The Youthful Age

                     Young People On A Beach

The youthful age is a time of great energy and fearlessness. A time when the zeal to do things is most high in people. When a person is young, it can be likened to when he or she still has strength to do a lot of things. It is a time to prepare the bed for your rest at a much, older age. 

Experiencing life to the fullest requires being in good form of mind, will and body. There are experiences best soaked in when a person is active, strong and healthy. Dancing, listening to music, going for social functions, appreciating nature, art and other beautiful things in life requires strength and good health. Youthful age is a time to really be in the moment while working towards the future. Many things can be achieved and established with the time and strength that comes with youth. A young person is full of energy that needs to be channelled in the most productive of ways. This energy also needs to be stabilized in order to tame its turbulent nature. 

What is a youth to do? A youth is to accumulate wisdom needed to spend his or her days wisely. A youth should have good knowledge of his or her strengths and weaknesses. Accept them, tolerate his or her shortcomings, be patient with themselves and patiently work towards perfection. A youth should not be afraid to make moves that will secure a brighter future. A youth should always make decisions with the future in view. 

The youthful age seems like a phase in life when there is plenty of time but in truth, time flies fastest when you are young. This is why you have to invest in your time expenditure. Time is a commodity that is almost irredeemable. It is only God that can redeem lost time. As a youth, it is important that you value the seconds. 

You are creating memories with every decision you make. You are also blessing or cursing yourself with each action or deed. Spend your time wisely, prepare the bed for your old age 's rest. Learn to relish the moments as they fly by. Bless yourself for tomorrow and also create beautiful memories that will keep you company in your old age. 

No one is irreplaceable and the beautiful ones are not yet born, be humble and kind. When you die, what will you leave behind? What legacy, inheritance and reputation will you have made for yourself and your children? Your children must not be younger ones you birthed. They can be people whose lives you impacted negatively or positively. Will you be a blessing to them or will you give them reason to regret ever springing from you? 

Let everyone who has something to do with you, boast of knowing you. Let them call you their own because they have gained a lot from being affiliated with you. Let generation after generation celebrate having you in their lineage.

 It is not really your life. Your deeds resonate across generations, cursing them or blessing them. Choose to be a blessing, make the decisions of today with the well being of your offspring and people around you in consideration.

The He Who Is Jesus

      An image representing Jesus Christ

Science seeks answers, so does human beings. Science probes into the unknown and gets trapped at some point where it cannot explain some phenomenon. Human beings also have a lot of questions and desires. They want something or someone who would fill an ever-gaping void within them, to pacify a longing within them. Why is it that the whole world seems to be caught up in some kind of chase? We seem to never get enough of anything. We want knowledge, power, pleasure and satisfaction. When we do get these things, we are still not filled up. 

What then is the solution to this unending hunger and thirst in us? What is the answer to all our questions and concerns?

Jesus said that he is 'He'. We notice that whenever God wants to talk about Himself or whenever Jesus wants to talk about Himself, they present themselves as the answer to a long sought solution. The missing piece of a huge puzzle. An explanation that makes it all clear and understandable. The home we have been looking for.

 Jesus Christ is The Word that was with God in the beginning. He was The Word with God and was God. He is the very substance by which all things were created and He is the binding force by which everything created stays in place. When things go wrong, when we need a friend, when we feel lonely and we long for an ideal person who would meet our every need, there and then, we are unknowingly longing for Jesus Christ. The perfect job, husband, wife, child, relationship e.t.c is all hidden in Jesus Christ.

Everything good is already in Jesus Christ. He is the best form of anything good in this world. In order to know true peace, love and satisfaction, we have to turn to Jesus Christ first. He is the one to give us the peace we have been seeking in other things, the companionship, the love e.t.c. it is all in Jesus. In terms of spirituality, He is the most powerful force in the whole universe and of the highest rank. Other forces know who He is and the power He bears. They also know the authority He represents.

