The everyday life of a young Christian

Saturday 24 August 2019

IS IT RIGHT TO CARRY WORLDLY PRACTICES TO THE CHURCH?



So I decided to surprise my family with a weekend visit. I met my beautiful children looking wonderful and blissful with smiles on their faces. Then I noticed that my youngest child (4 years old) was dancing shaku shaku.
"Where did you learn that from?" I asked. My oldest child was quick to reply...everyone dances it, even in church too.
I don't have a problem with the elder-lies dancing it cause I want to believe that they can discern the truth. My children on the other hand, copies whatever they see... mostly from people they trust.
Christ said, "give Caeser what belongs to him, and God what belongs to God." If a particular dance came into being when celebrating the devil, then there's no justification for it to be offered to God.
I remember when Jesus/Christian makosa came, many were quick to condemn it but now... It seems we choose what to take from the world and offer to God. Remember the ancient landmarks is what the Bible tells me. Train up a child in the way he/she should go, and they won't depart from it when they are older.
If shaku shaku, makosa or faint dance is for the world, then there's no need to offer it to Christ. Even if the song has changed, the purpose of the dance has not changed.

Friday 23 August 2019

WHY IT SEEMS THAT ALL MEN ARE THE SAME



Woe is me! for I am like every other man, my eyes seek out pretty girls.
The good men are no more, there's not a single good man out there. Righteously they act, patiently waiting for the right time to pounce on the vulnerable.
They just can't wait to do their heart's bidding; they entice with gifts, shower you with favours, defend you from the world and then shatter your trust to pieces.
The best of them is like a fisherman's net, the most upright is sharper than a hunter's spear. The day the truth shall come, all of them shall be perplexed.
Trust not that your friend, not even that mentor; keep the affairs of your heart and the troubles of your life far from her that lies in the blossom of men.
Sons have risen up against their fathers, daughters against mothers, friends have been sold out... your enemy is very close. I repeat, the one who seeks your downfall is in your house.
Therefore, I have decided to trust no one but God... I will wait for Him, and He will surely answer.
Inspiration: Micah 7:1-7

Thursday 22 August 2019

WISE AID: HOW TO GIVE



I was walking by the road when a young girl approached me. She explained that she doesn't have enough money for transport. I gave her twice of what she asked for. Immediately she left a young boy approached me with a story (can't remember) whose ending was 'help me with money.' I told him to stop and walked away without helping. Though I walked away, I couldn't help but to think about his needs, maybe he is for real.
Some people pretend to have needs but are actually con artists. Others have legitimate needs but face difficulties overcoming destructive habits. If we turn down the opportunity to help those that are struggling and fighting each day to keep up, we may break their spirit; if we help an idle person or a con, we may encourage laziness in them.
One fact is this, we help best when we are up close...when we truly know the person, we can help in different ways and not just financially.
If we all are in the business of helping our neighbours, there will be no more "less privilege" in our streets.


Click here to find out the 3 deadly tricks used by the devil lure people from God.

Friday 5 April 2019

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: A SILENT KILLER OF OUR SOCIETY



Every year we become older by a year, our age increases by 1. This increase has nothing to do with us, it has been predestined (that is if you believe in destiny). We did not work to get older, we did not choose to get older...we just get older. The Bible said, "And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:28 RSV).

Birthday is simply the day people pour praises on you and give you gifts for doing absolutely nothing. That's probably why this current generation cannot wait for their birthdays to come because to most of them, they get to receive love and gifts. What a lazy way of thinking!

Birthday celebrations have done more harm than good in the upbringing of our children. Today's average child do not value academic excellence or uprightness or hard work because these do not attract much reward like the day you get to be +1. Most children grew up with this mentality that this is the day everything gets handed to them on a plater of gold.

In our society, relationships have ended abruptly because couples were unable to make that day as memorable as the celebrant would have liked. While in school, I saw guys borrowing money just to host a crowd that barely knows them. Girls soliciting for money from different source and sending out invites to everyone hoping to get a good gift in return.

