Topic: Way Out Of Embarrassment [Wednesday 30 September, 2015]

Memorise: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. - Isaiah 42:16

Read: John 2:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Bible in one Year: Leviticus 21:1-23:8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-14:5
MESSAGE:

Jesus Christ declared to His disciples that He is the way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). As the Way, He is the exit from that very evil location you may find yourself. He is the Way out of sickness and also the Way out of death. If you are facing any situation pertaining to death, He is the Way out. In Acts 9:36-42, Dorcas died and the widows mourned her because of her good works which had been a blessing to them. She was the visible hand of God that the widows could relate with. So when Peter arrived, they began to make a case for her to live. Do you know that when some believers die, almost everyone who knew them would prefer that they were left dead, because they made no meaningful impact? If you were called home to be with the Lord today, how many people would want you to be restored to life? Can your works speak for you like those of Dorcas? When Peter heard of her works, he commanded Dorcas to come back to life in the Name of Jesus. She lived to continue her ministry to the widows. You too can command the dead to rise in the Name of Jesus and life shall be restored back to them, if only you have faith in Jesus and you are a part of Him.

Moreover, Jesus is the Way out of embarrassment. In today’s Bible reading, while a wedding celebration was going on in Cana of Galilee, the wine finished. How embarrassing! It was possible the guest they had were far more than what they had prepared for. Some of their guests who had not been served were seated and expecting to be served. If they were to arrange for more wine, it would have cost them a lot in time, money and logistics. While they bothered about what to do and confusion was beginning to set in, Mary got wind of what was going on and informed Jesus about it. Pre-empting Him, she instructed the servants at that feast to wait on the Lord. At the nick of time, the Lord turned the water available into the wine they lacked. Everyone who took of that wine confessed that they had never taken a better wine in all their lives. The Lord not only saved the day, but also turned an embarrassing situation into a most special moment for all and sundry. Imagine the joy of the couple and that of their families! Are you facing any form of embarrassment? Take it to the Lord in prayer and have faith in His ability to intervene, and He will make a way for you.

Action Point: Intercede for every believer facing an embarrassing situation around you, that they will receive God’s way out now.

Sexual Purity:3 Reasons Why it’s Difficult to Achieve in Many Relationship

Purity is a lost culture in today’s world. Lot’s of people are not bothered about it in their everyday life that is why they live their lives recklessly. Any relationship where immorality isn’t practiced sometimes become difficult to keep because many believe that’s the only sustainable means to making relationship work.

Premarital and extramarital sex has become a norm in many relationship. Some men believe it’s a way of expressing love while their female counterparts are of the notion that without it love cannot grow. Some men cannot do without it while some women can’t keep a relationship without it.

Some people who do not cross the line into having sexual intercourse ended up practicing the likes of kissing, petting, caressing, romance (sexual plays) as a means of ‘lubricating’ their relationship. Are these want God wants in our relationship? Can’t relationship no longer thrive without sexual immoralities?

Here are the reasons why sexual purity cannot be achieved in many relationship even amongst Christians.

1. Practicing Lust
Lust is a carnal desire that deals with fulfilling the pleasure the flesh craves for. Apart from the fact that God gave us commandments and brought Jesus to save us from sin, the human flesh naturally desires the things that are pleasurable to it.

The desire to kiss, pet, caress, indulge in erotic conversations, send nude pictures, stay in dark corners, bear hug or indulge in sexual intercourse are lustful activities. When you desire it and conceive it, you’ve automatically sin against God. However, sin would bring up death (separation from God or the loss of life).

You cannot maintain a pure relationship if what you practice in your relationship is lust. And if your relationship isn’t pure, one of you would become a victim.

2. Seeking pleasure rather than purpose
I earlier said the flesh loves pleasure rather than to be engaged in productive activities. When all you do in your relationship is to go clubbing, drink and smoke, keep boyfriends or girlfriends, chat for hours without meaningful discourse; sexual purity is far from such relationship.

You cannot seek pleasure and expect to retain sexual purity in your relationship. Remember, pleasure kills faster than hard work because your cumulative years of pleasure would amount to a life of vanity.

Ask old men and women who wasted their youthful life on pleasures, they will tell you it’s a life of waste and total regret. Pursue purpose and you’ll to a large extent maintain sexual purity.

3. Imbibing the culture of the world
Christians are living in the world, but it’s so sad that the world is now living in them. Lot’s of worldly activities has been branded or coined into their activities. It’s difficult to differentiate between a child of God and a lover of the world because there are no disparity between how they dress, talk, behave or manage their relationship.

Many Christian brothers and sisters are now behaving like the world even in their relationship that is meant to be godly. Many had been made to believe that relationships portrayed in TV, movies or soap operas are the best pattern to adopt in theirs.

Why would believers be demanding for pregnancy before marriage? Is it the culture of Christ or the rudiments of this world?

You cannot do it the world’s way and expect it to end up in God’s way. You can’t do the things of the world and expect God to be your Alpha. Imbibing the culture of the world in your relationship will make you trash sexual purity in your relationship.

I write these to those who choose to please God in their relationship. Let no one, I repeat, let nobody fool you into believing that “it doesn’t mean”, “everyone is doing it” or “it’s not too bad”. God will never compromise His standards for man’s. Engaging in sexual immoralities in your relationship would give the devil an unhindered access into your life.

Remember, the devil (thief) comes not but for to steal, kill and destroy. ‘One chance’ of sexual immoralities would give him a blank cheque to rewrite the order of your life. Believers beware, he’s fighting tooth and nail to ensure that more people are doomed for life.

If you don’t pursue sexual purity, you’ll end up in immorality. Don’t let your relationship put you in eternal damnation. Flee youthful lust. Flee all appearances of evil and embrace sexual purity. A word is enough for the wise!

  (c) Mayowa Adeniyi 2015

Who to Marry:See the Future and not the Present

There are many factors people consider when it comes to marriage and whom to marry. Many would prefer going for things like the ‘container’ (physical features) while some would go for ‘content’ (innate potentials). Things like how tall, rich, dark and handsome he is or how physically endowed she is are purely container features.

Whereas few people would go for things like being God-fearing, hospitable, matured, respectful and having a confirmation from God on whom they want to marry.

It is not a crime to consider what you can see in your intended spouse but it shouldn’t be your basis for making the decision on who to marry. Many had looked at the present or married for the present but were disappointed in the future when those things they saw no longer exist or had taken a different shape in the future.

Are you making plans on who to marry? Look into the future rather than marry for the present. Only a myopic man or lady would marry for what they can see. But in case you don’t know what it takes to look into the future, learn the how-to.

1. You can’t see the future if you don’t have one
Marriage is not a short term project or commitment, it’s a lifelong relationship. It’s not possible to see the future in your intended spouse if you don’t have one.

More often than none, I usually tell singles, get a life before you start looking for who to marry. It is your purpose you’ve known that would determine the kind of person you’d marry whose future you’ve seen.

Do you think that most women that agreed to marry those ministers of God or men who became great were ordinary women? No! They weren’t great when they approached but their wives had a life and they knew that their intended spouse has a future.

2. You cannot see the future if you’re conversant of the present
I often pity ladies especially who had a long list of what their husbands to be must have before they’d ever agree to marry him. He must have a three bedroom apartment, ride a car, earn good salary and so on before they accept his proposal. May you discard this orientation before you reach menopausal age.

What makes you think a ready-made spouse will still be made in the future? What if the tides turn over and he lost all? Don’t marry based on ephemeral qualities but rather see prospects. It’s better to start small and grow big with a man that has a bright future than to grow with a man that is made and cannot manage his growth.

3. The future isn’t determined in the future but in the present
How can you know a man that has a future? He doesn’t dream alone, talk about it or chorus it often but he orders his future now. Don’t be deceived by men who are flattering and would paint a future they don’t have.
A man that has a future is a man who is working and walking in line with his purpose and not a pleasure seeker. A man of purpose doesn’t spend hours watching season movies, updating BBM dps or chatting on social media but he’s on course for the fulfillment of his purpose.

