Me and Lagos again!

Me and Lagos again!

I have written about Lagos in the past.  And I intended keeping quiet, if possible permanently.  Unfortunately, Lagos has provoked me again into writing about her. 

First, it became compulsory that we must visit Lagos because of two important appointments.  However, even though we knew the dates for our the two appointments, we were unable to decide when to go. Unfortunately, one fell on a Saturday while the other was on the following Monday.  We toyed with going on a Thursday so we could complete preparations for some things required for the Monday appointment.  The Saturday appointment was a wedding.  We thought that both events could be conveniently accommodated if we left on Thursday, and in a relaxed manner too!  The worry that went into our heads were more than the journey we had planned to Lagos. 

Finally, for the fears of our two friends Lagos 'mosquitoes and the heat' after studying the weather very well, we finally decided to leave our base on Saturday morning targeting so we could drive straight into the wedding.  Everything was smooth until we got to Ibafo.  It was like children playing in the sand just as cars, lorries, trailers, etc gathered on the road.  We thought it was s small matter but it dawned on us later that we were in for a big trouble.  We had spent less than one hour to Ibafo but we finally got to Lagos at 1.20pm.!

There was a fire outbreak involving two tankers and two other vehicles at Ibafo!  We missed the social event.  The back pain I last suffered two years ago sprung up again.  I am still nursing it!

On getting to Lagos, because it rained a day or two before, our sleep on Saturday night was cool.  We curtailed the mosquitoes with Baygon.  By Sunday evening, the ground was already drying up so and there was no propspect of another rain to cool the environment.  So it all started getting hot.  We endured that night.

On Monday, we left home at 5.27 am for a 6.30 appointment.  Fortunately we made it.  But it required a follow up visit by Thursday so, we must spend three nights waiting.  Another appointment was also scheduled, against our will, for Friday.  So we must remain in Lagos.  The longer we stayed the hotter it became and the more informed about our presence in town were the mosquitoes.  All the nets, the inseticides failed.  We were soaked in the heat and the mosquitoes defied any form of harrassment.  Neither did the combination of smoke-based mosquito killers and baygon kill nor even drive them away.  They were determined to bite us at all costs and they did to their hearts content.  The heat of course kept us awake for them to deal with us with our eyes wide opened.  The following morning, it was not difficult for us to prove how well they fed as our bedsheets, pillows, etc evidenced the volume of blood they had drained from our bodies with their 'straights' or 'syringes'.  That was how we spent a whole week in Lagos. Then I sent my car for servicing, experimented with public transport.  I paid N100 from Ikotun to Isolo, a 10-minute journey! 

That was not enough out generator too became angry. It packed up.  We took it for repairs and it was fixed.  But in the evening, when we switched it on, it protested by ensuring that its output burnt my computer, internet power packs.  This was the last straw that broke the carmel's back.  I lost touch with my over 400m people with whom I share "Daily Energiser" every morning!   That's why daily energiser suddenly went off the net!  Painful but I just looked on.

Now Daily Energiser is back to you. I am full of apologies.  I missed you my good friends both contacted by e-mail or through Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, Google Buzz, My space, etc.  I will never forget Lagos and how she has tried to severe our relationship. I am now back to base so God willing Daily Energiser will come to you as usual. Good morning.   Lagosians, happy stay oh!

Thank you for reading reading Daily Energiser. Please recommend it to your friends.

Is There Destiny?

Is there Destiny?

“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Jesus was destined to save the human race, as many as will believe in him.  Yet it is obvious that not everybody will believe in him.  For this singular reason, the destiny of Jesus has divided human race into two major parts – those who believe in him who are called believers and those who do not who are referred to as unbelievers. 