If only we could celebrate excellence, that we actually worked for, as much as we celebrate birthdays, that we had no control over, our society would be a much better place.

Wednesday 3 April 2019

10 EFFECTIVE WAYS TO CORRECT YOUR WIFE WITHOUT HURTING HER FEELINGS



Many a time husbands do not know how to correct their wives without making things worse. Here we have 10 ways husbands can effectively talk to their wives about issues they don't like without upsetting her.


1. Do not shout at her

Whenever there's an altercation, do not make the mistake of raising your voice higher than hers. It will not send a clearer message but only make her to raise hers even higher than yours. Let her speak then use a calm voice to call her attention to where she hurt you.


2. Let your correction be done in love

Correction can easily be seen as condemnation or criticism if not done in love. Brutality doesn't always solve the problem, most times it leads to more underlying problems. I'd suggest you put her in your shoes and you in hers...while using a calm voice, make it also a memorable moment.


3. Let your correction be done in love

While correcting her, don't ever make the mistake of criticising her...you do not want to be seen as someone who doesn't appreciate the things she has been doing. 
Take for example, two husbands correcting their wives about the same issue.

Husband 1 says: 
What kind of food is this? Is this popcorn or rice? Didn't your parents train you well? Is there anything you can do well?

Husband 2 says:
Honey this rice is too salty unlike the one you prepared the last time. Where you thinking about me and got carried away while preparing it?

Husband 1 criticised and Husband 2 corrected in love while making the moment more romantic. Both passed the same message but they will certainly have different results.


4. Praise her when it is done right.

We have a habit of correcting/condemning people when they've done something wrong but we hardly praise them for doing the right thing. Form a habit of always praising her for the things she's doing right. This assures her that your love for her isn't going cold.


5. Don't correct her in the presence of the children.

Avoid all altercations with your wife in the presence of your children. You do not want to make her look small or inadequate. You definitely do not want the children to repeat your words to her. This will also help the children in their own relationships when they are older.


To be continued tomorrow....

Tuesday 2 April 2019

OUT OF LOVE



He walked up to me and said, "Eugene! Where is it? Why did you take it?" Take what, I asked him. 

My friend/neighbour, Mike, could not find his money anymore and according to him, I was the only visitor he has had for two days.

I have never taken anything that doesn't belong to me in my life...except when I was very young, I took a little snack but that's all.

He threatened to report me to the local security if I don't get his money for him as soon as possible. I love my name, I don't want want it to be associated with anything like that. I pleaded to him to wait a while, I'm going to get back to him.

A day later he found the money in his wardrobe among a pile of clothes. He apologized and explained to me why he acted that way.

A lot of us have been accused wrongly in one way or the other...most times we react with anger or sadness and try to prove our innocence. Take a moment to think about Christ...He was accused and condemned for things he didn't do and He never complained but took it all for us out of love.

Jesus loves you.

Thursday 30 August 2018

TROUBLED WATERS



Truly, he slept with the lady several times ...
Later, the lady wanted more, but he had moved...

And told her he was done with sin and sinning...

But perhaps, his approach infuriated the lady...
And she felt used and dumped...

If you were the one, maybe, you will even feel worse...

The same person that used to sleep with you now calling you devil...

Just because he has encountered revival...

Whatever happened next, I know not, but all I know is that ...

She went straight to the church and told the pastor the young man of God was under...

How his youth pastor was sneaking into her room in the night to sleep with her...

How after night vigil, she would hide at the back of the rusted water tank behind the church to 'finish work' ...

Perhaps, if she was sure that the guy had encountered God afresh, she would have taken it easy...

But she thought the guy had used her and dumped and started doing it with someone else...

Don't blame her so much...
Her pride was on the run...

Nobody would want to be in the number of the census of ladies a man has slept with...

With the help of Satan, her pride got a voice...

And the young man was suspended publicly and disgraced...

He sat in the church back seat for many months...

His head pastor ejected him from his house where he was given a one room apartment...