4. You cannot see the future if you’ve not known God
“Write the vision, make it plain that he may run that reads it”
There’s a difference between the future God has for a man and the future man has for himself. Ladies, it’s only God that can make you see the future He has for a man but if you’re far from God, you’ll pursue ephemeral things and miss your husband. Submit your life and emotions to God so that only a man that has a future can find it. Be sold out to God so that you can clearly differentiate between a man of purpose and one who comes for pleasure. If by luck you marry a man with a future, you’ll destroy that future because you’re not prepared for it. Men, you need to be careful, marry a woman that can support your future and not that which would fit into your life at present.<> That a woman knows how to cook, even if she’s God-fearing doesn’t doesn’t mean she’ll be a suitable help meet in the future. Prayerfully choose for the future rather than carnally choose for the present. Space wouldn’t permit me to write more but I want you to have a change of orientation when it comes to choosing whom to marry. Without God, knowing your purpose, having a future and doing away with the things you see at present; you can never see the future in whom you want to marry. Only a futuristic marriage, ordained by God can stand the test of time.

Sexual Desire: Does It Own You or You Own It?

Sexual Desire: Does It Own You or You Own It?Behind every action or act, there’s a cause and effect. Everything a man does in life starts with a desire and when it’s fully utilized or gratified, it would determine the action and in the long run, would bring its consequences or not.
Every act that leads to sex starts with a desire. The desire to kiss, caress and have sex all has its root in the mind. You can’t initiate sex if you’re not in the mood and your partner also wouldn’t response if he or she isn’t having the same desire you had. Is it a crime to have sexual desire or fantasy? Hell no!
God created sex and He wired some hormones that would be responsible to trigger man into the mood. But it’s not a crime for Him to have created it because He gave man the ability to control it.
Regardless of who you are: a believer or an unbeliever, it’s simply natural to have sexual desire but abnormal when the desire determines your action. And the point I’m driving is that does your sexual desire own you or you own it? As ladies, if you follow the direction of your emotions that desires intimate love and acceptance from the opposite sex, you’ll be faced with the consequence that comes after it when the desire wanes.
That you have the desire isn’t a crime but being able to manage it on the grounds of considering the consequence with respect to the temporal pleasure, sinning against God and your body should help you place the desire under check.
Quite a lot of ladies had found means of satisfying their desires and this has led them into relationship where they ended up becoming victims of premarital sex, unwanted pregnancy, masturbation, abortion and the likes. Don’t be slaves to your emotions but master how to control your desire.
It’s better to satisfy the desire when you’re not going to bear its consequences or be afraid of its aftermath in marriage.
Speak to your head rather than allow your heart to lead you into the action that you’d regret afterwards. That desire remains a desire if you speak to it and don’t allow it to control you.

And to the men, I know you’re easily attracted by what you see in ladies – indecent dresses, fair complexion or how ‘endowed’ she is. However, the desire to have sex would be normal or intense when you go carnal or see it as a natural thing to do.

Regardless of the sexual desire you have, it’s unwise to follow the direction of your erection because doing so would destroy your life. A man is not a man if he lacks the ability to tame his desire. And that he choose to tame it doesn’t make him less human. It takes understanding of what is at stake to curb sexual desires. If your desires own you up, the fate of your life can be determined because it would lead you nowhere good. A man that has rule over his desire is stronger than a soldier who captures the city. Temptation doesn’t overcome a man if his desire doesn’t determine his action. Feed your mind with good thoughts rather than the lust of the flesh that would influence sexual desire. Embrace determination, self-control, the fear of God and depend on the strength of the Holy Spirit to overcome without compromise.

Remember, the desire to have sex is normal but when you fulfill the desire, it would determine the kind of consequence you’d face in life. Does your sexual desire own you or you own it?
(c) Mayowa Adeniyi 2015

Topic: Instruction Rescues [Thursday 24 September, 2015]

Memorise: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. - Psalm 107:20
Read: Proverbs 19:20-21 (KJV)
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Bible in one Year: Leviticus 12:1-13:44, 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:7

MESSAGE:
If you experience a loss at any point in life, know that it’s a time to stay calm and not a time to lose heart. If you can wait to receive specific instructions from the Lord, it will expedite the recovery of your loss. The reason why many losses of God’s children have not been recovered is because they have not found time to seek the face of God on the matter. As you seek God’s face concerning those good things you have lost, the Lord will give you a word that will lead to their recovery.

Many years ago, while we were building the first big auditorium at the Redemption Camp, we needed a lot of wood. We paid the government board in charge of sawmills in Edo state, Nigeria, to have this wood supplied to us. A few weeks to our convention, this government board decided to shut down all sawmills in the state. While pacing up and down asking God what to do, the Lord asked me what I knew about the Kingdom of God. To me, this question was irrelevant and I wanted to say so, but I cautioned myself and began to say that I knew about the Kingdom of God”. He concurred. Then I said “The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” He agreed. This continued until I exhausted all I could remember on the subject matter. Eventually, I said “Since the days of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent taketh it by force.” Then He replied, “That is where we are going. Do you want your wood? Give me a violent offering.” That was on a Saturday; on Sunday, I shared this with my children and we gave a violent offering. On Monday, the governor of Edo state dissolved this government Board and reconstituted another one, which immediately reopened all sawmills. On Tuesday, someone who had no money to give brought his trailer for us to use as long as we wanted. On Wednesday, someone came to give us bags of nails. Several other people also brought materials for the building. Within two weeks, the auditorium was ready; all because I received an instruction from the Lord. The instruction that will lead to a full recovery of your losses shall be given to you this season. When you seek God’s face and He tell you what to do, don’t argue with Him; go ahead and obey the Lord and you will recover your losses. It is your recovery period this season!

Key Point: For every loss, there is a recovery strategy which can be found with the Great Restorer – Jesus Christ.

Foundation: On Which Ground Is Your Relationship Built on?

Singles' Corner
by Mayowa Adeniyi
If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Foundation: Which Ground Does Your Relationship Rests on?Regardless of how you initiate your relationship, there is always a motive or platform to which it was built. For instance, if what led you to start a relationship or the reason why it exist is based on the gift you frequently receive, then the foundation of your relationship is founded on material benefits.

A foundation is a part of a building which bears all the weight of the building both dead (the building weight), imposed and wind load. It determines the strength of the building.
What brought you together is the foundation of your relationship. There are several platforms on which relationship can be built. The foundation of a relationship has lots to do with how the relationship would fare when it faces some challenges. Read the following types of foundation.

#1 – DECEPTION
It is often said or generalized by certain sect of people that the female folks love deceit. Although, this may be true but it has a negative effect on the relationship. Deceit is misleading a person or giving false information about yourself to your partner.

Any relationship built on lies cannot stand the test of time when it is exposed to the light of reality. It would also lead to the breach of trust and the victim is psychologically affected and may find it difficult to trust anyone again.

#2 – MONEY
It is good to have money and the things money can buy but it become an issue when it defines the existence of a relationship. A lot of relationship that was built on money fails when there’s little or no money in supply.
There should be a limit to how it is used especially when you are unmarried. Using money to buy affection or love does not make up for a good relationship. In fact it will not help you to know how much your partner loves you.

#3 – LUST
Many people confuse love with lust. Love develops over a period of time. It doesn’t occur at first sight or evolve suddenly. It grows with commitment and the willingness to improve the welfare of the person you love.
However, lust is a strong desire that comes us suddenly because of a particular thing you admire in your partner. It is the mother of infatuation. Any relationship built on this platform will fail because lust can never stand the test of time. It fades quickly after the desire has been granted.

#4 – FEELINGS
Many relationships are built on feelings. Feelings come into play as a result of shared intimacy or the closeness that occurred between two people. When you engage in activities together for a period of time, there is every tendency for you to build up feelings for the other person. You begin to think more often, create fantasies or wild dreams about the person.

The human mind works like a magnet. When you bring a magnet close to a metal, there is an attraction. Such is the case of feelings that creates affection. A relationship built on feelings would fail when the feelings cease to exist. Relationship cannot thrive longer on the platform of feelings because it is temporal.

#5 – SEX
I know that many relationships today are created on the basis of sexual benefits. Only a tiny fraction of relationships can survive without sex for a long period of time before marriage. Have you seen any relationship that was established on the platform of sex that survives or leads to marriage, maybe one out of fifty? Love is not sex and sex is not love. Many people mix up an expression of love with the art of lovemaking.

