Saturday, December 7, 2013

2013 Personal Inventory

It's that month again and the year is slowly but surely grinding to a halt. Like all companies do, at least the sane entities, I am doing a personal review and book balancing for my life over the past twelve months. I almost feel I did not have the said twelve months! In general terms, I have had an awesome year and I am pleased to announce the favourable results. Not all targets were met but I am happy with myself, or what did you expect?
To be specific, I am concerned with these areas of my life;

1. Spiritual: At the beginning of the year my desire was to grow in my Christian Faith by developing more commitment to the Word of God, unrelenting in the discipline of prayer and nurturing fellowship with the saints. Those three areas were my deepest desire. Although it is very difficult to measure spiritual success, I would not shy away from documenting my struggles in all the portfolios. One of the most admirable traits I have always loved to see in self is consistency. Call it steadfastness by another name or being faithful about something whether conditions are favorable or not. Being poor in this trait, has led me to experience this insufficiency! I am also conscious of what the good word says about His grace being sufficient in our weaknesses, yet still I ask myself the questions, what if I studied the Word of God more, what if I prayed more? The answer is certain, my life would be far different from what it is now! I am pleased to have had the opportunity to serve others in my church in the discipleship ministry and most shocking to me, in ushering.

2. Social: My goal was simply to be a better friend to my family first, my friends and colleagues. Reflecting back I am very grateful to God for the bond I enjoy with my family and the few loyal friends I have. There were many tests along the way and I cannot boast I emerged the winner but most appreciative that they revealed I am not perfect and no body is. I also realized that some friends were not meant to stay in my life, and wisdom demands you let go or you will only strain your emotional faculty. I am so proud of my friends who got married during the year and gave me the honor to be in the line up. Some time during the year I chose to take a sabbatical leave from our friends from Venus. It is now almost six months and looking back, that was the best decision I made. Sabbatical does miracles on self. It helps you realize your value as an individual. It restores focus and healing to the heart. At least I thought that this would be the year I meet that person you are willing to stay with through the changing seasons of life. I score a zero on this one, and none but the brave deserve the fair.

3. Career: I got my first year practicing as an engineer. This was much fulfilling considering my previous engagement in auditing of financial accounts and playing around with numbers on an excel spreadsheet. I am more confident doing my job and no need of supervision at all. Although the environment is not the ideal or a fulfillment of the dream I have always had, hope has not died within me that better days are still ahead. I had intentions of beginning my Masters classes to build capacity for more senior management roles but felt torn between further education or just brilliant execution of the knowledge I have since I do not want to be employed all my life.

4. Financial: I also had a goal to ensure stewardship of all monetary value in my care. I have no regerets venturing in the NSE. My plan was to grow my portfolio by 20%. I hit 15% which is ok as judge Ian would say. I also desired to begin in the real estate and I thank God I made my baby step this year. In my longterm goals of having a much fulfilled life, I hoped to give more than I was in prior years. I am not yet there but this year I had positive outcomes. This is the truth; it is more blessed to give than to receive! 

"It is a time to reflect on where we have been and where we're going next. Our journey is not random. You can influence that journey and this is a good time to do it." - Frank Farley, Psychologist, Temple University.
 
"Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody." - Apostle Paul

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Friday, November 22, 2013

a pure heart, a clear conscience, a sincere faith


The beatitudes were among the first scriptures that I remember being taught in Sunday School. They were so sweet reciting especially in my mother tongue. One of the statements of Christ that forms the subject of this post was;

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.[Mathew 5:8]

It is simple yet containing some profound mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. It actually sets the qualification to see God; having a pure heart.


Purity is associated with sanctification, also called holiness and going on to perfection. The Greek word for “pure” is katharos. Fundamentally, it signifies that which is clean, or free from contaminating substance. Pure may describe a heart that is free from unadulterated motives.

