Even if you Fan the Fire.....

The act of Faith in God as exhibited by some people in the bible is something I don't seem to get over easily when I study the word sometimes. Over and again, I have heard sermons and read the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego but as I read it again a couple of days ago, I couldn't but wonder about the capacity we potentially possess to believe God in the face of the most daring situations.

A King who had seen the raw power of God at work through the life of Daniel relapsed into a state of vanity and irreverence for God. I am talking about none other than Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon. He had earlier had a dream and he needed someone not just to interpret the dream but relay the dream just as he had it. Naturally, it is impossible for one to relay a dream someone else had accurately, without the person giving you a hint. To say accurately what another person is  thinking is  difficult and almost impossible as it were , not to talk of narrating what the person dreamt about in the most accurate and precise manner. The Omnipotent God of Daniel revealed the King’s dream to Daniel and that alone made the King stand in awe of the God Daniel served.  His reaction when Daniel relayed the dream and interpreted it, is narrated in Daniel 2. 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.

After seeing such an amazing act of God, this same King decided to mount an image of gold before which everyone was to bow. The three men mentioned above refused to bow to the image and they were reported to the king. This same King that had tasted God’s power because furious and started to threaten them and curse. However, these men knew whom they served and they were not afraid to profess it. Their response was direct; it wasn't a case of being diplomatic . Call it a bold, daring  and outward demonstration of Faith in the Almighty God! Daniel 3: 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

For me, this is one of the most challenging trials of faith one could ever encounter. This was death staring at their faces; death by being thrown into a lake of fire. If you have gotten your finger burnt in a candle or to say the least, tried to carry a very hot pot whilst cooking without a napkin, I am sure you definitely will have an idea of what a hot surface can do to you; the pain and discomfort that comes with it for the next few hours. But here we are , talking about a threat of being thrown into a furious, energized, blazing, and threatening fire heated seven times stronger for that matter! Yet they stood their ground and refused to renounce their faith in God!

Daniel 3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast theminto the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their othergarments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Have you ever wondered why God never came through for these men before they were thrown into the fire? One would have expected that an angel would have appeared to stop them from being thrown into it or at least quench the fire all the same. Have you ever imagined why a Christian, sometimes, some things happen to you and you wonder if God was asleep when such things were happening? It is apparent from this amazing story, that God wanted to show His omnipotent power and as we know, these stories were written for our examples that we might be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises(Hebrews 6:12)…. Halleluyah!

Daniel 3: 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

25“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on 

Right in the midst of the fire, The Almighty came through for His own! He was in-there with them as the Fourth man! The King acknowledged the supremacy of this Most High God and commanded that nothing evil be said about Him. He commanded that only this God is to be served. He then promoted the three men! What was supposed to be their downfall led to their promotion! They were thrown in bound, but the king saw them moving around freely and untied in the midst of that fire! If that incident didn't happen, we probably would have heard about any people called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!

God is the Master of repeat performances. What He has done for one, He can do again and more gloriously. When He said in Isaiah 42: 2 that He will be with you when you pass through the fire and that the flame will not scorch you, he means every single word of it why? He has done it in time past and He is saying again to you today that- When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you

Your challenge is capable of turning you into someone to be "wondered at" . What was meant for evil for you, will make you a superstar! Would you dare believe Him?

The Pen…..

A Best Selling Story....

I am always intrigued by books that are listed as bestsellers and I usually look out for what makes them a bestselling piece. A best seller is a popular product; especially a book, which many people buy ¹. Said in other words, it is a popular book consistently selling in significantly large numbers over a specified period of time. 

A bestseller, arguably is often times a great and fantastic story and most likely by a prolific and very gifted writer. I am certain the combination of the contents of the book and past works of the writer makes such a book widely sought after. From experience, writing a book entails thorough editing of the manuscript, editing and re editing such that as much as possible, one eliminates  all its blemishes and blunders ranging from the little ones such as  punctuation and spelling to fundamental issues such as the  structure and lay out and fine-tuning other shortcomings and faults. This fine polishing makes it perfect and highly sought after.

