Sunday, January 18, 2009

The God Life

THE GOD LIFE… EXCELLENCE!

For one month, I enjoyed constant power supply and I was overwhelmed with such a level of comfort without the surrounding noise of generators but a day came for me to return to my location where incessant power failure welcomed and entertained me like cheerleaders do when motivating a team to win a match. I could not complain because at present, there are no laid down infrastructures providing constant power so I carefully adjusted-though praying for a change. One morning, it rang a bell of warning in my mind; “So does man overly settle for the crumbs, the meager, and the “I can manage” syndrome, even the “anything goes attitude”. I said “I adjusted” because I have not been used 24-hour electricity. I have countless times heard people say;”Wetin we go do, “I hate Nigeria”, things can never change and “we can never have a good utility system like most developed countries” So you hear captions like; “When the desire is not available, the available becomes the desirable…” That’s foul, cheap talk!

When you read histories of most nations like China, America, Britain and South Africa, you realize that it took men and women like us to consciously and I mean consciously build the nation. They also didn’t evolve into wealth and sanity; they fought for it and disciplined themselves to have a proper, orderly nation. Do you know that simple “we can do” things like using the dustbin, refuse dumb is not inculcated in the average Nigerian? People throw bottles, food wraps and refuse on the road for the “Government” to take care of forgetting we make up the society we live in, a percentage of people break traffic rules and bribe their way through, we squeeze and rough handle the precious naira note and lots more.

Lest I digress from what I intend to talk about, I have an undying passion for Nigeria which means that I will not adjust to incessant power failure and a damaging economy, I will not settle for less than the good life in my nations state. I strongly believe that if each person wakes up to the situation in our country, we will -in our various locations-change our country and make it as lush as the Western world. I can hear my reader say; “which year will Nigeria ever change? How will it happen?” Some men told me some days ago that Nigeria will never change in our time and that it would take another exaggerated 50 to 100 years to be like other well established nations. And I will say like the average Nigerian when holding an argument; “Na lie!” Some believe you need to live outside the shores of Nigeria to make it (please do not get me wrong incase that’s where God wants you to reside) while others say, “Go outside Naija, make money, come back and live large” (is living large all a man can accomplish in life?) I am eagerly expectant that change has come and in just a little time we will say, “Nigeria shall flourish again, Nigeria has flourished again.” I will not sit back and fold my hands but in my community and wherever I find myself, I will instill “change” even if my impact goes unnoticeable for now and I will ensure it works for the good of our dear nation.

However, any man or society that settles for less can not accomplish, dominate or reign over a territory. You will realize that most great nation builders like William Wilberforce-among others-(who for twenty years fought for the abolition of slave trade) and other great Bible heroes like Abraham dared to see and think beyond the imaginations of men. Also study a man scared of putting his brains to work, and afraid of launching out, such a man cowers for life in fear. Study the hen, the hen is one animal in the bird kingdom that can not fly above my grandmother’s little hut (pardon me).He was never created with the ability to fly like every other bird not to talk of flying heights like the eagle. So he remains soil bound.

Do you know that the aero plane was patterned after the eagle? That little creature- the eagle- can fly as high as 600,000 feet above sea level. But the moment that sky bound bird (the eagle) comes to live among the hen and chicks, he forgets the use of his wings and learns to scratch the soil; he adopts their principles of life and learns the language of the latter. So does man pattern his life when he forgets his purpose. He however subjects himself to scratching the soil for livelihood and thinks less of himself.

The simplest most powerful weapon in life is the power of influence. Just like the hen influences an eagle that lives with him for a while so man is influenced by another man. Man is one creature that easily apes another man, adopts another’s identity and lifestyle and fights to speak, dress and act like another person. Check out men with mentors!

It is so easy to be influenced by the company- either in the negative or positive- we keep. The Bible says in Psalm One; “blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord…. So hanging out with some kind of people will either make you or mar your mentality?

Lot (Abraham’s cousin) is one great man that failed to live out his God given destiny. For the fact that he made the first mistake of choosing Sodom does not mean he was doomed for life. God for two reasons showed Lot mercy for Abraham’s sake (a friend of God) and for being the only righteous man in that town. Contrary to God’s plan-in Genesis 19-, Lot’s timidity kept him from taking advantage of what was laid before him. His refusal to run to the mountain and his inability to see the mountain as a means to his redemption -after losing all in Sodom- caused him to choose the “little town”. He found safety there and I bet you don’t want to end up like Lot because in Genesis 19, Lot and his two daughters sinned against God, not only did the sin, Psalm 83:4-8, they have become enemies of God and Israel till date. Can you imagine such sheer timidity?

