The "Word" and the "words"

.

1  In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2  He existed in the beginning with God.

3  God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4  The Word gave life to everything that was created,*

and his life brought light to everyone.

5  The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.* John 1:1

Everything about existence the planets, man, animals, plant, farmament,  galaxies, oceans, the visible and the invisible, can be summed up simply as "words" by the "The Word".  Through the "words", THE WORD created everything and mantains them. 

Therefore "words" are powerful.  How? Tell me anything in this world that is not created by God through the Word?  And we are created in His image therefore through our own words we transmit His power.  That's why parents who rain abuses or curses upon their children get the result in the latter days of the children. Likewise those who bless theirs also reap the benefits later in life.  People who not only see evil but prophesy evil to their own lives receive what they requested from above.  Therefore it is important that we realise how important our words are to our salvation.  We should therefore not toy with them.

Think positively and positive things will happen to you.  Never habour evil thoughts because they will manifest.  Yet you will find yourself always struggling between the two.  May God help us all.  Good morning.

1. Prov. of (today's date) . Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively . Need example? Click here, select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.

2. Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here to read the latter FREE.
3. Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine

I'm too busy to read all these! It is not impossibe to do so. Do your very best. Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life! But knowledge will preserve them all.

Prayer point: Lord, this race is too sensitive. Help me through. Let there be light in Christiandom.

Quote of the day: "God is more focused on your tomorrows. Why do we discard your tomorrows when we can so desperately need they?- UCB Africa (The Word for Today) Oct. 31 page 57

 Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you.

Are You a Candidate for Heaven?

Moses, for one fundamental anger caused by people's provocation, saw the promised land butnever stepped into it.  Of course this same one-time anger nearly cost him his heavenly home!  Eli a highly committed man of God was rebuked by God because he failed in the home front.  David narrowly escaped being a failed King because of adultery and many sins of disobedience.  Jesus Christ, in human form, wanted to reject the cross but remembered with pains, his purpose in life, finally succumbed to God's will to accomplish salvation for us.  "Ancient stories!" I hear you say.

Do you know the name of the founder of RCCG, late Pa Akindayomi?  He died in the 80's or so.  He offended God simply by fighting for Him.  How?  After exhausting the authentic copies of a church's gospel tract which he used for evangelism, he went ahead and reprinted more copies without the permission of the original author.  The latter discovered and rebuked him for violating copyrights law.  Papa fighting for God, was angry with the authorities and the original owner of the tract. God did not say anything. Yet RCCG towered high and is still towering higher and higher today.  Evening came for Papa, he died, his first death.  He got to the gate of Heaven. He was refused entry.   He was referred back to go and reconcile with the authorities he quarelled with years back.   He did that.  Finally he died his 2nd death, this time around, he went for ever.  Guess where he is!

Reading othe latest edition of a Christian Newspaper "Masterpiece Christian Hot News" he purchased from the ongoing RCCG Holy Ghost Congress, these captions attracted the writer's attention:  "I Saw Bimbo Odukoya in Hell", "Jesus is Angry with Me"; by the world reknowned, Octogeneraian Pastor Obadare who once died and later woke up.

Another very significant caption is "Pastors at War" which dwelt on the various misunderstandings which clearly divide the Pentecostal Churches into three major factions: the Pastors Adeboye, Kumuyi and Bishop Oyedepo on the one hand, Pastors T.B. Joshua, Chris Oyakhilome, etc on the other and finally our eurdite no-nonsense, lone ranger,  Pastor Tunde Bakare on a totally different platform.

The writer saw all these as 'cosmetic' or 'invitation to treat' headlines until he had concluded reading the bodies of these, nothing but sad stories. When asked why our beloved Pastor Bimbo Odukoya should qualified for Hell after all her labours on earth, the reply was simple "they say because of my dressings". Why are both Jesus Pastor Ayo Babalola (CAC's) founder and angry with Papa Obadare and neither of them would not see him?  "Jesus is angry with me because I broke away from CAC!" replied Pastor Obadare who is now reported to have gone back to reconcile with CAC authorities.

On the three Pentecostal Camps, Pastor Tunde Bakare who had traversed three churches including the Deeper Life and RCCG but had to form his on church because at one point or the other, according to him, these churches had derailed. For instance, careful as he tried not to ridicule Bishop Oyedepo's books, but armedd with facts, evidences, etc, he could not help but voice out the fact that his books are "Occultic" in nature if only to save the reading public from being misled.   As far as far as he is concerned many churches are now wealth creation centres! He did not see anything biblical about the Holy Ghost Congress, the Shillo  hours, the Holy Ghost Nights etc.

From the Biblical Moses to Pastors Akindayomi,  Bimbo Odukoya and Obadare who saw heaven or are in heaven to the serious divisions that has engulved the church one is very worried who to really believe is a Christian amongst the various 'cat-and-dog' leaderships of the Church. Of course we cannot also forget the unpalatable experiences of Bishop Bola Odeleke of CAC "Kii Baa ti" fame!  We are  told that this is already taking its toll on the church as many people are being discouraged daily.  This is sad and it makes one really feel there's a real problem with the body of Christ.

However, how does this affect us?  The Bible has rightly said that we should not look up to our Leaders as the ultimate.  Rather we should look unto God Almighty.  Therefore, I urge readers of this article never to get discouraged.  Instead, they should develop closer personal relationship with God yet not neglecting their worshipping centres. Good morning. 

1. Prov. of (today's date) . Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively . Need example? Click here, select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.


2. Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here to read the latter FREE.

3. Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine

I'm too busy to read all these! It is not impossibe to do so. Do your very best. Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life! But knowledge will preserve them all.

Prayer point: Lord, this race is too sensitive.  Help me through.  Let there be light in Christiandom.



Quote of the day: "Do you want to live long, peacefully and in excellent health?  No problem, simply DELETE of UNFORGIVENESS from your heart and mind." - Yemi









Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn.3:16.






Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you.

Go Beyond what is Normal

Luke 14

12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

Some of our 'illiterate' parents are more knowledgeable than us in matters of the Kingdom.   One day the writer was interacting with an elderly woman - a relative - who had this to say about those of us who profess to be Christians. "Many church leaders, and congregation members would end up in hell fire.  The reason is not far-fetched. It is glaring from their behaviours that they only preach or hear what the Lord is telling them.  They don't understand!  They fail to comprehend the greatest message of Jesus Christ - to love God and love one another". 

For instance, many Christians today still attach conditions for doing what they ought to do.  If a member fails to attend an occasion in which they are invited by them, they have marked down that member as unqualified for honoring when their own turn comes.  The offence of 20 years is still as fresh in their hearts as if committed today. They will pay back whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

Our faith is in vain if we cannot do things because Jesus wants it done whether to one's friend of suppposed enemy.    This tit-for-tat approach is a major trap on many people's path. We should all avoid it.  We all recognise the love but the challenge is who will bell the cat.  Let that person be you.  Always be eager to be the first to demonstrate love to others.   That was the greatest demonstration Jesus Christ gave to us by humbling himself and saving the worst sinners.  It is the height of the gospel.  If we all do this, WHICH APPEARS ABNORMAL, the world will be better for it. Good morning.

