest man.

I could go on and on.

Man is really insatiable. What else do you want? To be counted amongst the elect is not enough? Do you think HE grants your prayers for others and rejects yours?

DoubleFaith:
Keep praying. His ways are not our ways. Sure your prayers will e answered...delay is not denial. Yearn for spiritual gift of faith.

He said it all !!

Youths and their challenges - My morning encounter contd

My deductions

My behavior to the guy was enabled by particular gift of discernment bestowed on me by the HOLY SPIRIT for that moment

I realized he needed CHRIST and HIS words not money or phone

HE was truly receptive (to me) and spent about 30mins without quarrelling

His Soul and Spirit is yearning for GOD

His time of arrest by the HOLY SPIRIT has come

He is highly favoured with GOD’s grace

Please don’t ask me how come I stopped to listen and chat with the guy – honestly I don’t know why. Only GOD knows but I felt so good afterwards and realized I could spend hours and days with the guy just to speak the WORD into him.

Let us all try to spare some moments to discern what the “beggars’ around us need not what they “think/ feel” they need. The paraclete is ever ready to guide us. May GOD be ever glorified now and forever in JESUS name - Amen !!

Youths and their challenges - my morning encounter

My counselling

I the asked/ requested that he promise me to go and reconcile with his parents as a condition for my giving him the money he sought
That He seems to be a predetermined source of GOD’s fountain of blessings for his family and many others

My promise to him based on the word of GOD is that if he goes back and reconciles with his parents and remain in GOD, he would meet me same place sometime later to testify to the LORD’s abundant mercies and blessings

Youth and their challenges - my morning encounter contd

My counselling to him

Rejecting parental advice (good ones) and opting to go on your own is not part of GOD’s plan

If he feels he is worst hit by life situations, he should consider the sick, the poorest of the poor, etc

What about people that have been on admission for years in the hospital

What about that virgin that is 43yrs old and still at her parents’ house waiting for a suitor

He should remember the agony and passion of CHRIST for us all

Life deals to each of us different hands but in CHRIST we are conquerors

One cannot be a Christian when disobedient to his/ her parents so far they were not luring you to do evil

The heart of the Kings and Princes are in GOD’s hands

No genuine help would come the way of somebody that disregards his/ her parents as remain GOD’s authority over you on earth

Deceitful people would encourage you that you can make it without your parents blessings

The devil and his agents hold out false, deceitful, empty promises and hopes to cause us to disregard our parents and GOD’s ways and laws

All the distractions and fake handouts from the devil and his agents is to ensure he doesn’t reap the bounties of blessings GOD has prepared for
him and eagerly waiting to shower on him

Youth and their challenges - My morning encounter contd

My counsel/ discussion:

Go back to your parents home and stay with them

Match and stamp on his ego and go back to his parents

IF you were stubborn/.disobedient, apologise to them

Situations due to unrealized expectations can cause parents and children to be harsh/ bitter towards each other

If his parents were subjecting him to what he feels were humiliation before his little ones, he accept it as his cross and carry it in thanksgiving

He should commit everything to GOD in prayer and wait on HIM

Remain obedient to his parents

Continue to seek the face of GOD prayerfully

A true friend would not accept you into his place if your parents throw you out without first reaching out to your parents

The world outside your parents home is very hostile

That you have not “made” it at 34yrs is not your fault!! – so far you live HOLY life

GOD that created you did not consult you before creating you and planning your life

There is only one commandment that has instant reward attached to it – N0. 5: Honour thy father and mother that thy days may be long !!

“Making’ it in life is determined by GOD

I’ll pause with the stations of the cross of calvary to discuss

Youths and their Challenges

This morning on my way to work, a young man stopped me and asked for some money to complete the amount he needed to buy a cell phone. My amount he requested was so meagre.

I was ready to give it to him but I decided to go further and if possible give HIM to him if he is open to the Holy SPIRIT. I felt the amount is not the issue but what he may be facing. This discernment was granted to me at that moment by the HOLY SPIRIT

So I asked what he does for a living?
Where he lives/ stays?
What religion?

He replied:

That he is 34yrs old
That he lives with a friend
‘was sent out packing from his parents home by his parents
He believes he has passed the age of staying with his parents by their tradition
He has to fend for himself
He is a Christian

Station 3 - 9
Jesus Falls down

As a man Jesus was losing strength and fell down. But HE did not stay down. He go up and continued on the way to Calvary. He did not say it is too much, let me just die here and now. What was uppermost in HIS mind was fulfilling the will of HIS Father and glorifying the Father’s name.

Have you considered the plight of HIS Mother?
The joint sorrows of Mother and SON.
The “shame” JESUS must have felt at the Mother’s witness of HIS suffering, “helplessness” and humiliation
Meditate on how HE was stripped of HIS clothing and wrapped in scarlet cloak and a crown of thorns place on HIS head - the Head of the King of Kings!! - Have you undergone such humiliation? Do you think GOD would allow it?
What of the Mother’s reaction to the situation? Accusers? Torturers? Agony of Her SON?
What must have been the silent agony of this widow!!!