 

The Importance Of Individual Diligence And Responsibility

 

     A hand receiving a heart

The Bible is a book of training. It is a book that will train you and teach you how to be a very good person. It teaches you how to be the best version of yourself. Not lacking sufficiency in anything. Every aspect of a person's personality is touched upon by the teachings and promptings of the Holy Spirit. By the help of the Holy Spirit, truths needed for correct living in life are unravelled to every reader. Be it in spirituality, personal grooming, finance, relationships and even in homemaking, raising of children, leadership and so many other aspects of life. God does not want half-baked people as His witnesses. Because of this, he makes sure that you are not found wanting, lacking or insufficient in any good character traits.

At this moment, the Bible is teaching about diligence and responsibility. God does not accommodate lazy children. He prunes us to be sound individuals, reliable, accountable and responsible. Some individuals use Christianity and spirituality as excuses to be lazy. They hide behind the things they believe God has said to them and use these things as excuses to dodge responsibilities. Real life responsibilities. These people may be active in church, physically engaging in energy taking activities but they avoid their primary duties. What sense does it make for someone to leave what is expected of him or her just because he or she has got something to do in church? Or just because they received a revelation from God? These set of people claim to be so spiritual that even atheists who do not believe in God, are better than them at being responsible and accountable..

1 Timothy 5:8 - "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Any form of spirituality or religion that keeps a person from being diligent and responsible is not from God. A sign of a true child of God is diligence and individual responsibility, not slothfulness or laziness of any kind.

Acts 20:33 - 35: "I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Do you see how responsible Paul is? That is diligence. He does not want to be a burden to anyone. He works hard to feed himself and take care of himself. His intention for taking responsibility is also for him to be able to help those in need because 'it is more blessed to give than to receive. There is a fulfilment in being able to provide. You feel happier when you are able to do something for someone than when someone does something for you and you also create room and reason for God to bless you. God will only increase a giver so that he can always have more to give. Responsibility is all about carrying your own load and necessity no matter how meager it may seem. Apart from allowing yourself to be helped when you need it and not being ashamed to ask for help when you are in need of it, we all should strive towards self sufficiency. We should ask God to supply us with His sufficiency so that we will not be found lacking in anything.

When you are lazy and too dependent as a Christian, it reflects negatively on our God that you preach. People of the world are not stupid. They know what it means for a person to be responsible and they know what it means for a person to be pretentious. Question is: are you a pretentious Christian? Do you use spirituality as an excuse to avoid responsibility?

2 Corinthians 9: 8 - 14: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you."

God supplies seed to the sower. A sower is a person who is active, actively sowing seeds and God replenishes his supply of seeds.

2 Corinthians 11:9 - "And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so."

Responsibility. Diligence.

Ephesians 4:28 - "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need."

It is only good for you to carry yourself in a way that leaves a good impression about God and about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not just to leave a good impression about God but also to be empowered enough to help those in need. May God help us in Jesus'name, amen.

The Power In The Name Of Jesus Christ

              A representation of Jesus Christ

The power in the name of Jesus Christ emanates from the status of its bearer. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has equal likeness with God and is also the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the word of God made flesh. He is the truth, the way, the life, the resurrection, the bread of life, the living water, the good shepherd and the lamb of God.

Everything that he is called represents a strand of his infinite, great personality and potency as the only Son of God. Every spiritual authority in the universe knows who Jesus Christ is. They recognize his authority, power and hierarchy.

Apart from the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He did not count his equality or likeness with God something to be grasped, instead like a lamb,he humbled himself and took the form of sinful man. He was obedient to God even to death on the cross and because of this, God gave him a name that is above every other name, that at the mention of the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.

So, His name was given power and authority by God. He is powerful and his name is also powerful. When you call his name, you invoke the power in the name to act for you and at the same time, call Jesus himself to come to your rescue. So, two things are happening, a manifestation of power from the name and a manifestation of the person bearing the name in His fullness. The power that is in the name of Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ himself are similar because they are both from the same source, which is God Almighty but they are independent entities yet connected. 