Jesus therefore caused many to fall while he remained joy to many others.  As for opposition, Jesus did not have serious opposition until he started exhibiting traits of his ministry – as at the age of 12 when he already knew so much as to be raising questions as he studied the word of God with the high priests.  People marvelled at his level of his wisdom at that age.  Then when he started his ministry, he started right in his own place but he was rejected. He was so fiercely opposed that he was taken to the edge of the mountain upon which his town was formed so they could push him down the cliff to his early grave.  Consistently they rejected him from all angles until he was nailed on the Cross!  Interestingly those who opposed him the most were High Priests, the Scribes, the Religious Teachers or better still those who should accept and encourage him.  Judas Iscariot got ‘suicide’ as his reward for opposing him whereas Peter got salvation for supporting him!   The soldiers’ corrupt nature were exposed as they took bribe to torture and finally nailed him. Therefore the thoughts (evil or good) of many people’s hearts were revealed through him.

But in all, his purpose for mankind was the focus – salvation! God has destined you to succeed. But you will face distractions.  People will oppose you.  People will want to target your life. But never be distracted.  Lean upon God and your good destiny shall be fulfilled in Jesus name.  Good morning. 

Take Lessons from Elders

Take Lessons from Elders

45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Of the 8 stages of life except biological marriage/parenting, (i.e. birth, education, career, retirement, death and history), Jesus Christ, the epitome of Christian faith demonstrated, how we should manage our lives. 

His pregnancy, did not follow the normal human reproduction approach but a mixture of human/spiritual.  Logically, to a carnal mind, this is illogical and indeed unscientific as well as leading to controversy-generation between believers and non-believers.  So as far as the secular law is concerned, Jesus Christ is an adopted child to Joseph his father so this contradicts the norm in normal relationship. 

He was born lowly, in a manger.  Ordinarily if he were the son of a President, nobody would give the excuse that there was no lodging place for him to be born!  However, in spite of this below-the-standard, delivery approach, he became great, so this tells us that circumstances of our birth should never determine the height we can get to in life.

As far as education is concerned, even though he is all-knowing God and at the same time a physical son of Joseph, he submitted himself to theological training from elders who had been there before him in the physical!  In other words, He is the essence of theology. but still gave himself to be tutored about himself!  He never despised a little beginning.  He understood that Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding go together to ensure a successful ministry and from his childhood he applied himself to study such that by age 12, he was already knowledgeable to the point that people marvelled. 

 In career, even though he knew his ministry and purpose for humanity which is salvation, he gave himself to learning carpentry under the watchful eyes of his Carpenter father Joseph.  He subjected himself to the training.  Another lesson to us on the need to balance our spiritual and secular activities and to be prepared to bear responsibilities.

Though he did not marry, his teachings generally never contradicted God’s will for marital institution and in parenting, he became to all children more than their parents could be – a healer, a lover, a guide, their defender, advocate, playmate, and someone who enjoyed the company of children more than people who brought them forth biologically.

In retirement as symbolised by his resurrection after death and now sitting on the right hand of His Father till his second coming, he proved himself accomplished. He retired at the age of 33 years yet he fully accomplished his mission.  While many of us are altering our ages today not wanting to leave our paid employment, Jesus Christ prepared himself for 30 years, ministered full-time for only 3 and a half years, finished his assignment and left the scene gracefully. 

As for death, of course physically death could not hold him captive.  He conquered it physically by reason of his resurrection. That singular act is the most important life-wire of Christianity, and where many other religions fall below the mark. 

History.  History is all about leaving a legacy – good or bad. We all know what Jesus has left behind as a legacy – salvation – for those who believe in him.  That message of salvation is what divides the world into two parallel groups: believers and unbelievers today and his impact upon humanity is widening by per second.

Now Jesus therefore is a good example of knowledge, hardwork, accomplishments, humility, good success and everything good.  He laid examples for us all to follow even whether we believe in him or not

One of such good examples is the fact that a child MUST OF NECESSITY COOPERATE WITH HIS OR HER PARENTS, if he must succeed. Jesus co-operated with Mary and Joseph and his extended family.  Even after looking for him for three days (one would ask logically speaking  how can caring parents leave their children behind?). That’s logic. So let’s leave it for psychologists to determine.

Jesus’ story also showed clearly how parents should respect the views of their children.  When he told them “don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business” Mary and Joseph did not shout him down, neither did they apply the ‘rod’ which is today’s evidence of effective parenting!  Jesus and Mary were at the wedding where wine got finished.  Mary consulted him, yet he was only a child!  What’s the matter with a child’s opinion in this matter?.  Jesus recognised that his time had not come but for her mother not to be put to shame, and to prove a point that with his cooperation with his own heavenly Father, miracle could happen, there and then he performed his first miracle!