A relationship built on sex before marriage does not last because sex does not make a partner committed, it does not reveal the true test of love, it creates depression and guilt, it creates soul ties and the transfer of STD, it is not a means of expressing love and it contradicts God’s command. Sex is ONLY meant for married couples alone.

#6 – LOVE
One of the misunderstood things in life is love. Most people think they know what it entails and need not to be enlightened about it before they venture into practicing it. Some base their love on feelings, emotions or on certain conditions and then build their relationship on it. All of these cannot sustain relationship in the long run. Any ground other than decision, responsibility, commitment and sacrifice to what love is, will fail. Love does not cease but feelings do. It does not change but emotions do and it is unconditional.

#7 – GOD’S APPROVAL & THE FEAR OF GOD
Yes! The fear of God! Does it sound irrelevant? With the exception of marriage, you may not need God’s approval before you start a relationship.
Do you know that love is not enough to make a relationship successful? Love is good but when certain situation comes, such as temptation, pressure, influence or the need to cheat on one’s partner; it takes the fear of God to achieve this.
A relationship that is 100% secured or that can weather through any storm is one that is built on the fear of God. The fear of God is a guide that prevents one from doing evil, becoming ignorant or acting is foolishness. Love can fall into temptation but it takes the fear of God not to yield. If God doesn’t approve your relationship for marriage, don’t decide to marry based on what you see or feel. Get His approval.
If the foundation is bad, how can the building stand? Having this in mind, the foundation of your relationship determines the duration of your relationship and its success. Foundations like deception, feelings, money, sex, love or lust cannot give you a successful relationship.

Deception will fail when it is exposed to reality. Feelings will cease, money may stop, sexual desire will fade, lust is temporal but the love that is built on the fear of God and having His approval is best ground for a successful marital relationship. Share this:

Author: Kemi Oyedepo Topic: WHILE THERE IS HOPE

Your children will not remain small forever. One day, their feet will no longer be in cute trainers, crocs, flip flops, etc. Such shoes will be swapped for striking stilettos or loafers or brogues and whatever else is out there to be worn.

Then, they will walk into a busy world and you will not have so much time to hang out together, play together or even pray together. So, please don’t trade in precious moments with them for anything. Irrespective of their ages, do all you can to pump them with all the necessary values, spiritual and otherwise that they need to be value adding adults both in the world and in their future homes and please make sure such values are evident in your life as well.

As I often say, do it like their life depends on it! Slip off your heels, mother; father remove your shoes and tie. Stop being so focused on everything else while your children get your left overs. Remember they are with you for a season. The bible says discipline your children while there is hope, otherwise you will ruin their lives – Proverbs 19:18. I always add love them while there is hope, correct them while there is hope, spend time with them while there is hope, get to know them while there is hope. Push them to God while there is hope.

The list goes on and on. Do everything while there is hope; while the opportunity is still there. A time will come when what you say is only an advice and not an instruction. But when you do what you are supposed to do at the right time, you won’t be worried whether they take your advice or not because the teachings you instilled in them will be working for them. If your children are no longer under your tutelage and may have made some wrong decisions, don’t be dismayed; don’t lose hope. One weapon that never fails is prayer, use it with all your heart concerning them. Even when you want to speak to them, pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for utterance that will gain entrance into their hearts and bring about a great testimony.

You may be a single parent here, the same applies to you. It doesn’t matter how you became a single parent, the point is that your child or children are here now so what are you going to do to bring out the best in them? Don’t have a “woe is me” mentality, many single mothers and fathers have done a fantastic job raising their children so while it may be more challenging, it is 100% doable! Parenting is serious business and cannot be done well without depending on God. Don’t take it as a casual responsibility.

You and I have the privilege of moulding the character of another person from scratch – what an honour from God. Let us be determined to do a great job using time, among others as our motivation. I always remind myself that as my children’s shoe sizes change, it means the time to mould them and prepare them for the world, spiritually and otherwise, is reducing, therefore I must remain strengthened and keep looking to God for the required tools and help to give them all I can, while there is hope.

,,,,,

Topic: Enduring Hardship [Monday 21 September, 2015]

Memorise: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. - Matthew 5:11
Read: Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV)
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Bible in one Year: Leviticus 6:8-7:38, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11
MESSAGE:

The devil knows the glorious tomorrow that awaits every believer in Christ when they cross the finish line of the Christian race. This is why he fights tooth and nail to derail us from reaching our goal. He was a part of the heavenly bliss that will be our reward, but he lost his place due to evil thoughts (Isaiah 14:12-15). He does not want us to taste what he lost; hence he works through wiles to bring us down (Ephesians 6:11). One of the wiles that Satan uses in making believers in Christ abandon the Christian race is hardship. Some people have pulled out of heaven’s marathon before getting to the finish line, due to their inability to endure hardship. Our Lord Jesus Christ described such people in Mark 4:17

“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”

The expectations you had when you entered the Christian faith matter a lot. The Christian faith is not a bed of roses. The way of the cross that leads to Heaven is not a path laden with gold and easy to take. If anyone tells you that once you believe in Jesus, all your problems will disappear and everything will always go well, you are being deceived. The day you signed up as a believer in Christ, the die was cast and the battle line was drawn between you and the kingdom of darkness. From that day, you become a sworn enemy of the forces of darkness. They will surely attack you and try to make you feel miserable.

You are expected to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). The inability to endure difficult and trying times makes one a bad soldier of the cross. Even when God blesses you, He still leaves room for you to be persecuted, tried and ridiculed. Your faith in Christ may be tested through lack, hunger, unanswered prayers, false accusations, ill health, and so on. Jesus in our Bible reading taught that if you can take persecution, being reviled by men and false accusation in good faith, you are blessed and on the path to Heaven. On the other hand, if you easily get offended by these, if nothing is done to correct your attitude, you may become derailed from the faith. Are you offended in Christ? Towards the end of his stay on earth, John the Baptist began to doubt if the same Person he had declared to be the Son of God was the true Messiah (Matthew 11:2-6). In His reply to John’s questions, the Lord told him not to be offended in Him. It is a good thing to suffer persecution for your faith in Christ. Never get to the point of being offended in Him.

Prayer Point: Father, let patience have its perfect work in my life, so that I will be wanting in nothing.

4 Essential Methods to Adopt in Avoiding Heart Break

by Mayowa Adeniyi
More often than not, many a relationship fails or do not last forever. Some that started with friendship do not last till marriage. Also, some engagement do not live to see the wedding day. Unfortunately, many marriages also break few or more years after they were formed.
Relationship is to be enjoyed by the partners involved. These can be achieved when a common interest and purpose is shared and pursued. However, trust, honesty and love are basic requirements in a relationship. Anything aside this, will make one party suffer an emotional pain. Why do people suffer heart break?

I remembered my first relationship after high school. I was high in spirit as a teenager. Naive as I was, I kept my heart to the relationship thinking it would last long. I met this young female teen in a religious gathering. We were of the same age bracket waiting to pursue a degree at the college. We served in the same department in church and we became good friends. Our parents knew each other and we usually spend time together. Unfortunately, when this older teenager came, he wooed this girl, ruined our relationship and it broke my heart. This led to my understanding of heart break and emotional pain and how to avoid it in my other relationships.

Heart break are dangerous to the mind and can be avoided in any relationship we find ourselves in. It symptoms are hurt, emotional pain, jilt, mental illness and being traumatic. To avoid it, I have carefully outlined below the measures you can take. When you do the following, your chances of becoming heart broken is minimal.

** AVOID PUTTING ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET
Eggs are fragile objects that requires special care. They crack or break when a greater impact of force is applied to them. The human heart (soul) is very fragile. This is why it is important that you are very careful of whom you allow access into your heart lest they trample it and ruin you emotionally.

When we place so much hope or expectations in a relationship, our chances of becoming heart broken is high. Do not put all your heart into a relationship as if it is the final destination in your life. Many people do this and ended up emotionally traumatized. Always have it in mind, that you can be disappointed. Do not cage yourself in a relationship thinking you cannot have a better one outside it. Your knowledge of this will make you careful of whom you fall in love with and how you love them.