The name of Jesus Christ has the power to make everything submit to the truth and law in it. Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords so when you call Him, He comes to sustain, maintain and secure His sovereignty as King and Lord.

You don't need to point out what is contradicting the truth and law in the name of Jesus Christ or the person of Jesus Christ. His name and presence has the ability to seek out whatever it is and cause it to submit, and cause it to align to who He is.

2 Corinthians 10: 5 - "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Romans 14:11 - "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."

Philippians 2: 5 - 11: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

When things are getting out of hand and you feel too weak to pray. Go to a secret place, in your room, in an open field or when you are alone in the house, just make sure that you are alone and then, scream the name of Jesus Christ like it is your last chance to. Cry if you can but scream His name with all your heart, mind and soul. Scream his name like you want your heart to rip apart in the power of your energy.

Call his name, Jesus. Call him Jesus because the name means anointed saviour. He has been anointed to save. His specialty is in saving, that is what he is so good at. Shout ' Lord Jesus, save me!'. Shout it and mean every word. Then, be ready to feel and see Him move in so much power and might, in so much love and mercy, in so much beauty and glory for you because He loves you and because you belong to Him.

If you can't find your voice, whisper his name. If you're speechless, say his name in your heart, He hears it all. In every way, he hears you and feels every energy from you.

What Individualism Did to the Stewards of God

  

        Outstretched arms, ready to submit to  God's will

Individualism is a manner of approach adopted by the people of modern times, in their bid to mind their business and stay away from other people's issues.

 Individualism, to some extent, is good.This is especially when it helps us to know our boundaries, respect other people's boundaries and not pry into other people's private affairs. When individualism goes wrong is when it keeps us from doing the work God has called us to do. 

As children of God, we all have been called by God to serve Him by  serving the people. Every one has been given a gift by God. This gift can be one or many depending on the kind of mantle He has placed on us. We did not come to this world to make money, make a name for ourselves, enjoy life and then go. We came to serve and be served. That way, the world is left better than we met it.

It is God that gives us the ability to believe in Him in the first place. He gives us the grace to believe in Him, in this dispensation of grace lies an empowerment. We are empowered to believe in Him and we are enabled to work for Him. He gives us goods that belongs to Him in form of gifts and delegates us to ministering to people.

 We are more of custodians, stewards, servants and ministers of His spirit expressed in many different gifts.

So, we are not to pride in some things we can do, some talents we have or some  potentials that we possess.  It is not of our might or of our doing but of the Lord. It all belongs to God and He gave us these gifts so that we can bring them to our fellow men on Earth.

We are like ambassadors or dispensers of the infinite beauty and wonder of God. Everyone should represent properly. It would be so wicked of us if we take the gift that God has given to us to fulfil a purpose that he did not intend it for.

Everyone has a gift. A gift must not be something so out of the ordinary, a gift can be just the ability to be good to other people.

In the midst of Individualism, when are we supposed to know the best time to reach out to someone? The best time to reach out to someone is when we are able to anticipate an unmet need. The person does not need to ask for our help. We have to be able to 'anticipate' a person's need and help them as soon as we can. It would be dubious of us to wait until someone tells us to help him or her when it is glaringly obvious that this person is in dire need of help. Turning a blind eye or a deaf ear is silent wickedness.

The gifts that we have are not ours to keep or to decorate our portfolio with, it is for the people. 

If you can teach, the ability is for the people. 

If you can sing, it is for the people.

If you are kind, it is for the people.

If you have a good heart and a caring spirit, it is for the people.

1 Peter 4:10 - "As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor"

                         "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

We should not allow individualism to keep us from reaching out to the people God has called us to serve. Once we see an opportunity to serve, in word or action, we should...so that the people of God will not be denied what is rightfully theirs.

May God give us the grace to be faithful stewards, servants, ministers and custodians of His manifold grace , in the form of diverse gifts in the name of Jesus. 

All gifts are important, popular, profound or not. No matter how insignificant or unnecessary it may seem, someone out there needs it, you have to feed their soul.