1. Prov. of (today's date) . Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively . Need example? Click here, select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.

2. Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here for the latter.

3. Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine

I'm too busy to read all these! It is not impossibe to do so. Do your very best. Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life! But knowledge will preserve them all.

Prayer point: Lord, I confess it is not easy to do your will (but remembering you in my heart), I know it is possible. Starting from today, please help me to do the UNUSUAL - put a smile in someone's face everyday of my life . Help me to erase from my mind every form of unforgiving spirit. 

(Don't just pray. Go ahead and do something for someone today. The Lord does not disappoint. He will not disappoint you in Jesus name. Amen.)

Quote of the day: "Don't cram the Bible, DO the Bible." - Yemi

Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn.3:16.

A Self-Centred Legacy?

No doubt King Hezekaiah was favoured by God. He was delivered from the arrogant King Sennacherib; healed from a terminal disease with 15 years added to his life-time. He faced yet another turbulence towards the tail end of his life that made him behave as if he was selfish especially concerning the generations after him.  Read this passage quoted from Isaiah: 39: 

3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.” 4 “What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.” 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’” 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

1st Lesson.  This simply confirms the Yoruba addage that "Bi'na ba njo ni to njo omo eni, tara eni la nko pa" (meaning "if there's fire incident involving a parent and his child, the parent will take care of himself first before attending to the child"   The airline industry must have copied this idea such that they always warn: "in the case of oxygen failure in the cabin, parents should help themselves first before attending to their children".

There was also this pathetic story of a great man of God whose car (conveying his wife, and children) plunged into a river. He alone could swim and he had only a few minutes to decide who to save.  Finally he reasoned that his wife was closest to him and can produce another set of children. He opted for the wife and the children drowned.

Our dear biblical Peter denied Jesus Christ thrice before the Cock crowed.

2nd lesson.  Many parents have mortgaged the future of their children because of temporary pleasures. How? parents who fail to train their children have bequethed to their children King Hezekaiah's legacy.  Parents who could avoid it but get themselves involved in polygamy are bestowing the same legacy of trouble to the off springs.   Children who are being trained but are playing pranks with such opportunity are building a Tower of Babylon for themselves - they can only end up in confusion and frustrations!

It is easy however, to criticize King Hezekaiah, the Man of God and Peter's painful decisions cited above. But the the truth is that if we suddenly find ourselves in between the devil and the deep blue sea i.e. life threatening situation, the only option left for us will be to take care of ourselves at the detriment of other dear persons.  

Let us pray that God continue to have mercy upon us and save us from such dangerous decisions. Good morning.  

Today's recommended readings:

1.  Prov. 16.  Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively .  Need example? Click here,  select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.
2.  Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands"  or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here for the latter.
3.  Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine
I'm too busy to read all these!  It is not impossibe to do so.  Do your very best.  Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life!  But knowledge will preserve them all.
 
Prayer point:  Lord throughout my life, let things work out for me.  Save me from situations where I will be rendered so helpless that I will deny whoever I should help in their times of need.

An

yone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn.3:16.

Are You Resisting God?

At one point in our lives or another, we resist God. Speaking from experience, even though my mother introduced me to Him early enough, I had to really carry out extensive research before settling for God. I did carried out more extensive researches on which religion to follow and which denomination should I belong. In all I did not find one that is perfect. I also discovered to my displeasure that even if I started my own religion or denomination, I will still end up being faulty somewhere. However, dear reader, I thank God, I finally had to settle for one – the one that I considered most probable of all truths that I discovered in the processes of my research. That’s the path that I chose. But yours may be different. Want to read the details?  The are contained in chapters 41, 42 & 51 (to be posted shortly) of my autobiography "Better Tomorrow" .  Meanwhile please click here to read Chapter's 1-39 Free and keep on reading as I post the rest 30 more chapters - All free!

Some of us only come to Him when we are beaten hands up by the challenges of life. Then the only refuge left is that man called God. Then we ‘reluctantly’ return to Him – half-heartedly – looking for anything that will make us fault Him so we can go back to our old ways like a dog returning to its vomit.

Now, one question that runs through everybody’s mind is: Who is this God and why must I serve Him? “ The book of Isaiah Isaiah 39 answers these questions in detail thus:

The Lord Has No Equal 12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? 13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?* Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? 14 Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? 15 No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. 16 All the wood in Lebanon’s forests and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. 17 The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth. 18 To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? 19 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? 20 Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down! 21 Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 22 God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. 23 He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. 24 They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. 25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. 27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? 28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God

If you can fault the above descriptions of God, you have an issue. No body will be able to help you, if after reading them and you, again, put your old ‘garments of doubt’. But I urge you, don’t do so. Just come to God and let your life begin to have meaning. Outside God, life has no meaning. You cannot explore the world better than Kings Solomon did. And he concluded that all is nothing but “vanity”. Good morning.

1. Prov. of (today's date) . Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively . Need example? Click here, select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.



2. Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here for the latter.

3. Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine

I'm too busy to read all these! It is not impossibe to do so. Do your very best. Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life! But knowledge will preserve them all.


Prayer point: Lord, All my thoughts without You are void and vain.  Let my thoughts be towards You always so I may always do that which is right in Your eyes so that my life will be truly meaningful.



Quote of the day: "It's a waste of time arguing with God." - Yemi

Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn.3:16.

 

Don't Complain, Acknowledge God!

A few days ago, my ministerial mentor & friend  sent me a wonderful piece which was equally sent to him by his friends.  I had the permission to circulate it but for space constraints, I had to rephrase and summarise as follows:

“There are three main (e.g. Receiving, Delivery and Acknolwedgment) departments directly working on the affairs of man man in Heaven. Each department is headed by a Supervising Angel who (except one) have many Angels working under them.

The Receiving Department receives all petitions (prayers, supplications, etc) by man to God. It has many Angels busy sorting “voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world”.

The Packaging & Delivery Section specialices in processing the graces and blessings meant for living persons who asked for them. There are many angels too working hard at this station because “so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth”.

The third and final (the Acknowledgement) Department has only one Angel and this lone Angel was idle. When asked why he was idle, his response was sad Angel sighed and then responsed thus . "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments". A question was then posed to him: "How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " Then he replied: "Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord. ""What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked."If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world ' s wealthy.

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.""If you woke up this morning with more health than illness . You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. ""If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.". "If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.". "If your parents are still alive and still married ..you are very rare." "If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair... " Ok, what now? How can I start? If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. count your blessings, and if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.  

