8 Practical Tips to Construct a Worship Set-List That Actually Works | VOTIVE PRAISE

 This works for me while preparing to lead praise worship. Blessings.

8 Practical Tips to Construct a Worship Set-List That Actually Works | VOTIVE PRAISE

My Journey so far.........

It's been a while since I posted so I needed to come back here and update you on what's been going on in my life.

First of all one clear day in February 15th to be exact I got handed a pink slip at work after serving faithfully as a Development Secretary for 6 years. I was told my services were no longer required but I can continue to work for a month until they find someone to replace me. It was really disheartening news because I knew they had a policy not to pay into unemployment  insurance and seeing the economy the way it is right now [there is no recession in God's kingdom] I knew it will take a divine intervention to get another job in my field. I took sometime off to travel down to Houston TX, first of all to get away from NJ [vacation] and to see what was out there. I have always been invited by my friends out there but never had time to go but since this was a wonderful opportunity I took the trip.

Houston is lovely really beautiful, big houses, clean and wide roads, now I see what they mean when they say things are bigger in TX, it truly is. I had a lovely time and did a little job interviewing and job search at the same time but since I went without my car it was pretty difficult moving around and since I didn't want to inconvenience my friends by asking them to pick me up and drop me off wherever I wanted to go, so I had to try their public transportation services which was was non-existent at the location where I was. Needless to say I lost 10 pounds walking to the nearest bus stops which sometimes is about 4 miles away from my friend's house in North east TX. It was a tough time for me so I had to cut short my trip by a week, came back to NJ to continue my job search which till now is yielding little fruit but I am hopeful and expectant that things will turn around real soon.

It's really a true saying that you don't know your friends until you are in trouble. My eyes have been open to who my true friends are, I know most of them are wondering why I never went back to school all the time I was employed so at least I could have a career and not a job. I had to make sacrifices for my family in Nigeria so they can be alright before pursuing my own interest/career. I had a brother and sister back home in Nigeria going to college, another one battling with a crippling disease with two children [their father ran off when the disease started] and since the chance of working and going back to school in Nigeria is more difficult than here in the States. I had to help out with school fees, house rents, project fees, etc then in the midst of everything my younger brother died.  Once again, I became responsible for burial fees, funeral cost, transportation cost for every sibling including my older brother who was having money issues with his family of 5 children, had to help out with his children's school fees, house rent, food  etc. It became overwhelming at a point but God saw me through.

Thank God my brother's business is doing well, my younger sister has graduated is working now and married too, the one with the disease got healed to the glory of God and is doing well now with her children. I am now ready to concentrate on me. If you have your whole family over here in the States and you are able to go back to school, work and only take care of yourself and nobody else or you got married and your husband has a good job, can take care of all the bills so you can concentrate on school, don't look down on someone else who does not have a graduate degree until you have walked a mile in their shoes. I don't regret the sacrifices I had to make for my family and if I had to do it all over again, I will. I made a promise to my mother before she passed away that I will always take care of my siblings and God helping me I did the best I could with the little resource I had and I give God all the glory.

One thing is sure, God is not unrighteous to forget my labor of love over the ministry He committed into my hands, my sacrifices for my siblings and my loyalty to my job even in the face of really tempting situations. He will bring me out of this situation and I will come forth as gold. It's being a challenging time these past months but I know the God I serve that He is greater than any problem I can or cannot see.

I want to encourage everyone out there going through their own valleys right now, God is bringing you out from the valley onto the mountains so rejoice and take consolation in this that God who started a good work in you will perfect and perform it till the day of Christ. It's never too late for a child of God.

Shalom

It's being a while since I posted and I just wanted to share this: Enjoy the laughs

10 Things That Bother Me (Some of Which Probably Shouldn't)

by Greg Stier

1. Bad Christian drivers with corny Christian bumper stickers. You rep Jesus, so drive better or scrape it off. 

2. TV preachers who wear $3,000 suits, drive Mercedes and beg for more money. I can hear Jesus puking.

3. Fleece. Don't ask me why but it hurts my teeth when I think about it (very true and very weird.)

4. That a "tall" is really a "small" at Starbucks. Shouldn't it be the biggest one, or, at least, the tallest?

5. Christians who look to politics to redeem this nation instead of the Redeemer.

6. That intercessory prayer has been hijacked by little old ladies and crazy people. Let's take it back!

7. Glorified air mattress type beds that cost thousands of dollars. Yes, I tried one…and hated it.

8. Churches that spend millions of dollars on buildings but leave evangelism and missions unfunded.

9. Smart Cars. My car gets way better gas mileage, is half the price and can fit more than two people.

10. Muscleheads who grunt loudly in the gym when they work out. Hanz, send Franz to buy you a muzzle!

Nos. 1, 6 and 8 really bothers me, how about you?