Do not let people intimidate you or make you feel like your own contribution to the people of God does not count. We all matter and God is going to be pleased with us if we put His will first in all of our decisions. It is well with us in Jesus name, amen.

Living and Dying in Christ

 
                   Jesus on the cross

What does it mean to live in Christ and to also die in Christ? To live and die in Christ simply means when the most important thing in your life is Jesus Christ and also means that when you are about to die, you do not die without hope, you die with a hope that you will join Jesus when you die. That He will take you with Him to heaven. One may ask how it is possible for a person to make Jesus Christ the most important thing in his life when there are so many distractions in the world. How can a person connect with the person of Jesus Christ in such a way that this person almost breathes, walks and talks Jesus? How can someone turn out to be that personally devoted to Jesus?

It is one thing to believe in God. It is another thing to be dedicated to God. Dedication can only occur when someone is touched by someone else or something else at a deep level. This is called a personal encounter. No one can force his or herself to be committed to God in an uncommon way, there always has be a reason to want to make that commitment. 

In order not to make this complicated, we can look at it in everyday terms, starting from the things that we are passionate about. There are things that matter most to us in life. The very thing we live for. Some people live to make money and be able to afford a luxurious lifestyle whereas some people live to make money in order to take good care of their loved ones. Whatever a person's passion is, it always touches the person's heart and soul. It always has to do with some life experience that makes us resolve in a particular way and make a particular thing most important in our lives. For e.g, the most important thing to me is the environment and humanity. I want to have enough money so that I can help with preserving our earthly home and helping people in need or in suffering but how does Jesus come into the picture? This is how Jesus comes into the picture: everyone who wants to be successful in whatever field always needs a support system, a value system and a belief system. A good support, value and belief system has to be one that is reliable, true and tested overtime. All these systems can be summed up as backup. Your backup is supposed to be strong enough to help you stand tall and powerful in this world. If it is not, people who oppose your goals with stronger backups will take you out. What makes Jesus so special? Why did I make Him my main backup? Why should you make Him your backup? 

First off, I was born into Christianity, I didn't get converted into it. it was more of a religion to me than a lifestyle. When I got older, I started asking questions. I wanted to see the reality of what I have been taught all these years. It was until I had a personal encounter with God, with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that everything started to make sense to me. All the Bible stories I was told as a little girl that sounded more like fairy tales started to become real to me. I began to see power in them. I would not want to go into the details of my personal encounter with God but in it, I saw love. I also saw power. I saw amazing, overwhelming love. Great power and the all consuming passion of the love of God. I do not think that I am living in Christ enough. My passion for God does not equate or measure up to the passion I saw in Paul and the early church.

Philippians 1: 21 - 23 - " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"

This is Kings James Version of the Bible. I know it is written in old English but you can see the passion with which Paul spoke. That to live is Christ and to die is gain because when he dies , he gets be with the Lord, never to be away from Him. Such passion, such fire, such love.

The only thing that make a person this drawn to anyone is a personal revelation. Paul has seen a part of Jesus that most of us haven't. He has come to know and understand the personality of Jesus so much that he is drawn to Jesus and wants more of Him. It is quite simple to understand: Jesus Christ is the word of God made flesh, He is the resurrection, the life, the light, the truth, the way, the door..

He is all of these in a spiritual way and also a person. He has the same likeness with God, equal with God, that makes Him eternal, an everlasting king and Lord of all but most of all, he is a person. The fact that he is a person makes it possible for us to relate with Him within the context of a relationship. 

I relate with Jesus within the context of a relationship. There was a time when I didn't know Him. He was just like every other face I know or every other name I've heard about. I did not know Him personally. I sure wondered who he really was but a relationship did not start until I began to know him personally. I felt His love, I saw His power , I understood why He died, He spoke to my heart and I fell in love with Him because that was when I understood Him for who He was. 

Living in Christ is being all consumed about Jesus, it means to almost breathe him every second, he is always on your mind, always in your heart, you talk about him, you walk with him and you walk him. Christianity is theoretical, practical but mostly a spiritual lifestyle. There is real power in Christianity, in Jesus Christ, in God and in the Holy Spirit. This is because God is good, kind, merciful, gracious and powerful. 