But hey, don’t be too quick to judge my man, Lot because many a people including me have uncountable times fallen victims to the “small place” and a lot more do not believe the excellent life freely given to all men because we are too used to the cage. We are too tied down by poverty, the impossible syndrome, “I am ok like this and let me manage skills; the “little me” ability- just name them. If not why would some always profess smallness about themselves and their nation?

I have also identified my own “small attitudes” which I pamper, magnify and give precedence over the spirit of excellence though I fight them daily. I know by the word of God that from creation, He said; “Let’s make man in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all…God blessed them and said, “Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over…EVERY living thing that moves on the earth. What an awesome mandate and position given to all that will tap into this existence. So God rejoices in our excellence though he abhors extravagance and covetousness, He has always had it in mind that man should enjoy the fullness of life in Christ Jesus, He has given us all that pertains to life and godliness and He has set before us an open door to choose life and not death. What an awesome God!!!

Do you believe that at everyone’s doorstep lies a package that reads “exceeding abundant life” which we can not comprehend? Do you believe it wasn’t stored up for a few or for the clergy? Neither did God create favorites as he takes no delight in such? Do you believe that as God has laid down promises he means it when he says, “In blessing will I bless you, and I will bless your fields and make you fat with oil and wine (abundance of good crops). He says, “No good thing will I withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Oh, so why are we still eating the crumbs? I ask myself. Do you believe that God was not kidding when he gave man the freedom to replenish, rule (not domineer people and turn men under your authority to “boy-boy”) dominate and even multiply. Can you just imagine this God giving man the “audacity”-the right- to name animals and those names stuck to date? Com’on friends who are we that God in his magnificence are so mindful of?

Do you believe that with the fall of man, God in His love still sought to redeem man so that we can still live as kings and Priest, we died with Him the day we received him as Lord and Savior and we have been raised with Him in glory and he has made us to seat with him in the heavens (Ephesians 2:4- 7). This he did for those in Christ Jesus.

What men ought us to be? Men, if you have been like me once saddled in fear and intimidation, rise up and take your place. Break free and Say unto those mountains- the mountains facing your God given life-“Behold your God”. Work on your mind and deliberately undo old myths, address the nagging snares to your success which may even be YOU! Strip your mind of every evil manmade ideology and every laid down systems that either bug you to lookdown on your abilities or work contrary to your well being.

Babes, change company if you need to, pair not with the “wanna-bes” (life goes beyond trying to be like the Madonna, Beyonce and Tyra Banks of this world, don’t be clothed in another man’s identity),but surround yourself with women that smell, sniff and dig God, spend time knowing God, get intimate with God, proclaim His promises for you life -keep saying it till you believe it- reduce pumping your mind with all sorts of movies and media reports (which doesn’t mean you should only have knowledge of fashion and style), groom yourself with world history and listen to constructive news not the ones that keep you on edge and make you fear the economic meltdown and Gaza strip like its at your doorstep waiting to bomb your household. Read less unproductive books and “doom fictions”, stuff your mind with truth. Proverbs says, “Buy truth and sell it not…so voraciously devour God’s word and principles. Confess and speak right, Speak faith, know God for yourself and stop waiting for the “man of God”. Don’t live no longer in the squalors, count in six digits when you have three at hand.

Possess the Land for it belongs to YOU! If you have been battered all your life, tell God to give you a brand new mentality and an attitude that life could be a million times better than you have known it to be. Rediscover who you were born to be and live the God kind of life. Let me reiterate here, Remember he said in Creation “lets make man in our image and likeness…so that explains to me that we ought to be Him? Whoa, that will blow our theology a little huh? Yes! For Psalms says, “Ye are gods…Hmn!!

Please don’t be too hard on yourself; life is a marathon not a sprint so take one day at a time. It is a continual process to change our mindset-our culture has battered us to believe in a bunch of lies which must give way for truth- to who we were created to. Determine in your heart like Daniel to be an excellent man (or woman). Excellence is for all who eagerly want to live an excellent life. Groan for the change and though it tarries, just wait, it will come to pass. I believe we CAN like Obama would say,” YES WE CAN” and has actually lived out his dream. Let’s walk towards it.