Let’s keep the “Acknowledgement Department busier than the rest!!! Good morning.
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Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn 3:16

Today's Recommended Reading list:


1.  Prov. 15 others:   click here  start from Day 1 or follow your own table.
2.  Book:  Buy Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here

When You Are Disappointed, God is in It

"In 1984, I left M.A.N. To join Ogilvy Benson , an adverting company located in Yaba. I worked directly for the Executive Director Adminstration (Ms Tola Olujobi). I did only one month at Ogilvy Benson before I joined another company, a multinational company,..."  Culled from Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" chapt.21, para. 9

Pastor E.A. Adeboye, when in University of Lagos, aimed at beocming the youngest University V-C in Africa but was frustrated because God has better plans for his life.  Today he is not only a General Overseer of RCCG but has established a University.

The writer was so fascinated with working in the Banking industry but God did not answer his prayers because He had a better plan for him - to work in a better industry.  He did tests, interviews with UBA but was not taken. He was frustrated and nearly lost faith in God!   But in a miraculous way, God led him to a multi-national organisation in an oil industry.  He knew nobody while going there except God. He was employed miraculously.  He worked there for over 24 years and retired happily into private legal practice.   Want fuller details - click here.

The frustrations you are facing now are bringing you closer to your God-ordained better destiny.  Cling to Him.   Good morning.

Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you.

Bible Reading today:  Prov. 14
Gen. (depending on where you stopped)
Psalm (depending on where you stopped)
Matthew depending on where you stopped)
Books:

Got Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands"?  Read on.
If not please click here for Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" and continue reading from where you stopped.

Missed Daily Energiser?

Because of internet disruptions, Daily Energiser of 11th-13th could not be posted. Apologies. From Monday 14th, God willing, it will be regular.

If you also have ideas that will benefit humanity, compose and send them to me at treasuredynamics@gmail.com Good morning.

The Two Women in a Man's Life

Today's Quote:  "People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray." - Prov. 10:17

There's no doubt that women are very important in men's lives. For every man there are two women wooing him to their sides: Wisdom (Prov. 9:1-12) and Folly Prov.9:12-end. They have specific and life-tranforming roles to play in a man's life.

The woman called Wisdom is out to prosper the man and make him live a fulfilled life while the 2nd Woman called Folly is out to destroy the man's life beyond repairs. A woman comes into a man's life in many forms. She can come as wise or foolish mother. She can come as a wise or foolish sister. She can come as a wise of foolish wife-to-be. She can graduate to the position of a wise or foolish wife. She can come as a wise or foolish Auntie, Cousin, half-sister or even close associate.

If you see a bachelor behaving well or otherwise, there's a woman behind that - his mother. If you see married man behaving well or otherwise, there's a woman behind him - his wife. If you see a man married and prospering well, there are not less than three women in his life: his mother, his wife and some good women he has as friends or colleagues.

The truth is that a man cannot avoid a woman in his life. No he hasn't that choice because in the first place he is brought into this world through a woman and he is born into a family that is filled with women already.  All these women (no matter how directly or remotely connected they are) can make or mar his destiny.

The antidote for a man not to fall into a foolish woman's trap is to keep his eyes wide open as to which of the two women she is dealing with at home, in his office and so on. It is easy to decipher which is wise or foolish woman. As he relates with them a man should watch out for traces of women who give bad advice; who instigates people against one another,who through their utterances and actions scatter the man's home or instigate him against his other colleagues in the office. If you see a woman who is too greedy for gain or is too materialistic in nature or a woman who wants to hasten you to do things that is contrary to the will of God for your life or something your conscience tells you is bad, that woman belong the Foolish fold. Above all the greatest attribute of a woman called "Folly" is self-centredness.  She will always discourage the man from GIVING either to God or to man She wants everything for herself - God and other people do not matter to her. 

But if you see the ones that encourage you to do good,  unite your family, help you to be visionary and hard working, who are contributing directly to your progress (financially, materially and intellectually), it doesn't matter whether she is a mother, wife, or they are sisters, Aunties, cousins, friends or colleagues in your office, etc stay glued to them for they will build you. Good morning.

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Suggested Bible reading today: Gen. 3, Prov.10, Psal.3, Matthew 3.

No bible? Click here but this is just to make it easy for you to start of for I may not be posting the entire Bible therein. Therefore I encourage you to buy your own Bible which you can mark and underline messages that minister to you. It is also handy!

Bought Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" already, go on reading. Reading "Better Tomorrow' by Yemi Omogboyega already? Then click here to view and read latest update. Don't forget your Newspapers/magazines and the book on any challenge facing you.

Know the Oldest Profession in the World?

There have been arguments about which professions is the oldest in the world. Lawyers argued that it is Law because God first ordered law and order should reign before beginning to create other things. Medical Doctors say they are the first because of the Surgery performed on Adam to produce Eve.Historians can even say that because we "document" everything including the history of the world itself, we are the first.

But as I read Prov. 8:22-30 this morning, I discovered (see the benefits of reading?) that Architects are the first afterall because in particular, verse 22 says: 22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,before he created anything else." and 29-30 Wisdom says: "I was there when he set the limits of the seas,so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,I was the architect at his side.I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence."

I know you enjoy these arguments and particularly my conclusion that Architects are the first to come. But is that is just by the way. What is imporant in Prov. 8 is that Wisdom is inviting us to himself so that we will not waste away our lives. Are you heeding that call? Good morning.
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Two days ago, I wrote on the importance of reading books. I made suggestions on the books to read and how to read them. From today, I want to practicalise that advice from now on by including the recommended daily readings of the Bible as well as other books that wil help you grow spiritually as well as intellectually.

They are asfollows:

Today’s recommended reading list:
1. The Bible Gen. 1, Psalm 1, Prov. 9 and Matthew 1. Don’t have your Bible with you? Please click here.
2. “Gifted Hands” by Ben Carson (obtain a copy and start reading now. Or click here to start reading “Better Tomorrow” by Yemi Omogboyega FREE. Ensure you complete reading either of the two books once you start.
3. Newspapers/Magazines. To update yourself on general happenings worldwide read as many daily newspapers/magazines you can lay our hands upon. Many can be read online free of charge.
4. Problem solving Book: Obtain a book on an issue facing you and programme that you'll read it all this month. This will help you find answers to the challenges of your life. Inspirational books are many in the bookstores or online.

Let's do these for December 2009 and see whether our spirits will be lifted or not.

Quote of the day:

"There's more to life than merry-making.” By Yemi Omogboyega

Cultivate Reading Habit

Why is life boring to people? Why are they confused? Why are they dry? Why do they have time for strifes? Why do they quarel unending? Why do they nurture unforgiveness? Why do they envy? Why do they go to prophets to tell them what their future hold for them? Why do they while away their time with drunkards, prostitutes, smokers? Why are there no substance in what they say?

The answer is simple: They lack knowledge! Hosea 4:7,therefore they perish inside all the issues raised above and many more.

