My World

I recently made a commitment to transcribe everything I had written in time past, you know, to’re-inspire' myself. Then I came across this piece, My World.

 MY WORLD

I live in a world where 1+1= 11

Call it insane, unfair or erroneous if you like

But I call it a world of grace

In my world,

It is not about what I have done

it is not about who I am

In fact, it is not even about me

It is about the One who made me

It is a world of grace

In this world,

The slowest runner could win the race

The weakest man could win the fight

The poorest man could amass the greatest wealth

And the simple get the crown

‘Cos it’s a world of grace

I might not be the best

I could make mistakes

I might have no knowledge at all

I could be so poor

But I still get chosen

‘Cos I live in a world of grace

 

GRACE available in the Grace- Giver, My Father…..

God Has a Plan; and You Are Part of It.

Hi everyone, was studying the book of Judges and thought to share this with you.  Be blessed as you read. 

Judges Chapter 1

Jdg 1:1  Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

When there seems to be no direction or strategy to possess your possession, ask God.  Just like the Israelites did after Joshua died.  The Israelites were used to having direction, plan or strategy for warfare.  But suddenly, the one who hears and passes the information to them was no more. They had to go to God for themselves. 

• Learn to seek God for yourself. 
• God always has a plan. 
• Be conscious of the fact that you are part of the plan.   (Psalm 149: 7). 
• When you ask God for HIs plan, will or mind, He answers. 

Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

God's strategy for the warfare (especially when you don’t know what to do) is Praise.  

Jdg 1:2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

Judah means praise.

But not just aimless praise.  But praise with an ability to hear God intelligently with an implication to obey.  (Simeon means hearing or to hear intelligently).

Jdg 1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

HOW DO I HEAR INTELLIGENTLY?  Obey What You Hear. 

Matt 7:24 - 26. 

''Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:

 

This means that

When you are praising, you have to keep listening to hear what God will say or is saying

Even when you are in the centre of the will of God, you still need to keep listening.  God does not always reveal the entire plan to you; you only see part of the picture.  Like Apostle Paul said 'we know in part'.  (I Cor 13:9). 

SO KEEP LISTENING. 

God gives us victory when we follow His plan. 

Jdg 1:4  And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men

Jdg 1:5  And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

Jdg 1:6  But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

Jdg 1:7  And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

Following God's plan renders the enemy useless.  Adonibezek' thumb and great toes were cut off so that he might never be able to draw his bow or handle his sword, and great toes, that he might never be able to pursue or escape from an adversary. 

We are part of His plan to bring his Kingdom on earth.  It is payback time.  God is avenging His people, but we all need to know the plan and follow it.  God has a plan, and we are part of it. 

Dare To Bare the Touch

Yesterday I was under the ministry of Pastor Irene Cole. The theme of the women conference is ‘Touch Bearer’. I will write about some Biblical touch bearers later. But because I need to catch some sleep in readiness for tomorrows sessions of the conference, I will only highlight who a touch bearer is, and in subsequent blogs, I will fill you in with my thoughts on the concept ‘touch bearer’.


A touch bearer by definition is

• A carrier of light or touch

• A risk taker

• Someone who inspires and sets a pace.

• Someone in the forefront of a campaign, crusade or movement.

Are we all expected to be touch bearers? I think yes because the Bible says so in Matt 5:14-16.

‘’You are the light of the world. A town put on a hill may be seen by all.

And a burning light is not put under a vessel, but on its table; so that its rays may be shining on all who are in the house.

Even so let your light be shining before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven’’

I think a more appropriate question is can we all be touch bearers? If a touch bearer is at the forefront, then the ‘none-touch bearers’ will be at the back.

My opinion sincerely is that we all are expected to be touch bearers but not all of us CAN be touch bearers. The touch bearers are the selected few who will dare to make a change, refuse to maintain the staus quo, be persistent, consistent, and committed to their course. They are the courageous ones who lay the foundation others build on. We have read about them, Rosa Park, Martin Luther, the Wright Brothers to mention a few.

I really look forward to writing about touch bearers and being one myself. What about you?

Got to go now, tired and sleepy.

Jesus loves you.

(If you have read this and wonder what ‘pace’ you ought to set, or the touch, campaign or course you should be committed to, you will need to ask God who created you to reveal your purpose to you. But it all begins with a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you would like to invite Jesus into your life today, please say this prayer.

‘Lord Jesus, I want to know you and have a relationship with you. I believe you died on the cross for me. Your blood washed away my sins and I believe you will save me if I call on you. Save me Jesus. Forgive my sins and come into my life. I invite you to be my Lord and saviour. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen’.)

Consider reading S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life and The Purpose Driven® Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

I Wonder, ...I just wonder.