I live you with this scripture that blesses my heart, “The blessings of the Lord the make rich and add no sorrows to it”. If anything causes you constant sorrow, give it up and walk in God’s rich promises for your life. See you at the top dear one!!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Our eternal purpose

It has gotten to a point in my little life where i identify the purpose of my existence.When i grew as a child,i was led to do everything and my decisions were based on another man's judgement.As i grew older,i learnt to take bold steps on my own,falling,tripping and rising up and one of those steps has led me to the Lord.It was not a choice i made by my strength but my a higher power helping me(God) and that choice is eternal.I realised from the day i made the decision to know the Lord the purpose of my living and that is to live a life acceptable to Him.I read my Bible and i learn from it that my body,my life are meant to be holy,and also acceptable unto the Lord( pleasing to Him) and thats my most honorable service to God- i would add that is my eternal purpose in this life.
At this point in my life,i identify wrong from right because i have chosen to align myself with the will of the Father,not meaning that i have attained perfection,but to say that i yield my temple to him and consciously by His grace,present my will to Him and align my desires in a way that please the Lord.Though I am still in the process of growth,i have further advanced to a woman that chooses to live right as I know God purposed(in His heart for all mankind).I have gone from a place of just knowing the knowlegde of good and evil to a place of eternal life and i choose by His grace to livemy life for Him and only him .This has never been by will power but by the help of God,the one by whom the foundations of the world were created.
As i stepped into the year,i did not make resolutions that will fade half way into the year,but i presented my life to God as a new lamb is led to the slaughter,not that i should be slain or condemned,but for a fresh start with him-in 2009 till eternity sets in.I realise daily that no man can exist without the help of God,though i marvel when men say there is no God or act as if their life came from them or evolved from a plant or "Homo" and fossils as old Chinese myths said.I have once acted in such a manner(like there is no God watching me) and i would acknowledge that each time i disobey Him,i act as though there is no God.
Our eternal plan and purpose on the earth could never be for the material and mundane things of life,though the material seems important and neccessary as the case maybe but they can only satisfy an aspect of life-Though the material things can never bring eternal satifaction,they will never in this life and beyond fill the void in a man's heart.Please do not get me wrong,the material things are needed and the life of a believer is complete in the Lord as He supplies all our needs according to His riches(in glory)through Christ Jesus,he gives us all that pertains to life and godliness,which includes our spiritual,physical,materia
l and emotional well being-its a holistic life.But the point I am stressing here is that men try to live life devoid of the spiritual(and concentrate on the perishable material things) which is the most vital for our existence.I often ponder and find that it is true that when a man is close to death,and he senses that he is close to the giving up his breath,even though he never believed in the existence of God,he repents and turns to God on his dying bed(God chooses in His love to show him mercy).That explains that man can not do without God who created man in His likeness to replenish,dominate and rule the earth.God's purpose for man was that man would be like Him though the first man fail but the second man-Jesus-came so that man would be restored to the initiial position God had in mind for him.Jesus came so man may have life to the fullest,that's what we call the abundant life which is all encompassing.It covers every aspect of life both the spiritual and the physical,it includes excellence,wealth,increase and all life could offer through Christ Jesus.
The problem God has with man is that man wants to have one side of the coin ignoring the other.... Man wants to eat his cake and have it but Jesus says I came that they might have life...the abundant life in Him.He came so man may fulfil life through Him.He chose to give up his life with no cost attached to it so man may be free from sin and death.But many a people still choose the other side of life which is a life without Jesus.
Simply put,our purpose from creation was to serve the Lord and only Him were we and are we still to serve.It is so sad that we live half hazard lives,many go about life as if it belongs to them.We fail to be sons and daughters of God though we pout his name and speak of him in our gatherings and exclamations but we truly don't desire to know him deeply,we do not want to identify wholly with Him because to many serving God means loosing touch with the world which has nothing to offer,some feel giving their lives to Jesus means turning to fools so they give up the sweet and joyous journey of seeking,hearing and receiving peace from Jesus.I would never try to say that the life of a Christian(a man that has made Jesus his Lord and Saviour)is rosy,no at all,the Bible states that in this world there are many troubles,tribulations,sorr
ows and deep heart wrenching trials but in the Lord,a child of God chooses to rejoice and have peace because Jesus commanded that we be of God cheer as He has overcome the world for our sakes.
What people ought we to be?Men and Brethren,the first step for all who do not know Him is to SURRENDER-acknowledge your sin,confess them and turn to the Lord fully,making Him the Lord over all your affairs and choosing to forsake the world and it's gimmicks to follow Jesus,also choosing to make Him a friend not just a casual friend but an intimate lover and confidant.The second step would be to walk with Him,learning to grow in Him through the word and by the Holy Spirit.Once the decision to know Jesus has been made,the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and dwells there as long as we are in the Lord.He cousels,teaches,guides and helps when we need Him most.He speaks and instructs,reprimands and rebukes when we are out of the way.He shows love and comforts when we are confused and weary,he even speaks and shows us deep things about the Lord.It is a gradual process which we would only outgrow when we leave this world but as one grows in the Lord,he leads us daily and makes us grow from glory to glory.We can never stop growing in the Lord.Woe is that man who thinks he is fat and too wise for the Lord to tutor and disciple,such a one is set for death,and spiritual stuntedness(except the Lord helps him in love).