** SET BOUNDARIES

Boundaries are obstacles that prevents a space or building from been encroached. They act as barrier or obstacles that prevents unauthorized access into a place. Your heart must be barricaded in any relationship you go into. This does not mean you won’t be caring or concerned, but it places limit on how you do it. Lack of boundaries in a relationship will make you entrust all your heart, secrets or love to a partner you are not fully sure of his/her intentions. Guard against the frequency of your call, chat and the kind of words you use in expressing yourself, feelings, mood or describing your partner. Words like “dear”, “darling” or “sweetheart” creates affection for some people. Also, engaging in frequent chat or calls creates an avenue for emotional bonding.

** DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP

Abuse is inevitable when the purpose of a thing cannot be ascertained. When you cannot define the purpose of a relationship or the basis for its creation, either of the party will abuse one another. Is the relationship purely casual, for friendship or having a view of marriage in the future? Even if it might lead to marriage, you need to define it. You don’t behave like married couples when you are still friends or partners. This is why engaging in premarital sex ruins a relationship.

** DON’T MAKE HIM/HER A PRIORITY

We often become disappointed in relationship when we make others a priority in our life. Since relationship is meant to be mutual, some people may care less about how you treat them while you are taking them to be your all. However, when you make them a priority in your life and they take you for minority, it will ruin your emotions. If he/she does not love, treat, care or display affection as much as you do, this shows that you are a minority in their life.
It is better not to have a broken heart than to repair a damaged one. A repaired heart cannot be like a new one. You need to guard against the kind of people that have access into your emotional life. Since the heart is fragile, you must be careful of the kind of relationship you have, avoid putting all your hopes in a relationship, set boundaries to secure your heart from been ruined and don’t make him/her a priority when you are only a minority in his/her life.

Topic: The Beginning of Beginnings [Sunday 20 September, 2015]

Memorise: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8

Read: John 1:1-3 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Bible in one Year: Leviticus 4:13-6:7, 1 Corinthians 4
MESSAGE:

The Almighty God is so great, mighty, powerful, glorious and all-knowing that He is unlimited, unlike mortal men. He has access to the past, present and future of every event. Jesus in Revelation 1:8 declared:
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
The word “Alpha” in this declaration refers to the beginning of beginnings. When everything began, it was in His presence. John 1:2 says the Word was in the beginning with God. He was there when everything was formed, and as a result, He can trace the historical links of everything to where it all started. He is still in control of the past, so He can interfere with it in order to give you a better tomorrow. He knows exactly how things will turn out; hence it is best to always stick with His decisions. Before He gives counsel on any matter, He looks at the situation from the angles of the past, present and future, within the context of His purpose of your life. This is why those who factor His decisions into their lives are wise (Proverbs 3:5-7). Even if something goes wrong with such a decision down the line, because He is involved, and all the power and resources available in the universe belong to Him, He will tinker with things and get them to work in your favour (Romans 8:28). How often do you let Him into your decisions?

In the sphere of human existence, today is a product of yesterday. If you are a professional today, it is because you spent time being trained in school yesterday. If you have graduated from the university with a first-class honours degree, it is because you invested quality time into studying. If you are doing mental jobs as a cleaner or messenger, it is most likely because of your lack of access to an education or because you did not invest enough time in schooling. If you are suffering today, it is most likely as a result of what you did or did not do in the past. This is why you should be very careful with what you do today. Also, have tomorrow in view before taking that decision today. Thirdly, get connected with the only One who can go into your past to help your present. Do you know the Alpha and Omega? Are you connected with the Beginning of beginnings?

Prayer Point: Father, go into my past and correct any error working against me today, and make my tomorrow great.

Masturbation:

When Does It Become Good or Bad? The subject of masturbation has become a much debated topic in life and relationship. Lots of people are in a fix as to doing it or to refrain from the act.

The society paints a picture of it’s not too bad or a detestable thing to do since you’re not committing fornication, adultery or incest. In fact they’ll tell you it’s okay to do than to be involved with prostitutes since it doesn’t allow you to contact sexually transmitted diseases.

That sound good and seem to be true according to societal judgment.
Masturbation is the manual erotic stimulation of the genitals or other erotic regions of the body often to orgasm, either by oneself or a partner.

In the advanced form, it involves the use of objects or devices to enhance the stimulation process such as the use of sex toys, candles, soap or lubricants, vibrators, the use of the mouth and so on.

Some call it self-servicing, ‘wanking’, fingering, rolling the pill and the likes. Regardless of what you call it, masturbation is evil and a detestable act before God.

An act is not evil because men define it to be, it is evil when God says so regardless of what anyone defines or proves it to be true.
It is not expressly stated in the Bible that “Thou shall not masturbate”. This is what many are looking for to justify their claim of it to be right. But remember that some act are unclean and it is the Holy Spirit that can enlighten you about it.

It is not everyone that has received the Holy Spirit, even some people that claimed to be ‘Christians’ do not have the spirit of God in them. You cannot have God’s spirit in you and He’ll tell you masturbation is good.

The Bible will be too voluminous if it contains all the things you must do and mustn’t do, this is why Jesus promised His disciples that He would send them the Comforter who will bring them to the knowledge of truth and guide them in it.

Before I got born again, I usually masturbate. I go to church, listen to sermons but the Holy Spirit wasn’t in me. It is only when you have His spirit in you that He can guide you into all the truths you need to know about life and the issues in it. Let’s be factual, there’s no pleasure in masturbation, there’s more harm done to your body and soul.

Engaging in masturbation isn’t an excuse to abstain from fornication or adultery. If you feel the urge to have sex and it’s not marital sex, do the following.

1. Change your thoughts
What a man ponders on determines his mood and feelings. And the entrance to your thoughts is a function of what you see, hear or feel.
Do away with the thoughts of having sex and replace it with godly thoughts. Praying away the thoughts of sexual feelings can’t work for a person that is carnally minded, it’ll only work for a spiritually minded person.

Instead of brooding over the feelings of having sex, think of something creative, godly, pure and good. This is what Paul told Timothy in his letter to the Philippians, “In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” – Phil. 4:8 (GNT).<> Mind you, what you think on is a function of the friends you keep and the influence of your desire.

2. Keep the right company
It is very difficult to be with friends with an angry man and later in life you wouldn’t end up getting angry over little or minor things.
And this is the same with the feelings of immoralities and masturbation. If you keep friends that practices masturbation, there’s no how you won’t be influenced to join them.
Only good friends can have godly influence on you and this would keep you in the right frame of mind.
3. Renew your mind The world we live in is a corrupt one and there are several things that pollutes the mind. The movies you see, the music you listen to and some articles you read are enough to pollute your mind. To live clean and safe in a sexually polluted world, renew your mind with the word of God otherwise you’ll be transformed and conform to the pattern of the world. Masturbation is no where good, it is bad and a detestable act. You know why? “Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, and some things He detest (emphasis mine), He has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do”, – Rom. 1:28 (GNT). Do you retain God in your knowledge or you esteem self-opinion, societal traditions or scientific evidence above God? A married woman shouldn’t masturbate herself even if her husband isn’t around. It’s better they bridge the distance between themselves than to allow immoralities and infidelity to creep in. Distance should not put apart what God has joined together, although men joined some people together in ‘God’s house’. Are you indulging in masturbation? Desist from the act because it has medical effect on your body and above all, no unclean thing or person shall inherit God’s kingdom. I’m not writing this for all to agree, like or comment but only those who have the spirit of God in them will bear witness to this truth. Masturbation is NOT good but evil!   (c) Mayowwa Adeniyi 2015

The “Not too bad” Things Many Singles Commit in Their Relationship

I was once single but very stupid when I was very young. My being stupid isn’t according to man’s standard or judgment but it was defined based on God’s standard of understanding.

Whether you believe it or not, there are many Christian singles out there who are single but stupid, engaged but foolish, married but having no sense. Please pardon my use of harsh word but the truth is this: God’s judgment will be harsh on every children of disobedience on that day of reckoning.