Living in Christ has a lot to do with a divine supernatural being, the Holy Trinity. They are real and true. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. You can feel their power and reality in two ways, either you believe in them and they reveal themselves, or you do not believe in them, defy their authority and watch them put you in your place.

The spiritual power in Christianity is unlocked when you believe in God and in His son, Jesus Christ with all your heart. I wouldn't blame them for making the rules that way, I would do the same if I were them. If i were some powerful, divine goddess (by the way, I am the daughter of the most high God. So I am much more powerful than a divine goddess because I have a portion of my Father's spirit in me which makes me a God too. The daughter of God is a god too) who was invisible, I would only reveal myself to those who believe that I am real because they are the only ones qualified to see me. They believed in me without seeing me. You see? 

The Bible can be just any book to you or a book of power for you when you begin to believe the words you read with the heart and mind of a child. When you believe in Jesus Christ, you have to call on the Holy Spirit to help you on your journey of getting to know Him. Knowing Jesus is a spiritual exercise. There are things about Him that only the holy Spirit can reveal to you and explain to you. 

Believe it or not, every strand of the personality of Jesus Christ that you get know and assimilate into your spirit is an addition of power to you. This is because He is the word of God personified. Getting to know Him is getting to know the word of God. When you assimilate the word of God into your spirit, you are assimilating power and glory. Wonder working power and glory that will transform you and make you more like Jesus Christ. The more you know Jesus Christ, the more you will be like Him, the more you will want more of Him. 

He is light, life, truth , the way and the resurrection. The true vine, the bread of life, the good shepherd, the lion and the lamb, a man of war, the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 

He is the one. He is the one. 

If you know anything about demonic possessions, you will understand what I am trying to say. He is the one. How does a person gets possessed by a  demon(s)? Through books or meddling with dark objects. These things bear dark, evil power. When you expose yourself to them and meddle with them, they can take over you. In the same way, when you get yourself involved with the word of God, with the life, with the way, with the resurrection, the Redeemer, the Savior, the bread of life, the true vine(look at the beautiful phrases and titles he has. They all point to his powerful , beautiful and glorious essence), the lamb of God and the good shepherd, you are getting in touch with love, power, light, healing, transformation, glory and might.

This is why anyone would want to live in Him. This is the reason why anyone would want to live for Him, to be all about him, to breathe him because he is worthy of all our attention. 

His love is amazing. So fierce, consuming, overwhelming and passionate, it will make you tear up. Jesus is so sweet, so understanding, so kind, so merciful, so forgiving, so accepting and the more you experience Him, the more you will learn to treat others the way he has treated you. You will learn to love like him because you will have felt the weight of his love and mercy. 

Knowing Jesus is a spiritual journey that transforms you into a new being.

John 17:3 - "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

When you see the words of the Bible, do not be discouraged whether you will understand them or not. You cannot understand those words with your intellect, it is a spiritual book and only the Holy Spirit can interpret the hidden meaning of every verse to your own spirit before you can get it.

Isaiah 53:11 - "He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]."

Jeremiah 9:24 - "But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord."

Things to Consider When Choosing The One

                              A Happy Couple

In the choice of a life partner, love and quietness are very important ingredients to consider. This is because your soul deserves to be at rest, your mind deserves to be at peace and your body deserves to feel safe.

In the choice of a life partner, your soul deserves to be heard. You have to tap into your inner self and find out who you are. Find out what you radiate towards the most. What draws you?

Who speaks your soul language and does not make you try so hard to be understood? Who is home to you and in whose arms would you forever want to be in?

We live in a world of harsh realities. Money can buy a level of happiness but it is the soul connection that forms the foundation of a long lasting relationship.

Are you free to be yourself with your significant other? Do you feel accepted? Do you feel the need to conform or do you feel fearless?

You have to learn to respect and listen to your soul. Can you hear what your soul is saying? Are you clear on what his or her truest desires are?