The Essential Guide to a Lasting Relationship.

The Essential Guide to a Lasting Relationship.

God's Plan

1. I thought I should share this to encourage someone.

   
   Some things are beyond planning.
   And life doesn't always turn out as planned.
   You don't plan for a broken heart.
   You don't plan for a failed business venture.
   You don't plan for an adulterous husband
   or a wife who wants you out of her life.
   You don't plan for an autistic child.
   You don't plan for spinsterhood.
   You don't plan for a lump in your breast.
   
   You plan to be young forever.
   You plan to climb the corporate ladder.
   You plan to be rich and powerful.
   You plan to be acclaimed and successful.
   You plan to conquer the universe.
   You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.
   
   You don't plan to be sad.
   You don't plan to be hurt.
   You don't plan to be broke.
   You don't plan to be betrayed.
   You don't plan to be alone in this world.
   You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.
   Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.
   
   But MOST times, what you want and what you get
   are two different things.
   
   We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.
   Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially
   when His plans are not in consonance with ours.
   
   Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger.
   True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry,
   but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will
   never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.
   
   Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.
   Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.
   Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.
   Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.
   Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of
   ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us
   so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.
   
   Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.
   
   ~Author Unknown~

WHAT IF ---------------

I was just pondering about this topic this morning and I will appreciate some contribution from readers.

What if God decides not to give you your heart desire? Will that stop you from worshipping Him or serving Him? Sometimes we base our service or worship to God on what He can do for us and not because of who He is.

Studying the lives of the children of Israel, I noticed a pattern in their lifestyles, they worship God when everything seems rosy then forget him as they go along only to complains or make demands on God when things look bleak.

Look back in the Old Testament and see how God dealt with the Children of Israel, we discover that the Lord always considered their complaints as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. When they complained about their circumstances, their type of food, and even at Moses, God was displeased because they weren’t thankful for what He had provided them. He was disappointed that they refused to trust in Him to provide, protect, and direct the order of their lives. “Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1).

Then the next thing they did when they were fully settled in the Promised Land was to ask for a King. God who led them through the wilderness and who also knew that Samuel the prophet’s sons were not going to follow after Him as their father did already had a plan but they never allowed him to bring those plans to fruition because of their impatience. What if He had a better plan for them than giving them an earthly king? Samuel warned them what the king will do to them and their children but they still insisted on an earthly king not even thinking that they are rejecting the God, they wanted so badly to be like other countries. 1 Sam: 8

WHY ARE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CHURCH FOLKS SO NOSY?

I just need to vent this morning.

It all started when I was single, the question always was “when are you getting married?” “Hope you are not brushing off men because you are not getting any younger?” So because of all these questions and accusations I got involved in relationships I didn’t have business getting into just because I wanted to get married before it’s too late [ I don’t know who told me it’s ever too late with God].

Now I am married and it’s now questions again but on another scale this time – “Are you pregnant?” or even better “Congratulations!!!!” I wondered what I was being congratulated for until it dawned on me that due to my bloated stomach [it was my time of the month] one genius deduced that I was pregnant and started congratulating me. Sometimes these questions get me so depressed [sometimes I don't even want to get out of bed on Sundays] the next thing will be to start a quarrel with my husband who [God bless him] always insists that when it’s time God will bless us with children. He has always been a source of encouragement to me on this issue.

People we need to be more sensitive to other people’s feelings especially when it comes to getting married or having children. God’s time is always the best. So many impressionable young and not so young people have gotten into situations that right now they are praying everyday for God’s deliverance just because nosy people won't mind their business. If you don’t have any encouraging words to say to someone in those situations, the best thing is “SHUT UP” and keep praying for God’s intervention in their lives.

Most of all these accusing questions come from our families, friends, brethren in the church. Some even start prophelying [if there is such a word] and call it prophesying. Please all these needs to stop. I can’t count how many people have gotten into deep trouble due to all these prophesies because they want to make something happen and not wait for God’s timing.