When children fight their parents today, particularly children raised in Christian homes or parents curse or claim they ‘disown’ their children, I wonder whether they both know Christ!  It should not be heard of that that ever happen in any Christian home but it is happening not only at home but right in our churches – penticostal, orthodox, liberal or charismatic!

Let’s go back to the basics and follow Jesus’ example precept by precept and the world will become a better place to live in!  Good morning. 

Prophesy Something Good to Your Children’s Lives!

Prophesy Something Good

to Your Children’s Lives!

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Luke 3:34-35

What is prophesy? It is speaking out in advance what is yet to happen.  Sometimes it comes to us directly from God through revelations which can be from dreams, visions of the night or that of the day, it can be when someone is speaking to another person and the word of prophesy comes up and we are discerning enough to catch them up. It can come simply by the visitation of the spirit – that is the urge just overwhelms one to say in advance what he believes will happen!

Prophesies talk about tall dreams.  Dreams that are always logically above the height and standards of the prophesee.  Prophesies are only claimable by FAITH because they will always be logically impossible.

“One night, I dreamt.  In that dream, King Sunny Ade was singing a very melodious song.  And in that dream, I said in the dream  that “The Lord who made King Sunny Ade great would surely make me great in this life”.  And I woke up.  That was prophesy!”

For instance, in sometimes in the 70’s when my future appeared very blank.  For one reason on the other, my brother who was responsible for paying my school fees stopped paying it.  I went for apprenticeship in printing trade, but could not continue because I had no money to pay for my apprenticeship.  Indeed I rightly captured this period in  Chapter 14 of my autobiography as a time when  “All Roads Closed.  Armed with my First School Leaving Testimonial (for I had not seen the result of my Primary School Leaving examination’s!), I wanted to take full control of my destiny but I did not know how nor have the wherewithal to do so.

But in the midst of those confusions and seeming (logically) impossibilities as to whether I would make it in life, one thing was obvious to me then and I wouldn’t say I knew why.  I was convinced that I would succeed in life.    In this period of time of my life was when King Sunny Ade dominated the Nigerian music scene.  He rose to stardom!   One night, I dreamt.  In that dream, King Sunny Ade was singing a very melodious song.  And in that dream, I said in the dream  that “The Lord who made King Sunny Ade great would surely make me great in this life”.  And I woke up.  That was prophesy, a prophesy by myself to my own life!

If success were to be measured by tangible achievements other than fat bank account, I would say my prophesy then have become testimonies that are measureable in terms of visible things that  God has done in my life . Today (3 decades after my self-prophesy), though I may not be able to boast of a fat bank account, but that same I who had only First School Leaving Testimonial by God’s grace, am a Lawyer, a certified Chartered Human Capital Manager, a retiree of an international organisation, an author of 9 books and the writer of Daily Energiser blog; letsharexperience.blogspot.com blog , an ordained Minister in the Temple of God, and a Chief in my community, happily married, a father of Graduates, helper of the needy in my little way, Logically all these were impossible for a ‘helpless’ poor boy but today I'm a happy man.

Apart from Isaiah who prophesied about Jesus’ coming and missions in the Old Testament, two notable persons particularly prophesied into the life of Jesus Christ our Lord during his infancy in the New Testament.  They were: Simeon and Annah and Mary his mother stored them in her heart, believed them, meditated upon them  and they all came to pass.  After  John the Baptist was named and the Lord restored his father Zechariah from dumbness, Zechariah lifted in his spirit, prophesied in the life of his son John the Baptist and they all came to pass.

Now, as parents, what do we do to our children today?  We condemn, we rebuke, we apply the rod indiscriminately, we abuse, indeed we destroy the expectant and promising spirit of our children.  There are never words of encouragements nor something capable of inspiring them for good.  When we are want to be religious, we would invoke  the Bible passage that says we should “spare not the rod” to justify our wickedness added to ignorance.  We would never apply the one that says “parents, do not provoke your children” to ensure that we caution them in line with God’s intention for wise parenting.  We are never moved by the spirit of love but that of ANGER,  UNFORGIVENESS and PROVOCATION!