I was once in some relationship as single and I tolerate the not-too-bad things others tolerated. Truth be told, just like many Christians out there, I appeared as a saint but deep within, sin is eating me deep.

I was on the floor asking for forgiveness and repented but before you know it, I was back in the act. Like I once felt that some things are not-too-bad, there are many out there too who feel same in their relationship.

What are the not-too-bad things many singles do in their relationship?
1. Phone sex
No thanks to mobile phones and devices with Internet facilities. When the likes of Nokia 3310, Sendo X and other first generation mobile phones were out, there’s a bit of purity in many singles’ relationship.

But as technology improves, immoralities gained momentum. Now that the world is a global village, phone sex amongst singles has become global.

You can engage in phone sex in your room with someone in another country or continent and you’re both in the mood.
What an act of uncleanness! The use of mobile phones to heighten sexual pleasure between two people either by conversation, chat or sex with the aid of apps such as Facebook, whatsapp, 2go and the likes.

Many singles indulge in phone sex and believe it’s not-too-bad.
It doesn’t matter if you’re going to be married, phone sex is sin and God frowns at it.

Are you indulging in such act and you feel its nothing bad? See, God’s standard of holiness is high. You must measure up to it because He won’t downgrade Himself to come to your level.

Remember, no unclean thing, including persons shall inherit the kingdom of God. Whether they have phone sex, text or in conversation, it is bad.

2. Erotic conversations

Lots of singles are made to believe that there’s nothing wrong in erotic conversations since they’re not committing the very act.

Don’t be deceived, there’s a thin line between love and lust. It doesn’t take too long to cross the Rubicon. You cannot take the fire of immoralities in your bosom and your clothes (bodies) wouldn’t be burned.
There’s a level you get to that saying “I love you” becomes erotic. You know what I mean?
That situation where you talk about sensual affection and desires. The moment you talk about sacred body parts such as I love your breast, your lips etc.

All of these conversations, no matter how pleasurable it may seem,  pollutes your mind and weakens your relationship with God. It also introduces dullness to your spirit man because it’s immoral and unclean.

3. Sexual immoralities
To those who justify that there nothing wrong with the likes of kissing, petting, caressing and fondling each other’s body, whether verbally or physically, it’s no other thing but sin. A thing isn’t called sin because the society tells you. An act is immoral when God defines it to be. If all these acts characterize your relationship as single or engaged, you’re practicing sexual immoralities and it would be best you desist from the act.

God frowns at sexual immoralities no matter how good the society defines or proves it to be right. It’s called youthful lust.
And in case you don’t know, the not-too-bad things you engage in your relationship are enough to lead you to hell. Even a habitual look of nude pictures is bad.

4. Exchanging nude pictures
There are some things many do that they cannot be proud of exposing it in public. One of these things is exchanging nude pictures. It is the greatest height of uncleanness and immoralities to be exchanging nude pictures of yourself with another person. It doesn’t matter if he’s your boyfriend, girlfriend or prospective partner. Many do it to increase sexual passion, it’s so shameful and immoral. Whether your friend will not expose it or not doesn’t mean, it’s a sin against God and your body. 5. Masturbation The devil is smart, he has no other gospel than the doctrine of doom. What he does to people is to make some act justifiable or seen as nothing bad.

Many believe that masturbation, self-servicing, exciting oneself, ‘wanking’ or other names that is often called isn’t a sin.

They’re made to believe that it is better than committing the likes of fornication, adultery, rape or incest.
How can I control my sexual urge if I don’t masturbate? See, God has given you the power to control yourself than to be controlled by your desire.
Masturbation is sin, whether it’s done as singles or married. The summary of all these acts is that they’re immoral and unclean.
Brethren, I’m not writing this to make myself seem overly righteous or holy. I have once fought the battle before, I have been defeated but now He has given me victory over it. And my complete victory comes by dying daily and the day I finish my race on earth.

Are you engaging in such act in your relationship whether as single, engaged or married? This is time to repent and come back to God.
Ask God for forgiveness, repent and quit the relationship if you’re not married. It’s better to stop the not-too-bad things before they hinder you from gaining entry into the kingdom of God.
If you die in that state of life in your relationship, will God say to you “depart from me you workers of iniquity” or He will say “welcome thou faithful and obedient servant?”

Make amends now!   (c) Mayowa Adeniyi

Abigail – 3 Lessons Every Single Lady Needs To Learn

“It is easy to learn how to become a good wife when you’re single than to be one when you’re married” (HRI)

A woman is a great being created by God for the well-being of a man. When God considered the need for a man to be assisted in the garden, He brought Eve and not Steve to him.

She became his suitable help meet in the garden: a partner in achieving God’s purpose for his life, an assistant outside the garden and a bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.

These and many more are the roles women play in the life of a man they’re married to. But the journey of becoming a good wife doesn’t start in marriage, it starts several years before then. I’ll like to share some lessons every single ladies must learn from in the Bible.
The story of Abigail is one which a lot of people often do not know. Mind you, that you’re called Abigail doesn’t mean you have the character of Abigail. But you need to know some things about her. Abigail is a woman that’s married to a man called Nabal and Nabal by interpretation means a fool. Surprised? Why do I need to learn from this?

1. If you’re married to a man who is a fool, you can’t fulfil your destiny nor help him achieve his

Take your time to prayerfully seek God’s face when it comes to choosing a life partner than to allow ephemeral things catch your attention. God’s original plan for marriage has no divorce in it. You must pay the price to marry a man with whom you can fulfil purpose together.

A man becomes a fool when he doesn’t know God’s purpose for his life. He becomes worthless when his wife is closer to God than him. And it is a shame to be married to a man who abuses you physically and add no value to your life but makes you wish you were single. Many single ladies are married and their career, purpose and vision dies in marriage. That you’re a suitable help meet doesn’t mean you should abandon your life and become trapped in his own.

Nabal was a good for nothing man because he spurned David’s servant. There are lots of men who are good for nothing and if you’re married to them, your life becomes an extension of your singlehood. It’s one thing to be married to a man and another thing to be married to a boy.

2. You need more than a beautiful countenance to become a good wife

A lot of ladies believes that if they can appear good, smell nice, have good dress sense, use designer’s perfume and outfit; that’s all they need in marriage and to attract a potential partner. It is good to look good but your good looks cannot grant you a good marriage.

There are many beautiful women who lacked good character that would make them a good wife. Abigail was beautiful and she has a good character. Don’t concentrate so much on how you look rather consider the condition of your innermost being. True beauty is not a function of your looks but a reflection of your good character.

And Apostle Peter emphasized it further this way, “You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful, such as the way you fix your hair, or the jewelry you put on, or the dresses you wear. Instead, your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God’s sight” – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (GNT). There are many beautiful ladies who do not have good characters. Be beautiful and brained.

3. Work on the attributes that makes you a good wife

It was said of Abigail that she had a good character. The components of a good character has nothing to do with beauty but having the fear of God, being wise to give good advice, having a ability to quell a fight, respect, being submissive and so on. Your time of being single should be used to develop these qualities in you. Instead of wasting your fortune on frivolities, worrying about being single and the likes, your single years should be a preparatory years in becoming a good wife.

Your beauty can get you into marriage but your character would keep you in it. Know the purpose of a woman beyond sex so that you can know the man with whom you’d be a suitable help meet to.
Importantly, you need God’s guidance to marry the right man. Don’t be carried away by how a man appears. Consider the things of substance rather than be moved by the things that are appealing to your sight.

And the best time to learn how to become a good wife is NOW that you’re single. You practice what you’re made of in marriage. Improve your character because it last longer than your beauty.

9 Vital Lessons I Learnt About  Relationship: Personal Experience

“You cannot know certain things in life if you don’t learn. Infact it’s best to learn personally so that you can appreciate knowledge better”.

I don’t claim to know all about relationship because I’m not a custodian of knowledge. God knows all things. But the few I learn from people, been taught by God or personally experienced in the past are what I often share.

Recently, I have some experience about relationship which I’ll love you to read between the lines. I have friends, both male and female; singles, engaged and married; online and offline and those with different academic background and understanding about life and God.

