You're the only one who can say YES to you ALL THE TIME. If you keep saying NO to your unfolding ideas, then ALL hope is lost.
People will say YES to you only after you've said YES to yourself. They may not be a TOTAL 100% YES but your YES will be just enough to take you ALL the WAY.
Thursday, 31 March 2016
SAYING YES!
Monday, 30 November 2015
On Life: The pain's only temporary
When we face difficult times, maybe the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, a horrifying saga or the loss of love, etc. the tendency is to think that the pain's gonna last forever.
Yesterday, a Doc friend explained to me the struggles a baby goes through at birth. How contractions make them uncomfortable inside such that they just want to get out. How their skulls contract and expand at birth. How they look for their first breath after birth and cry as a sign of joy when they find it. She said to me, 'babies look so tender and frail but they are very strong'.
Going back, that's you some decades ago. You made it out and have continued to make it through life. You've outlasted the challenges, that's why you're reading this. If they outlasted you, you'd be 6ft beneath by now.
Don't say 'but Benny you don't know how big this new challenge is'. My friend it's not so different from the others for a man's oppositions always are commensurate to his ability. That's what my bible says.
So cheer up and let a smile through for the pain you feel right now is only TEMPORARY.
#temporarypain
#thistoowillpass
#youwillstillbestanding
#bennysavedbygrace
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
ON LIFE: SUCCESS AND FAILURE
The Story
I use a Nokia phone and they are known for their battery power, so I usually don’t have to swap SIMS or batteries or anything like that. There’s something else of note about my phone. The SIM slot only allows what they call a broken SIM card (it’s actually tinier). It happens then, that my battery disappoints me, or I just didn’t charge it when I should have and the phone goes off. I’ve got some important calls to make, and more important ones to receive so I have to think fast. I have another phone whose battery is charged but a little different from this one. Its SIM slot requires a full SIM card not the broken one. It looks like a challenge at first. How do I make it fit in and respond like it should? Well ‘I’ll just try’, I thought. I fixed it and it responds. I say to me, ‘that was a lot easier than I expected’.
Then the situation repeats itself a few days later and I know what to do, or so I think. I’ll just take the broken SIM and slide it into the other phone with the full SIM slot and Life’s Good. I fix it ‘like I did the last time’ but there’s no response. I take it out and fix it again, trying to adjust it a little, yet, no response. I take it out a third time and this time I’m more involved, more careful, more intentional. This third time, I am more determined, more focused, more patient. I wasn’t thinking ‘it ought to work’. I was thinking ‘what am I not doing right?’ and ‘how can I make it work?’ and this third time, it responds and for my life’s drama, I learned yet a few simple lessons.
The Lessons
1. You learn from failure, the same way you learn from success
2. As important as it is to forget about the failures of the past, you also need to forget about the successes of the past if having more success is your goal
3. When you succeed you learn that it is possible. When you fail, you learn that there are rules.
4. You’ve heard them say that ‘that you failed at something doesn’t make you a failure’. It is also true that ‘that you succeed at something doesn’t make you a success’. Success or failure goes beyond events and occurrences. They are a reflection of the character of a man’s spirit.
5. If you will look closely at the tiny little things of life, you will learn a great deal about the big deals of life.
#eyesonthegoal
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
On Choices: DEALING WITH TEMPTATION (ADULTERY)
I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman? (Job 31:1)
Being faithful to your spouse is a choice that starts with a decision. It doesn’t happen suddenly. You don’t get there by praying or fasting (although these may help). You don’t even arrive at marital integrity by confessing and repenting. Unfaithfulness in marriage begins with the idea that it is an OPTION. An option people consider when their spouse 'isn’t available', close by, ‘no longer attractive enough’, too busy, always tired, or any of those pathetic excuses people use in self-defense. When you are unfaithful to your spouse, it has the same effect of allowing a tiny hole on your clothes without stitching it up. It opens the door to more difficult issues in your marriage that affect your finances, kids, spirituality, the future of your family and much more.
Job was the wealthiest man that lived in his day, yet he would not be so intoxicated with his wealth to think of adultery as his pass-time like men do today. The man was actually afraid of the thought, no wonder he had the kind of life he had. If you only knew what adultery has caused families; how it has destroyed estates, ruined innocent children’s lives and shattered hearts in untold dimensions, you will look away from that temptation and make a DECISION.