The heart is central to this because in the Bible the heart stands for the seat, source, reservoir and instigator of our thoughts, attitudes, desires, character and motivation. We can see the importance of the heart from Proverbs 4:23

"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."
In view of this, everything we think, say or do should be inspired by this quality of the heart. Whether it is loving, serving God or others as we see in the following scripture;

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,  from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. [1Timothy 1:5-7]
The conversation between Paul and Timothy was that of a father to a son, a mentor to a protégée, a teacher to a disciple. He was at the point where he was finishing his race and passing the baton to another. He had experienced so much in his Christian walk, and perhaps was simplifying to an infant of faith what were the quintessentials of living a Godly life and finishing well. He says,

I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers.  As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lo′is and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. 2 Timothy 1:3-5

What a lofty disposition that would be; a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere (genuine) faith!

Father I have confessions I need to make and areas in my life I need your grace more and the help of your Holy Spirit. Help me to get rid of unforgiveness. All the grudges I have harbored in my heart because I was too proud to allow and let go the wrongs of others.

I have allowed worldly corruption that has polluted my mind and my heart. My language has been conformed to the world. My heart is defiled by opening my eyes to vanity and my ears to wickedness. I have entertained lustfulness in my heart and in this way let impurity into my heart.
Lord take this heart of mine. It is filthy. Cleanse it by your truth which is your word. Reveal to me and enable me to walk in that path of purity of heart. Amen.

Other Scriptures:

[Psalms 18:26] With the pure You will show Yourself pure, and with the perverse You will show Yourself contrary.

[Psalms 73:1] Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart


[Isaiah 1:16] Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes


[Jeremiah 4:14] O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

More Here

Friday, October 18, 2013

In Loving Memory of my Dad

Like Grass in the Morning

Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives. I am sure some of us may have heard about this program that used to air in KTN those days! I do not mean to imply that I watched the program, but I couldn't ignore seeing that title. Although it seems yesterday, it is now two years since dad passed on (I believe to a better place).


Your transition was so sudden and notably caught all of us off guard. You were well on Monday, fell ill on Tuesday and you couldn't talk on Wednesday and Thursday. It was too sad that on Friday I was comforting your dear wife (my mother) and initiating burial preparations for you. One of the most difficult moments of my life was breaking the news of your demise to my siblings some of whom I was so sure they would not understand.

I was there that morning to embrace your wife when she saw your lifeless body. Perhaps the memory of your lives together and the imagination of a life without you overwhelmed her and drew away every ounce of strength in her heart. At this moment, the faith you introduced me to, was the immediate anchor of my soul. Immediately in those difficult circumstances, I was so aware of the love of God, and in her mourning embrace convinced her that we needed to thank God for your life with us. And I offered the prayer of thanks giving.

I thought I was strong until the next Tuesday we were laying you in your final resting place. The sight of it all drove me to uncontrollable tears and I could feel the shaking of my facial muscles that still I was unable to control. I mean, I was overwhelmed too. The future seemed so uncertain. The comforting words of friends seemed not to lessen the anguish but fire it up! But I thank all of you who stood with us that day.

Some pledged to stand with us in amazing ways. I mean the sweet talk of friends and relatives. Yet in those two years I have clearly understood why the Holy Scriptures warn us not to trust in man. Men were completely unable to help and forgot about us, but God has been there for us faithfully. We have not lacked. The LORD became our father and our source. We are still strong through His grace. A lot have come our way, and our focus and hope we keep, that there will be a brighter and perfect day for all of us! We sincerely miss you.

Surely, in the morning men are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. -- Psalms 90:6


RIP dad.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Unction: the anointing

I tell you, this thing has been bothering me for the past two weeks. Why our Christian lives and ministries seem dry and usual, lacking something that I was not able to explain until now. For as far as I can remember, back in the days when I was young in faith, there was a burning fire to seek out for something unknown to me yet undoubtedly believed it existed. Though aware this is no excuse for me now, but I must argue my case.

Now I have learnt that somewhere along the path I substituted this drive with intellectual learning and mere human information. The point of surrender till all my groanings in prayer lost all meaning to me diminished in significance! I let the wind of modernity swift me gradually and without  understanding I find myself acting in futility. But thanks be to the God of steadfastness who revives and restores His people and has caused me to gain an understanding of the unction of the Holy one!