If you find yourself in this category of parents, please, please, stop ruining the future of your children.  Apply the principles of Simeon, Anna and Zechariah by prophesying something good to the lives of your children EVERYDAY.  Decree onto their lives who you want them to become in life.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER curse them because just as your prayers will work for them so will your curses do because as parents you hold the key to their lives in terms of success, longevity or failure.  Therefore encourage them instead of discouraging them. And whatever you say concerning them shall come to be!  Good morning. 

Start Small, End Big!

   

Start Small,  End Big!

Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears;

wealth from hard work grows over time.

Prov. 13:11

Just as hand of the clock ticks without minding whose horse is gored, so blunt to is life everyone of us.  Whether we do something about our lives and future or not life continues move on.  Unfortunately many people are blind to this fact.  And suddenly it is nightfall in their lives!

I observe one terrible habit that is prevailing amongst the youths in my place of birth and origin.  This is the fact many youths don't want to start life small.  They want to get rich quick.  So many of them dropped out of school early enough to start 'Okada' or taxi businesses.  In their haste to grow faster than their ages, some of them engage in impregnating girls around.  I particularly know of one who impregnated three girls all at the same time so he has become the father to a set of triplets from three different mothers.  He is an Okada rider!  

In the same town, our farmers are looking for young persons to work in their farms for fees.  But none of this youths will engage in that.  And our visionary brothers from other parts of Nigeria are now doing that and with all their hearts too.  So they are reaping the benefits that ought to accrue to visionary indigenes who would have realised that life MUST OF NECESSITY start small and projected to end big.  These ignorant lazybones are the people that will flock round anyone who has the pleasure of visiting the town for cheap money and if they fail to perform, then they are nicknamed 'stingy, bad, wicked, etc' whereas the INVOICES they submit are bigger than the overall budgets of their benefactors!.  One interesting  thing is that even when they are given anything, it ends up in the beer parlours and in prostitutes workshops!

This reminded me of my early days as a village boy.  Thank God I had a good mother who developed a good vision for me - desire to be educated. And God opened me up to catch up with her vision and I became interested in schooling. First I wanted to become a teacher, then a Lawyer.  But the journey to school was near impossible. God never allowed anybody to come to my aid.  Instead he gave me the spirit, the strength, the ability and the resilience to continue to strive.  I enjoyed the pleasure of formal Primary School but the rest   was between God and me, hard work and sacrifice. Finally I  graduated in Law at the age of 46 and called to the Nigerian Bar at the age of 47.  I am now retired from paid employment venturing Legal practice.    All I can say is: I AM DETERMINED to succeed in Law as I did in other fields I have ventured.  I am used to not giving up a good struggle!

Coming to our young ones, I am saddened by the fact that they are not willing to start small and building consistently upon a small beginning to the point they can grow.  I am saddened because they see Okada business as a quick way to get rich quick and painfully they are investing the proceeds on wasteful expenditures!  I am saddened because they never again gave a thought to being educated.  I am saddened because they have sold their birthrights like Esau and may never recover them.  I am saddened because as the Bible rightly says, the lazy man shall serve the hard working one.  I am saddened because they don't seem to understand that poverty is the ruin of the poor.  I am saddened because they are toying with their destinies and very soon the night time will come like a thief in the night and no amount of explanations or justifcations will avail their success when they can actually start as an Okada (motorbike) Riders and end as Captains flying the latest Aeroplanes!  . 

As a Minister of God who believes so much in the fact that beautiful sermons without corresponding action amounts to nothing but 'entertainment' which sometimes makes the church to look like an ordinary social club, I don't just want to live a life of a sad man because of them.  I want to do something about them.  I am giving birth to a programme that will educate, enlighten and liberate as many as are willing from the shackle of ignorance. I want to teach them how to start small and end big.  They ought not to despise a little beginning!

 I just pray that the Lord will help me to make the required difference in the lives of these precious souls.  Amen.  If I can achieve this and bestow it as a legacy to my people, I will be fulfilled. 