There's nothing happening to you now that has never happen to someone before and that that person has not solved one way or the other. All you need is find out who the person is and how they had solved it and then apply the principle to your life. Then as another issue faces you, read about people who have faced it before and how they solved it and again apply their principles to your life. Gradually, you are gaining knowledge and practical wisdom. Very soon you will not need a Prophet (true or false) to tell you about your future.

I don't have time to read! That's the most defeating statement any living soul can make! Don't be among them. Create the time. Instead of sleeping in the office (where you will eventually be compulsorily sacked or retired when you least expect or when business is down which happening now), instead of going to beer parlour, clubs, pepper soup joints, harlots dens, to waste away your life thinking you are enjoying or avoiding the pressures of the world which will always resurface after such 'breaks', etc, go home on time and read for 2 hours everyday before you sleep.

I am a Minister, Imam, or... so am too busy! Don't be buried in religious deceit. The truth is that without EXPANDED KNOWLEDGE, you will soon dry out and your followers will ask questions!

What do I read and where do I start? Begin with the Bible Every day, read like this: Start with Gen. 1, Psalm 1, Matt.1. Then read Prov. 8 (today's date and continue like that every day of the month). That's for today. Tomorrow proceed to Gen. 2, Psa.2,Prov.9 and Matt.2. Go on like that till you finish reading the entire Bible. It does not matter what your religion is. This scheme will help you. Every month, make sure complete the book of Proverbs. This way, by 8th December 2010 you would have read Prov. 12 times and Psalms at least twice plus(150*2.

It does not end there. Read at least 1 literature book in a month and 1 particular book dealing with an issue facing you right now e.g. How to raise good children; how do I make my marriage work, how do I find the right partner, how do I record first-class in my studies, how do I create wealth, etc depending upon the challenges you are facing.

Which literature book? Start with Ben Carsons books. 1. Gifted Hands, 2.Think Big, 3. The Big Picture 4.Take The Risk. Then visit www.letsharexperience to read my free book titled "Better Tomorrow". Read Daily Energiser everyday. etc.

You are not through yet. Read the newspapers everyday.

You can't follow this advice and remain who you are today. It's not possible. You would have advanced in K.W.U.(wisdom,knowledge and understanding). You would need no prophets to tell you about your future. You would have become a problem solver. Above all your life would have been so transformed that you have no time for mundane things of this world.

The greatest thing to prize is Fear of the Lord which produces wisdom,knowledge and understanding. Then you would have been CONSTRUCTIVELY BUSY ALL YOUR LIFE! Good morning.




Quotable Quote of the Day:
"Without reading books, you are bound to be dry and feaful" - Yemi Omogboyega

Effective Prayer

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt. 7:7-8

Christianity is not an MTN,GLO or ZAIN 'Become a millionaire' promo or jamoboree! The passage from Matt. 7 quoted above makes it very clear also that Xtianity is not for the lazy. It is for people who don't know but want to know; who don't fear God but want to do so; who are lazy but want to change to hard; who were once guided by satan but now want to be guided by God; who were depending upon others but now want to depend upon God and their ability to succeed; who were receiving before but now want to become a giver.

To attain these laudabe heights required prayers, planning, aseeking and, knocking - everything amounting to 'hard work'. The best way to get tangible results in the coming year or improve over this year's achievements is to follow the A.S.K. principle. Jesus Loves you. John 3:16.Good morning.

No One but You.

Who is your sustenance? Who is your refuge?  In whom do you trust? Prov. 5:2  makes us to understand this better in a supplication to God  thus: "No one but You".   Happy week-end. And remain blessed.

YEMI


Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you.

A Lawyer that Hates Litigation?

What led me to ever nurture the idea of studying law was my mother's sense of justice.  She defended the weak throughout her lifetime.  And she lived and died well.   As a result of the observation of my mother's character, I took after her and developed a vision to read law, if only to be able to defend the defenceless.  However, during my 9-year training as a Lawyer starting with a Diploma, graduating to the LL.B level and finally to the point of being called to the Nigerian Bar, one thing agitated my mind. That thing is: Man's inhumanity to a fellow man!  

My exposure to the various aspects of both the criminal and civil law studies gave me unhappiness. The only aspects of the law that gave me joy was Equity.  Law is so rigid that equity  has to evolve.  An elementary example: A is owing B money.  Simply because B  is silent over it for upwards of six months, then legally he is statute-barred, meaning he may not recover his money.  So the debtor will keep vigil so the creditor will not make a demand within the period.  For good 3-4 years, arguments, adjournments, etc may continue over this 'technicality'.  In the process, the creditor is suffering more hardship in addition to the possible loss of his money.  Let's look at another social issue.  If a married woman, for any reason beyond her control, gets pregnant for another man other than her legal husband, and it is proved that the child belongs to the other man, a custom or tradition (local equivalent of the rigid law) says because the other man did not pay dowry on the woman, the man that paid the dowry is the rightful owner of the innocent child!  Yet when the child is growing up, in his step-father's house, he is subjected to all forms of turture by those who consider themselves superior by birth to him.

But equity will look at it this way: Is the man owing? then it is just fair that he pays irrespective of how long.   In the case of the latter, equity will see giving A's child to B because of dowry paid on her mother as injustice.  Thank God the position of the law today reflects that of equity in the sense that once a father acknowledges his paternity of a child, that child is free to join his father.  But alas! custom and tradition is still struggling with that and it takes unusual boldness for the child to be able to liberate him or herself from the grip of barbaric law, custom and tradition.

Some other methods of softening the rigidity of the law have evolved over the years such as the Mediation and Arbitration method and the Law Courts themselves are giving due recognition to their decisions.   The rigidity of the law as well as unGodly acts of some Lawyers who for the sake of their daily bread would take undue advantage of the rigidity of the law to mete injustice to their opponents makes me feel uncomfortable with litigation.  Rather, I prefer any method that will identify the truth and bring about justice without wasting people's time, energy and other resources.

This is the main reason why even as a Lawyer, I hate litigation like plague.  My approach is that all known humane and negotiative methodss should be exhausted.  Litigation should only be the last resort when all other methods have failed.    As I always advocate, we should allow LOVE to prevail over the rigidity  of the LAW. Good morning.

 

Choosing Between the Law and Love

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God! But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. Luke: 13:12-14

Late Gani Fawehinmi was a man who knew the law to the letter and he used it to defend the masses. But he had what some people called a weakness.  When a Governor was ousted.  Many Lawyers argued that the process by which he was impeached was illegal because due process was not followed therefore the removal was a nullity.  The argument was more as to the speed and steps.  But Gani stood out stoutly to say that as far as he was concerned those arguments did not hold water because everybody knew that this guy ought to be outsted in the first place because he was politically irrelevant to the people.   Some people saw that as a weakness on Gani's part and that when it is expedient to him he will  apply the law and when it is not he will put the law aside.

