Substitute

So I've been battling with this ailment for some time now. I ignored it initially but it grew worse making me very uncomfortable.

I went to my employer who happens to be my personal physician for the normal prescription. Like every good physician, he ran a test but offered no prescription.

It couldn't be out of stock because I was 

certain He had the prescription I needed. 

I tried to patch through but my condition grew worse.

By my third time of visit, I wasn't going to leave the dispensary. My excruciating pains left me almost numb hence my resilience. I asked yet another time.

Reaching out to the section towards where He had what I felt I needed, He reached out and got something else - a substitute.

Puzzled for a few seconds while I awaited the dosage, He spoke softly to me that I had several other ailments that I did not mention, maybe not yet but didn't want me to come back for those other things hence the "Do-It-Yourself" substitute.

Stream of tears immediately streaked down my face. Barely did I know He had better plans for me as this ailment seemed to be the most pressing at that particular time.

"So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Grace...

Are You Wise?

The subject of wisdom is too simple yet tricky as many people go into self-delusion when asked the question. How can one tell? By how swift we get to answer in the affirmative.

“But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NET)

If you read the earlier verses before proffering the solution (asking in faith) to those who lack wisdom (see James 1: 2-4), it starts by building a case of how a "wise believer" should respond when faced with many trials:

"...consider it great joy..."

Do you know a faithless "believer" can't please God?

You cannot say you are grumbling, complaining and whining over everything that goes wrong or inconveniences you and think you are responding with great joy. When we do, it shows our lack of faith in God who wants to equip us with the patience virtue while waiting on Him.

Trials are like darts targeted at our faith with an aim to shift our focus away from God. Although it differs from one believer to another, never think your case is peculiar as all cases have one aim.

For those of us who may have realized we are not as wise and ask God with reservations or doubts, James 1: 7-8 (NET) tells us

“For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.”

We will be worse-off to compound our foolishness if we only get this close to "completeness" only to doubt as we won't only be stuck in our folly (complaining, grumbling or praying away that which will produce patience in us); we won't receive ANYTHING from God.

In summary, if we are wise it translates to the following:

Many Trials -> Patience -> Completeness/Perfection

Are you wise?

Daddy's Little Driver

If I'm to buy you a gift on the week of Valentine's Day, Christmas, your birthday, etc. you will probably know without a second guess what the gift is for. This is because gifts have one similar characteristic. It's season or occasion based.

 

 

On the flip side, you have some culture or custom which is not occasion dependent. It can be seen as a "mandatory willingness", if such a phrase exists. But it simply defines your obligation to do some things but in sync with your will.

I was meditating on... “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
I Corinthians 12:31

I realize we desire so many gifts in life at different points in time; be it spiritual or physical. Most times it makes us "feel loved".

What if someone chooses a more excellent way or culture towards us for the rest of our lives, I mean a full time, everyday kind of love thing?

So my little girl who is barely some few weeks old gets that and so much more. Although she is not yet capable of comprehending all that love, she gets a down pour every day from my wife and I.

Nothing seems "too expensive". Tolerance level is exceeding maximum - day and night. We beg her when she "annoys" us with her cries (especially the ones we think is unreasonable after doing all that you know how to do). We attempt to pacify her by dancing, singing and even composing new songs too just to please her. "If she sorry for you she go sleep but we are satisfied with her awake but quiet" - that's GOLD.

Trust me she is "The Boss". Not just daddy's little driver but mummy, aunties, uncles, grandmas, granddad, neighbors & gateman too in different categories, degrees, physically or remotely.

What if everyone attempts to practice this kind of love not just to our babies but our spouses, friends, neighbors, relations even strangers?

The Apostle Paul wrote about the details of what the more excellent way is; thousands of years ago (1 Corinthians 13) but indeed the scripture is fulfilled in my life, thanks to Daddy's little Driver - Princess Nyore.

 

…until our love makes no sense…‏

It was the last day of the Annual West Africa Marriage Seminar which usually features an interview of couples married for over 50 years.

Mensah and Ibironke have been married for 95years. Coincidentally, the interview was held on the same day of their anniversary – April 5th, 2015. The interviewer asked Mensah to share how he was able to hold on for so long. With a warm smile, he asked Ibironke to speak first.

Ibironke obliged with glitter in her eyes “after all these years he doesn’t surprise me. He puts me first in everything. I will share a few with you”. The crowd went dead silent with earnest anticipation to hear as she spoke softly.