Above all, we have people like these in our families. They are friends to our children.  We have them as neighbours and so on.  You can help to positively impact their lives by encouraging them to read my autobiography FREE.  Or better still, you can sponsor the printing of a number of copies for distribution to those whom you identify as needing it, you will be saving Nigeria from impending calamity awaiting our youths.

The book will be customised as you will be acknowledged as the sponsor and giver of the number of copies you purchase. Good morning.   

A Good Mother’s Devotion to her Children’s Destiny

A Good Mother’s Devotion to her
Children’s Destiny

 "And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 

Luke 2:51

When Angel Gabriel delivered to Mary, (the mother of Jesus),  the message concerning the birth of Jesus, the only question she asked was a clarification about how it would happen.  When the clarification was made she believed wholeheartedly that it would happen to her.  But when the same Angel delivered similar message to the Priest named Zechariah, Zechariah disbelieved!  Young Mary’s belief fetched her the prophecy without any form of punishment but Rev. Zecharaiah had to undergo  dumbness and remained so until the fulfilment of the prophesy – the birth of John the Baptist.  It is noteworthy here that the greatest unbelievers of Christ are amongst the Priests of Jesus - the highly religious and most  respected scholars!  They (the priests) who ought to protect Jesus also played prominent roles in ensuring his crucifixion!  That's of course the ironing of life knowledgeable but undiscerning! That's what many 'men of God' are today.  However let's leave out the men and their unbelieving syndrome and address our women for now. 

Another important thing that made Mary unique and which accelerated the fulfilment of God’s promises for Jesus’ life was that she took everything prophesied in the life of Jesus very seriously, believing them all.  Not only that she meditated upon them day and night in her heart and of course must expectantly be praying for their fulfilment.

In today’s materialistic world, one wonders roles mothers are playing to ensure the fulfilment of their children’s God ordained destinies.  Mothers who are hardly at home can hardly know what is happening to their children talkless of ‘meditating’ upon the future of their children.  Instead many women now meditate on money matters rather than the proper upbringing of their children.  A typical example of was a woman reported the papers recently to have offered her 14 year old daughter for prostitution!

Mothers who are reading this message, my question for you is “Are you like Mary or like the woman who offered her promising daughter for financial gains?  Remember however that whichever one you are, there will be a day of reckoning.

Good morning.

Choosing Between Poverty and Riches

Choosing Between Poverty and Riches 

"So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long" Eccl. 9:16

The church is a place where we ought to learn the truth about how to positively shape all aspects of our lives and I thank God I was there on a particular Sunday when the above quotation was treated by my Pastor.    

If you are the 'super-holy' person who believes that it better to be poor than to be rich or you are one of the critics of 'prosperity preachers', the above quotation is worth your consideration  so that you may reconsider your thoughts towards being prosperous.

The Bible has never hidden the fact that 'Holiness' and 'Prosperity' are two wings with which a WISE believer must fly.  If you pursue one at the expense of the other, no matter how well you do in the very direction, you will end up in regrets.  For you to fulfil your destiny therefore, you must of NECESSITY BE HOLY AND PROSPEROUS. 

To be Holy, you need to become very knowledgeable in the word of God, be born again, baptised by water immersion/holy spirit-filled and of necessity, you should have specific assignment or ministry that will enable you consistently grow up in the spiritual realm. Above all, you must become your own pastor instead of being pastored all the time by another person who has himself applied himself to God. To achieve this goal, you need to prosper. Your overall goal here should be to make heaven in the end.

On the secular hand,  you must nurture your seven stages of life (i.e. birth, education, career, marriage, retirement, death and History) very well to ensure you succeed in life.  

To prosper both in the spirit and in the secular, you need to prosper and your Career or chosen profession has a direct link with how well you will prosper.  A lazy bone tends to poverty!  Therefore stage 3 of our live is something everyone must take seriously because it is where you generate the wealth required to successfully manage all the others.  No wonder the Bible rightly said that "money answers all things"!  Therefore it is very important that we all engage in profitable economic activities that will generate us the funds we need to run all the affairs of our lives. 