While single, I was introduced to all sorts of men, physically or through the internet who were anxious to get an American green card and will say all sorts of sweet words to get here, thank God for deliverances from such ones. How about the ones who were already here in the States but just needed a “Sugar mummy” who will take care of them and their families back home or a sex buddy. It takes the grace of God to swift the wheat from the chaff and when it was time God brought my husband into my life and I have no regrets.

God already told me the amount of children I am going to have and I stand on His promises. He even gave me their names so I know in His Time even if it takes years [if Jesus tarries], the children will come and I am not going to second guess or try to make it happen in my own way and timing so please people asking me if I am pregnant. I have always had big tummy, anyone who knew me years ago will testify because it runs in our family and I have tried various exercises to no avail and spent money on body suits, shapewears, spanx, Dr Rey etc still no improvement. I do know when I become pregnant, it will be apparent to everyone so I beg you by the mercies of God, stop the inquisition and just continue to thank God for my children.

Pray and thank God continuously for those waiting for the manifestation of God’s promises in their lives and stop your accusing questions, the last time I checked the accuser of the brethren is still the devil and I don’t think you want to be associated with him in any shape or form.

God bless you as you receive this admonition in love and make corrections where necessary.

Shalom!!!

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

The spate of things happening in the christian world these days are really troubling. Things are truly getting out of hand, was just reading today about a pastor in Australia who got men in his church to swear an oath of total devotion to him and him alone forsaking their families for him. They are to seek his permission and decision about their daily lives, they are to acknowledge him everywhere they go. They must be in attendance in every meeting where he is ministering, sitting as close to him as possible and give him the necessary props he needs. They must never disagree with him or confront him when he is doing something wrong, his word must be the law at all times.

I understand loyalty to your pastor but not to the tune of elevating him/her to God's level. We are to follow our pastors as he/she follows Christ, they are never to take the place of Christ or to be idolized in such a way that we swallow everything they say, hook, line and sinker. Test every spirit and pray for discernment. There is need to search the Word of God for yourselves and see if what is being preached is in line with God's Word. I thank God for pastors in my life that emphasize studying and meditating on the Word of God. Respect and acknowledge the anointing upon the lives of your pastors but don't place them on a pedestal because a wise man of God once told me, "Men of God are still men at their very best" I pray we don't have another Jim Jones situation in our hands one of these days.

The Elements of Worship Leading.

It's being a while since I posted, it's been a busy time at work, working with a non profit is really tasking especially during the holidays because that is our busy season and every hands are on deck to ensure we maximize our presence in our community.

I have been a praise worship leader since 1993 and I just want to share a little about what motivates me while before and during worship. At the beginning of my ministry I was fortunate to read a book by the late Pastor Judson Cornwall titled "The Element of Worship". I jotted down some points from the book and I will love to share them with you.

Preparing your praise & worship songs is a crucial time to seek His face because there could be a message in those songs for someone in the congregation who desperately need an answer to their prayer or a word from the Lord. The time of praise and worship is not just a time for singing, it's time for healing, deliverance, salvation of souls, releasing of burdens etc and it is sometimes an entryway for the message from the Minister of God. So here goes:

1. Preparation of the leaders heart is necessary.
2. The leader should seek vision or direction for the meeting [Very important]
3. Part of the task is stirring the congregation, physically, vocally, emotionally to praise.
4. A standing congregation is more likely to find full involvement.
5. The leader needs to be relaxed [Very important]
6. Move purposefully from vigorous praise to more personalized worship, moving from the "We" to "I"
7. Have an open heart concerning the flow do not automatically follow a line and procedure that was particularly blessed last time.
8. As the worship becomes more intimate, the leader will become less prominent, mistiming a "breaking in" at a time of intimate worship can be disastrous - [it brings distraction and rather than the people concentrating on worshiping the Lord they are trying to find out what happened to the music or the leader]. So your timing is very important.
9. Realize that worship will ebb and flow, it is good to understand the variety of intensity that enhances the worship time.
10. Encourage the people to avoid "second hand worship" i.e riding on someone else's  experience or inspiration. The hymn and choruses are excellent vehicles to take us into the realm of personal worship.
Above all know the lyrics of the songs you are singing. Practice, practice, practice, practice.

Leading praise worship is more than singing, it's a deep intimate expression of your devotion to God remember He inhabits our praises, see Him wrapping Himself in your praises and worship.