The title of this piece might sound familiar to some of us who were privileged to watch the Nigerian detective series aired in the 1980s, 'The Third Eye' starring Olu Jacobs.  It was his punch line.  He said this whenever he is at the edge of breaking through a case. 

Today I say the same thing, but I am no detective. 

Today, I realized I need to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He prompted me to call a friend but I thought I would be too overbearing so I did not. I turned out that the friend was in deep trouble and almost loosing his/her life. When he/she called me later tonight, I felt so terrible i didn’t call as instructed. But I am so grateful to God that He still saved my friend in-spite of me, else my friend’s blood will be on my head. But then, will I be so lucky next time? I wonder, .......I just wonder

Sovereign

(This is a love note I wrote to the Lover of my soul.  Pls enjoy it and be blessed). 

Oh my Love, perfect in strength, perfect to behold, infinite in wisdom,

Oh perfect Sacrifice, majestic and sovereign

Thine sacrifice hath maketh thee worthy to receive these and so much more.

Thine victory has overcome

Crowned in battle

The conquering conqueror

THIRTY AND EIGHT YEARS.

Thirty and eight years

Had he been

Sitting out on the porch

One of the five at the pool

Sitting and waiting

Waiting endlessly for an angel

One who will stir the waters

That he might step in

Just in time to be healed



Thirty and eight years sat he

Never for once had he entered

Into the pool

"I have nobody" was all he said

Why not wait in the pool

For the angel

Why wait sitting out on the porch

"Never has such been done" he replied

"All I need is someone to help me"



Thirty and eight years waited he

For one who would never come

But thirty and eight years came He

The One who would come

The One walked up to him

And he was healed

Oh how Mercy found him



Thirty and eight years spent he

Waiting and wasting

Until Mercy found him

But thirty and eight years

Wouldn't have been

If he had stirred the waters

Thirty and eight times

TIME HAS HAPPENED

Everyone, but you, thinks that you should. They wondered if something was wrong with you, but you disagree. They counselled you at first. Then they cajoled, manipulated and even commanded you to. You did not.

You walk into a room full of familiar faces, all of them not really paying attention to you because they are engrossed in a conversation. You don’t seem to mind, because for once, you think they are not on your case. In fact, you had left the room, even though you were present in the room. You slowly drifted into your own world, absolutely oblivious of your surroundings.

Then suddenly, she asked you the dreaded question (which by the way sounded like a waffle to you). ‘When will you marry….?’ And just before you return to earth and assimilate the question in order to give the wicked witch of the west the right answer, others join in the discordant symphony. ‘Yes…. (they call your name)…we are tired of waiting’. And on and on they continue. And you smiled and switched on your hearing device. No, you do not hear them anymore.

This has become the norm. In fact, you now expect this treatment and it worries you when you do not get such treatment. The thing is, they do not just get you. You are simply not ready, not interested and really do beg to differ. But they do not understand and you do not even care. And because they see that you do not care, they leave you in peace, and now, you are free.

You continue to enjoy your hard earned freedom and then suddenly, you saw a little girl on the swing. And you wish she was yours. Suddenly, you began to notice the colours pink and blue. You even walked into a baby’s shop the other day and imagined you were shopping for your own. You now begin to feel an emptiness that was not there before. You wake up in the middle of the night longing just to talk to a special someone only. You go back to sleep and dream about babies. Then you become worried about the recent happenings in your life. You wonder what is happening to you. Time has happened to you.

Now you are ready, for now, is you time. You know because of the change in your heart and desire. It may seem late to others, but to you, the time is right. And everything begins to fall in place.

THANK YOU

When I woke up this morn
A small ray of light danced across my face
A beautiful smile spread through my lips
And all I could say was a thank You.

Thank You for watching over me
I felt You by my side all night long
And when I opened my eyes and saw Your face
I knew
Love had been watching all night long.

When I woke up this morn
A still small voice said to me
Although I have been here all night
I will not leave you all day
Then I knew what awaited me
A brand new and beautiful day
So just before I open the beautifully packed Today
I just want to say a little thank You

IN JERICHO'S SHOES

Jericho, the place of fragrance.  Highly secured and prosperous.  The people built a wall so high, so mighty a brothel was on the wall. No one could go into, or leave Jericho unnoticed.  Who could face Jericho in battle or even dare to penetrate through her great wall?  To the rest of the world, Jericho was a strong city, absolutely indomitable. 