Thank GOD some people were submissive to the Holy Spirit and yielded to be used as mantle of compassion: Simon of Cyrene and Veronica
Have you thanked GOD for the many Simon of Cyrenes and Veronica HE has placed along your life lines?
Have you tried to yield to the HOLY SPIRIT to be used as Simon of Cyrene and Veronica in people’s lives?
And when you did, did you pray to decrease and the HOLY SPIRIT increase that all glory be to GOD?

When you are carrying your cross, how do you react to consolations, compassion from people? Anger? Etc
When you see people carrying their cross do behave like the women that mourned with JESUS or you mock them?
When you are feeling frustrated, remember the agony, pains and humiliations our LORD JESUS CHRIST went through for your sake and know that it is not in vain. Your victory is assured ! So don’t despair or become despondent

Pray, "remind" the Almighty GOD of HIS love for you that HE allowed HIS SON to go through all that. As the Psalmist say "How can i repay the LORD for HIS goodness to me..."

Acknowledge, Confess and renounce your sins. Ask for grace to be Holy!!
Pray for sinners all over the world
Pray over their persistent sinful actions that mock the agony of JESUS’s cross

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DEALING WITH FRUSTRATION CONTD - FOLLOWING HIM TO CALVARY

Station 2
Jesus carries HIS Cross
He has carried away our burdens and our sorrows. On HIM lies our punishment

Meditate on how our LORD JESUS CHRIST willingly accepted the cross as HIS own in atonement for our sins not HISs’
It was not easy for HIM for HE was as man
All HE cared about was fulfilling the will of HIS FATHER and our FATHER
Out of the Love HE has HIS FATHER and for us
But HE submitted and accepted it

Your object of frustration, have you prayed about it?
Have you discerned if it’s a cross of salvation?
Or yoke of the devil?
IF it is your cross of salvation, carry it in thanksgiving and joy and follow HIM who said:

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Mat 16: 24

Mat 11: 28 - 30
28 Come to me, all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest.
30 For my yoke is good and my burden is light."

But if it’s a yoke of the devil, pray for the anointing of the HOLY SPIRIT to break it in JESUS name – Amen
HE gave us this power by HIS cross !! for HE did not accept and carry it willingly in vain.
HE did it that we may be free of any yoke of the devil !!!

27 On that day, their burden will be lifted off your shoulders, their yoke lifted off your neck. The yoke will be destroyed. IS 10: 27

vooks:
We prefer faulty peer review to Catholic unverifiable junk.Can you show me one flawed peer reviewed work?
Does it bother you that there is NO record nowhere of the lead scientist findings ANWHERE other than your blogs? Yet there are countless papers to his name.
http://66.59.70.135/publish.htm
Only the already indoctrinated believe this trash.

@vooks
It is a matter of faith. Either you believe or you do not. application of science for confirmation is just mere unnecessary bonus.

Luke 10: 21 - 24

21 At that time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones.
22 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, "Fortunate are you to see what you see,
24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

Italo has made his choice and you also. Anybody who wants and insists on scientific confirmation should appeal/ protest to OUR Father in Heaven to be illumined or to JESUS.

John 6: 48 - 64
[b]48 I am the bread of life.
49 Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died.
50 But here you have the bread which comes from heaven so that you may eat of it and not die.
51 I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world."
52 The Jews were arguing among themselves, "How can this man give us flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood live with eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 My flesh is really food and my blood is drink.
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me and I in them.
57 Just as the Father, who is life, sent me and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me.
58 This is the bread which came from heaven; unlike that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."
59 Jesus spoke in this way in Capernaum when he taught them in the synagogue.
60 After hearing this, many of Jesus' followers said, "This language is very hard! Who can accept it?"
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were murmuring about this and so he said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 Then how will you react when you see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh cannot help. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
64 But among you there are some who do not believe."[/b]

That Catholic chose to be like little children in believing the TRUE presence of JESUS CHRIST in the HOLY EUCHARIST as stated by JESUS is our choice and faith in action. The HOLY EUCHARIST is the source and summit of the Catholic faith !!

It may be difficult for others but then HE knew that already and made no apologies or tried to force/ coerce them

OasisofRefuge:
Should there be war, where do we go? should we kill all the children, who will take over from us? should we destroy our Nigeria, which country do we go? lets stop the fight and make this nation a better place to live. lets rise and stand together we are one. Every blood that is shed is close to you, is the blood of your brother, blood of your sister, blood of a Nigerian. please stop the fight. hold my hand and be my brothers still, be my sisters still.
pls download my song
http://www.reverbnation.com/q/5dscm0

Listened and downloaded it. Good one. Pass it on to Govt officials. We need such words/ song now

Do you still feel cheated/ neglected by GOD and that GOD should give you exceptional treatment?