God bless you.

As usual, you are free to comment.

Nigeria"s religious junk - True or false?

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits,  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit…Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-20).

I begin this blog by apologising to all my Nigerian brothers and sisters for its title. At first sight it is rather offensive, but I hope that as you read on you will see why I elected to still use it as a title. As nations or tribes or social groupings we take on a certain characteristic that is not true about each person in the group but which we come to be identified with. Hence, Paul could write, “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:12-13). In the same way, we tend to (rightly or wrongly) identify Americans with arrogance, Kenyans with marathon running prowess, West Africans with fraudulent activities, Afrikaners with racism, etc.

I have just returned from a consultative meeting in South Africa where the first day was spent surveying the spiritual state of the countries in the southern African sub-region. Central to all this was the state of evangelicalism in all these countries. Nation after nation reported on the arrival of “Nigerian religious junk” that was changing the landscape of what there once was of evangelicalism. One or two of the countries were blessed exceptions. Evidently, this junk originated from mega-churches in the USA and then found ready soil in West Africa, and especially in Nigeria. Having given it an African flavour, it is now being exported across Africa at a phenomenal rate.

I feel very sad to write about this, but by “Nigerian religious junk” I mean the phenomenon of churches that are personal-to-holder. They exalt the personality of their founding father, who is still alive somewhere in Nigeria (or elsewhere) and is treated with the aura of a state president or paramount chief. It does not matter which country you go to, the bill boards of these churches do not have the faces of the local pastors of the congregations in those towns but of the founding father in Nigeria—or wherever he has since relocated. It is all about image and power. This “man of God” claims to hear the voice of God and proceeds to minister to you accordingly. If you do not obey him you are resisting the ministry of God into your life. So, the churches are often called “ministries” rather than churches. And to make them even more impressive, the term “international” is often added to their name.

The Africanisation of this religious junk is primarily in the way it has been made to appeal to African spirituality. The pastor is the modern witchdoctor calling all and sundry to come to him for “deliverance”. Just as the witchdoctor appealed to us by inviting us to see him for spiritual protection or when we were struggling with bad luck, childlessness, joblessness, illness, failure to attract a suitor for marriage or to rise in a job or get a contract, etc., these pastors do precisely the same thing. So-called prophetic utterances are made which explain why all this is happening, holy water or oil is prayed over and dispensed, and some money is extracted from the persons seeking help. Thus their churches attract thousands of people who are there for purely selfish reasons. The motivating factor is not reconciliation with God through Christ but rather “deliverance” from perceived evil and to be blessed through the supernatural powers that “the man of God” possesses. Let’s face it: this is our African traditional religions coming into the church through the back door.
The self-centredness of all this is seen in the worship. Churches are being turned into entertainment centres instead of edification centres. People come to church to be entertained, healed and blessed . The fact that professionals, who engage their brains when working with their hands five to six days a week, stop thinking and just dance and laugh in worship is extremely sad, in the light of the demand of God that we are to love him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. It has been the failure of Christians to think through the implications of their Christian faith on the whole of life that has left Africa filled with Christian churches and lack of development at the same time. Surely, if these professionals were thinking they would have added up one-plus-one by now and seen why their pastors have become stinking rich. It is not their faith but the money of their congregants, whom they cheat with promises, that makes them buy expensive cars and clothes and put up mansions. If one thousand individuals are “sowing the seed” every week to be blessed by the man of God, of course the man of God will get very rich while they will get poorer. That is simple common sense.


The result of this phenomenon of personal-to-holder churches has been the selective nature of church discipline. You do not discipline a Sangoma (i.e. witchdoctor)—or a chief! It is a known fact, even among the church members, that a number of these pastors have serious moral problems. However, “you do not touch the Lord’s anointed” and so they are not disciplined, even when they have impregnated girls in the church. One such anointed one in Zambia changed wives three times through divorce in less than six months and still remains the apostle of his church. To be fair, this man is a Zambian, but he has imbibed this personal-to-holder phenomenon from Nigeria. There must be accountability from everyone in the church—including the church pastor.

Yet another characteristic of this phenomenon which is particularly African is the craze for titles. We Africans love titles! Once upon a time, evangelical pastors were content to simply be called pastors. Terms like “bishop” were left to those who had an Episcopalian system of church government, which was a formal structure that rose to national and global level. Alas, that has now changed! With the advent of this Nigerian religious junk, it is titles galore! You now have bishops, arch-bishops, prophets, apostles, chief apostles, etc. Some are not even content with that and so have combinations like, “chief apostle prophet doctor so-and-so.” This is certainly very different from the teaching and personal lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ whom they claim to serve.