Here’s how you can do that… submit yourself to the Lordship of God’s word, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
While you work at it remember, Nothing and no one has power over you that you did not give to them.
#SMF
Being faithful to your spouse is a choice that starts with a decision. It doesn’t happen suddenly. You don’t get there by praying or fasting (although these may help). You don’t even arrive at marital integrity by confessing and repenting. Unfaithfulness in marriage begins with the idea that it is an OPTION. An option people consider when their spouse 'isn’t available', close by, ‘no longer attractive enough’, too busy, always tired, or any of those pathetic excuses people use in self-defense. When you are unfaithful to your spouse, it has the same effect of allowing a tiny hole on your clothes without stitching it up. It opens the door to more difficult issues in your marriage that affect your finances, kids, spirituality, the future of your family and much more.
Job was the wealthiest man that lived in his day, yet he would not be so intoxicated with his wealth to think of adultery as his pass-time like men do today. The man was actually afraid of the thought, no wonder he had the kind of life he had. If you only knew what adultery has caused families; how it has destroyed estates, ruined innocent children’s lives and shattered hearts in untold dimensions, you will look away from that temptation and make a DECISION.
Here’s how you can do that… submit yourself to the Lordship of God’s word, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
While you work at it remember, Nothing and no one has power over you that you did not give to them.
#SMF
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
On Life: To the Single Ladies and sundry- The V doesn’t mean as much
As I studied God’s response to Job this morning, a number of things got my attention about nature.
As ladies, we are wont to desire men who have the V, tall, dark, handsome, etc. It all falls in the list right?
Well here’s God’s poem describing the Buffalo’s strength;
“Will the wild buffalo condescend to serve you, volunteer to spend the night in your barn?
Can you imagine hitching your plow to a buffalo and getting him to till your fields?
He’s hugely strong, yes, but could you trust him, would you dare turn the job over to him?
You wouldn’t for a minute depend on him, would you, to do what you said when you said it? (Job 39:9-12 Msg)
Consider the Buffalo and learn wisdom. He’s hugely strong, yet cannot be trusted. Dear lady, it’s time to shred that 'list' and ask God for His perfect will to be done in your life. It's the safest place.
#Matchosdontalwayswinbattles’.
#SMF
As ladies, we are wont to desire men who have the V, tall, dark, handsome, etc. It all falls in the list right?
Well here’s God’s poem describing the Buffalo’s strength;
“Will the wild buffalo condescend to serve you, volunteer to spend the night in your barn?
Can you imagine hitching your plow to a buffalo and getting him to till your fields?
He’s hugely strong, yes, but could you trust him, would you dare turn the job over to him?
You wouldn’t for a minute depend on him, would you, to do what you said when you said it? (Job 39:9-12 Msg)
Consider the Buffalo and learn wisdom. He’s hugely strong, yet cannot be trusted. Dear lady, it’s time to shred that 'list' and ask God for His perfect will to be done in your life. It's the safest place.
#Matchosdontalwayswinbattles’.
#SMF
Monday, 20 July 2015
On Life: Dealing with difficulty; a Lesson from Job
After his servants came to him with all the terrible news of the evil that had befallen him, the bible says 'Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped'.(Job 1:20)
Job worshiped God for loosing everything? An anomaly of some kind to the human mind, but the wisdom of God in truth. When we face dire impossible situations, our first response usually is to whine and murmur and complain to those around. Talking about it helps for sure, but you need to be sure the person you're talking to can help.
There's a better recipe; I recommend Job's path. You may not feel like it but that's when you've really begun to walk by faith. It is at that point worship becomes truly a sacrifice and an act of faith towards God with whom all things are possible.
Don't talk to people about the challenge. Talk to God in worship for He knows and already created the way out for you ever before you got there.
Job worshiped God for loosing everything? An anomaly of some kind to the human mind, but the wisdom of God in truth. When we face dire impossible situations, our first response usually is to whine and murmur and complain to those around. Talking about it helps for sure, but you need to be sure the person you're talking to can help.
There's a better recipe; I recommend Job's path. You may not feel like it but that's when you've really begun to walk by faith. It is at that point worship becomes truly a sacrifice and an act of faith towards God with whom all things are possible.
Don't talk to people about the challenge. Talk to God in worship for He knows and already created the way out for you ever before you got there.