Some of these experiences I’ll pen down, it took me five years to know. Some are bittersweet experience while others doesn’t take so long to learn. It will do you much good if you learn from me so you don’t have to painfully experience these.

What are these lessons?
1. There’s a thin line between love and lust

It’s very easy to cross the boundary when you are ignorant of certain things. Love is all about improving the life of whom you’re in love with while you ensure that you are committed to them.

As much as it’s easy to be in love, it’s also easy to crossover to lust when you entertain sexual pleasure, erotic conversations or carnal desires. You can start with love and end up in lust. Know when and where to draw a balance when you notice lust.

2. Live by principles and not by pleasure

To be principled is often like having self-control. If you don’t have rules that guides you, you’ll be driven by frivolities.
It’s better to be ‘harsh’ when you live by principles than to have no rules that guides you. He that has no rule over his spirit is like a city without walls. Don’t be known for nothing but for purpose.

3. Don’t compromise your values for pleasure

In a bid to satisfy who we love, many usually end up compromising their values for pleasure. I know how it feels. It’s worse to lower your standards because you will lose focus or stagnate your progress in life.

4. Don’t wound your conscience

Is that possible? God gave you that small voice to nudge you when you do anything wrong or it often prompts you before doing it.
When you keep disobeying it, you’ll become rebellious to it till it becomes ineffective. It’s at this stage that the Bible says they have a conscience that has been seared with hot iron.

5. Time is of essence in life – don’t waste it<> When you’re in love, it’s necessary to desire spending more time with whom you love. But you cannot spend more than on the relationship and neglect your life or career. Chatting for hours has no value it would add to your life. Time spent on baseless talk will amount to futility. Schedule time to bond and create more time to do the needful that matters to your life and future. Don’t starve any area of your life because of your relationship. Invest in your time and don’t waste it. 6. Discover your purpose first before you desire a partner Life is worth living when you know why you’re living. Life is fulfilling when you know your purpose earlier before seeking a partner. Seek to know your purpose first because it would help you know who to marry and who not to move with. It’s lack of purpose that would push you from one relationship to another while seeking for love and acceptance. 7. Are you searching for a partner? Don’t lean on your understanding! Many believe that they can find who to marry on their own. Yes it’s possible if you don’t want God to help you. But I’m sure you know the fate of such relationship. Don’t think dating, cohabiting and the likes would help you. Prayerfully seek His guidance. 8. Be patient if you desire God’s best Many who want God to help them often become impatient at His timing. God doesn’t work according to your preparation, maturity or depending on your age. If you’re not ready to measure up to what He wants to give you, He won’t do it. Instead of worrying yourself, ‘sleep’ like He did to Adam instead of jumping from one relationship to another. 9. Don’t make blind sacrifices<> There are some things people do for love. Some are good, some are crazy and some are weird. Don’t sacrifice your sexual purity, values or something tangible for something of less value. It’s never worth it and you’ll still regret it later.

Remember, wisdom can be acquired when you learn from others but only a fool will make mistakes and not not learn from it.

Topic - God: An Encourager [Thursday 10 September, 2015]

Memorise: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. - Psalm 85:8 Read: Psalm 85:7-9 (KJV) 7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Bible in one Year: Exodus 22:16-24:18; Romans 11:1-24 MESSAGE: “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” - Psalm 27:14 After you have suffered a major loss, or when everything around you appears gloomy and bleak, turn your focus on the Lord. When those you look up to fail you, look up to God. He is the only One who will never fail you. Have your friends in the Christian race turned their backs on God? Are you becoming discouraged and wondering whether to continue with Christ or to join your backslidden friends? Focus on Christ and He will sustain you.
Has your pastor done something so painful to you, to the extent that you are thinking of either leaving the church or going back into the world? Look up to Jesus! Remember, the Christian race accommodates everyone who has repented, but it is still a very personal race. If your friend or pastor chooses to go to Hell, must you go with them? No! Never be discouraged from doing the work that God has assigned to you, irrespective of contrary pressures from human and demonic forces.

Several years ago, just after I became a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, there was a misunderstanding among the ministers of the church. Some people I highly respected disappointed me, so much so that I became depressed and discouraged. As I returned from the headquarters of the church at Ebute-Metta, to the University of Lagos where I was lecturing, a traffic warden stopped my car at St. Agnes junction.
While I was waiting, I said to myself, “If this is what they call the gospel, and it is not taking me forward, then I will go back to where I am coming from.” Almost immediately, the Lord spoke to me saying “Son, why are you so sad?” My reply was “Lord, You know all things. You saw all that happened.” Then He said “True, this fellow disappointed you, but have I ever disappointed you?” With that word, courage, hope and joy flooded my heart, and I moved from the valley to the mountain top. I went my way, singing “I have a God who never fails”. God is your greatest antidote to discouragement. Look up to Him and He will send you the right words that will terminate sorrow and discouragement in you. Are you disheartened? Feed on God’s word, remember His promises and recall how He has answered your prayers in the past. After doing all these, place your hope and trust in Him.

Action Point: When God encourages you, no discouragement can hold you back. Ask for His encouragement today

Topic: Strive for Such a Spirit It’s important for every lady to carry herself with dignity. I always like to tell ladies, young and old, married and single, and I even keep reminding myself that if we must be known for something, we should be known as respectable, as courteous, as prudent, as wise, as kind, etc.

Not as one whose mouth leaks, who gossips, who is quarrelsome, etc. Such behaviors will not only affect you but it will also affect your husband wherever he is found. As a wife, your husband may have his own issues but please don’t justify yourself by also behaving contrary to what God created you to be. When a husband is misbehaving and a wife is also misbehaving, the outcome is never good.

This also applies to you as a single lady; if hurtful, loose talk is something that is identified with you, you will suffer from a reputation that will go ahead of you wherever you go and you will be a detriment or contribute to the ruin of your husband and your future home. In fact, a potential husband may pass you by just because of such attributes. Remember that the bible says it’s better to dwell on the roof of a house than with a nagging or quarrelsome wife (Proverbs 21:9) and if you go further down to verse 19, we are told this time that it is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman. Imagine that! That is to say that it is better for a man to live a dry life than to be with such a woman because nothing good can come out of such a situation. No man wants such a wife! Please let us discipline ourselves to speak only good and let it reflect in our actions. Don’t sit down and gossip with other women here and there.

I believe that people who gossip, who are troublesome, who always want to fight are like a thrash can. You know a thrash can? Rubbish or garbage goes in and rubbish or garbage comes out of it. Please don’t let anybody make you a thrash can and don’t take pride in being one. For whatever reason, women can naturally be troublesome but it is not something that cannot be pruned away with God’s help and with our determination. Even if such negative traits are often linked to women, make yourself the exception.

Let people say that you are a lady with a difference. A meek and quiet spirit is of great price in God’s sight and a woman who possesses such a spirit will always give her husband and those around her rest (1 Peter 3:4). So lets strive for such a spirit. Nobody is born that way; it is something we must consciously work hard to achieve and if God’s Word is dwelling richly in us, only edifying words and actions must come out of us.

HE WISDOM OF MAKING RIGHT CHOICES

Making Right Choices Foundation Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:19
– I set before you life and death; choose life.

I. Regret

A. Regret

(defined) – To feel sorry, disappointed, or distressed about. To feel sorrow or grief over. To mourn. A sense of loss and longing for someone gone. Distress over a desire unfulfilled or an action performed or not performed.

B. Examples of things people regret:

1. Things said or done that I wish I had not said, or I wish I had not done.
2. Things not said or done: I wish I had told that person how much they meant to me and now it is too late.
3. I wish I had saved some money all these years. Now I regret that I spent everything I had.
4. I regret that I ate so much at dinner.
5. I regret that I never exercised in my life.
6. I regret that I didn’t finish school.

THE WISDOM OF MAKING RIGHT CHOICES 2

7. I wish I had spent more time with my children when they were young. I was too busy making money, and now I don’t have any relationship with them.
8. Etc., etc.
C. Many people regret their whole life. They look back and it fills their hearts with regret.

THIS IS THE RESULT OF MAKING WRONG CHOICES.