You are important so you have to honor yourself first in order to be properly honored by others.

6 Ways You Can Honor Yourself

1. By listening to yourself.

2. By giving yourself time to rest , relax or think.

3. By tolerating yourself.

4. By believing in yourself.

5. By loving yourself.

6. By cheering yourself on and encouraging yourself.

Our God of Experiential Realities

                                Nebuchadnezzar

What kind of God do you worship? What kind of God do you know? I serve and worship an experiential God. A God who can be related to based on the experiences and realities you will have had with Him.

God does not need you to help Him look good and able. He does not need the romance of your words. He does not need you to deceive yourself with eulogies and sermons that are not practical in your personal life. 

Most preachers nowadays feel like they need to patronise God. They have never experienced God according to what they have read in the Bible nor do they try to push into that realm of experiences in God. They are afraid to ask questions, the questions they have long been harboring in their hearts.

 Perhaps, they were taught by their religious leaders to be content with a theoretical version of God. We all know the great things that God did in the Bible times. Of a truth, such things are no longer common today because people feel that they should be content with praising God, worshipping God and reading the Bible but still do not have a personal encounter with God in their private lives. 

I am not talking about feel-good shivers you get when you pray or praise or worship, I am talking about miracles, signs and wonders that will happen before your very eyes and convince you beyond all reasonable doubts that God is real.

No one has been bold enough to speak out their doubts about God and God does not like fake people. He wants you to face Him. If you doubt Him , come clear about it. If you have questions, ask Him with all respect and regard because some have incurred curses for themselves through their uncurbed rashness. 

God does not need customers. He is God. He is sufficient, all sufficient. Every single word of the Bible was not written for literary entertainment or pleasure. Men of God wrote and sang based on what they have experienced. These experiences, they did not assist in any way. God showed Himself and His mighty arm to them. 

Moses after tasting and experiencing God sang, " He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he".

If you study this man's tone and choice of words, you will notice that his heart was full. He was overwhelmed. He had seen so much that he could not keep it to himself anymore. He was not saying it for you to hear and believe, he was saying it because he could not keep quiet about it anymore. Moses ' song arose from a state of ecstasy. He was ecstatic and elated. The same thing happened to David. 

David knew what he saw in God and with God. He could not help but sing. He sang songs. He wrote many songs because his heart was full and he was overwhelmed. He had seen so much of God that he could not keep it to himself anymore. He had to announce what he had experienced with God. Moses and David testify that God is a rock because they had seen this characteristic of a rock in Him, being expressed practically to both of them. David never met Moses, neither did Moses, so they were not making up stories. They were telling the truth about what they have experienced with God. After God delivered David from the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul, He sang because words had welled up like water in his heart and spilled over from his mouth in the form of songs. He sang," The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour, thou savest me from violence".

He was speaking from experience.

Who else spoke from His experience of God? Nebuchadnezzar. We all know how arrogant, disrespectful and disregarding of God Nebuchadnezzar was before God cursed him into becoming an animal man. After a year of receiving the interpretation of his dream from Daniel, he felt that God had forgotten and said to himself when he entered his palace one time, " Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

He glorified himself and God drove him from men, made him to eat grass like cattle. His body was always wet with rain and dew. His hairs grew all over his body like eagle's feathers and his nails like bird's claws. All these are not stories to entertain you. They actually happened. After being an animal for 7 whole years, this is what a once arrogant and proud King of Babylon had to say," I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.

He also had this to say: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase". He was speaking entirely from experience. 

What is your experience with God like? Is it all stories and no reality to you? You might want to press in and ask God to give you experiences for your life. Experiences that will change your life, touch your heart and make you sing for joy. Experiences that will take over your whole body and overwhelm your spirit. Experiences that will make you esctatic and joyful. The only experiences that can have this level of effect on any of us are such that touch the most important areas of our lives. Burdens we might have been bearing for so long, curses, spells, sicknesses, bondages, trials, troubles, issues...name it. 