So you too can lift your hands in worship in the midst of the pain.
Thursday, 2 July 2015
On Choices: Marriage will not Complete you
It's easy to hear singles talk
about searching for the one who completes them. This aphorism has led
many to miss the point entirely and brought them into some of the rudest
shockers of their lives.
If what you mean when you say this, is that marriage will complete you, make you perfect, you're in for surprises because you see, marriage is your first test at sharing that life (you thought was incomplete) with someone else. So even the incomplete person you thought you were will now be shared with your spouse.
So here's what happens; She came in expecting to be completed and he came in expecting to be completed and both of them were waiting for the other. The idea of being cheated comes from the feeling that one is giving more than they are getting. That's the beginning of sorrows for many marriages.
Marriage does not complete people. Single or married, you cannot know completeness until you know the One who is completeness Himself and embrace what He's done to make you COMPLETE. He says 'you are complete in Me' (Colosians 2:10) and this has nothing to do with marital status. Christ is the One who makes us complete, not marriage.
To be continued...
#SMF
If what you mean when you say this, is that marriage will complete you, make you perfect, you're in for surprises because you see, marriage is your first test at sharing that life (you thought was incomplete) with someone else. So even the incomplete person you thought you were will now be shared with your spouse.
So here's what happens; She came in expecting to be completed and he came in expecting to be completed and both of them were waiting for the other. The idea of being cheated comes from the feeling that one is giving more than they are getting. That's the beginning of sorrows for many marriages.
Marriage does not complete people. Single or married, you cannot know completeness until you know the One who is completeness Himself and embrace what He's done to make you COMPLETE. He says 'you are complete in Me' (Colosians 2:10) and this has nothing to do with marital status. Christ is the One who makes us complete, not marriage.
To be continued...
#SMF
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
On Life: Christian Character; Patience is required
James 1:4 ‘But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing’.
Waiting is one message a lot of Christians don’t like to hear. We prefer a message of faith that says God’s gonna do it now. Truth is, God’s not ‘gonna’ do it. He’s already done it. (2 Corinthians 1:20). But there’s a place of waiting ON and IN God.
What kind of person do you become when ‘it’ doesn’t happen at the time you expect? What are your reactions, contemplations and considerations when it looks like God’s not coming through for you like you want Him to?
Patience is a virtue we need when we find ourselves waiting ‘endlessly’.
Patience is an ability. The ability to suppress restlessness when confronted with delay. It’s from the Greek 'Hupomone' which is ‘the characteristic of a person to remain unswerved from his/her loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
Here’s what you do next time you feel like giving in: Eyeball the devil and say to him “Whatever you try it won’t work devil cos I don’t mind waiting”. #JuanitaBynum
Here’s the trophy you emerge with after patience has carried out its complete surgery on you. You will be mature and complete and you won’t need anything (God’sWord Translation)
#SMF
Waiting is one message a lot of Christians don’t like to hear. We prefer a message of faith that says God’s gonna do it now. Truth is, God’s not ‘gonna’ do it. He’s already done it. (2 Corinthians 1:20). But there’s a place of waiting ON and IN God.
What kind of person do you become when ‘it’ doesn’t happen at the time you expect? What are your reactions, contemplations and considerations when it looks like God’s not coming through for you like you want Him to?
Patience is a virtue we need when we find ourselves waiting ‘endlessly’.
Patience is an ability. The ability to suppress restlessness when confronted with delay. It’s from the Greek 'Hupomone' which is ‘the characteristic of a person to remain unswerved from his/her loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
Here’s what you do next time you feel like giving in: Eyeball the devil and say to him “Whatever you try it won’t work devil cos I don’t mind waiting”. #JuanitaBynum
Here’s the trophy you emerge with after patience has carried out its complete surgery on you. You will be mature and complete and you won’t need anything (God’sWord Translation)
#SMF
Monday, 22 June 2015
On Pain: Counting Losses
2Chronicles 25:9
And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”
The verse is an excerpt from a bible story. Amaziah, king of Judah had paid 10,000 talents of silver to the king of Israel to lend him 100,000 soldiers so they can join him for war against his enemies. God then sends a prophet to tell him to send the soldiers he paid for away and not to depend on numbers but on Him. Amaziah agrees to do what God says but worries about what he had already 'put in' to get them.