The life of every human being on earth is a potential bestselling story. Why? In Psalm 139, David reveals to us that for everyone, there is a book written. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous—how well I know it.15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed (Psalm 139; Message Version). When Jesus came too, He re-iterated that fact and He was quoted in the book of Hebrews 10:7  as saying "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God. ”

So we know there is a book about us and God is the author of our life story. Believe you me, whatever God writes is an eternal bestseller. We can see from the Bible, beautiful stories of people who were brought out of obscurity to the palace; people who started from nothing to becoming somebody: many stories with great endings in spite of the rough patches along the way. There are beautiful love stories , successful career endings and vindication of the oppressed to say the least. The Author of these Bestsellers is the one who was never created and who cannot be killed; knowing the end from the beginning, the Author of wisdom and life, who never makes mistakes. He has existed from ages past and He knows every trend even before they exist; till eternity. Before any one is created, his destiny is mapped out already and God positions in his ways all he needs for accomplishment.  I have often wondered how I came across certain people in life and without any iota of doubt, it could only have been God. I marvel at how He orchestrates such contacts.

Our lives may be likened to a puzzle; with a lot of pieces that we have to fit together, God already has seen the big picture and He knows how they fit, even when we don’t understand some things. Joseph was given a dream, an enviable one; a great future stared at him. His brothers bowed before him in his dream but circumstances of his life for thirteen (13) years showed otherwise in reality. He was facing one challenge after the other, but destiny had greatness in stock for him and it had been written that He would become the Prime Minister.Only one person could have stopped him from fulfilling the dream; he could have decided not to play his part well. What if he had slept with Potiphar’s wife? Would he have functioned in his office with a good conscience and without being blackmailed? Maybe Potiphar’s wife would have sent loads of messages to him asking that they continued their illicit affair or else she’ll burst the bubble. He knew there was a great future and in spite of what He was going through, it would only be a matter of time.

If there was no book written, how would the angel have spelt out Samson’s assignment so accurately to his parents, listing the should-be dos’ and don’ts of a baby who had not been born or conceived at all?  If there was no book written, why would God have told Abraham that in him shall all the nations of the earth be blessed when he didn't even have a child yet? The angel told Mary about what she should expect to see about the life of the Messiah she conceived. The angel also told Zechariah all he needed to know about John’s life and one common factor for all of these people was that the devil went after them. Needless to say that the enemy comes with his antics to thwart the good plans God has for each individual and if one is not careful, one may fall prey to these pranks, most times, a lot of people pass through the world allowing themselves to be drowned by circumstances; such as is common to men.

Have you ever seen a character in the bible that didn't have his/her share of victimization, struggle and great distress in some cases? Moses’ life was threatened when he was born, just like Jesus. The same decree went out concerning them that all boys aged two (2) and under be killed. The devil had an idea of that story God had written about them and he was out to stop it. He came to Jesus to distract and tempt him but the Saviour didn't accede to his offers. Just as he comes to us daily with all forms of “juicy” proposals because he wants to distract us or stop us all the same as we act out the story written about us. The truth is God created us in His very image and He put us in the world to be fruitful and dominate. We carry the genes of the Most High and what makes Him God resides in us. That singular breath into Adam’s nostrils opened him into a world of endless possibilities and unlimited opportunities. We have a better covenant through Christ and by Faith we can become all He wants us to be. 

God has written a beautiful story about you before He sent into this world and He has made available all the resources you need to attain your purpose: the relationships, the resources, the right placements and every single thing you need. It is up to you by His grace to act your own part out. He has given you the power of choice as well. Irrespective of the tactics of Satan and the roaring circumstances around you, the fact remains that the story of your life is a bestseller because He made it so.

 People read your life as you act out His scripts on a daily basis and they can only marvel and thank God for sending you this way. Long after you would be gone; your story remains one that will be read from generation to generation: always as a bestseller!

God bless you!

The Pen….

1. ldoceonline.com

And the Winner is......

I love music reality shows and it wasn't too much of a hassle for me to stay up in order to watch the final show of the American Idol that aired live in  the wee hours of this morning (in my part of the world). The show which saw Candice Glover winning climaxed on a good note as far as I am concerned...( my opinion!). I am particularly excited about shows that scout, identify and bring to limelight raw talents:It is such a joy to see that people are brought out of obscurity to do what they are destined for.