As i write this early in this year,I implore my readers as I tell myself,that our purpose in this year 2009 should be to serve and love the Lord much more than we ever did.With all the economic meltdown and cash crunch all over the world,our peace as Christians will come from knowing the mind of God.God will never reveal his secrets to a man that refuses to know Him as he wants us to.Yes,God is so merciful that is why I read from the Holy Book ,the Bible,that it has never been His will that any man should perish,His desire is that all men,as many as want Him come to Him and have everlasting life.

My dear friends,ruminate over 2008,see the way it has rolled by like a 90 minute football match?Another year has evolved and some have made resolutions to make money,buy shares,property,cars,marry,have children,further their studies and you name them.But let me tickle you with an eternal question:"If your life were to end on the 3rd day in January 2009,where will you head to?Have you consciously pondered over your life and wondered that even if you spend 20,30,60 years on earth,there is an everlasting life awaiting you beyond the shores of this earth?

The truth is that one day,Heaven and earth shall pass and we will go to another place either to an eternal Home which is Heaven or to eternal destruction which is hell.My friends,Heaven will not be earned by motivations and wishful thinking,neither will Heaven be given freely like a gift,it will not be a cloud nine experience or a circus carnival,but Heaven needs men to work for and that means we need to be SAVED,we need to Be Born again,we need to continue running this race(if you are a Christian)with all perseverance,we need to wake up from our slumber and walk with the Lord,we need to walk out like one goes to the gym to either loose weight or keep fit our salvation with the fear of the Lord.Turn from iniquity and live right for the Lord.Resolve to be the chosen of the Lord this year and forever.Life is too short for anyone to live outside of his eternal destiny....Once again,i Introduce to you the saviour of all mankind,JESUS,accept him and let Him live in you.Enjoy the year of promise...2009.