II. Gehazi Changes His Destiny With A Bad Choice.
A. II Kings: Chapter 5
B. Gehazi let the love of money change his destiny.
1. I Timothy 6:10 (KJV) – For the love of money is the root of all evil . . . 2. Mark 10:21

– Jesus told the rich man to give away his possessions, and he would not do it. Verse 22 – The man went away sad, depressed, gloomy and grieved, and I am sure he stayed that way. 3. How many people live miserable lives because they followed money instead of wisdom? C. II Kings 2:1-14 – Elisha made right choices and received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. 1. Gehazi saw the result in Elisha’s life of his right choices, and he saw the result of his wrong choice. D. I am sure he spent many hours thinking about the man he COULD have been. THE WISDOM OF MAKING RIGHT CHOICES 3 1. Surely every time he saw Elisha, he thought, “I could have had a double portion of your spirit, just as you had a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Oh, I wish I would have left the money alone.”
III. The Power Of Choice
A. Romans 5:19
– One choice can alter our destiny.
1. I had to choose between my friends and my reputation or going on with God after I was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) – . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
2. I shudder to think how different my life would have been had I not made the right choice.

B. If your marriage is in trouble, be sure you make the right choice.
1. Dave had gotten to the point of being very fed up with my attitude and actions.
2. He told me that I had him to the point where he almost could not stand me.
3. Up until that time, I had myself convinced that all of our problems were HIS fault.<>br 4. I made a decision – I asked God to change ME!
5. Too many people DECIDE to give up when their marriage is in trouble.
6. Too many people DECIDE that everything is the other person’s fault, and they refuse to look at themselves.
7. Too many people DECIDE that they are not going to change unless the other person changes first.
THE WISDOM OF MAKING RIGHT CHOICES 4

8. These are all decisions that alter destinies.
9. How different would my life be now if I would have said, “Well, buddy, I can’t stand you either, so let’s call it quits”?

C. If God is trying to get you to step out and do something that is uncomfortable, be sure you make the right choice.
1. It was very hard for me when God told me to leave my secure job at Life Christian Church and go out alone to the north, south, east and west.
2. God alone knows how scared I was those first few months.
3. But I shudder to think how different my life would have been had I not made the right choice.

D. Decisions have a lot of power – POSITIVE or NEGATIVE power!
WE MUST MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.
IV. What Can You Do If You Have Made Wrong Choices In The Past?
A. Get out of self-pity and start making right choices now.
B. Get the chip off your shoulder and start making right choices now.
C. Take responsibility for your life and stop living in the deception of excuses.
D. Deuteronomy 7:1-2 – Stop making excuses for your enemies and utterly destroy them.
E. Stop blaming others for your quality of life.
1. Numbers 21:5 – The Israelites always blamed God and Moses for their problems.
THE WISDOM OF MAKING RIGHT CHOICES 5

2. Something in your past may be the reason things are the way they are today, but don’t allow them to become an excuse to stay that way.
EVERY RIGHT CHOICE YOU MAKE CHANGES THE RESULT OF A WRONG CHOICE YOU MADE IN THE PAST.
V. Choose To Stop Compromising And Serve God With Your Whole Heart.
A. I Kings 18:21 – . . . How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him . . .
B. Romans 12:2 (KJV) – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .
1. Make a decision to be godly and not worldly.
C. We tend to compartmentalize our life, and we have a little religious compartment that we like to keep God in.
1. God will never be satisfied living in one compartment of your life.
He wants the run of the WHOLE HOUSE. D. Prior to 1976, I had a little religious compartment and I tried to keep God in it. 1. The result: I was very frustrated and unhappy, had no peace, struggled with everything and everybody, was discontented no matter what I had, etc.
2. I made a radical decision to serve God fully, and my decision seriously altered my lifestyle
. E. Many people want their LIFE changed, but not their LIFESTYLE!!
F. Perhaps you came to find out how you could change your circumstance, and God actually wants to change everything in your entire life.

Beware Of Foolish Men

by Mayowa Adeniyi
God created man to act and think like Him and to fulfill His purpose on earth, however, Adam manifested that function before the fall. Nevertheless, there are still some men who pay the price to function in that capacity. These are real men indeed. They are men of purpose, value, dignity and vision. They know how to treat females and would not play with their heart. God created man to be monogamous and real men don’t have the time to “double or multiple date”. They’ve got better things to pursue than to play such a useless game. Do not be deceived to believe that God created man to be polygamous in nature. He said, “a man shall leave…and cleave to his wife”, not wives. Such philosophy is an opportunity to give ignorant men the avenue to disobey God’s command.

A man is a man when he has manners and respect for a lady but he becomes a fool when he thinks with his manhood or dance to the tune of his urge. Who says that sex is an expression of love or that sex keeps a relationship going or perhaps would keep him for you? These two statements are words of foolishness frequently used to bait ignorant ladies so that you can be entangled with him in an ungodly relationship. Who is a foolish man? They are commonly called, “players”, “giggolos”, “manfriend”, “playboys” or “boyfriends”.
A responsible man cannot have these degrading name tags. Dear sisters, you have to be very careful so that you don’t fall into their net. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They will pretend for long so that they can get down on you even sisters-in-the-lord are not spared from their deceit. In fact, they will attend church or fellowship in other to lure innocent ladies. Be sensitive! Don’t be cajoled by his “empty promises” or “sugar-coated words”. His major aim is to access your sacred parts and include you on his list of useless girls. He is not attracted to you by your innate potentials but by your shape, looks and physical endowments. For the fact that he attends church services does not mean he’s born again or saved. Moreover, must church attendees are “actors” and “actresses”. He can twist the scripture to serve his purpose or pretend to be spirit-filled so that you can fall for his deception.

Check out the company of friends he keeps. Are his friends purpose-driven or pleasure-driven? He that loves pleasure is dead while he lives (1 Tim. 5:6). However, he that walks with the wise shall be wise but the company of fools shall be destroyed. Don’t let him add you to the company of fools that he already has their lives destroyed. Show me his friends and I can tell you his true personality.

Fools will introduce sex into the relationship barely few months or years you met. He does so, so as to gratify himself. A responsible man will not start his relationship with sex but ask for how he can serve you and not service you sexually. Foolish relationships are built on lies, deceit or flattering. A fool will always tell you lies since that is his language. He cuddles, pets, necks, caresses or touch your privies because that is what he wants and not your commitment.

A fool is not committed to you, your life or future; but he is committed to making you fill his sexual appetite every time he wants it. He will buy you expensive gifts occasionally (an investment waiting to be consumed) because he has a purpose driving him. He knows the key that turns women on and once he discovers yours, he uses it at will. Don’t let him get nearer to your heart but bury your heart in God’s word. If he does so, he will break it and tear it apart leaving you to face the daring consequence of emotional trauma.

Dear sisters, a fool will remain a fool no matter how you want to change him. You cannot get him converted, so don’t believe that would happen when you marry him. He has no plan for himself, let alone you. When you walk with a foolish man, you’ll be trapped in his folly. Love is not blind. Only a fool will say this and make you to believe his lies.

There are also the married foolish men. Once their wives refuse them sex or there’s a quarrel, they will be on the chase for young ladies. They will shower you with lots of cares and affections. They will treat you better than they do to their wives so that you can fill their urge. They will not be ashamed to make you their second wife if you are foolish enough to get pregnant for them. Some would even give you lots of money to sponsor an abortion so that you can continually give it to them at will. Why waste away with someone else’s husband? Why don’t you be an helper for your own husband rather than to be a sex mistress for another woman’s husband?

A fool is not matured enough to keep his relationship going without sex. His profession of “I love you” is to deceive you. Please ladies, see beyond the phrase and know what his true motives are. Once you cannot satisfy him, he will get someone else to do it. He will tell you that virginity is not a dignity but a lack of opportunity. Fools will make you to believe the myths about sexual purity so that you can dance to their tune.

My dear, don’t give your pearls to swines. Lots of benefits are gotten when you are sexually pure. No evil soul ties, no issue of single motherhood caused by unpreparedness for motherhood, no transfer of Spiritually or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, no exchange of evil blood covenants, no unwanted pregnancies, no delay to your progress in life, no guilt or bitterness, no abortions which is murder and other consequential actions. In case you are tempted to give him your body, simply ask yourself this question before you do; “what would Jesus do?” Your body does not belong to him but your husband so don’t let him mess up your life.