Failure to do so, no matter how Wise, Knowledgeable and Understanding we are, we would not be taken seriously anywhere, including the Church of God and it will be right to do so!

Good morning.

   

MM

Don't Move Ancient Boundaries!

  

Don't Move Ancient Boundaries!

“So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. 

For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”

It all started like a simple inspiration and/or sudden realisation or discovery.  Finally King Ahab who all along knew peace took unGodly steps to enlarge his coast! 

When God is angry with a man, anything can happen to him to ensure his destruction - even true prophets can become lying prophets! This was what happened in the life of King Ahab.  400 Prophets lied and the only one (Macaiah) that told the truth was imprisoned!  But certain that it was God that spoke with him, he prophesied further that Ahab would not return from the unjust battle he was waging.  Ahab left.  Even though he disguised, the Lord still found him out in the battle field as a 'random' shooting located and killed him.

A few years back, history repeated itself when a particular President did exactly what King Ahab did - taking over another 'WEAK' country's territory.  The world arose against him and he ended up in the gaols.

This reminds one of what Prov. 23:10-11 has to say:  

"Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;

don’t take the land of defenseless orphans. For their Redeemer* is strong;

he himself will bring their charges against you.

In the name of aiming high or helping ourselves, many of us today have cheated our neighbours by moving the ancient boundary markers in order to enlarge our own costs.  This can take the form of a man manipulating his way through to an office; manipulating his promotion; bad-mouthing others to gain opportunities, a young girl taking over her friend's suitor, a student lying so he can get increased upkeep allowances, a person using his position to deny others opportunities or outright robbery.

One constant factor that is present with cheaters is: THEY ARE FORSAKEN BY GOD!   

Have you in any way moved the ancient boundary marks or are you about to do so?  If you have, ask for forgiveness.  Move back to your approved territory.  If you are about to do so, please  don't!  It's not going to be in your own interest as God can cause even a true prophet to lie for your sake!  Remember King Ahab!

Good morning.

It's in Your Interest to be Wise!

It's in Your 

Interest to be Wise!

"If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.  

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Prov. 9:12

1. Parents and parents to-be, give birth to the only the number of children you can cater for.Parents, send your children to school; children ensure you work hard at your studies and come out of school in flying colours
2. All, don't be lazy; choose a career and study and practise it to earn you good income.
3. Singles:  Don't marry too early or too late; involve God and your parents in your marriage.  More importantly choose a compatible partner!
4. Every money you earn IS A SEED; don't waste on luxuries (alcohol, cigarettes, immoraility) or  wasteful assets e.g. latest cars, TV's, Handsets, etc!
5. Save for your retirement!
6. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal  Saviour so as to guarantee your heavenly place after leaving this world!
7. Children, obey your parents and bless them so that ....
8.  ....  Parents, don't provoke your children!  
9. Wives, submit to your husbands IN ALL THINGS! 
10. Husbands, love your wives such that you can sacrifice your own life for them!
11. Serve no other gods other than the only true God, and so on.
12. Above all, obey the 10 commandments!

Acting in wisdom is one good thing that can ever happen to a man or woman.  Many of the things we do rightly  are in our own interest.  If we do them otherwise, there's repercussion attached.  The above 12 listed examples are not exhaustive of the various do's and don'ts in the Bible but the truth is that whether we obey them or not, we face the consequences in our family, career, ministry, parenting, educational and other aspects of life.  

The rich people being envied today are the products of their wise parents who, in those days, heeded the golden advice to educate their children.  Such children who excelled occupied strategic positions in our society today.  They not only become wealthy, but they elevate the names of their families beyond the ordinary names e.g. who does not know: the Nobel Laurette, Prof. Wole Soyinka?  Can the name of Prof. Chinua Achebe be hidden?  Can Obasanjo's family's name be difficult to identify?  Yet many of their parents' contemporaries who did nothing about the future of their children remain are unheard of today.