“Mensah is very intelligent. He has won multiple Professor of the Year Awards across the globe yet he teaches the children on Sundays making everything plain as day to them. How he does it, I still can’t explain. I just believe he adds a bit of charm (chuckles).  Secondly, he has this daring faith that often produces results. We know the electricity situation in Nigeria is yet to enjoy stability lately, yet; for every time we needed power desperately and he prays in the name of Jesus, power is usually restored within 5 minutes. I tell you the truth and lie not. Finally, Mensah has warned me severally in time past not to leave the kitchen napkin on the cooker. I felt it was the most accessible place for me when cooking. One evening, there was a fire outbreak which got me trapped in the kitchen. He ran into the fire to rescue me. Suffering some severe burns whose scars still remain today to tell the tale. His love is simply beyond contest”.

The crowd was in awe and started clapping and cheering loudly. Mensah beckoned gently for the place to be quiet. Pausing for a minute while he gazed into Ibironke’s eyes, he said; “those acts doesn’t necessarily translate to my loving you. If they were, I would have been bankrupt. Like most husbands, I was hurt times when you insisted on having your way despite several warnings. I asked God to help me daily and to teach me how to love like He would. He showed me how he never gave up on me. How He served His disciples. How He kept no record of wrong by those who crucified Him. How He chose to ride on the colt of an ass, not exerting His authority on the people He created. That He has never for once repay evil with good but keeps praying for me every time I hurt Him”.

Mensah said on a concluding note “whenever I realize how much debt I owe God by dying on the cross for me, I knew nothing whatsoever you did could ever outweigh my transgression against Him. If He forgave me for all my sins and loved me when it made absolutely no sense with no guaranty that I will choose to love Him back - I discovered loving you extravagantly (not dependent on feelings) became easier”.

Beloved until our love makes no sense, we may not be able to achieve a fulfilled life of love as the length of any relationship is nothing compared to fulfilment. The secret can be summarized thus –

…we have three things to do to lead us towards that consummation: Trust steadily in God, Hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Soap!!! No Forget to Wash your Body

If you attended a boarding school or better still NYSC orientation camp you may be able to relate when bathing or washing clothes or plates and the soap slips off your hands... The soap picks up dirt or sand (if it's not so tush like the one I attended) from the ground. You either throw it away as fresh students/corper or say beginning of 1st term because you still have provisions. Alternatively; you pick the soap and give it a good wash and then continue when visiting day is far or term wants to end or 'alawee' still far. Some of us have done both.

But I'm sure we don't use the sand to wash the soap rather we still use the soap to wash itself.

Some of us are like soaps. We do things for others, take care of them and make them comfortable and help them when they fall in the dirt of need which is good, but the down side is we forget to take care of ourselves. When we fall, we throw pity a party and sulk in our own dirt waiting for sands to come wash us. Not everyone is as nice as you.

This message is for all the good "soaps" out there. You also deserve a good bathe. Give yourself a treat. Be nice to yourself. Be your own hero. Pray for yourself. Spend time with yourself. Have your own "me time" & meet the needs of your own relationships/family also because, you may never love others better than you love yourself. 

...MADE OF GLASS...

What if our hearts are made of glass; whatever the color, size or state - good or bad; and everyone can see through it? Amazingly; only God sees the intent of every man’s heart at every time.

What if our hearts are made of glass & we don’t have to depend on tell-tale puzzles of words and actions? Amazingly; the mastery of hypocrisy makes the puzzle a mission impossible.

What if our hearts are made of glass & we embrace a brand new world were less words will be spoken to convince each other? Amazingly; words now have become insufficient for convinction.

What if our hearts are made of glass & we can see when it is cracked or broken and needs fixing? Amazingly, the presence of our bodies does not always signify our hearts are with it.

What if our hearts are not made of glass but our intents, words, actions and the unity of our hearts and bodies were? Amazingly amazing is what our relationships & society will become.

Not just to yourself but others... strive to be true.

Worlds and Opposite

Case: We learned words and opposite in our primary education. I realize today it cuts into everyday life. For example, we find ourselves amidst people and feel a shrill of loneliness. Other times, we are all by ourselves yet can't sleep because a lot is going on in our hearts and lives.

Antidote: Life is a battle of words. Let our words (convictions) be opposite to our worlds and we will find strength and resilience to rise above our mountains.

Action Step: Finding your words in God's word