The prophet's answer, 'God is able to give you much more' is what gets my attention today.
There are times when it's just time to count our losses and Move On. Face the painful realities, tell ourselves the hard truths, then Move On.
You have to tell yourself;
This relationship is not headed anywhere,
My family is not where I dreamed for them to be,
I may end up broke if I go on like this,
My marriage is headed for the rocks if I continue to ignore these things,
I'm not doing my best to make my dreams a reality...
Only when we do this, can we begin to make the right adjustments that take us to where we ought to be.
Amaziah must have looked stupid but he won the war eventually because he did as God said.
I find in my life's journey that sometimes, counting our losses might just be as important as counting our blessings.
#dealingwithharshrealities
#SMF
And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”
The verse is an excerpt from a bible story. Amaziah, king of Judah had paid 10,000 talents of silver to the king of Israel to lend him 100,000 soldiers so they can join him for war against his enemies. God then sends a prophet to tell him to send the soldiers he paid for away and not to depend on numbers but on Him. Amaziah agrees to do what God says but worries about what he had already 'put in' to get them.
The prophet's answer, 'God is able to give you much more' is what gets my attention today.
There are times when it's just time to count our losses and Move On. Face the painful realities, tell ourselves the hard truths, then Move On.
You have to tell yourself;
This relationship is not headed anywhere,
My family is not where I dreamed for them to be,
I may end up broke if I go on like this,
My marriage is headed for the rocks if I continue to ignore these things,
I'm not doing my best to make my dreams a reality...
Only when we do this, can we begin to make the right adjustments that take us to where we ought to be.
Amaziah must have looked stupid but he won the war eventually because he did as God said.
I find in my life's journey that sometimes, counting our losses might just be as important as counting our blessings.
#dealingwithharshrealities
#SMF
On Life: The Open Door
Sometimes, the 'Open Door' is the closed door: It teaches us how to deal with disappointments. #blessingindisguise
Other times,the 'Open Door' is the door that leads outside (not inside): it teaches us to deal with regrets #allthingsworktogether
Yet at other times, the 'Open Door' is just the most unlikely door: it teaches us to trust. #andobey
Whichever it is, may the Still Small Voice grant you peace.
#SMF
Other times,the 'Open Door' is the door that leads outside (not inside): it teaches us to deal with regrets #allthingsworktogether
Yet at other times, the 'Open Door' is just the most unlikely door: it teaches us to trust. #andobey
Whichever it is, may the Still Small Voice grant you peace.
#SMF
Monday, 8 June 2015
On Love; Success in Marriage is Planned for
Success in life is not accidental. Neither is success in marriage; it is planned for.
Your marriage will not be a success simply because you exchanged vows before the Lord, as important as that is. It's very akin to salvation. After you received Christ by confessing His Lordship over your life, He went ahead to tell you certain things you must do to work out your salvation. In the same way, you must be intentional about doing the things that will strengthen your marriage, else it will fail in just a matter of time.
Fight to stay intentional rather than get casual about your marriage.
Intentionally pay compliments, give, spend time together. Get intentional about giving and receiving love, about submission. Intentionally stay in shape (especially if your spouse minds) and dress well. Get intentional about being tender, understanding and caring. Get intentional about praying and carrying out spiritual exercises together.
This is the reason many start out well but have a hard time keeping the spark in their marriage.
True we don't have high divorce rates in Africa but many a couple have become flat mates because they weren't intentional about keeping the romance in their relationship. These things don't just happen.
Start by keeping an open-mouthed relationship. Talk about the things your spouse is doing that you want them to stop, the things you want them to start and even those you want them to continue.
That's how lasting friendships are built.
If you've not been intentional about some of these things, you can begin from now on. It's part of working out your marriage with godly reverence while you put the devil where he belongs, under your feet.
#bringbackthespark
#SMF
Your marriage will not be a success simply because you exchanged vows before the Lord, as important as that is. It's very akin to salvation. After you received Christ by confessing His Lordship over your life, He went ahead to tell you certain things you must do to work out your salvation. In the same way, you must be intentional about doing the things that will strengthen your marriage, else it will fail in just a matter of time.
Fight to stay intentional rather than get casual about your marriage.
Intentionally pay compliments, give, spend time together. Get intentional about giving and receiving love, about submission. Intentionally stay in shape (especially if your spouse minds) and dress well. Get intentional about being tender, understanding and caring. Get intentional about praying and carrying out spiritual exercises together.