Let's link that to the quotation above.  Jesus healed a woman on a Sabbath day.   Note that unlike what we do in modern day, the woman did not lobby or mount pressure. It pleased Jesus to heal her. But a knowledgeable LEADER of the Synagogue  says Jesus was wrong to have done that on a Sabath.  He was looking at the rules and not the effect of the action that was taken by Jesus on the lucky woman who had been crippled for more than 18 years and now saw an opportunity to be healed.  Following the law, the Leader was right but the law was inexpedient.  But following the LOVE of God which is above everything, Jesus was correct. 

When God is ready to do whatever He intends, all laws must be suspended and FAVOUR and MERCY will take over while He leaves the observers to argue out the 'rightness' or 'wrongness' of His action.   For instance, if a child purposes in his heart that he would be a punishment rather than a blessing to his family, God can raise a child out of wedlock who would be merciful to the parents the 'legitimate' child wants to punish.  He can place mercy in the heart of a total stranger to the family to cater for the parents till their grave.  He can cripple the child's ability to get wealth and make him poor.  He can just do anything to ensure that only His purpose is fulfilled in the lives of the parents the child has written off.

Therefore when there's conflict between the law and Love, the latter must prevail, irrespective of what the law says.  That was how Late Gani Fawehinmi consistently operated throughout his life.  And that's what has come to play in the above quotation.   When next you are torn between law and love, let love prevail. When next a voice tells you to consider the weakness of another, let love remind you of their strengths and do what good you have in mind for them.  Good morning.


Note:

To be a Christian, you have to free yourself from the rigidity of the law or rules.  What will should dictate your action is Love and God is Love.

Christianity and 'Unbelievers'

The vision of Jesus Christ which all Christians are expected to key into is to win every soul on the planet of the world to himself.  That's what the Great Commission is all about and one of the main reasons why the end of the world has not come - so that those who have not heard the Gospel should have the opportunity to do so.

The pluralism of religions however has made it more complex for today's Christian to advance this cause because there are many religions facing every man to choose from according to one's convictions.  So we have not attained that status where only Christians would dominate the world.  It still remains a vision. 

How do we attain that goal?  First we must all become born-again.  Yes.  But even the Jesus emphases the fact that that had to be by choice when he sent his 12 disciples out and asked them never to trivialise the issue of accepting him with anyone. 

Today, many Christians are faced with the dilemma on how to treat their yet-to-be converted relatives. Some have even gone to the extreme of  isolating themselves from their people simply on the grounds of religious bias.  This is wrong.  We've not attained that level where everything will be perfectly  Christianlike.

Demonstration of LOVE to ALL just as God and Jesus Christ did when they had to ignore human inconsistencies and fraternise with them is of paramount importance even in advancing the cause of Christianity.

How then should we Christians relate with our so-called unbelievers? First if you are from a muslim or even chronic paganic home, you will not be a Christian that you call yourself if you abdicate your responsibilities of caring for your parents as well as siblings and even your larger family members and by extension, your community simply because you tag them unbelievers.

What you need do is be as loving as you used to be when you were in their midst. Take good care of them.

Can't we learn from God? Does He send rains, sunshine, air, water, light, etc to believers to the exclusion of those we tagged unbelievers? Does God promote only the Xtians in their business endeavours and leave the others unattended? The largest proportion of the world's wealth, for instance, is deposited in Arab countries of the world e.g.  Saudi Arabia, Dubai!

Can't we see that God loves us all equally? Jesus sent his disciples to witness to people and instructed that they should never force anyone. Did Jesus not fraternise more with the Samaritans than his Jewish brothes who rejected him? We are to witness to them and it stops at that. Not to condemn, not to coarse.

I think these examples are enough for us to learn from.  Love God, love your neighbours (not believers only) as yourself.  It is only then you can deliver the good news message God has given you to them and they will listen to you.

Let's imbibe Christ's love today. Good morning.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise it. Prov. 1:7

Pray, Plan and Work

2010 is fast disappearing. I know you are praying that 2010 will be better for you than 2009. However, what are your plans towards achieving your goals?  Whether you are a Christian or not, it doesn't matter. God is more interested interested in the practical steps you take towards achieving your goals than sitting down praying without any plan of action. 

By now serious-minded persons would have completed or be about completing their budget for 2010. In this budget they will draw a list of all they want to do in 2010.  They will monetise them i.e. put a realistic figure around them eg.

INCOMES
Expected income (from Salaries, business,
 shares dividends etc)                           100000

EXPENDITURES

Tithe/offering                                       21,000
Feeding                                                 6,000
Savings                                                10,000
Children school fees                             10,000
Land Purchase                                       5,000
Socials                                                   2,000
Clothing                                                 8,000
Utilitie bills (Nepa, Water, etc)               3,000
Shares                                                 10,000
Helping people                                      5,000
Purchase a Bicycle                                5,000
Purchase a fairly used freezer
  for selling pure water                          5,000
Miscellaneous                                     10,000
Total 2010 budget                              90,000
Budget surplus                                    10,000

Having spelt out their needs with  this budget they will go to God on New Year Eve and request for N100,000 from God for the year 2010.  Then the will bed down to work. and the monies will begin to come in. As these monies come in, they know where to channel them because they are keeping account and working with their budget.  In between, they are not likely to stray into increasing their number of wives or abnormal producing more issues than their N100,000 budget can accommodate.

However, the planless ones wil go to God and pray thus:

Lord  in 2010, prosper me, bless me, let me be above my enemies, increase me, multiply me.  They will make resolutions: in 2010, I will neither smoke nor drink alcohol, I will stop womanising. I tell you God, just watch me. 

In blessing people, God is will be more disposed toward the persons with budget than the planless ones!

Therefore, brethren, plan your lives.

Jesus Loves you. Jn. 3:16

Test the Prophet's Prophesy!

34 “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the Lord,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family. 35 You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

37 “This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 38 But suppose they respond, ‘This is a prophecy from the Lord!’ Then you should say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Because you have used this phrase, “prophecy from the Lord,” even though I warned you not to use it, 39 I will forget you completely. I will expel you from my presence, along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 And I will make you an object of ridicule, and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.’”Jer. 23:34-40

Whether they come to you or you go to them, any prophet that gives you a prophesy that instead of liberating you, puts you in bondage, it is false.  REJECT them!  How do I know? It's easy.  They create fear. They give you conditions that will always make you come back to them. They involve sacrifice. Above all, they contradict the word of God.  Any prophesy where any of these factors is present is false. 

Let's share the writer's experience.  One day he visited a supposed man of God who prophesied everything good about his intending wife. At the tail end of his prophesy, he said that his would-be partner had familiar spirit and that after the 3rd child, nothing can be done to prevent her from dying.  The writer, then responded. "That cannot be from God for that's not my Jesus promises me".  The 'Prophet' agreed and the matter was laid to rest. 
Worried, however, a friend who was there asked the Prophet what can be done to avert the impending catastrophe.  The 'man of God' made a list of many things that would be used to sacrifice.  The writer refused to perform the sacrifice. 