Having joy inspite of it all.

It's being a while since I visited due to situations and challenges I have been facing lately. I will like to share one of such incidents to encourage someone out there.

I love connecting people with friends or family they have lost contacts with and I take pleasure when such people are connected to their long lost friends or family and they have such joy getting back together so this past week, I read a comment from someone I just recently befriended on facebook and who is a member of my local church about meeting one of her long time friend's mother and since the lady in question was a former dear neighbour of mine who is such a sweet sweet soul, and also former member of my church, who now worships in another church closer to her house. I felt obligated to help make that connection a reality. So I commented on my new friend's facebook status about helping her connect with the lady and all hell sort of broke loose.

I was going to call this former neighbour to let her know someone wanted to meet with her or speak to her on the phone and to see if it was alright to give her phone number to his new friend of mine but I got sidetracked and forgot but at the back of my mind, I was still going to call her before the end of the week.

So yesterday when I logged on to my facebook page I was dumbfounded by what I read from my former neighbour's daughter who felt I exposed her mum's business on facebook and she also mentioned things I never shared which was disturbing to say the least. The accusations came with such venom, I didn't know what to do but cry at my desk at work that someone could read such bad meanings to my evil intention. Talk about misunderstanding!!!. As soon as she finished sending the email, she defriended me on facebook, which was not a surprise because I was going to do the same thing, with friends like that who needs enemies right? I added this lady because I knew her to be a christian believer and we have mutual friends and I was a guest at her wedding a few years ago.

After shedding a few tears to ease my tension, I called her mother [my former neighbour] whom apparently the daughter have called the previous night and told her all sorts of things that was not even written in the comment I made on my friend's status, I apologized for not calling her before promising to give her number to her daughter's friend and she understood and also stated she told her daughter it was not a big deal but apparently her daughter didn't get that memo because she made a big deal out of the situation. I also sent an email to the friend who wanted to meet her mum to let her know what happened and adviced her to ask the daughter to for her mum's number. My sweet kindhearted former neighbour apologized on behalf of her daughter and we had a pleasant chat, she is such a wonderful gracious lady whom I love chatting with. I have forgiven the lady [neighbour's daughter] because I feel she just misunderstood my intentions and I am trying to forget the incident ever happened as well.

This incident though trivial in other people's opinion could stop me from helping someone else, it robbed me of my joy for a few minutes but I remembered this Ron Kenoly song "I still have joy" and searched for it on youtube, found it and listened to it all day because it was a word from God to me. I just want to encourage anyone who have been misunderstood, who have their good intentions evil spoken of to focus on the joy of the Lord which is our strength, the enemy will come in diverse ways to steal your joy, he might even use someone who you never expected to be the joy robber. Chose to praise God joyfully.

Song: This joy that I have the devil didn't give it to me, the devil didn't give it, the devil can't take it.  This joy that I have Jesus gave it to me, Jesus gave it, the devil can't take it away.

Chose to be joyful regardless of situations or circumstances and you will find out, your life is richer because of it, you are healthy, your facial muscles are relaxed and you look radiant. Happiness is a fleeting emotion but joy is everlasting and the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Be joyful, God's got all in control.

A must watch and read. What has the church become?

Please click or copy this link to watch the video. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/4od

Below is a summary of the video.

7.30PM Fri 28 October 2011C4

Miracles, expensive cars, exorcisms and bodyguards: religion is big business in Nigeria. Reporter Seyi Rhodes and director Matt Haan travel to Lagos to reveal the extraordinary world of the millionaire preachers.

By promoting the dream of escaping poverty, they have turned their churches into corporations, which are changing the face of Christianity.

Every Sunday millions of Nigerians crowd into thousands of competing churches. The team visits one church in Lagos run by Dr Sign Fireman, an up-and-coming preacher who is attempting to break into the big time.

They find 2000 people at an event billed as the Burial of Satan. After a rock star entrance, Dr Fireman begins his service by exorcising the demons in his congregation.

Many Nigerian Pentecostal Christians believe that demons are the root cause of their problems in life and come to people like Dr Fireman to get rid of them. Over 20 men and women, including some who worked for Dr Fireman, have the evil spirits inside them expelled.