This is the reason many start out well but have a hard time keeping the spark in their marriage.
True we don't have high divorce rates in Africa but many a couple have become flat mates because they weren't intentional about keeping the romance in their relationship. These things don't just happen.
Start by keeping an open-mouthed relationship. Talk about the things your spouse is doing that you want them to stop, the things you want them to start and even those you want them to continue.
That's how lasting friendships are built.
If you've not been intentional about some of these things, you can begin from now on. It's part of working out your marriage with godly reverence while you put the devil where he belongs, under your feet.
#bringbackthespark
#SMF
Saturday, 6 June 2015
ON LIFE. From selfishness to self-love and now, God-love!
The flip side to
selfishness is tagged in a more politically correct term, self-love. So
they say, selfishness is a vice but self-love is a virtue. Self-love
should make you do things for yourself, protect yourself, love yourself
and when you have to make a choice ensure it's informed by self-love.
Someone said God's not against self-love but selfishness and I agreed,
until recently.
Let's look at a few examples from the scriptures
Abraham was asked to leave his family (Genesis 12:1)
Isaac was asked to stay in the land of famine (Genesis 26:2)
Ruth was inspired to stay with Naomi (Ruth 1:16)
Esther dared to go before the king at the risk of death (Esther 4:16)
Job was asked to curse God (Job 2:9)
Peter, James, John and the other disciples had to abandon their careers (Mark 1:18)
Jesus our Lord, was given no other option besides a criminal's crucifixion. (Hebrews 5:8)
These all acted in defiance to the principles of self-love that is preached everywhere today.
Self-love is the foundation of these last-days misnomer of homosexuality and same-sex marriage that we see in our world.
It has made humans embark on transgender surgeries
It makes people cheat on their spouses without restraint, and has destroyed countless marriages and even great relationships
It's the basis for the most destructive addictions people suffer from today.
Self-love is not of God, how could it be, when we were not made for ourselves?
If God made us, then it must be that He made us to Know Him, Love Him and Serve Him (Matthew 22:37-38)
That self-love is destructive and of the devil becomes easy to understand when we look into how Satan emerged. His self-love corrupted him into wanting to become like the Most High.
If you knew the millions of lives connected to you, you would know that to make decisions on the grounds of self-love is sheer mediocrity.
When next you catch yourself wanting to do things inspired by self-love, ask instead, what is the light of God's word concerning this matter?
For man was not made to pursue his happiness but to please the One who made him. That's where true and lasting happiness comes from.
#thelesserisincludedinthegreater
#SMF
Let's look at a few examples from the scriptures
Abraham was asked to leave his family (Genesis 12:1)
Isaac was asked to stay in the land of famine (Genesis 26:2)
Ruth was inspired to stay with Naomi (Ruth 1:16)
Esther dared to go before the king at the risk of death (Esther 4:16)
Job was asked to curse God (Job 2:9)
Peter, James, John and the other disciples had to abandon their careers (Mark 1:18)
Jesus our Lord, was given no other option besides a criminal's crucifixion. (Hebrews 5:8)
These all acted in defiance to the principles of self-love that is preached everywhere today.
Self-love is the foundation of these last-days misnomer of homosexuality and same-sex marriage that we see in our world.
It has made humans embark on transgender surgeries
It makes people cheat on their spouses without restraint, and has destroyed countless marriages and even great relationships
It's the basis for the most destructive addictions people suffer from today.
Self-love is not of God, how could it be, when we were not made for ourselves?
If God made us, then it must be that He made us to Know Him, Love Him and Serve Him (Matthew 22:37-38)
That self-love is destructive and of the devil becomes easy to understand when we look into how Satan emerged. His self-love corrupted him into wanting to become like the Most High.
If you knew the millions of lives connected to you, you would know that to make decisions on the grounds of self-love is sheer mediocrity.
When next you catch yourself wanting to do things inspired by self-love, ask instead, what is the light of God's word concerning this matter?
For man was not made to pursue his happiness but to please the One who made him. That's where true and lasting happiness comes from.
#thelesserisincludedinthegreater
#SMF
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
ON LIFE: Refuse the devil's lies in your marriage
There's a line of thought that's putting many Christians in terrible bondage in their marriage and that's the discuss today.