As they were returning from the journey and while the writer was driving, the Lord reminded him in a flash,  of the vision he gave to him through a dream sometimes in the past.  Honestly, speaking the picture and overall description of the place and prophet was 100% in agreement.  What is most important was that in that dream, at the tail end of the prophet's prophesy, the writer disagreed with him. And precisely how it was in the dream was how it happened in the physical on the day of its manifestation. Therefore, most often,if we are close to God, He speaks to us in advance!

Today, his wife has more than three children and she's living and strong in the Lord. That's it. SACRIFICE is a major requirement for them to easily catch their preys.  With the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, any other form of animal sacrifice or food sacrifice etc is been erased.  Plead the blood of Jesus instead and go ahead and do what you want to do with the confidence that the Lord is on your side. The prophesied calamity won't happen unless you subscribe to it. Good morning.

====================================

 Be your own Prophet.  If you are close to God, God will reveal things to you in advance such that they will only be confirmed by God through others. 

BETRAYAL OF TRUST.

Couples, align your marital relationship with the will of God for marriage. Read below Pastor Adeboye's "Open Heavens" of November 27th.  Good morning.

QUOTE

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Gen 2:25) Read: Malachi 2:14-15

Unfaithfulness and all the divisions of fornication can terminate oneness. Marriage is not an end but a means to certain glorious ends. Marriage without oneness is a fiasco. Marriage is like securing admission into a university to undertake a doctorate degree. Admission into the programme is good but not everything. It is one thing to be admitted for such a programme but another thing to graduate with a doctorate degree. Oneness is one of the purposes of a Christian marriage. If you are married and you do not attain this, you have failed. Raising godly seeds is another purpose of marriage. It is not enough to have children. Eli had children but he failed woefully. Many other patriarchs of old had children but could not accomplish this end of marriage - to raise godly seeds. But Abraham raised Isaac as a godly seed. Are you achieving any ends of

According to today's reading, another factor working against the achievement of oneness between a couple is marital treachery. This involves deceiving your spouse, or not being loyal to the one who trusts you. Betraying the trust of your partner works against oneness. Some husbands find it difficult to declare their financial receipts to their wives. They fear that if their wives got to know how much they earn, their demands would increase. To prevent them from knowing, they become perpetual liars. Also, some women are very secretive about their financial standing. If you cannot be open to your spouse on financial matters, you will be truncating your journey into oneness. It is sin to lie to your spouse. Whether he or she knows you are lying or not, does not prevent the lie from hindering what should deliver your greatest benefit to you in marriage - oneness! Some people still hide very crucial information from their partner. If you are supposed to be one body, is it not foolish to think that you can hide certain important things from yourself? In Genesis 2:25, Adam and Eve were open to each other and were not afraid. What is preventing you from being totally open with your partner? Ask God to deal with it today.

Spend at least one hour with your partner and talk on things you have kept from each other. A partner who cannot forgive the spouse of wrong doing cannot enter Heaven. In spite of the wrong, forgive!

UNQUOTE

 "My people perish from lack of knowledge. "Hos. 4:6ff Seek for true kowledge. read your Bible always. Obtain a copy of Daddy Adeboye's Open Heavens and read every morning. Buy Christian Literatures and read them. Above all endeavour to share your own experiences with others who will benefit from them.

Justice, not Rituals!

Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 

So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,* but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Luke 11:40-42.

Every worshipper wants to please God whatever the motive behind that - either for one blessing or the other or for healing or receive one favour or another.  Very few people consider serving God on their own simply because He must be served. 

Let's take two religions: Christianity and Islam (Did I hear someone saying what does Pastor Yemi got to do with Islam?) That's what am about talking about - Protests, protests and protests!!! Have these people forgotten that, religion apart, these people are our brothers and sisters? Have they forgotten that everybody is entitled to choose whichever religion he or she prefers. Have they forgotten that Jesus fraternise more with the Samaritans who accepted him than his Jewish brethren?  Why must religion therefore be a ground for discrimination?

In Christianity, because of the desire to serve God in a deeper manner, Christianity broke into pieces from its original Church: the Catholic.  Every other church after Catholic is a Protestant. They protested at what was happening in their roots and went ahead and set their own churches so as to serve God in the way they feel is acceptable to Him.  So these protests brought about the Anglican, the Methodists, the Baptists and many orthodox churches.  From amongst these orthodox churches broke away another set of Protestants - the Pentecostals which is the most rampant in our society today. From amongst each group there are further protestant breakaways.  All these churches have their set values but what is common with them all is that they all realise that they too make their own mistakes and those who disagree with them will also break away. Today gay marriage has torn the Anglican Church into two - another protest!

In the Muslim world, because of protests, for Islamic religion itself is a Protestant movement during the period Christianity went into coma for over 400 years.  So within Islam itself, there are protests upon protests which led to the factionalisation of that religion.  Today you have many groups: the Islamiyahs, the Ahmadiyas, and one of the latest movement is the NASFAT group which is the 'modern' movement that is trying to make that religion more flexible especially to accommodate the youths.

All these protests are about rules that should govern man to make him acceptable to God.  People however forget that these rules don't save.In the process they left that which is most important - justice - which is obtained through demonstration of love to other people.   This is the very 1st leg of our movement towards salvation.

What God wants is that we should demonstrate love for one another and this is best demonstrated in how well we support one another in time of need that we a capable to render, how forgiving we are both in the spirit and in the physical, how we care for the less priviledged amidst us, etc.  The 2nd leg of our salvation borders upon, having demonstrated love for ourselves, we should fellowship with God so He can continue to inspire us to do good (for no man is on his own good) so in the end He adds His grace to make us fit for our Heavenly homes.

Jesus who knows it all makes this message clear to us that there's nothing wrong with setting up rules but such rules must not supersede love!   The rule of tithing, which  is still very much a part of the New Testament,offering, regular attendance in worshipping centres and observation of various man-made doctrines without demonstration of love to one another amounts to nothing. Therefore readers, start demonstrating love from today to everyone you come across irrespective of their religious, social, geographical, race, origin or biases. That is the essence of our fellowship with God.  Good morning.

If you are not in Christ, you are missing a lot John 3:16."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosever believes in  him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Go All Out for Knowledge

We all agree that knowledge is power.  Even the Bible in Hos.4:6ff emphasises the negative implication of ignorance.  The current statistics of newspaper publication in Nigeria shows that the highest number of newspapers published by the leading Newspaper "The Punch" is so far 24,000 per day while others release far less.

Let's be conservative, assuming that the total population of Nigeria is 100m and altogether the total newspapers released to the country say by 10 functional newspaper organisations is 24,000*10=240,000 i.e. 0.24% .  This means that if all of us buy and read all the newspapers published, only 0.24% of the population would have had access to knowledge!  Our attitude towards the greatest information bank that God ever revealed to man "The Internet" is so disgusting.  How many of us that have e-mail addresses ever open it at least once a week?  How many of us use Google, yahoo, and many other available search engines to source for information.  How many of us blog? How many of us have their own functional operating websites?  How many of us have unhindered access to formal education? Faceboom Twiter, Google Reader are all social networks that can make or unmake somebody.  Go there for knowledge but most importantly contribute to knowledge yourself.