The children of Israel had to posses the promise land but, Jericho was an obstruction on the way.  Israel did not intend to possess the land of Jericho, but she  just would not allow Israel pass through her for she had her fear.  One she had succeeded, until now, to hide behind her walls.  To Jericho, the wall was more than a barricade, it was all she had and could hold on to.  It was a facade to conceal the unpleasantries within.  Jericho had lost heart, and everything along with it, upon hearing of the advancement of the Israelites.  All that was left was the wall.  At least it still passed a message of 'strength' to the world - although it was untrue. 

 In Jericho’s shoe we all stand.  As we all have a lie we tell, or have told the world around us. A fear or doubt we carefully hide away. We all have, at some point, shed tears no one else knew about, nursed heartaches we cold not share, and still managed to smile ‘to make them THINK we are happy’.  
Come on people! We all have built walls around our lives, so high that even God finds it difficult to reach us.  (Remember the people with a heart of stone).  Think about it friends, why do we, like Jericho, hold on to our walls, even though these walls (fears, insecurities, lies, rejections) cannot protect our fainting  hearts? I mean, why hold on to nothing when all that is available is -nothing?

I tell you why friends, we are afraid.  Yes people, we really are afraid.  What other reason is there for a lady or a guy not to give up an abusive relationship? Or why would any Christian want to hold on to a sin she hates so much? It is called FEAR. Let's face it people, we hold on to our walls for the very reason we want to let go of them.  But guess what, no matter how tenaciously we hold on to our walls, we do not know how to effectively do so.

 Like the wall of Jericho, every wall has a Rahab (Hebrew word for proud) living within the walls. Let's look at this critically.  Why would any sensible person allow a woman of easy virtue - who would allow strangers in and out of her home at a price- live in a wall meant for security?  Tell me friends, in case of attack, can this woman defend the city?  Well I guess she could, if the weapon of war is seduction and the enemy is just as perverse.  Seriously though, shouldn't it be armed guards at the walls in place of Rahab?

 Could it be because Jericho really wanted to go beyond the walls? Let us face it, we want to go beyond our walls, even though we have built them ourselves.  There is a tiny part of us that still is 'human' that wants to be free.  Man naturally hates restrictions. Rahab is that part of us that understand the laws of freedom. (There is freedom in release).  Imagine if everyone on Jericho was like Rahab? We definitely will not be singing "the walls of Jericho fell down flat' many centuries later.  The expertise used in building the walls of Jericho might have been used to rebuild the broken-down walls of Jerusalem many years down the line (I’m just saying).  The possibilities are boundless if like Rahab we yield. She got her name in the genealogy of Jesus! 

 You know the mistake we, like Jericho, make? We think we belong to ourselves.  Well we don’t. Like Jericho, we all belong to God. Our walls should not shut God out.  When we shut people out, we shut God out.  Our attitude towards God is often expressed in our relationship with man.  Because God so desperately wants to reach us, He has to pull down our walls just as He did to Jericho.  You see, God cannot stand Self-constructed walls.  He wants to be our wall. He understands the secret hurts and pains. He has offered to shield us from them that is why He wants to be our wall. But not only that, He promises to be the glory in our midst. He wants to be our everything inside out. 

 Did I just hear you scream "WHAT ABOUT ME? WHAT DO I GET IF HE GETS EVERYTHING?' Well, the answer is simply everything. Absolutely everything.  You see, this is how it works. God take everything from you, customizes it and then gives it back to us.  It then becomes custom made. Exclusively yours. No one can take it away from you.  Then everything we own now becomes like the Yoruba proverbial King's trumpet (KAKAKI OBA).  Because of the uniqueness of the sound it produces, it is useless to the thief because he could get caught should he dare to blow it. What is the use of a trumpet you cannot blow? 

 Even though Jericho was destroyed, her shoes were not. We all struggle to fit into those shoes, in fact many of us fit in perfectly.  But you see, we do not have to wear them, because DADDY has got better ones for us.  So give over every wall and "ish-shoes' to Him and you will not regret it.  Can I promise you? Maybe not.  But Our Father promises us so.  

Stepping in at Sunrise

It has been over a year since I decided to start blogging.  I really do not know why I did not start then.  I guess the time was not right then, and now is the right time.  I may never know for sure.  But this one thing I know, I have started blogging today and hope to be consistent with it.

My blogs will cover a wide range of topics which of course will represent my opinion on these topics.  Although I have not decided exactly what to start with, but I look forward to enjoying blogging and I hope my readers will too.

I titled my blogs ''Stepping in at Sunrise''. I really do not understand why.  Maybe I see this new preoccupation of mine (blogging) as the dawn of a new day for me, or because I happened to look out of my window and a ray of sun danced into my eyes.  Whatever my reason, I will understand it better by and by.

I love to write.

I look forward to enjoying this experience and I hope you would too- as we step in at sunrise.