Let us look at these scriptures;

(1John 2:20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (KJV)
 
(1John 2:20) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. (NKJV)

(1John 2:27) But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (NKJV) 
Unction is the anointing of the Holy Ghost, separating unto God’s work and qualifying for it. Without this unction there are no true spiritual results accomplished; Without unction our work in ministry remains potent.
Many pleasant impressions may be made, but these all fall far below the ends of gospel preaching. This unction may be simulated. There are many things that look like it, there are many results that resemble its effects; but they are foreign to its results and to its nature. The fervor or softness excited by a pathetic or emotional sermon may look like the movements of the divine unction, but they have no pungent, perpetrating heart-breaking force. No heart-healing balm is there in these surface, sympathetic, emotional movements; they are not radical, neither sin-searching nor sin-curing.
Unction backs and interpenetrates the revealed truth with all the force of God. It qualifies the preacher’s heart, and brings it to that condition of tenderness, of purity, of force and light that necessary to secure the highest results.
Without the unction, God is absent.
Unction is that indefinable, indescribable something. This unction comes to the preacher not in the study but in

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Are we missing something in the Gospel?

I write this lamenting in my own heart about the state of Churches today. The bible indicates to us that we are surrounded by so great a crowd of witnesses; the patriarchs, the elders, the prophets and the apostles who went before us. They were counted as faithful and sacrificially served God even to the point of shedding their blood for the cause of the Gospel. I remember Stephen a man full of faith and the Spirit of God; I remember John the Baptist who lived in caves and ate locusts and wild honey, yet preaching the coming of Christ without fear only to die in the hands of King Herod! Apostle Paul was always in danger, at sea while travelling and in the land from the plotting of the jealous Jews. He was living like one under the sentence of death. No home to call his own. No holiday destination to go. His place was in the prison mostly bound by chains.

I am mesmerized by the apostles, pastors, bishops and preachers of our generation. Most of them live in luxury. Most of them are not our neighbors, as we generally live in the common neighborhoods, but as for them, they live in the leafy suburbs of our cities. They drive the top of range cars and wear the finest of the clothes. They are unavailable for the flock; always surrounded by security to keep away the people and their disturbances. Through this method, how will they know the state of their flock as the Chief Shepherd has commanded them to do? Is your pastor or apostle available for you specifically? The CEOs of our organizations are more accessible and readily available than our pastors!

What has changed of the Gospel? The truth is that the time has changed. But the Word of God remains steadfast and unchanged! What do the apostles of today know that the bible apostles missed about the Gospel? If none, then the first apostles would have been the richest and most comfortable of all men of God having received the truth of the Gospel firsthand. But it was not so for them. Instead, they sold all their possessions and placed them at the apostle’s feet for serving the needy amongst them! The question is; are we called into worldly riches or spiritual riches? The emphasis today is more on the temporary outward life more than the inner hidden eternal life!

I listen to the sermons of our preachers and I am impressed by the eloquence, earnestness, the learning expressed and I admit I am intellectually aroused. Nevertheless, there is something lacking in most of them; the unction of the Holy Spirit. I have often been told, what the preacher brings from his mind can only get to the mind of the listener but that which comes from the heart of the preacher gets into the hearts of the listeners. And this is the reason for many folks in the church who are not getting transformed by the Word of God. They hear the word but it quickly dissipates in the same way they were excited to receive it!

Since the time draws neigh quickly, and the son of man will return in the glory of His father and the holy angels, it is important we make our election sure. We must ask the hard questions. Are we doing the Kingdom business or our own businesses? Are we running the race in the stipulated rules or we have created our own. All of you will agree with me that God is a righteous and just God and He is in one mind. The foot print has been laid for us by those who went before us. In fact it has been written for our learning and instruction. We are called to

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Live Fully so You Can Die Happy

Lesson 101 from the book: Who will cry when you die

Most people don’t discover what life is all about until just before they die. While we are young, we spend our days striving and keeping up with social expectations. We are so busy chasing life’s big pleasures that we miss out on the little ones, like dancing barefoot in a park on a rainy day with our kids or planting a rose garden or watching the sun come up. We live in an age where we have conquered the highest of mountains but have yet to master our selves. We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, more possessions but less happiness, fuller minds but emptier lives.