There are still some Deborahs, Queen Esther, Virgin Mary, Four daughters of Philip and You who would not bow to a foolish man’s sexual dictate. Disagree with his lies that everybody is doing it and endeavor to remain sexually pure. There are lots of benefits in remaining sexually pure. It is better to give a responsible man your God-given gift than to give a fool who would not appreciate it or you.

No amount of revoking would stop him once he has unstrapped your bra. Likewise, no amount of “stop it” would make him stop it once his testosterone is charged. His muscles will become stronger than yours when he’s fully charged. Flee away from the appearance of evil and be careful of foolish men. If you are friends with a man that does not add value to your life, he will take away something valuable from you. It is better not to be in a relationship than to be in a regrettable, sinful or destructive one.

MY DEAR SISTER, RUN AWAY FROM FOOLISH MEN.

Topic: True Satisfaction [Wednesday 9 September, 2015]

Memorise: And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: - Colossians 2:10 Read: John 7:37-39 (KJV) 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Bible in one Year: Exodus 20:22-22:15; Romans 10:5-21
MESSAGE: Our Lord Jesus Christ is so awesome; not only does He provide peace, joy, promotion, victory and rest, He also gives satisfaction. The Bible in John 7:37 says:
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

Jesus Christ is the true thirst-quencher. He knows what you need and has it in abundance. He is willing to quench that thirst of yours if only you would take it to Him. Today, many people realise that they need something in their life. They can feel unexplainable hunger pangs within their souls and are gripped with a strong thirst for something inside of them. But because they do not really know what can quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger, they use just about anything to try to fill this void. No human, material or spiritual substitute can fill the vacuum that God has reserved for Himself inside of you. When God created you; no one but Him is to occupy this space. Unfortunately, many people have allowed other things to enter into that space. This amount to putting a square peg in a round hole: it can never fit!

That thirst to serve God was put inside you by God. He alone can quench it. Becoming religious cannot satisfy that thirst. All you have to do is to repent of your sins, ask for God’s forgiveness and invite Jesus Christ to live inside you, and He will completely fill that space like a round peg in a round hole! If you understand John 1:9, you will realise that Jesus Christ has a role to play in the life of every human being He created. Until He lights you up, you will remain in darkness. No religion can light you up! This is why Colossians 2:10 says:

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
This scripture reveals that without Jesus Christ, no human being is complete. It was the need for completion that necessitated the removal of a rib from Adam to form Eve. Every human being was created incomplete, and it is only by receiving Jesus that they become complete and whole. Living without Jesus is like trying to drive a car without the control of steering wheel. Such a car would be out of control. It will eventually crash and become a wreck! Why not allow the Controller of the universe to take over your “tiny” life today?

Action Point: Entrust your life into the same hands that control the universe today.

Experiencing True Love: The Void That No Man Can Fill

by Mayowa Adeniyi
experience true loveThere’s a longing to feel loved in all living creatures, especially those that have instinct. Your pet dog knows when you’re kind to it and it understands same when you’re being harsh. Everybody in life are looking for true love at one point of their life. Women desire to feel loved and acceptance, men too needs same from the woman they loved. How then can we find true love?

Your wrong experience about love isn’t that love is bad or evil, it only implies that you have found love in a wrong place. You can’t enjoy the rights of a citizen in another man’s country if you don’t have your papers complete. The same is true about love.

Your parent can express love to you in their own little capacity, likewise your spouse but true love is more than that. True love is beyond earthly love and there’s only one place you can find it. Here are the wrong places where people thinks love and acceptance is.

1. In a dating relationship
Your boyfriend or girlfriend cannot make you feel true love because they themselves do not know what love is. Rather than experiencing love, you’ll find lust and immoralities which would ruin your life. It’s not the number of dates you have, it’s not the best date you have that would give you true love, it’s a function of knowing the right place to get love. A man or woman that doesn’t understand what true love is cannot express it to you because you can’t give what you don’t have.

2. By abusing substance
Some people feel if they resort to the use of hard drugs such as cocaine, narcotics, Indian hemp, Marijuana, heroine and the likes; it would make them feel loved and acceptance.

It’s wrong! It’s a lie from the pit of hell that’s circulating in the society. Drug abuse can’t give you the satisfaction you want in life except you know the best place to find love and acceptance.

3. Living a promiscuous life
Many ladies felt it’s the number of boyfriends or sugar daddies they have that would give them the joy they want in life.
So also the men believe keeping sugar mummies and girlfriends would fill the void in their soul. Never!

Living a promiscuous life can only give you what you want and not what you need. What you really need is true love and it’s found in a place many of you neglect. And where is love found?

Love is found in no other place than in the presence of God. The Holy Bible says, in the presence of God, there’s fullness of joy. Man lost this fullness of joy in the Garden of Eden when he disobeyed God. And everyone is on a pursuit of true love to fill the vacuum in their soul.

Until you go back to His presence, your marriage, career, children, business or earthly success cannot fill the vacuum in you.
There’s no other love you can have other than that which a man laid down his life for you. God is love and love is God. Until you go back to His presence you can’t experience and express what love is.
Your boyfriend or girlfriend that doesn’t know God would think premarital or extramarital sex is the best way to express love.
He or she would even think sexual immoralities such as kissing, petting, caressing and the likes are the best way to express love. No! A man or woman that does not love God cannot love you!

Go back to God. Until you give Him your heart, soul, strength and might; you will never be able to experience true love. When you give Him your all, you’d be able to experience and express it and you will know who deserve your heart and life. Do you have a vacuum in your soul to feel true love? Come to God through Jesus. He’s ready to accept you. All you need to do is to repent from your sins, turn to Him.

He’s patiently waiting at the door of your heart (Rev. 3:20). Remember, it’s only in Jesus that you can fill the thirst of your soul for true love, no other person or people can! Give Him a try today and you’ll never regret you did!

Topic: Demons Hinder Destinies [Tuesday 8 September, 2015]

Memorise: But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. - Mathew 15:13

Read: Luke 8:1-3 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Bible in one year: Exodus 18:1-20:21, Romans 9:19-10:4

MESSAGE:
As a believer in Christ, one of the traits that should differentiate you from an ordinary fellow is the ability to cast out demons (Mark 16:17). However, if demons are tormenting you and you fail to do something about them, don’t expect God to do anything either. He has already done what He should do by giving you authority over them. He expects you to exercise this authority before He takes the next step of enforcement. The ball is now in your court; if you fail to pass it to Him, He will leave you with the ball. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, we read of a window whose husband was a prophet. The man died and left her with two boys and a lot of debt. Initially, when the creator came calling, she was not the only one owing money, she might have said to herself like some people in Nigeria would say: “Even Nigeria as a nation is indebted, and so in America for that matter; so what is the big deal if I owe people money”?
Although the Almighty God was there on His throne with all His power, might, zeal and resources, He could not do anything to help her for as long as she tolerated poverty, lack and debt. But one day, tired of repeated fruitless visits, her creator came and threatened to sell her sons into slavery if she was unable to pay the debt. Pushed to the wall, she cried out for help, and help came. She was delivered from the threat that would have hindered her boys from fulfilling their destinies. When will you be tired of managing or condoning your unpleasant situation?

Let us note a few things about deliverance. It is a great thing to be delivered. Mary Magdalene was delivered of seven powerful demons and she eventually became a divine treasurer. Her destiny was to be a divine treasurer ministering to the needs of Jesus, but for as long as the demons were in her, she could not fulfil this.
This simply tells us that one way the devil tries to hinder a person from fulfilling his or her destiny is by sending one or more demons to possess him or her. When such demons come into that individual, they will give the original purpose of God. When an evil spirit took over the position of the Holy Spirit in the heart of King Saul, he became tormented. Demons torment their victims tremendously. If you have been delivered from the hands of demons, you will appreciate your freedom. Are you still allowing demons to hinder your destiny? It’s time to confront them today! Jesus wants to set you free. You just need to cooperate with Him.

Prayer Point: Father, send Your fire to chase out the presence and manipulating effect of demons in my life, family and ministry.