Sick members of the congregation come forward for miracle healing. Dr Fireman claims to have God-given powers that can change people's lives, from raising people from the dead to curing earache. One man tells the crowd he is crippled and blind. Dr Fireman then channels his powers to help the man walk and see again. Yet, earlier the team has seen the man walking unaided.

At the close of the event the crowd swarms forward and throws money at Dr Fireman's feet. There is so much cash it has to be collected in dustbins. Rhodes talks to one worshipper who says that those who give money are repaid by God with good fortune.

Some Nigerian Pentecostal Christians believe giving 10 per cent of their income will bring God's blessing into their lives, their families and their businesses. With the service over, Dr Fireman leaves in his yellow Hummer 4x4.

Through the marketing of his talents, Dr Fireman has expanded his Perfect Christianity Ministry to 40 branches. Key to this growth is the emphasis on prosperity preaching: teaching that prosperity is a sign of spiritual blessing. The idea is that to become rich, you should give money to the church.

Pentecostal and independent churches in Nigeria tap into the Nigerian dream: the aspiration of having and being seen to have cars, houses, money and power. To get more people to join his church, Dr Fireman believes portraying the right image is essential and shows the trappings of wealth his church has brought him. He travels everywhere with his bodyguards in one of his three yellow luxury cars with a combined worth of more than £150,000.

Dr Fireman's business model is not a new one. Most of the richest pastors in Nigeria use similar methods of expansion. The team meets Pastor Chris Okotie, the fifth richest pastor in the country, who had hits in the 80s with records such as Secret Love and Show Me Your Backside.

His church, House of God, attracts Nigerian film stars, celebrities and musicians. Pastor Okotie has used his power base to run for the last three presidential elections, believing the principles of prosperity preaching will provide a better future for Nigeria.

Local journalist Simon Ateba says it's almost impossible to establish their true wealth. Simon takes the team to the headquarters of Christ Embassy. He claims that two years ago when he tried to take photographs of the building, security guards dragged him inside and beat him until he fainted. Soon after he tells this story, security guards drag Rhodes into the building by his belt. He escapes unscathed.

The team visits Dr Fireman. He's busy in a music studio recording a new song as he expands his business into the music industry. Rhodes asks him how he can square his wealth and celebrity status with the teachings and life of Jesus.

Dr Fireman says that God wants him to be rich and denies that Jesus had a humble life. 'Jesus was rich and had an accountant who followed him around,' he tells Rhodes.

Wisdom from Psalms - Strength in affliction

Psalm 129:2

Many a time have they afflicted me f rom my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

 

Saundra was handicapped. Her hands were twisted beyond usefulness, and she had lived with them since birth. They caused her not only physical pain, but emotional anguish as well. Throughout her childhood, cruel children had mocked her. The damage done to her self-esteem was immense, and for a long period she believed that she could never do anything. In college she had met a friend who led her to Christ. In Christ she found a new desire to succeed and beat her affliction. She received a Master's degree in Therapy and Handicapped Services and became national spokeswoman for a handicap-awareness campaign. Though her detractors had always had something to say, Saundra prevailed and rose above her handicap.

 

The Lord gives us all the ability to rise above the things that limit us. If we will only lean upon Him, He will give us the will and drive to succeed in every situation. His power can be our power when we call upon His holy name.

 

Prayer: There are times, dear Lord, when I feel I don't amount to much. My self-image is bruised, and my determination is crushed. Be with me in those times, and lift me up. Amen.

The Trouble With Christian Phrases - New Man

The Trouble With Christian Phrases - New Man

WHAT’S GOING ON PEOPLE!!!! – SUICIDES AND MURDER SUICIDES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

It is disheartening to read online or listen to the news and hear about all this suicides happening all over the place. I am an avid reader of the UK daily mail and sometimes I just get angry at the news of teenagers, married men/women committing suicides or murder suicides.

What exactly can make someone take their own life? You cannot create any part in your body so why do think its right to take your own life? I hear of teenagers committing suicide just because they were bullied in school or called names by their peers or as some claims they are unloved. I will encourage you to visit any African country and see the level of suffering children and adults suffer over there and see if they do not even have a good reason to commit suicide. You live in a privilege country where everything works and you can even get credit so you can afford to buy good things for yourself. You are driven to school by either your parents or the school bus and then a few people who do not matter say something behind you or even in front of you and the next thing you want to do is commit suicide?