If so, Why?

1) Because you merit it?
2) Because you worship HIM
3) Because you give offerings or tithes?
4) Because HE loves you?
5) Because HIS only begotten SON underwent this agony for your sake?

DEALING WITH FRUSTRATIONS CONTD
Solutions towards overcoming frustrations

Whenever you feel about to despair, become despondent, angry with GOD, etc, try meditate on the agony/ passion of Christ, follow Christ’s way to Calvary by praying the Stations of the Cross – Although Catholic, it is a very efficacious illuminating prayer

First ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Meditate on our LORD JESUS CHRIST agony at the garden of Gethsemane where HIS sweats were like drops of blood, HIS prayer “Father if it’s possible, let this cup pass me bye, but not MY will but YOUR will be done”, HIS pains, HIS submission.

Station 1
Jesus is condemned to death by Pontius Pilate

Mediate on how JESUS allowed Pilate to judge HIM and condemned HIM to death. Think about the hypocrisy of Pilate. Pretending to be innocent by washing his hands just to please the people because he believes he needs them to be allowed by Ceasar to remain as governor. He omitted GOD from his consideration. Also how the people shouted “let HIS blood be upon us and our children”. How a thief was let go instead of an innocent MAN

SON of GOD HIMSELF, and the ALMIGHTY GOD allowed it and the SON submitted without protest all for our sake.

Is your present situation like HIS?
Are you:
being calumniated?
Accused and condemned wrongly?
Suffering injustice?
Suffering oppression?

HE understands all for HE went through it and more for all of us. So HE is ever steadfast and helping us since HE knows what it’s like. HIS is a tested and should be trusted love

6“Though being divine in nature,
he did not claim in fact equality with God,
7 but emptied himself,
taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness,
and in his appearance found as a man.
8 He humbled himself by being obedient ….”

enkay27:
Before I do dream and when I wake up I remember the dream....if it is a bad one I will pray over it and when I have it repeatedly it will surely happen if nothing is done about it but since this year i hardly have a dream and when I dream i don't remember....i was not bordered about it until I told someone persons and they said it is not normal.....i don't know how true is it.......if it is true, what will I do?

Pray to GOD and ask HIM if it's normal.

You are funny !!! Have you done the above about what you noticed? If the dreams normally come from HIM and suddenly you stopped remembering, why not pray and listen to HIM.

DEALING WITH FRUSTRATIONS CONTD

Solutions towards overcoming frustrations. See it as a temporarily distraction that you must pass through and overcome

Pray, Hope, don’t worry – (St Padre Pio)
Consciously focus on thanking and praising GOD
HE loves to hear you laughing when you are in an awkward spot
When odds add up against you, it’s time to stop and sing; Praise GOD !!
Thank GOD for HIS mercies and blessings
Prayerfully forgive your foes
Pray for your foes
Pray for HIS mercies and forgiveness
Focus more on the good things in your life
Focus on the sacrifice on the Cross and its’ result/ gain
Meditate on HIS words
Focus on HIS plans as stated in the Bible than on your plans

ebankole:
Announce!!!
My service here might come to an end soon but at the moment there is a contention between me and my self of which direction to go,but as I wait on the lord to choose which of these i'd go for,in no time I might be here for the main time and or withdraw anytime from now on.
Yes,receiving you call might be inevitable as I will also avail myself for that extensively through that medium.
Above all,anything can happen be it staying here more lasting or going off permanently, may his will be done as I look forward to hearing from him.
May the lord almighty continue to lead us all in jesus name.
Bless you all as for now we are still here.

@ ebankole
In as much as i would love you to remain available here, the MOST IMPORTANT thing is doing HIS will. So follow HIS leading !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I believe you just did a cherry picking of the message Pastor Kumuiyi preached. What about the context in which it was delivered? the target congregation?

The whole essence of going to Church is to go and worship GOD as part of a community. You should not focus only on your perceived shortcomings of the Church.

The Church is composed of people that are not perfect but striving to work out their sanctification in fear and trembling. If every self righteous Christian stays at home to Worship GOD in his own way, it negates communal worship of GOD.

How would the sinful Church going Christians be evangelized if you don't take your Light of Christ in you to illumine their darkened areas and change their "wrong" doings in the Church to worship HIM in Spirit and truth. Have you considered that why HE gave you wisdom and knowledge is to evangelize HIS Church goers? Listen to HIM and start soemwhere

Because of JESUS CHRIST, we can do good and continue doing good in the face of ignorant criticism. Being a Christian in words, thoughts and actions is not easy. Christ did not find it easy and never promised us that it will be easy. So don't chose the easy way out.

Important thing is to keep that FLAME OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in you that discerns aflame and avoid being sucked in or pulled down.