Our eternal purpose

It has gotten to a point in my little life where i identify the purpose of my existence.When i grew as a child,i was led to do everything and my decisions were based on another man's judgement.As i grew older,i learnt to take bold steps on my own,falling,tripping and rising up and one of those steps has led me to the Lord.It was not a choice i made by my strength but my a higher power helping me(God) and that choice is eternal.I realised from the day i made the decision to know the Lord the purpose of my living and that is to live a life acceptable to Him.I read my Bible and i learn from it that my body,my life are meant to be holy,and also acceptable unto the Lord( pleasing to Him) and thats my most honorable service to God- i would add that is my eternal purpose in this life.
At this point in my life,i identify wrong from right because i have chosen to align myself with the will of the Father,not meaning that i have attained perfection,but to say that i yield my temple to him and consciously by His grace,present my will to Him and align my desires in a way that please the Lord.Though I am still in the process of growth,i have further advanced to a woman that chooses to live right as I know God purposed(in His heart for all mankind).I have gone from a place of just knowing the knowlegde of good and evil to a place of eternal life and i choose by His grace to livemy life for Him and only him .This has never been by will power but by the help of God,the one by whom the foundations of the world were created.
As i stepped into the year,i did not make resolutions that will fade half way into the year,but i presented my life to God as a new lamb is led to the slaughter,not that i should be slain or condemned,but for a fresh start with him-in 2009 till eternity sets in.I realise daily that no man can exist without the help of God,though i marvel when men say there is no God or act as if their life came from them or evolved from a plant or "Homo" and fossils as old Chinese myths said.I have once acted in such a manner(like there is no God watching me) and i would acknowledge that each time i disobey Him,i act as though there is no God.
Our eternal plan and purpose on the earth could never be for the material and mundane things of life,though the material seems important and neccessary as the case maybe but they can only satisfy an aspect of life-Though the material things can never bring eternal satifaction,they will never in this life and beyond fill the void in a man's heart.Please do not get me wrong,the material things are needed and the life of a believer is complete in the Lord as He supplies all our needs according to His riches(in glory)through Christ Jesus,he gives us all that pertains to life and godliness,which includes our spiritual,physical,material and emotional well being-its a holistic life.But the point I am stressing here is that men try to live life devoid of the spiritual(and concentrate on the perishable material things) which is the most vital for our existence.I often ponder and find that it is true that when a man is close to death,and he senses that he is close to the giving up his breath,even though he never believed in the existence of God,he repents and turns to God on his dying bed(God chooses in His love to show him mercy).That explains that man can not do without God who created man in His likeness to replenish,dominate and rule the earth.God's purpose for man was that man would be like Him though the first man fail but the second man-Jesus-came so that man would be restored to the initiial position God had in mind for him.Jesus came so man may have life to the fullest,that's what we call the abundant life which is all encompassing.It covers every aspect of life both the spiritual and the physical,it includes excellence,wealth,increase and all life could offer through Christ Jesus.
The problem God has with man is that man wants to have one side of the coin ignoring the other.... Man wants to eat his cake and have it but Jesus says I came that they might have life...the abundant life in Him.He came so man may fulfil life through Him.He chose to give up his life with no cost attached to it so man may be free from sin and death.But many a people still choose the other side of life which is a life without Jesus.
Simply put,our purpose from creation was to serve the Lord and only Him were we and are we still to serve.It is so sad that we live half hazard lives,many go about life as if it belongs to them.We fail to be sons and daughters of God though we pout his name and speak of him in our gatherings and exclamations but we truly don't desire to know him deeply,we do not want to identify wholly with Him because to many serving God means loosing touch with the world which has nothing to offer,some feel giving their lives to Jesus means turning to fools so they give up the sweet and joyous journey of seeking,hearing and receiving peace from Jesus.I would never try to say that the life of a Christian(a man that has made Jesus his Lord and Saviour)is rosy,no at all,the Bible states that in this world there are many troubles,tribulations,sorrows and deep heart wrenching trials but in the Lord,a child of God chooses to rejoice and have peace because Jesus commanded that we be of God cheer as He has overcome the world for our sakes.
What people ought we to be?Men and Brethren,the first step for all who do not know Him is to SURRENDER-acknowledge your sin,confess them and turn to the Lord fully,making Him the Lord over all your affairs and choosing to forsake the world and it's gimmicks to follow Jesus,also choosing to make Him a friend not just a casual friend but an intimate lover and confidant.The second step would be to walk with Him,learning to grow in Him through the word and by the Holy Spirit.Once the decision to know Jesus has been made,the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and dwells there as long as we are in the Lord.He cousels,teaches,guides and helps when we need Him most.He speaks and instructs,reprimands and rebukes when we are out of the way.He shows love and comforts when we are confused and weary,he even speaks and shows us deep things about the Lord.It is a gradual process which we would only outgrow when we leave this world but as one grows in the Lord,he leads us daily and makes us grow from glory to glory.We can never stop growing in the Lord.Woe is that man who thinks he is fat and too wise for the Lord to tutor and disciple,such a one is set for death,and spiritual stuntedness(except the Lord helps him in love).

As i write this early in this year,I implore my readers as I tell myself,that our purpose in this year 2009 should be to serve and love the Lord much more than we ever did.With all the economic meltdown and cash crunch all over the world,our peace as Christians will come from knowing the mind of God.God will never reveal his secrets to a man that refuses to know Him as he wants us to.Yes,God is so merciful that is why I read from the Holy Book ,the Bible,that it has never been His will that any man should perish,His desire is that all men,as many as want Him come to Him and have everlasting life.

My dear friends,ruminate over 2008,see the way it has rolled by like a 90 minute football match?Another year has evolved and some have made resolutions to make money,buy shares,property,cars,marry,have children,further their studies and you name them.But let me tickle you with an eternal question:"If your life were to end on the 3rd day in January 2009,where will you head to?Have you consciously pondered over your life and wondered that even if you spend 20,30,60 years on earth,there is an everlasting life awaiting you beyond the shores of this earth?

The truth is that one day,Heaven and earth shall pass and we will go to another place either to an eternal Home which is Heaven or to eternal destruction which is hell.My friends,Heaven will not be earned by motivations and wishful thinking,neither will Heaven be given freely like a gift,it will not be a cloud nine experience or a circus carnival,but Heaven needs men to work for and that means we need to be SAVED,we need to Be Born again,we need to continue running this race(if you are a Christian)with all perseverance,we need to wake up from our slumber and walk with the Lord,we need to walk out like one goes to the gym to either loose weight or keep fit our salvation with the fear of the Lord.Turn from iniquity and live right for the Lord.Resolve to be the chosen of the Lord this year and forever.Life is too short for anyone to live outside of his eternal destiny....Once again,i Introduce to you the saviour of all mankind,JESUS,accept him and let Him live in you.Enjoy the year of promise...2009.