Listening to God's voice in your choice of a marriage partner is no doubt of utmost importance but the point today is, that you're facing challenges in your marriage is no pointer to any 'fact' that you're married to the wrong person.
That you're having a tough time in your marriage does not mean you made a mistake in the first place, or walked outside God's perfect will for you.
As Christians, when we face challenges, our first response is usually to turn the light on ourselves, to search out what we did or where we went wrong. You need to know that there's a devil somewhere whose KRA is to give you a life of misery and that's who you must be on the offensive against. Not your spouse.
The bible shows us that we will face trials, not because we have done something wrong, but because there is an adversary who's bent on giving you a hard life. Think about it! Once you're married, you're married. Even if you have 'proof' that Mr/Mrs Right wasn't the 'perfect will' after all, you can trust God to make all things beautiful in spite of the challenges.
So in the midst of the trouble in your marriage, don't turn the light on yourself (I made a mistake) or on your spouse (he/she is the mistake). That's Satan's ploy to give you misery on a platter. Turn the light on the devil and put him where he belongs; under your feet, while you work out your marriage with godly reverence.
#thistoowillpass#SMF
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864103666993573/
Listening to God's voice in your choice of a marriage partner is no doubt of utmost importance but the point today is, that you're facing challenges in your marriage is no pointer to any 'fact' that you're married to the wrong person.
That you're having a tough time in your marriage does not mean you made a mistake in the first place, or walked outside God's perfect will for you.
As Christians, when we face challenges, our first response is usually to turn the light on ourselves, to search out what we did or where we went wrong. You need to know that there's a devil somewhere whose KRA is to give you a life of misery and that's who you must be on the offensive against. Not your spouse.
The bible shows us that we will face trials, not because we have done something wrong, but because there is an adversary who's bent on giving you a hard life. Think about it! Once you're married, you're married. Even if you have 'proof' that Mr/Mrs Right wasn't the 'perfect will' after all, you can trust God to make all things beautiful in spite of the challenges.
So in the midst of the trouble in your marriage, don't turn the light on yourself (I made a mistake) or on your spouse (he/she is the mistake). That's Satan's ploy to give you misery on a platter. Turn the light on the devil and put him where he belongs; under your feet, while you work out your marriage with godly reverence.
#thistoowillpass#SMF
https://www.facebook.com/groups/864103666993573/
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
On Life. The Good Called Pain
Imagine you could
Step on a nail and not feel anything
Be pierced through with a knife and just keep going
Place your hand on a lit stove and just leave it there
Find your spouse cheating on your matrimonial bed, close the door and just go into the kitchen to make dinner
Take a moment to paint these pictures and you would have a glimpse of what life would look like without our innate ability to feel pain.
Our world would have been a chaotic mass
Everyone would be maimed one way or another
There would be no families or any family structure at all
There would be no sickness, only death
There would be death without mourning
There would be a world without lessons to learn
There really would be nothing to live for cause there would be no difference between success and failure
Pain is really a gift
It seems like it's one of our 'pass' to planet earth
It's what makes us know there's life in and around us
It's what makes us dream for the future
Pain helps us love, care, share and pray.
Pain makes us compassionate, patient, empathetic and passionate
Pain makes us wiser, stronger, better and bolder
Pain shows us our limits, boundaries, possibilities and thresholds
Pain let's us into our strengths, and our Hercules
With pain comes great gain
If there was nothing good about pain
Then should our tears taste as bitter as vinegar
But our tears taste as salt to show that pain, like salt, does preserve.
It just makes more sense #romans8:28
So the next time you feel the pain
Endure or enjoy it while it lasts
'Cos nothing lasts forever. Not even pain
No matter how long it takes, #hoteventuallyturnscold
#SMF
Monday, 25 May 2015
ON CHOICES. Does it really take 2?
Amos 3:3 says
'Can two work together except they be agreed?'
This scripture rhetoric leaves us with a NO answer.
However, in marriage, the consideration of whether you both can work
together or not is a consideration that has come too late. The only
answer to that question would be to go separate ways (when you always
disagree), but there’s no such provision in Christianity.
What you should be considering now is how you can agree in order to
work together and that brings us the question ‘does it really take two?’