I am not making light of bullying having been a victim while I was in primary and high school back in Nigeria and if you really want to see bullying then try Nigeria schools. While in school, I had eczema all over my face and body, bad and crooked teeth, lumpy and fat and a bookworm who was always in the class during recess and lunch because everywhere I go during the study hours in the school compound I was the butt of jokes and snide remarks.

I could recollect a day when one of my classmates lied against me that I took her money just because I was the only one in the classroom during lunch time, I was so engrossed in the book I was reading [King Solomon’s Mines] that I never noticed anyone coming into the class. All my classmates mobbed me and were yelling obscenities behind while I was walking home, I was so ashamed, and my mother had to come with me to school the next day to address the issue with the principal. It was a terrible experience that would have scarred me for life if not for the grace of God. There I was going through a public disgrace for something I never did. I wonder what the response will be if that incident happened here in the US.  I never had a cell phone or home phone while living back in Nigeria so receiving or making calls was for the privileged few. The few times I had to make calls I had to visit a telephone call center and pay to make a call. I guess the advancement of technology have brought in an excess in information hence the cyber bullying.

I have also experienced bullying while  in college and you will not believe it even in the churches I have attended, in Nigeria and here in the States so it goes to show you that bullies are everywhere and they can only get to you if you allow them. Remember “sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you”.

They may call you names but it’s the name that God calls you that is important and he calls you beautiful, good, precious, apple of His eyes, His child and  if you are having struggles in tuning their words out of your mind and heart call on the Lord who is able to deal with the bullies or the situation and give you peace of mind. After all He said “Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. His word is true, yesterday, today and forever. Trust in Him.

Be encouraged that no amount of bullying/debt/divorce/strife/quarrels etc is enough to get you to take your own life or someone else’s. It does not matter what people say about you or behind you. Turn your anger/humiliation/debt etc over to Jesus and He will surely come through foryou.

Only God have the final say in your life, why kill yourself only to enter another level of suffering in hell fire? Because that is where anyone who commits suicide or murder suicide goes, no matter how good you think they were here on earth. God is the creator and He only have the final say over our lives and we don’t have the right to take a life we never created. Think about this the next time you are contemplating taking your own life or the life of others.

Is it truly worth it?

No Matter What This Week Holds.

Just wanted to share this to encourage us as we go into a new week. Enjoy

Hello You...
the one welcoming the day and wondering what this week holds.
I don't know.
But I'm certain of this--there's One who holds us.
And He promises nothing is impossible for you.
Not that mountain you're facing.
Not that task you're dreading.
Not that decision you're afraid to make.
He may not tell us the details of what's to come
but He reminds us of what's ours no matter what...
Victory.
A future.
A plan that's as good as He is.
Always.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

--Holley Gerth

“The Essential Guide to a Lasting Marriage” Marriage”

In light of my last posting. I will like to share some of the tips from a marriage counselling blog I subscribe to. Enjoy.

You should you never go to bed angry with your partner? True or false

This material is taken from my most recent book “The Essential Guide to a Lasting Marriage” published by Alpha press. In my next three posts for this week I am going to share some of material that is in the book. If you are interested the book it can be purchased on Amazon in hard copy and Kindle formats.

*Note when I refer to Marriage I am also talking about long term relationships.
In the next blogs I’m going to be talking about some or the myths that I mention in the book. The reason I am doing this is because if you believe a myth it tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The first one I’m going to talk about is the myth that you should never go to bed angry. Yes there are lots of reasons to not go to bed angry. You may have bad nights sleep as result of bad feelings between you and your partner; or if you are tired you are more likely to wake up cranky, but as I say in the book, if you are really angry you can’t set a time table. Sometimes it takes us a while to be ready to talk about something that is upsetting to us. Sometimes it takes our partner a while as well.

So here are four simple guidelines as to when it is time to talk about something that is upsetting you:

1.Make sure you are in a calm state of mind. If you are agitated as soon as there is some friction and if there was conflict the chances are great that the discussion might get heated. For a discussion to go well both of you have to be in a calm place.

2.Make sure that here is time; say 20 minutes to an hour depending on the severity and complexity of the issue.