Do not wait until you are on your deathbed to realize the meaning of life and the precious role you have to play within it. All too often, people attempt to live their lives backwards: they spend their days striving to get the things that will make them happy rather than having the wisdom to realize that happiness is not a place you reach but a state you create. Happiness and a life of deep fulfillment come when you commit yourself, from the very core of your soul, to spending your highest human talents on a purpose that makes a difference in others’ lives. When all the clutter is stripped away from your life, its true meaning will become clear: to live for something more than yourself. Stated simply, the purpose of life is a life of purpose.

As this is the last of the life lessons it is my privilege to share with you in this book, I wish you a great life filled with wisdom, happiness and fulfillment. May your days be spent in work that is engaging, on pursuits that are inspiriting and with people who are loving. I’d like to leave you with the following words of George Bernard Shaw, which capture the essence of this final lesson far better than I ever could:

This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose
recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a true
force of Nature instead of a feverish little clod of
ailments and grievances complaining that the world
will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of
the opinion that my life belongs to the whole
community, and, as long as I live, it is my privilege
to do for it whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For
the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for
its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort
of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the
moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as
possible before handing it on to future generations.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Tough Love

From the Book: Who Will Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma

The golden thread of a highly successful and meaningful life is self – discipline. Discipline allows you to do all those things you know in your heart you should do but never feel like doing. Without self – discipline, you will not set clear goals, manage your time effectively, treat people well, persist through the tough times, care for your health or think positive thoughts.

I call the habit of self – discipline “Tough Love” because getting tough with yourself is actually a very loving gesture. By being stricter with yourself, you will begin to live life more deliberately, on your own terms rather than simply reacting to life the way a leaf floating in a stream drifts according to the flow of the current on a particular day. As I teach in one of my seminars, the tougher you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you. The quality of your life ultimately is shaped by the quality of your choices and decisions, ones that range from the career you choose to pursue to the books you read, the time that you wake up every morning and the thoughts you think during the hours of your days, when you consistently flex your willpower by making those choices that you know are the right ones (rather than the easy ones), you take back control of your life. Effective, fulfilled people do not spend their time doing what is most convenient and comfortable. They have the courage to listen to their hearts and to do the wise thing. This habit is what makes them great.


“The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do,” remarked essayist and thinker E.M. Gray. “They don’t like doing them either, necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.” The nineteenth – century English writer Thomas Henry Huxley arrived at a similar conclusion, noting: “Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.” And Aristotle made this point of wisdom in yet another way: “Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it: men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players, by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just; by doing self – controlled acts, we come to be self – controlled; and by  doing brave acts, we come to be brave.”

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Death; what many fail to understand


I know at the mention of death, most of you are suddenly engulfed by the fear of uncertainty. In fact, it is a topic most of us dread and often times would do anything to shrug off. Because it is generally thought you could be welcoming a misfortune.

Yet the more I think about death, the more I get peace in my soul. The more I am rejuvenated to attend to my purpose. The more I understand why I am here. For behold, whether you think about it or not, it shall surely come. Yes I just said; you shall die some day. We all shall and I need not to persuade you on this. Actually, when my father died in late 2011, I found myself at crossroads. I thought a lot about him and would fantasize at times wondering where he might have gone. So my journey to know the truth about death began.

[Ec 3:1-2]  To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; (KJV)

As real as death is, so ought we to be factual about it.  What actually happens when we die? Perhaps this may be mistaken for a rhetoric question just because no one has gone and come back. Nevertheless, as one who esteems the bible as a true witness of the word of God, I believe the bible has all the answers we need to know.

What actually is death? Death is simply a separation of the body and the inner person who is the real you. It is the coming to an end of the life of the body. It is the passage from earth to glory for those who believe in Jesus Christ. It is a necessary step, I would say.