It’s beautiful when we agree on everything. Where there are no
dispersions, disparities or disagreements at all on any subject
whatsoever. But this is near impossible for the singular fact that you
two are independent personalities. So then, how can we agree in order to
work together as the scriptures have said? This answers the question.
It really doesn’t take two!
Here's reality. There’s only one person
that you know 100% and that person is you. It doesn’t matter that you
are now married; you will never get to know your spouse completely. The
scriptures clearly state that the only one who knows a man (or woman) is
the spirit of that man (1 Corinthians 2:11). You are going to have to
take the responsibility of playing your part to make your marriage work
because that’s what God expects of you (Eph 5:22-31). The scripture
says,
‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’. (Rom 12:18)
God knows that you can single-handedly make your marriage a success independent of your spouse.
Without the guide that we have from God’s word, this would be
practically impossible, but praise God, we were not left without a
guide. He gave us His word so that we can live by it.
Saturday, 16 May 2015
On Choices. Ahab and Jezebel
1Ki 21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Looking through the scriptures, I find that Ahab was fundamentally a good man. Yes, like his predecessors, Jeroboam especially, he did some things that really hurt the Lord, but he was definitely not the the 'worse of the bunch'.
His major pitfall would turn out to be the wife he married, Princess Jezebel.
Jezebel introduced the worship of Baal to Israel,
Jezebel killed the prophets of God,
Jezebel threatened the prophet of an entire nation and caused ELIJAH to run for his life,
Jezebel killed an innocent man to get his vineyard and add it to the king's fleet of vineyards,
Jezebel caused the first ever 3.5 years drought in Israel (When she caused the people to sin, Elijah asked God to stop the rain so they would know He was angry with them).
Ahab's reign turned out to be a plague to the people because of the woman he married.
In making wise choices, men are mostly left off the hook and it seems more of a 'girl's problem', but the truth is that the simple fact that you have a peculiar destiny on earth should point you to the significance of having the Spirit's guidance in making the life-time choice of whom to marry, male or female.
Cos I find in my life's dealings, destinies, made or marred by this singular, all-important decision.
Thursday, 7 May 2015
On Dreams.Only evil people do evil things!!!
An old proverb says ‘only evil people do evil things’ and so I won’t harm you. (1 Samuel 24:13 CEV)
The verse above is an excerpt from the account in the bible of David’s encounter with Saul in a cave. David had the opportunity to kill Saul who had been looking everywhere for him in order to have him killed. Contrary to the expectations of his soldiers, David will not as much as lay a hand on the king but cut a piece off his robe as proof to Saul, that though he (David) got the opportunity to kill him, he had resisted the temptation.
Imagine how tempting it may have been for David to kill Saul. After all David knew that one day he would wear the crown and that Saul had lost both his spiritual and mental abilities to lead God’s people. But David refused to kill the king because he was more concerned with doing God’s word.
The verse above is an excerpt from the account in the bible of David’s encounter with Saul in a cave. David had the opportunity to kill Saul who had been looking everywhere for him in order to have him killed. Contrary to the expectations of his soldiers, David will not as much as lay a hand on the king but cut a piece off his robe as proof to Saul, that though he (David) got the opportunity to kill him, he had resisted the temptation.
Imagine how tempting it may have been for David to kill Saul. After all David knew that one day he would wear the crown and that Saul had lost both his spiritual and mental abilities to lead God’s people. But David refused to kill the king because he was more concerned with doing God’s word.
Even when we know the goal we want to achieve is pleasing to God, the way we achieve it is just as important as the goal itself before God.
Hear what David said to Saul; ‘only evil people do evil things’. It does not matter how good the reasons you have for acting the wrong way. Your priority has to always be to do what God has said.
In life we will be tempted to act, react or even respond the wrong way. But it’s just a temptation we have to overcome having settled in our hearts that God’s word has final authority.
Saturday, 2 May 2015
On life; The Travelling Temptation
Now there came a traveler to the
rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to
prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's
lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” (2 Samuel 12:4)
David kills Uriah to cover his sin and marries Bathsheba and so God sends Prophet Nathan to him with this parable.
The verse above is an excerpt from Nathan's parable, an analogy of what David had done and an allegory of what we call TEMPTATION.
What David felt that night for Bathsheba is in Nathan's story, the traveler who visited the rich man.
The fact that he was a traveler means that he had not come to stay. David (the rich man) takes the only lamb belonging to the poor man and serves as dinner to his traveling guest.