No wonder because of our level of our level of ignorance, no African person dies of any natural cause except that someone somewhere had marked them for death and have succeeded.  No wonder we prefer the  path of get-rich-quick to wealth creation to gradual and transparent ways.  We move from one "Be a Millionaire" promo to another.  The folly of it all is that because of ignorance we believe that robbing Peter to pay Paul is the fastest way. We are also ignorant of the fact that non of this organisations is ready to release a kobo from their treasuries to make anybody a millionaire just free like that.  Instead, they capitalise upon our ignorance. When they make N10m from our over-prized SMS messages they will release N1m to somebody and back that 'gesture' up with high publicity.

If I have my way, I'll ask Government to ban any form of gambling but even if I did, won't you kick against that?

The cost of ignorance is far more than that of being enlightened. 

I therefore charge you to decide today to join the 0.24% who have access to and are prepared to make use of good information.  Read good books, go to the internet and search for any topic of your choice and research upon it and release your findings to the world!  Read daily energiser  daily. Read your Bible daily. Read something about your profession to update your skills regularly.  Good morning.

Anyone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you John 3:16.

UNITY

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

Every Nigerian knows  the negative effects of the Nigerian civil war on all of us: many lives were lost. Prior to the war, Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical locations saw themselves as Nigerians.  Anyone can live anywhere. Today, people don't have sense of total security anymore.  Armed robbery and other terrible crimes were not as rampant as it is today compared to pre-civil war era.  Just name them, the bad side is numerous.  The only achievement was that we came back together finally as one but this time around, we're not as trusting as we used to be to ourselves. 

Just as Jesus says in Luke 11:17 quoted above a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.  Many homes are seriously in disunity today because of 'feuding'.  They look more for faults than for something good.  They suspect instead of trusting themselves. Every member of such families knows love but no one wants to extend love. They become envious of themselves and the family scatters. 

I say some of our troubles lie in the fact that we don't treasure the word of God.  If we do and we continuously search for the truth, the word would have prevented us from feuding.  It would have given us the courage to extend love and our lives would have been more peaceful.  

Nigerians, we are a family. In our origins we have families.  In our offices, our colleagues are our families. In our worship centres, we are families. Indeed anywhere we are we have families.  Let's make peace wherever we are.  That's God's will for us. Not doing it is the source of sorrows we have. Good morning.

NB

Have you read the update of my free book "Better Tomorrow"?  We are in chapter 11 now.  Please click here to read.  It's absolutely free and if it does not inspire you, I doubt if anything will!  

Participate in the poll on 'illegitimate children' above - it's right below the Paypal button to the reight of this page. Thanks.

LET'S FORGIVE OURSELVES

This passage is copied from Pastor Adeboye's Open Heavens (with the red statement in bracket added by me) of Tuesday, November 24, 2009.  It is important we read books of this nature everyday to nurture our lives. Please use it. Share it. Good morning.
Quote

BRANDED AS WICKED?

Memorise: "Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me" (Matt 18:32)

Read: Matthew 18:23-35

"Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me" (Matthew 18:32). One powerful bait that is destroying the church today and putting many into Satan's trap is unforgiveness. If you still harbor unforgiveness, bitterness or grudges against anyone, especially fellow believers, you are treading on very dangerous grounds.  (it is even worse when you do it with unbelievers who by their very nature enjoy and are ever ready to sting like a scorpion or bite you like a serpent! Through unforgiveness with anyone, your unknown to you, your own life is being cut short and they will live theirs in full after you are gone!) Let us learn from today's reading.

The first thing that unforgiveness does is that it changes your name in a negative way. It is good to have a name change. In fact, until you change your name from sinner to saint, you can never partake of Abrahamic covenant blessings. The father of faith had a name change from Abram to Abraham, his wife from Sarai to Sarah; his grand son from Jacob to Israel. Here, their new names brought Heaven's favour, broke barriers and caused them to fulfil destiny. But when your name is changed because of unforgiveness, it works against you on every side, and puts your trip to your destiny in reverse gear.

The Lord called this unforgiving servant a wicked person. That changed everything! If you are wise, you will be very concerned about what the Lord calls you. The name the Lord calls you is what Heaven calls you. The name the Lord calls you is what will determine how the Heavenly hosts and the satanic forces will relate with you. If you cannot forgive someone who offended you, God calls you a wicked fellow. The terrible thing about this is that, that fellow would be judged like anyone who never knew God. Apart from unforgiveness, maltreating fellow believers, using your position or office to intimidate, oppress and deny them their rights, make you a wicked fellow. Refusing to feed the flock and cater for them as expected by the Lord, but leisurely spending your time to the detriment of the sheep makes you wicked. Lodging workers salaries in fixed deposits, so that you can earn some interest for yourself, at their expense, makes you wicked. Inability to call a spade a spade just because the offender is of the same tribe makes you a wicked person and puts you under divine curse. Knowing the right thing to do but deliberately refraining from it, makes you a wicked fellow. Are you branded wicked by Heaven? Repent and restitute your ways today.

Ask God to destroy every root of wickedness in your life Unquote

 

Anything LIke Illegitimate Child?

Anything like illegitimate child?  Is there truly a fatherless child?  Is a child's behaviour a reflection of the circumstances of his birth?

In order to keep family intact and avoid sexual immorality, almost all cultures is rightly against women producing children through extra-marital relationships.  Except Christianity that insists on fidelity, the man is however, one way or the other, traditionally, permitted to produce children from all sources.

All cultures also frown at 'divorce' just as the Bible does. In a traditional setting, even the death of a man is not allowed to end the marital relationship of the widow to the family.  She' expected to be attended to by another male member of the family whether she likes it or not.

However, to every rule, there has always been exceptions.  By my training as a Lawyer, I have observed that these exceptions, most often become even more important to oberve than the rules themselves.  The principle of exceptions is abundantly practised in God's dealings with all His creatures.  For instance, He has had to reverse the irreversibles by making dry bones to receive flesh. He has caused Red Sea to part for His children to pass while to His enemies, he applied the rule and they got drowned. He has to allow a bush to burn without the grass consumed. Today the strictest warning is for believers to marry believers.  But sometimes, God permits it to happen the other way round and yet He glorified Himself in it. The biblical Ruth's story is an exemplary one where God bestowed FAVOUR to an woman from paganic origin. Such examples are limitless in the Bible.

Let's return to the issue of the so-called illegitimate children. We've had uncontrollable circumstances that had led to children being born out of wedlock.  If discovered, such children have, by tradition, been treated with disdain, some ostracised from the normal setting.  They are called all sorts of names: 'bastard, illegitimate, illegal, etc'.  In some cultures, they are even outrightly cast away. So, many otherwise God-ordained prosperous lives have been ruined in this process.