 It is disheartening today to see many parents still producing children indiscriminately instead of producing few that they can cater for, moreso when there is family planning!  These foolish families are destined to be perpetually ruled rather than rule.  They will produce visionless children that will be used by the politicians  (the children of the wise parents) as touts to achieve their aims.  They will be the ones to produce children that will serve as househelps to the families of the wise and the rich.  They will be the ones to produce children who are given the legacy of greed from the womb, because they have to struggle  for the little available food in the family so as to survive.  They are families that will enjoy 'pains' and may never taste pleasure.  They will for ever depend upon their expectation of reliance upon Government, relatives, etc even to feed!  

Let's reflect upon this very important matter: the need to be wise.  And act out her script as described in Prov. 9 which has this to say:  

 Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved its seven columns.

2 She has prepared a great banquet,

mixed the wines, and set the table.

3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.

She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.

4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

5 “Come, eat my food,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;

learn to use good judgment.”

7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.

Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

8 So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

11 Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Folly Calls for a Hearing

13 The woman named Folly is brash.

She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

14 She sits in her doorway

on the heights overlooking the city.

15 She calls out to men going by

who are minding their own business.

16 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

17 “Stolen water is refreshing;

food eaten in secret tastes the best!”

18 But little do they know that the dead are there.

Her guests are in the depths of the grave.*

 

Good morning.

Fair Hearing in Parenting (2)

Continued from yesterday

Fair Hearing in Parenting (2)

The Boy

Title: Why I don’t have to bring

a bad result home

         

“I never imagine my self to be a failure because

I am not born to be a failure… The major problem is that I don’t know how to manage my time very well”

 "I know that I have sinned against you as my parents, because I know that God has not created me to be a failure!  And I know your vision for me is not to be a failure. I never imagine myself to be a failure because I am not born to be a failure.

                    I know that I don’t have good reasons for me to bring a bad result home. My major problem is that I don’t know how to manage my time very well, why is because subjects like English, Biology, Economics and mathematics are subject need a lot of time because without these subjects I don’t think there will a breakthrough for someone like me into the university, That is why I want you to teach me how to manage my time well because out of the 24 hours I spend 9 hours in school and the remaining 15 hours I spend at home and out of this 15 hours I will have to do my assignments and after I have finish that the remaining hours will not be enough for me to do a proper study of what I have done, that is why I want you to teach me or analyse to me how to use my time judiciously.

          In my English I want to improve on my essay writing or letter writing, because these are the things I need to take note of, because when writing external exams the marker who will my essay letter will not know who I am and what he or she wants to mark is how well I compose and frame my words are (if possible) without any mistake, and how good my thinking ability is.  Why I am particular about this is because mummy has been telling me to write essays for her to know how my thinking ability is and how I can think articulately fast within a short period of  time been given.

          In my major subject like English, Economics, Biology and Mathematics I need someone that I can go to when i have some difficulties. My brother, Olu, and I had  agreed that this coming holiday will be for him to help me in my difficult areas but unfortunately for me, he left for Lagos and that arrangement which I had banked upon is not working out. However, still think with your help, I can do it myself. I know I can make good use of this holiday by attending extra lessons.

          Now it is time and a must for me not to waste this opportunity because this is my final lap and I must not let it go like that without succeeding. This is the solution and I pray God help me through."

Upon reading the above articles, our children taught us some major lessons:  that we should always give them fair hearing in matters involving their upbringing; that they will open up to us on what they feel they needed to help them overcome their challenges. That negotiation and dialogue are vital tools to resolving conflicts.  That they are willing to co-operate with us at all times if the environment be right. Finally that they do not want to cause us pains and that what we are correcting in them are things that are to them painful and which they want to get over from quickly and live a mutually satisfying lives with us their parents. 

I am happy as a father that I was led to adopt this approach which, if I had not looked at the word of God closely, I would not have done myself and we as parents would have had difficulties gaining the necessary co-operation we needed from our beautiful/handsome children to raise them in the way of the Lord that would give us all peace in the long run.

Are you a parent?  How have you been managing your children?  Do you involve them or you are always ‘enforcing the law’ by bullying and beating them? If that is so, change your style today to dialogue and negotiation.  You will be surprised how wonderful and co-operative your children can be in jointly attaining good success!  No wonder, when  God the Father wanted to create man, He consulted with “God the Son and God the Holy Spirit”  Again, no wonder why the Trinity are co-operating together till date  to ensure the salvation of the same man they consulted together to  create – Jesus willingly offered Himself to die for him while Holy Spirit is now his teacher who is teaching him on how to run the day-to-day affairs of his life!”  Good morning.