3.Make sure that you’ve had some time to really understand where your partner is coming from. (I go into detail about this in my book “Negotiation for Couples”)

4.Go into the discussion with the understanding that some issues may not be resolvable, you just have to be in a place to agree to disagree.

In my next blog I will talk about how marriage/ relationships are not “Quid Pro Quo”, that is just because you do something to me it doesn’t work that I have to do something for you.

Note: I do practice some of this suggestions in my marriage and so far I can truly say they have been working for me. I write down my grievances point by point and I find time to discuss them with my husband allowing him time to address each point before moving to the next one and I find out there is no time to get angry or deviate, digress or rehash old wounds. Btw I am working on establishing friendship with the woman in my last blog post.

What do you do when your husband is just a roommate?

I overheard a conversation at the gym yesterday [yes I am trying to lose weight and tone up] between these two ladies and it really touched my heart so I am asking this question.

What do you do when your husband is now just a room mate? You both live in the same house, he cooks for himself, does his own laundry, cleans up after himself, though you both sleep on the same bed, he never touches you nor try to make love to you. If you are in the living room, he is in the bedroom and when you are in the bedroom he is in the living room or somewhere else in the house.

Apparently they have been married for a while, the woman wants to have children but the man is dragging his feet on the child bearing issue hence his playing the abstinence game. He refuses to go anywhere with her, makes excuses for his behaviors but still claims he loves her. She was deeply troubled about his attitude towards, any attempt she makes to talk to him or get him to seek help is rebuffed.

I know alot of our women have this issue but no one is trying to address it but sweep it under the carpet and present a godly [all if fine and dandy] face out to the world. We all here about letting your man have his way in the bedroom anytime he wants it but how about when you want it and he is giving excuses like, " I am tired, I have back ache, I have head ache" and this goes on for months.

From the conversation yesterday I found out the woman is a christian and does not believe in divorce and she has tried getting him to a christian marriage therapist but he refuses saying there is nothing wrong with him and he does not want to see a therapist or her pastor and she appears to be at the end of her rope.

Please I need inputs so at least I can print them out and give to her discreetly the next time I see her.

My heart truly bleeds for her and I know yours will be too. God bless you.

Looking Back with a Thankful Heart.

Looking Back
By: CWalther


When I look back I discover hurt, disappointment, and situations I wish I hadn’t have to face in life. There are things I will have to forget and people I (still) need to forgive.

It’s hard to imagine the lovely blue sky above when all you can see are the clouds in the sky. It’s then that you just want to pack up your things and escape to a place where there is nothing but blue skies and lovely sunshine.

We need to let go and move forward, true. But I don’t intend to be talking about these kinds of things and situations today. What I want to be writing about today is: Looking back to remind ourselves of things we must remember.

At the moment we are facing some “dry land”. Sure, it is lovely to be living in Ireland! We call ourselves blessed to be able to live here - where we can experience the variety of God’s wonderful Creation. What I mean with “dry land” is that we, after we arrived here, started out with “nothing” again: No car, no (own) furniture, etc. And it is tempting to start complaining... and wishing for... if you know, what I mean.

Now it is time to look back and remember!

Looking back to the days just after we’ve gotten married, and to them that followed: We started out with literally nothing. We bought one cup, one spoon, one towel at a time - and shopping was always quite exciting! Soon, we were richly blessed - the LORD was always faithful and kept on providing for us - and had more than enough.

Today, looking back, I want to remember and be thankful for all that the LORD had blessed us with.

We should not be looking back all the times. It makes no sense to be living in the past. On the other side, don’t forget to be looking back: To remember all the many blessings God has brought into your life.

My Footnote: Sometimes looking back seems like the best thing to do but one need to move forward, looking back to what shoulda coulda happened or what didn't happen. That job you didn't get, that engagement that got broken, that dream wedding that never happened, that promotion that never came but what came instead was a pink slip. We can slip into depression thinking on those things we never had, that goal we never attained but remember the bible did say "a living dog is better than a dead lion". We need to be thankful for those days gone by and be appreciative of where we are now and thank God for the future. "Because He lives, we can face tomorrow". God has a plan and purpose for our living if we can just continue to trust Him daily to supply the strength needed for living. So today look back with a thankful heart and move on to a brighter future. God bless you.
Lord, heal my hurts and give me hope as I learn to trust the plans You have for me. I'm coming to You and seeking You with all my heart today. Please set me free from my doubts and lead me into a place of confident hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Revelation Song. Love this song to bits