While the writer is in total support of law and order plus traditions, customs and cultures that are not repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience, he however believes that God has peculiar ways of doing His things.  We cannot question Him as to why certain things happen to us. 

The reality is that whether we believe it or not, they have happened and can neither prevent them from happening nor reverse them when they do happen. However, contrary to human 'rejection and discrimination' syndrome, every child is His child, irrespective of whether they are born in or outside wedlock, legally or illegally! Let me explain:  Jephtah in the Bible was born to an Harlort.  Just as we continue to do today, his brothers openely rejected him.  But to fulfill his destiny, God decided to create an environment where this 'bastard' child became the only person that could save his father's household.  When his appointed time came, he was practically begged by those who had rejected him to come an fulfil his God-ordained destiny. This time around, he demanded what rightly belongs to him - the acknowledgement that he is a bona fide member of the family - before doing so. He was granted all his deserved rights.  Then he saved his race and was installed as the Chief of that family.

Jesus Christ was accused of being an 'illegitimate' child simply because tradition demands that a child's biological origin must be capable of being scientifically proved.  But God sent him as a saviour of the world and today all of us are worshipping him.

The greatest American President, Abraham Lincoln was born to a mother whose biological origin was in doubt.  Lincoln even has something to say about people tagged 'illegitimate' children. He said that such children have more better things to offer than the so-called 'legitimate' children. 

You don't know our Biblical Jephtah at all, neither did you know Abraham Lincoln of America. but I'll tell you about somebody (a Nigerian)  you know very well.  He was born out of wedlock but God is using him today as a vessel of honour to His own glory.  He has has a gift for you.  In haste to receive it? Wait a minute.  Let's answer the questions posed above first.

Does a child's circumstances of birth reflect his behaviour?  I say a CAPITAL "NO"!  Every child is born empty. He reflects in his latter life what his parents and the society in general sow in him.  So a biologically 'legitimate' child may be led to crime while a biologically 'illegitimate' may be well raised.  The latter will do humanity a world of good while the latter can cause sorrow to the entire world! 

Every child has a father, known or unknown to him. So there's no fatherless child.  God is the father of all and does not discriminate against any. The word 'illegitimacy' has been outlawed by our 1979 Federal Republic of Nigeria's constitution - thanks to Late Prof. (Mrs.) Jadesola Akande's bill that led to that development.

Above all we are all ADOPTED children!  God adopted us all through Jesus Christ.  That's why irrespective of our backgrounds, we are all joint heirs with Christ.  We are his children. Or better still, whether male or female we are his wives.  Therefore let's stop discriminating against children because of the circumstances of their birth! 

Oga Pastor, are you now encouraging women to go hailwire, gathering children from everywhere?  CAPITAL 'NO' sir and ma. Any woman who does  that on her own will surely pay the penalty, if not here, but hereafter.

Then what are you saying?  Let women stick to their 'legitimate' husbands.  But IF FOR ANY REASON BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, THEY STRAYED OUT, (which admittedly happens in rare cases), LET THE INNOCENT PRODUCTS OF SUCH RELATIONSHIPS LIVE THEIR NORMAL COURSE OF LIVES UNPERTURBED. THAT'S WHY HOW THEY ARE DESTINED TO COME AND THEY HAVE A PURPOSE FOR GOD.

Oh, forgot the man you want to introduce to me? No.  Just click here and read his story yourself and follow it to the end. If you fail to get inspired then something must be wrong somewhere. Good morning.  Please fill the survey question on the right hand corner top of this page. Thanks.

Where Did You Go Today?

Having devotged your Monday to Friday to work and Saturday to socials etc, today being Sunday ought to be dedicated to the worship of the Almighty God.  But how did you spend the day?  Were you sleeping all through or got glued to the TV?  Is it time to visit friends and relations? Is it time to 'relax' in a beer parlour and 'enjoy' yourself? 

That you are able to do all these is simply because He has granted you the grace to do so, notwithstanding the fact that you did not seem to recognise this fact.

Please spend your Sundays serving God!  Next week, ensure you do better than this week!  Remain blessed.

2010 Year of Prayer Without Plan?

All nations and organisations have their annual life cycles. They are guided by their visions to prepare a business plan for the year.  This business plan is finally summarised in monetary forms. They call it budget.  As they progress through a particular year, at about the 4th quarter of the ongoing year, they begin again to prepare the plans for the following year. A practical example is Lagos State Governor Fashola who has already presented before the State and Nigeria at large, his Government's plans for 2010.

Unfortunately in our private lives what we know most is a faith-based vague mental picture of what we are expecting at any point in time.  Majority of us never sat down to write them down so we can follow them up as Gov. Fashola has shown to us by example. That's why, we are never guided about our financial expectations vis a vis our expected expenditures.  Almost all expenditures come to us as a surprise.

Are you going into 2010 without a WRITTEN DOWN plans?  Are you going to Church to pray on New Year eve for God's blessings without having a slight Idea as to what you intend to do with such blessings?
Remember faith without work, is useless.  Also life without plans is like groping in the dark!

Go to God with what you intend to achieve in 2010 and how much you need to achieve them. Pray to God to provide the amount. Then start the new year working hard to realise the budget. This is a meaningful prayer.

How do I budget? Order for a copy of my book "Family Budgeting, A Must for Your Home".  It's only N500 (book+shipping). If you are not satisfied with what you read then please don't order!

Why Do You Run to God?

Except for those who were born to religious homes, majority of us approach God or whatever what we believe in (through Jesus, Mohammed, Ifa, Amadiora, etc) simply because we are facing some challenges in life that are bigger than us and we need help or better still for security reasons. Some of us do so because we want wealth or we want to know in advance what tomorrow holds for us. Only very insignificant number is serving God because they consider that behind everything visible, there's an invisible God who ought to be worshipped.

Let us share these facts with outselves. Not even Jesus give you money if you go to him simply because you need money. He will expect you to labour to get money. If Jesus tarries, and compulsorily you must die a physical death in this world, but you go to Jesus to protect you from dying, you are joking. When it is your appointed time to go, by whatever means, you will give up the ghost. If you run to Jesus because you don't want to face hardship in life, you are in a wrong place. Indeed I assure you, your hardship will increase for going to Jesus. The only thing is that if you truly believe in him, you will overcome them all. However, you can't run away from the pains of hardship. Jesus himself could do nothing about suffering pains to attain our salvation. Neither was John able to save himself from being beheaded nor did Jesus Christ save him.

Then why must I serve God, Serve Him because he must be served. He is awesome and holds the key to your life. Serve Him because He is the invisible hands behind all visible things. But you will worsen your story however, if you go to lesser gods first which is where many people are today. These gods can't help themselves WITHOUT ADDING SORROW to it. They will end up turning you to criminals.

So accept Jesus with his own lighter yokes and free yourselves from the heavy yokes of weaker gods. Good morning.
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