The final shows of such competitions always leave me with good feelings, especially when the person I like wins. Most times, either of the two finalists deserves to win anyway but also, I have learnt over time that there will always be a winner, most certainly and whether deserving the victory or not, he/she is the preferred choice going by the votes. Watching shows like that back to back, year in year out, one thought-provoking thing I have learnt from it,is how soon a previous season’s winner is forgotten or said in another word, relegated to the background( except he /she remains relevant) as soon as another session commences. I have watched that competition back to back for like 4 years and honestly, it is so easy to forget the feats of the previous winners except they come out to do something new from time to time.

Victories in life are meant to be celebrated, however the euphoria, ecstasy and excitement  most times is short-lived: Life continues, people move on to other things. If you win today, people celebrate you but they also want to see what you can do tomorrow. Take the example of a footballer who scores the decisive and winning goal in a very important match, say a Champions league and who helps his club win the trophy in a particular season. That victory or accomplishment doesn't give him leeway to go relax permanently. After all the celebration, the euphoria, in the very next match, he is expected to play well and score as well; else you begin to hear all sorts of comments about him already. People could be quite impatient with stars really and truth is, it is easy to castigate those in the boxing ring whilst you are on the bench as a spectator . 

Life itself is a competition and sometimes, the competition should be with no other person than yourself. Yes you should have people you admire, those who motivate you and role models, the truth is, you have to compete with yourself continuously to ensure you remain ever relevant. Be your own admirer, fan, motivator and greatest cheerleader.  Yesterday’s success should be the least of what you will accomplish today and tomorrow’s success should be greater than what you have accomplished today. .Whatever position it is you occupy, it is advisable to do something good with your tenure and leave good memories in people’s minds. You won’t be there forever and most importantly it is wisdom to keep equipping yourself to remain relevant in years to come.

I like what Paul said in the book of Philippians. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14.I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. (Philippians 3:13-14 Amplified Versions).

It is time to free yourself from whatever is holding you back. Yesterday’s victory could actually be a hindrance. You relish it so much that you don’t think of moving forward neither are you motivated to do better, It’s a trap! David , a bible character I love so much had won so many battles,he  had acquired so much that at some point when he was supposed to go for a battle, he thought it was time to rest at home. Temptation came knocking and the mighty King David who earlier sank the mightier Goliath came falling all the way into adultery and murder! ( You can checkout the preview of my book on David in the link provided at the right hand side of this blog)

Even if it was failure you experienced, it’s time to get up and get going. The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again the word says (Proverbs 24:16) .Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43: 18).God is assuring you that He would be there for you all the way and He is willing to give you a new beginning!

It’s time to Rise and just keep moving....Go, go, go!

Have a most glorious weekend ahead.

The Pen…

Little but Indispensable...

The rains are here in this part of the world and unfortunately my windscreen wiper started to malfunction as I was driving some days ago. As in, it just stopped working! It was indeed an uphill task driving a little distance without a need to use the wiper. If you have ever driven in rain with a bad or malfunctioning windscreen wiper, I am sure you would understand what I mean. If you haven’t, when driving in a heavy rain, don’t use your wiper for two (2) minutes and I’m sure you’ll get my drift. I have learnt from that experience that little things do matter. This is a little, cheap and minor part of a car that we hardly use except when it’s raining, however the importance of this inconsequential part cannot be overemphasized especially when it is needed during rainy periods!

One of the most important and distinguished parts of a car is the engine and most times, everyone just wants to be sure their engine is functioning well. We take our cars to the garage and have our mechanics and car engineers check them out, do a routine service and change the oil often, but I tell you, sometimes, a wheel stud or bolt not well fitted, as small as it is, may be catastrophic. And just like I said, a windscreen wiper not functioning when it’s raining heavily could lead to disastrous outing if care is not taken.

The diminutive, inconsequential and wee things are the ones that matter the most in life. Someone said the most important and beneficial things in life are free and I agree. The air we breathe that we don’t pay for; you don’t know how blessed you are until you get to see someone who lives on oxygen. Water, which is the most important of the fluids we take, is absolutely free; you don’t get to appreciate that except you had lived in the times of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses and all they were faced with was the bitter water of Marah in a moment of great and enormous thirst. They murmured and cried out of anguish of thirst. Life itself is a gift which we never get to pay for. How about good health, soundness of mind? A lot of people pay for these things heavily.