That is still not enough a definition! It is important I mention that death is twofold. There is physical death and spiritual death. How do I know this? Well let’s read Ephesians 2:5;

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). Amplified Version

The kind of death referred above is a spiritual death. Spiritual death is separation from God. It derives its power from sin. Though the physical death has not occurred, the scripture says we were dead as long as we were in sin. Yet we received life through salvation but still not immune to physical death! Look at the next scripture in 1 Cor 15: 55-57;

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Amplified Version]

When Jesus Christ came he declared he was the way, the truth and the life  [John 14:6]. This life being talked about here is the God kind of life which is eternal and spiritual. This means anyone without this kind of life is dead.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Suitable Companion

Last Sunday I met a pastor I have known for a long time. Actually He has known me all my lifetime. But the meeting was not unusual but rather the twist our conversation took.


I felt I needed to ask him a rather personal question. Most of the times, I would reserve such content to my friends. Yet I could not at this point resist the temptation to ask him his counsel as one who I deem wise and a father figure.

We had actually been discussing about the rate of divorce and he explained to me the burden God had put in his heart and ministry to the family. It was evident that the strategy of the enemy destroying the church had shifted to the family unit which undoubtedly is the pillar of the church. I could not help when he further explained that divorce was something God hates and does not approve. And as such, warned me to be careful even as many contemporary churches took a lukewarm position concerning this subject.

Therefore I asked him, “As a young man, what kind of prayers I ought to have towards my wife to be?” I surely did not expect what he told me next.


He started off with the story of Mary.  

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45

He asked me, “What did Mary do to deserve to be the mother of our LORD Jesus Christ? Did she pray for it? ” 

The obvious answer I had was no.

He got back to Genesis where marriage began in the Garden of Eden. It was God’s idea from the origin of creation. God intended that man should not be alone. God looked for Adam a suitable helper.

As I reflected on this, he pointed out that the problem with our generation was that we were looking for beauty, appearance, style, class and sheer feelings whereas God was looking for a suitable companion! Suitable companion does not necessarily mean beautiful!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Happy Birthday to Myself



Today is my birthday.I thank you LORD for this special and beautiful day. I remember gratefully your never failing faithfulness and never ending steadfast love towards me. Blessed is your name in my life.

Yet another year you have nourished me spiritually, revived me with your word, preserved me in perfect health, provided above and beyond my needs, helped me in every way, prevailed over my enemies, showed me favor, forgiven my sins, sustained me with your grace and the list is endless.

Every year I have grown. I have seen all seasons: seasons of love, seasons of pain, seasons of plenty and seasons of lack. In all of these, I rejoice because my experiences have made me a better person; wiser, stronger and perhaps more patient with life.

I have had all kind of friends. Some stuck more than a brother. They still chose to see the best in me despite my shortcomings. I pray that you will establish them in plans you have for them. For your plans are plans to do good and give an expected end.

My family has been wonderful. I also faithfully and joyfully have accepted the responsibility you have given me in my family. May you keep us together and be with us.

LORD, I have things that are truly troubling me and I ask that you will take care of them for me.

As I blow my candles, I have no wish to make but a prayer. LORD I pray that you will lead and guide me in the path that was chosen for me [Ps 25:12] and teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom [Ps 90:12]. I ask that in this new year I shall lack no good thing [Ps 84:11]. I desire a new name. Take away my shame. Let me be a royal diadem in your hands. Let me not be called forsaken or desolate but Hephzibah and Beulah [Is 62:2-4]. I ask in your Holy Name according to your word.

Happy Birthday to me!



Monday, February 25, 2013

Calmness; the jewel of wisdom

From the book: As a Man Thinketh

Calmness of mind is a jewel of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its
presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws, operations, and effects of thought.


An individual becomes calm in the measure that they understands themselves as a thought evolved being, such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others being who they are as the result of their own thoughts. As right understanding develops the  individual sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things, by the action of cause and effect and so ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.