If we would remind ourselves that this temptation is on a journey that has come to pass and only a temporary pain or craving, then we could do what David could have done: take his eyes away and 'let that night pass'.
Even though David repented immediately and was forgiven by God, his life would never be the same again for this singular act.
I learn, in my Life's Drama, that upon 'morning', the 'traveler' always departs.
#eyesonthegoal
David kills Uriah to cover his sin and marries Bathsheba and so God sends Prophet Nathan to him with this parable.
The verse above is an excerpt from Nathan's parable, an analogy of what David had done and an allegory of what we call TEMPTATION.
What David felt that night for Bathsheba is in Nathan's story, the traveler who visited the rich man.
The fact that he was a traveler means that he had not come to stay. David (the rich man) takes the only lamb belonging to the poor man and serves as dinner to his traveling guest.
If we would remind ourselves that this temptation is on a journey that has come to pass and only a temporary pain or craving, then we could do what David could have done: take his eyes away and 'let that night pass'.
Even though David repented immediately and was forgiven by God, his life would never be the same again for this singular act.
I learn, in my Life's Drama, that upon 'morning', the 'traveler' always departs.
#eyesonthegoal
Friday, 17 April 2015
On Choices; Trust and Obey
For my life's drama!!!
Just studying and really wondering. What kind of person was Ruth?
What inspired her to leave her tribe, religion, culture and people to follow her mother-in-law after the person that connected them both had died and there was obviously nothing to gain?
This really is not about Ruth's widowhood.
I'm wondering how a person gets to make such a decision that seems humanly stupid and sticks it through because they won't have it any other way.
Ruth ends up in Our Lord's ancestory for this singular act.
What can I more say? Ruth had something a little different from faith.
It's what Abraham had when God asked him to leave his family and 'go to a land that I will show you' and when he moved up to the mount to slaughter Isaac his son because God said to.
It's what Isaac had when God asked him to stay in a land of famine
It's what Esther had when she said 'if I perish I perish'.
It's what we must have if we will triumph in the midst of the chaos called 'life'.
It's called TRUST. It's an unqualified commitment to Jehovah with reckless abandonment on His promises.
For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
#eyesonthegoal
Just studying and really wondering. What kind of person was Ruth?
What inspired her to leave her tribe, religion, culture and people to follow her mother-in-law after the person that connected them both had died and there was obviously nothing to gain?
This really is not about Ruth's widowhood.
I'm wondering how a person gets to make such a decision that seems humanly stupid and sticks it through because they won't have it any other way.
Ruth ends up in Our Lord's ancestory for this singular act.
What can I more say? Ruth had something a little different from faith.
It's what Abraham had when God asked him to leave his family and 'go to a land that I will show you' and when he moved up to the mount to slaughter Isaac his son because God said to.
It's what Isaac had when God asked him to stay in a land of famine
It's what Esther had when she said 'if I perish I perish'.
It's what we must have if we will triumph in the midst of the chaos called 'life'.
It's called TRUST. It's an unqualified commitment to Jehovah with reckless abandonment on His promises.
For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
#eyesonthegoal
Thursday, 9 April 2015
On Choices; Responsibility
Ever found yourself wishing you were not so responsible?
I mean responsible for your actions, your responses, your choices, your reactions, your options...your this and your that?
Remember those days when you were free to say mummy made me do this, or daddy told me do that, or pastor told me don't do that?
You could hold them responsible when things didn't go exactly right.
But here you are now, totally RESPONSIBLE
You know what has happened?
You've grown up.
Told yah. Don't grow up
*whispers* it's a trap.
But there's a good side to it. With responsibility comes freedom and with freedom comes choice and choice means you can have the best.
So Cheers *smiles*
#eyesonthegoal
I mean responsible for your actions, your responses, your choices, your reactions, your options...your this and your that?
Remember those days when you were free to say mummy made me do this, or daddy told me do that, or pastor told me don't do that?
You could hold them responsible when things didn't go exactly right.
But here you are now, totally RESPONSIBLE
You know what has happened?
You've grown up.
Told yah. Don't grow up
*whispers* it's a trap.
But there's a good side to it. With responsibility comes freedom and with freedom comes choice and choice means you can have the best.
So Cheers *smiles*
#eyesonthegoal
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