There are many examples of little things in the bible that became the mighty things which we now talk about. I like the story of the LITTLE boy whose lunch was used to feed thousands of people. One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this- John 6: 8-9(Message version). He was a little boy who was sold out to following Jesus, He was probably on his way back from school and he thought to hear the Master preach, whilst many of his peers were with their parents at home. Children would ordinarily not be fascinated by a sermon, talk less of following a crowd of people listening to the Saviour preach. Have you ever seen children run around in church during sermon times? They care less; they just want to have fun. But here was a little boy, who was following Christ; He wasn't lost in the crowd as it were because he was quick to be identified. He was quite close to the disciples, at the forefront of the activities. Secondly, he was mature enough to give up his lunch pack. A lot of children don’t want to part with their food or biscuits or sweets. But I am almost certain this little boy wasn't persuaded to give up his food. He probably walked up the disciples to make the offer.

Okay, down to the essence of this post, the little boy became known and he was mentioned in the bible, unnamed though. The widow’s little offering was acknowledged by Christ and her name was worth mentioning in the bible. We know her offering as the Widow’s might. David’s little stone sank the mighty Goliath. Moses’s small rod parted the red sea. The Widow of Zarephath’s small flour which she gave out to Elijah as bread launched her into the realm of unlimited supplies forever.

We all are members of the body of Christ and we have something albeit small to offer our world. 1st Corinthians 12: 4- For in fact the body is not one member but many.15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Imagine your eye deciding not to function one day. Little as it is, a day without your eyesight functioning well could be devastating. I marvel at God’s greatness and thank Him for people like Cobhams Asuquo ¹  who has risen above the challenge of blindness to make a positive difference in life. People with perfect eyesight are not even doing as much as a quarter of what He is doing. Can you imagine having an injury in your baby finger/ pinky? It affects your body immensely. The brain gives you constant signals about that pain. A bad tooth renders you useless until you use some medication.

Yes you may see yourself as little but the truth is you are important in God’s agenda. Your little is what God needs to reach the world. Little in many places will make an immense impact.   In your own little corner, brighten the world, lend a hand, and put a smile on people’s face. I have seen some people that all they do is dance and it brings joy to the hearts of many. When last have you visited an orphanage?  Maybe you should look for one around you and share the love you have with them. Let’s help the hurting, feed the poor around us, and clothe those who don’t have. It may be little but Heaven acknowledges it. Such sacrifices are pleasing unto God.

Yes it may be little, but it is significant! It may be little but if you don't do your part, you are creating a gap. You were created to fill a gap. Who has despised the days of little beginnings? You are meant to be indispensable! 

The Pen….

1. Cobhams Emanuel Asuquo is a Nigerian song writer/music producer per excellence who started his professional training as a lawyer, but later branched into music full-time to fulfill a lifelong desire. (Wikipedia)

What's in Service?

I look forward to Service times in church and the excitement that comes from worshipping in the Lord’s presence and learning at His feet. I enjoy dancing a lot in church too and as I do, I imagine God in His majesty and glory receiving my sacrifice of praise. I remember those days that I would usually analyse worship sessions and be quick to point out errors made by a worship leader, identifying moments when there is a disconnect between the singer and the instrumentalists (maybe because I sing too) but as the Holy Spirit dealt with me over time, I have learnt that true praise and worship transcends the availability of instruments or whoever is leading . After all, when worshipping by ourselves at home, we do not have the drums, piano and other instruments. We can worship and worship genuinely whether those things are available or not. Worship is an act of connecting with God in our spirits whilst we acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives.

So there is this scripture I love so much as it is an open cheque (check) to a world of  all possibilities; a realm where our every need is met, a realm of perfect health and a realm where fruitfulness is guaranteed. It however comes with a responsibility; “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days” Exodus 23: 25-26. Your duty is to serve God and His obligation is to bless you, be your personal Physician, protect you from the wiles of the enemy and grant you long life. It’s as simple as that!

It’s a popular thing on Sunday mornings and sometimes during the week for people to say I am going for Service. Service in that context means I am going to church. However, I believe there is a deeper dimension to the word service, more than the meaning we ascribe to it. Yes we go to church to attend service but much more is required from us. We are not just to attend service; we should actually offer our service to God.  As much as we go to the house of the Lord to worship and be strengthened, there are some blessings that accompany service to him and service to His people. God’s blessings are promised upon the worshippers, but there’s another level of blessings guaranteed to some set of people: Those who serve!