With the fear that he will someday see his young daughters appealing and defile them...
He had no place to go to...

When he gave his life to Christ, he went straight to the village shrines and destroyed all of them...

The villagers gathered began to worship the living God...

The village elders passed judgement on him and banished him..

His parents didn't want yo set their eyes on him again...

When they heard that his church has ejected and suspended him for fornication, they jubiliated...

That the gods of the land have caught up with him for discerecting them...

The only place he could stay was inside an old uncompleted building, without roof...

Any night it rains, he will be soaked...
All he had there was his bible and few cloths...

But he was there looking for God...

He had failed both men and God...
God had forgiven him, but men didn't want to set their eyes on him...

The villagers will gather everyday mocking him...

Some of his close pals abandoned him...
But whenever we passed that old building, we will be hearing his voice...

Crying: "Lord, give me power...If truly You have forgiven me, give me Your anointing..."

Months rolled by, he was still praying that same prayer...

My late mum would cook everyday and give me to go and send to him...

Sometimes, when I come to bring another food, I would see that he has not eaten the one we brought previously...

He was always fasting and praying and crying...

Later, the church restored him...
But the stigma refused to go...

Nobody called him pastor again...
In church, they were avoiding him like a disease...

Some of those sympathising with him didn't come open...
Because he has failed them...

One December period, A great man of God was supposed to preach in that community that Christmas period ...

Everyone was waiting for him...
The sick, the blind and the lame had gathered, waiting for him...

But a  news came that he wasn't coming again...

All the pastors in that community were disappointed, because no one could do what they expected God to do through this great man of God...

The crusade was on...
The choir was ministering, yet, they did not have anyone to preach...

The crowd was much and their expectations were high...

No pastor felt adequate to step into that shoe...
Someone was moved to call this young man Rev Dr uma ukpai to come and preach...

Not because they believed in him...
But so that if he preaches and nothing happens, the shame will go to him alone...

The young man didn't know what to do when they told him to go and preach...

How can he face every one that knows how he failed...

Everyone there knew that he was just suspended and released for fornication...

He was crying...
But he gathered courage and climbed the stage...

When people saw him on the stage, they started leaving one after the other...

The man that was supposed to do the interpretation dropped microphone and went down from the podium...

All The crowd almost left...
Because they could not imagine what a fornicator had to offer...

I was there...

Few of the people reading this now were there too...

No matter how I arranged this story for it not to expose the identity of the person, they will still remember ...

The young man was crying as he was watching the crowd leaving and even some of the choristers climbing down the stage the moment they saw him on the stage...

Tears began to roll down his tears...

He started a song and nobody, including the pastors joined him to sing...

But about 10 minutes later, something happened...

One of the known crippled that came for the crusade began to shout...

Every attention went to that side...

Lo and behold, he had stood up from his wheelchair...
Jumping all over the place.. God had healed him...

People were still surprised...

Few seconds later, a known blind woman started shouting from the other side...

"I can see... I can see... I can see..."

Yet, the young man on the pulpit had not opened the bible...

It was only the songs he was singing with tears...

Few minutes later, noise filled the whole places...

People with Chronic diseases started shouting that they have been healed...

The pastors there could not understand what was going on...

"How can God use this small boy?"

But  More miracles were being recorded...

The crowd that left started hearing the shout from the crusade ground and began to run back...

Some thought the great man of God had finally come...
But when they got there, they saw the young man on the stage, crying...

The interpreter that came to interpret for him was crying...

As he wanted to start preaching, the noise of more miracles could not let him.preach...

As he wanted to get close to tell the interpreter let them.climb down and start preaching to people, the power of God hit the interpreter...

And he fell.under the power of God...
He laid slain like a dead man...

As the organiser of the crusade who is also reading this now wanted to climb the stage to take the microphone that fell down from the interpreter, he too fell under the power of God...

The young man was just standing, and looking at the salvation of the Lord...

The crowd had increased more than those that came to listen to the big man of God...

People had rushed home to bring their people...
That something was happening in the market square...