Fair Hearing in Parenting (1)

Fair Hearing in Parenting (1)

            Direct your children onto the right path,

and when they are older, they will not leave it

Fair Hearing in Parenting

Parenting is a cumbersome but at the same time an interesting assignment.  Training a child is particularly difficult unless God comes to parents’ aid. This is because children change according to the level of their development and exposure.  The rules that are effective in training children between the ages of 0 and 12 are far different from the ones that are applicable to teenagers and youths. 

And many different approaches are provided for by the Bible some of which are: ‘the rod’, advice, counseling, and so on.  Of all the instructions, the one that appeals to me most as a parent is the one that says “children obey your parents so that your days will be long in the land that the Lord has given to you” and “parents’ do not provoke your children’.

 These rules form the “equilibrium’ in the training scheme both for the children and their parents alike.  For instance, beating the children will not solve the problem if parents themselves provoke such children. 

Parents that lay bad examples for their children to follow and then beat them for committing the same offence are only provoking such children.  Parents who don’t provide for their children’s advancement in life and are blaming them for not doing well are only provoking such children.  Parents who do not give fair hearing to their children matters affecting them are not training but provoking such children.  

“They are both 17 years old so unguarded application of the ‘rod’ will surely harden rather than achieve the desired results.  So we decided to dialogue with them.  We reviewed the situations together and finally we asked them to write us essays on how they thought they could overcome their problems. In other words, we gave them fair hearing because we felt that unless we involved them in the process of resolving their issues, we cannot succeed in helping them..!”

I have noticed particularly in two of my children (one male the other female), that they have two major difficulties which are giving us parents concern. The male child had difficulties recording a breakthrough in his academics while the female has issues being slow in whatever she does such that it became worrisome to us as parents.  After thorough examinations, we observed that the two issues bordered upon time-management. The boy needs to know how to manage his time to attain effective studies that will give him academic breakthrough. The female needs to manage her time so that she will do things within reasonable time. 

They are both 17 years old so unguarded application of the ‘rod’ will surely harden rather than achieve the desired results in them.  So we decided to dialogue with them.  We reviewed the situations together and finally we asked them to write us essays on how they thought they could overcome their problems. In other words, we gave them fair hearing because we felt that unless we involved them in the process of resolving their issues, we cannot succeed in helping them! 

The two of them produced these two amazing, revealing and parent-inspiring  articles:

THE GIRL

Title: The Reasons Why a Child Should Keep to Time

There is a Yoruba adage that says’’Ilu ti ko so fin,ko si se’’ (meaning, where there’s no law, there’s no crime) .A girl-child  who is under her parents and claims to be a responsible Christian needs be wary in her ways. She should particularly be conscious of keeping to time in everything she does – time management.

She who does not keep to time leaves her parents with anxiety all the time, which is not good particularly when she calls herself a Christian. Her YES should be YES and her NO NO.  Her not keeping to time, particularly when she is sent on errand or she goes to school or church or wherever she goes gives room for dirty thoughts about her by her parents which can make  them doubt her integrity and this can create serious friction between her and her parents.

The Bible passage which says’ a bad child is of the mother, while a good child is of the father’ this implies that a bad or wayward child brings nothing but shame and disappointment to his or her parents. And as we all know’ a good name is better than silver or gold’. I as a person and a (parent to-be myself) will not like to have a child who doesn’t keep to time because it makes it hard for me as a parent to recommend such a child to any organization or anybody for that matter.

Finally, a child who is having difficulties in time keeping should be assisted by his or her parents to avoid future problems which will be accountable to the parents later in the future. I strongly believe such a child needs to be cautioned and backed up with prayers. No gender is left out in this discussion, we all need the consciousness and the Holy Spirit who the greatest teacher to teach us on time management and so help us God

I think with this little I have written, I have been able to list the little but few problems that bring about doubt and dishonesty between parents and their children. (to be continued tomorrow)