David is a perfect example of someone who was a worshipper and a devoted servant. He would go to the house of God to worship time and again, yet with a heart to serve. Psalm 122: 1 says I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord”. He came with a heart of thanksgiving, a heart of praise and worship and yet with a heart of being the doorkeeper if there was a need for it. (-For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness Psalm 84:10 ). As a king, preparing his son-Solomon for the position of the king, he had prepared a choir made up of instrumentalists, praise leaders, worshippers for service unto God; He was a choir leader using our modern day terminology. He was the king but he was so much involved in the affairs of God’s house. Not only did he play instruments, he even invented some (2^nd Chronicles 7:6). He was a versatile person who loved God genuinely and was equally loved by God.

That should be our attitude. It’s high time we got more passionate for God just like we are when it comes to our career. Many people would never go to work late but they stroll to church so casually, dragging their feet to God’s house. A lot of people go for a service of two (2) hours and you catch them dozing. Are you sure you won’t be ashamed when you sit beside David in heaven? Some see church as a place to catch up with their friends, for some, it is to survey the environment for a wife or husband. Whilst that may not be a sin, it will do you good to ensure you have a genuine heart of service to God and you find an avenue to serve.Many people are quick to criticise those who serve in the church yet they don’t do anything.

Before you start to wonder what you may have to offer in church, let me show you something interesting about what you possess from the bible. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel clear understanding simple trust healing the sick miraculous acts proclamation distinguishing between spirits tongues interpretation of tongues. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when (1^st Cor 12:7-11).Is it not interesting to know that God has wired us all with some gifts with which we are to bless the body of Christ? Everyone has got at least a gift!I so love the choir in my church and the praise leaders when they lead worship sessions. God is so awesome and generous in bestowing such beautiful and terrific gifts on men.

 Oh yes, you've got a beautiful gift too. All you need is to identify it and put it into practice. Some are just gifted to encourage others, some write the newsletters in their church, some preach with great dexterity, some are so anointed to welcome people into church and usher them to their seats, yet some are so effective in washing the toilets. I so love those who make the church a convenient place to worship God without distractions. I like what Joshua said in Joshua 24:15b -. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” God was so sure about Abraham’s commitment to Him that He vouched for him by saying He knew Abraham would command His household to do whatever He (God) wanted. It’s a pointer for us not limit service unto God to ourselves but also to train our children to love God from their early days. It is eternally beneficial to point them in the right direction.

It's time we start going for service with a heart of service: Lend a hand in church, encourage a Brother/Sister, give to the needy, use your gifts. If you are gifted to sing; join the choir, you think you have a flair for intercession; join the intercessors unit. Great joy comes from fulfilment in life; fulfilment comes from maximally using the gifts God has endowed on you both secularly and spiritually. The gifts are maximised when they are identified and put to use. Be effective in all ramifications.

 So when next you go for service, please ensure you offer a service to God and His people as well.

The Pen……

Marathon: Run One, Run All.....

I have watched marathon competitions on TV many times but recently I have been drawn to the distinguishing features of the race and I have realized we can glean a lot of lessons from the competition. We can’t but relate it to our essence in life. 

The Marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards), which is usually run as a road race¹ . It can also be described as an activity that continues for a long time and needs a lot of energy, patience, or determination ². It is entirely different from the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters or relay race that is being done within the confines of a stadium.Unlike the race that is set within the boundaries of a stadium, a marathon race spans through a town or city and it entails a whole lot more than the regular sprints.  

There are the participants themselves who are the key players, the paramedics to help those who fall ill or are injured. There are volunteers who hand out water and probably energy drinks to the participants during the course of the race and of course there are usually loads of people waiting at the finish line to welcome those who make it there eventually cheering them on with so much fanfare and excitement. Usually, many people start off but not all finish. There definitely would be a winner but truth is that in a marathon, anyone who is able to get to the finished line is a winner. Many people opt out along the way but only the determined will make it to the finish line where they are cheered and celebrated. Praises and rewards are showered on everyone who makes it to the end whether as the first or last person.