Many pastors that had sick people started sending messages to their members to bring all the sick people in their churches...

And without this boy laying hands on anyone, they were being healed...

Some villagers who were chronic idol worshippers saw the mighty works of God and ran to the altar for repentance...

He didn't preach from any verse of the scripture...

But the power of God was present to heal and to deliver...

As he was standing there, not knowing what next to say, with tears all over...
Some pastors began to run to him...

Some holding his shoe....others dragging his shirts...

Crying: "Lord, we are sorry..."
Some were crying: "We need this anointing...Please, give it to us..."

I was there friends...

The crusade that was supposed to end by 8pm ended around 12 in the midnight...

Healings and incredible miracles...
After that crusade, God restored that young man of God...

He became theost sought for...

Every man of God wanted to host him...

Nobody Remembered he was suspended...
That was how God introduced that young man...

And till today, he is still one of the most sought men of God in his denomination...

I don't know the name they are calling you because of your last fall...

I don't know the shame you are swimming in because of what you did or what you did not do...

Can you go inside and cry to God to pay you back with something money can not buy?...

Can you stop begging people to come back to your life and look for God afresh?...

With fasting and praying?...

God sad: "For your shame I will give you double..."

Are you ready to engage God for restoration, until He falls upon you in His power?...

I see power taking the place of shame in your life...

If you can... We are here to help you...

God will give you power that will silence all the " shits" of your past...

Let us pray...
(Posted as copied)

Saturday 27 January 2018

THE QUEUE


In 2016 during the festive period, i went to the bank to make some payments. It was my time going to that particular branch. I was pretty much a novice...i didn't know how they do things there.

When i got in i met a short queue. I was the fifth person on the queue. If you have ever been to a Nigerian bank, long queues are a norm, and in the festive period, they are even longer. But surprisingly i was faced with a short queue. The queue led to a room. Every time someone comes out of the room, the person closest to the door enters. Strangely, the people coming out from the room were not the same ones who entered but i didn't really care.

When it got to my turn, i entered the room and found a longer queue waiting for me. This time people weren't standing but were sitting. Four very long benches were arranged for customers to sit on while waiting for their turn. I wanted to go out but time wasn't my friend because it was getting really close to 4pm...the closing time for all the banks. So i opted to stay.

My decision to stay paid off. There were four bankers attending to us and they were really fast. So i didn't spend much time at the bank.

Sometimes life's disappointment are much more severe. The job we hoped for didn't come; friends we depended on failed us; the romantic relationship we longed for disappointed us. But in all of these, God is saying something. Apostle Paul wrote, " Suffering yields perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character,  hope. And hope in God will never fail us because God loves us so much that He gave His son for us to have life. (Rom. 5:3-5, John 3:16).

As we place our trust in Him, through His Spirit, God whispers the truth that we are unconditionally loved and we will one day be with Him.

Sunday 24 December 2017

LOVE IS BLIND




For a long time I've had the concept of love all wrong. I was born into a world where "I love you" requires the "you" to do something for the 'I".

Apostle Paul pointed out that love is blind....not literally
though but it does chooses to be blind. Love chooses to be kind
when you are not. Love chooses to hold on when it's not
reciprocated. Love isn't proud neither does it segregate. Love
isn't about "I" but about "You". Love harbours no vengeful
thought. Love endures all things, believes all things, hope on
all things and it never fails. (1st Cor. 13:4-8)

Christmas reminds us that God loved us first and sacrificed
for us regardless of our actions. We too can show love to our
neighbours regardless of how they've treated us.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Monday 30 October 2017

LOOKING BEYOND


There were days when everything just goes wrong regardless of what you do, and there have been days when little or no effort from you achieves maximum result. 

You can say life's not fair but things always work out for those who put their trust in the LORD.

Looking back at the last 10 years of my life, I have come to realise that there's no assurance of a smooth ride in life - there will be times when you will smile and times when you will cry... But remembering your purpose keeps you focused.

Furthermore, the LORD has said He will never leave you nor forsake you - keep this close to your heart.