I have experienced Him. He is not a fictional character I learned about in church or Sunday school. I have seen His hand and I have tasted His might. Based on my experiences with Him and the wondrous things He has done in my life, I call Him a miracle worker, a master planner, the One who turns things around, makes all things new and uses negative circumstances as stepping stones to glory. When I think of Him, I cry sometimes because He has touched me in a way no one else has and no one else ever will. When I say that I love Him and that I adore Him, I mean these words with every breath that I take and with every drop of my blood.

 Push in to God. Press in. There is more. So much more. It is not all about stories. He is real , so kind, so true, so faithful and so powerful. Moses saw Him, David saw Him, Nebuchadnezzar saw Him and I from the 21 century, have also seen Him. 

Do you want to know why? Because He is the ancient of days, the rock of ages. From generation to generation, from everlasting to everlasting, He remains the same. He does not change. Same God yesterday, today and forever. We are blessed to have access to a God like this. There is no other God like Him. No other . When you taste Him like we have and see Him like we have, you will sing too.

Doer of The Truth

             A woman smiling in the daytime

A doer of the truth is a person who does what he or she hears and accepts from the word of God. This person is not a romantic believer of Jesus Christ who feels good, solemn, sober and convinced when he or she hears the word of God. It is not about having mushy feelings that will wear off within minutes or hours. A doer of the truth has the word of God rooted in his or her heart and diluted into the spirit man. The word of God they have heard has become part of them that they even talk about it in their sleep. They talk about it in their dreams. The word of God has permeated their souls and minds. It has made an indelible mark on them. 

A person who is impacted and affected by the word of God in this manner , is a person whose heart the Holy Spirit has softened. The Holy Spirit has made this person's heart soft, fertile and ready to receive the word of God. Immediately the word of God is preached and this hearer hears it, a seed is dropped on the soil of this person's heart which takes root and starts growing.

Appearances can be deceitful and it is possible for a person to be a hypocrite, pretending and acting all good but the real test is what a person does when no one is looking.What that person does when no one knows, is the real test.

A doer of the truth is not secretive. He or she is straightforward, bold, fearless, transparent and has nothing to hide. A doer of the truth is not one thing when everyone is watching and then, another thing when no one is looking. He or she is the same, day or night. They boldly walk into the light, in front of everyone because they have nothing to hide. They don't sneak around, dodge or zap. They are genuine and authentic. 

If you are living a dubious lifestyle, your favorite time of the day will be the night time. Why is this? This is because you will be hiding from someone or you will be making plans of doing a lot of bad stuff in secret. You do not want to be seen or you do not want someone that knows you to see you. This is because you know that your deeds, what you are thinking, saying or doing is not right, so you avoid the light.

The light represents an openness which exposes you for all eyes to see you as you are. If you have nothing to hide, you will not be afraid of the light. The light could be answering a particular phone call, going to meet a particular group of people, getting involved in some activity, saying the truth, owning up to something you have done, doing the right thing or simply taking responsibility. Being accountable, genuine, of integrity and truthful. Not two faced or conniving at all but honest at all times and places. 

Jesus said,"He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?

And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?"

Some people see integrity as being stupid, dull or dumb but it is a priceless virtue. Money cannot buy it. If you do not have integrity, you do not have it. A person of integrity has a track record of the good things he or she is known for. It is true that nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes but if integrity is a dominant trait in your life, you are good to go. Your past deeds will vouch for you. People who know you will speak for you making you credible to others who might not know you at all. 

A doer of the truth is trustworthy and trust is one thing everyone is looking for in resumes, proposals, statements and many other opportunities. Every benefactor, employer or philanthropist wants to know if you are trustworthy, if you are authentic, if you are genuine. How does he or she do this? By requesting that you present or submit letters of recommendations, identifications, evidence of past/present sponsorships, endorsements, licenses, patents, trademarks, certifications, awards or other achievements. This is how they get an insight into the content of your character.

The Bible teaches us and admonishes us to be not just hearers of the word but also doers. If you have read the above paragraphs well, you will realize that being honest is not just for other people but also for yourself too. You are the one who benefits more when you are a doer of the truth. You will harvest plenty of your good deeds. It is all for your own good. Someone else may benefit from your honesty on the short term but on the long term, you will come to understand that you were doing it all for yourself. 

Proverbs 22:1 -"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

God and man

               Two women laughing out loud

During our sojourn here on Earth, we do not live for ourselves alone. We came here for God and for man. We cannot live our lives here fully and efficiently without God and our fellow men. We are destined by the Creator to live and lead relational lives. Man is no island, in other words, every action of man resonates and reverberates towards, first, God and then, his fellow man.

An average human being makes decisions before taking any action. There is always a point where the individual gets to decide to take a particular action. This decision making process is driven by the person's most pressing desires and cravings. At the end of the day, whatever choice the person makes, has consequences. These consequences affects mostly the decision maker and then, people around him.

In one way or the other, people and God respond to every choice we make. They respond by the way they are affected by our choices and by the way they feel about our choices. For example, God is Almighty, this we know so well but He is the overseer of all the ways of men. There is a way He intends for us to live, not necessarily because He is God and He has got rules in place but because His commandments are for our own good.

When God was writing His commandments and forbidding men from doing certain things, He did this because He had already seen where we would end up if we disobeyed Him. He was protecting us by giving us a safety manual in the form of His word and His will. This is to help us sail through the river of life without getting hurt.

You may ask, "why does God get angry when people sin?". The anger of God is like that of a father towards his disobedient, little, naughty child. Beneath that anger is love and great concern for your well being. God loves us all so much. He has feelings too and is saddened to see us go astray. Our sinfulness cannot take away His godship but He still cannot turn a blind eye to us. He cares about what we do and how we fare because He loves us. This is how God is affected by our actions. We owe Him a great deal of love, acknowledgement and respect. We should know that this old man up there does not want to be worried about us and as mature children of God that we are, we should not give Him reason to be worried by the way we live and the things we do. He sees it all, everything. This world is like a play set in front of Him, He can do anything to the storyline. We do not also live in isolation from our fellow human being. Be they blood relations or total strangers, we owe one another some level of regard. You cannot do just anything you want to do and not care about how the other person is affected. You really have to care because when you care, you do good to yourself and to people around you too.

 If you live in a bad way, do bad stuff and act so rebelliously, you will be hurting other people and also destroying yourself. So, you see...when you regard God and man in your way of life, considering how they will feel or be affected by your actions, you will be able to make better choices.It will make you a better person, someone who lives not just for his or herself but for God and man.

If you choose to think about how other people will be affected by your desires and choices, if you choose to think about how God will react to the decisions you want to make, then you will be able to do things in a way that everybody wins.

You win, God is happy and people are blessed by your life. What's in it for you? You will be blessed by your goodness in many beautiful and amazing ways.

If I choose to be a rebellious, spoiled adult who lives in her own world and does whatever she wants. I don't care about anyone, I do whatever I want. Do you know what will happen? I will die alone, with nothing good to remember me for and fast forgotten. People will be pleased that I am finally out of their lives for good. More like, good riddance!

How will people know you came? How will the world know that you walked the surface of this Earth if you live like you don't care about anyone else but yourself? What will you be remembered for? Who will sing your name if you touched no life?

No one.

We are here for all of us and God. We came to the world to bring our uniqueness to it, make it a better place in every way we can and leave it with our flag hoisted on our mark, showing that we came. 

Lead a more meaningful life, it is not all about money, fame, power or popularity. At the peak of all this, if no one's life is made better by you, you will not be fulfilled. You will feel so empty.

True fulfillment is not necessarily when you land a huge success. It lies in daily, little acts of kindness. Who have you consoled today? Who smiled because of something you did or said? Where is your light? How much sunshine do you spread around you? I know some people see an all time jolly fellow as an unrealistic situation but happiness is free. You can create it and you can spread it all around.

What would you rather do? The choice is up to you