It is interesting to know that in a marathon race, most participants do not run to win. More important for most runners is their personal finish time, as some runners just want to finish. When you get tired of running, you can adopt a run–walk strategy ,you can walk but just ensure you keep moving!. A lot of people have personal goals and train hard to validate themselves and prove to others that they can “do” it.  People with all sorts of circumstances enrol in the race with a common goal of finishing.  

Life is no doubt like a marathon where everyone runs his race. You join the race when you come into the world and right from that moment, there are people such as your parents, caregivers, teachers who lead you through the early years and arm you with all you need to go far in life. You get to a stage where you are able to sustain yourself and there would be the high and low moments. Many times you fall but as long as you get up and keep going, you are never disqualified.  We are encumbered with all sorts of issues and distractions but truth is self-determination will take us to the finish line. Let us look at the admonition Paul the apostle gave us in the scriptures, citing the best example ever; that of Jesus the captain of our salvation. He says:

1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls (Hebrews 12: 1-10 Message version).

There are people who have come into this world and have finished their race well. The greatest example as we know is that of  Jesus Himself. He knew His purpose and pursued it, not giving in to whatever forms of distractions that came His way. Not everyone would be popular, not everyone would finish first, in fact there is no reason to analyse how someone fared in comparison with another person. Our strengths and weaknesses differ; after all a unique combination of genes is what makes up every human being. Our talents and gifts are peculiar and God’s expectations concerning us are dependent on what He has put inside of us.Paul, again when he was about to die, told Timothy his protégé-

You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. (2nd Timothy 4:6-7 -8, Message version). It is comforting to know that God is on the side-line encouraging us to do more and in fact at the finishing line, waiting to applaud us.

Amazingly, I have noticed that Kenyans win Marathon competitions a lot as they are usually fast runners. So I have been curious about what could be the contributing factors to their recurrent success. One of the things I came across as a major factor is their diet. Someone who had a close rapport with the Kenyans noticed that their diets tell a huge story about their success.  When they are shopping, their  cart would be filled with things like cabbage, chicken, steaks, cans of tomatoes, tea, white corn meal and whole-wheat flour and they all eat the same ³. They pay a lot of attention to what they consume as this would ultimately affect what they are able to offer. Another fact I gathered is that three-quarters of the Kenyan runners lived at least several miles from school when they were kids, and were much more likely to run to and from school, learning the value of distance running from an early age. So what they go through growing up prepares them for the future and hence they outshine others in most of the race. When you train more, you fare better,

Our "diet" is key in running the race of life effectively; not necessarily food in the physical only but what we feed our soul and spirit with. Our association in life would determine how effective we are in the race. Some relationships are just unnecessary weight and that’s why we are admonished in the scripture earlier quoted to drop any weight that may slow us down. It’s high time we stopped giving excuses of the peculiarity of our challenges and why we cannot effectively make the best of life. We have found ourselves in this race, come what may, we just have to run it well. It's wisdom  to know that in reality,we do not have another chance.

Would you dare yourself today? You can do much better! Just Focus on the finish line which can only be determined by God who has created you and who only can reward you accordingly. Help those who stumble on the race; be kind to all, because you will get help when you stumble too.

One God, One Life, One Race, One Purpose, One Chance, One Soul, One Body, One You. Aim for nothing but the best!

The Pen……

1.   Wikipedia

2.    Longman dictionary online’s definition of dictionary

3.    http://news.menshealth.com

Just this Once!

Have you ever observed the look on a footballer’s face, when He is about to take the last penalty kick that would be the deciding factor in the finals of a World Cup soccer tournament or UEFA Championship game? With all eyes on him; his team mates holding hands together in unity in anticipation of a positive outcome and the stadium in a state of absolute silence, he goes for that shot in that tense and apprehensive moment and musters all he has to make sure he drives the ball into the net, behind the goalkeeper.  That is the kind of focus I want to talk about this morning.

Life sometimes gives us one golden opportunity to “hit the nail on the head” on something. When you miss it, you miss out. Yes, I know there are some opportunities we fail to maximise that come back to us in other forms but sometimes, for some particular ones, you just have to go for it once and get it right. For such, chances are they are not replicated ever again. I cannot but ponder on one of such examples in an interesting story in the bible and I’ll like to share it with you.

The Israelites had sinned in the bible as usual and they were being punished. God had to raise a woman for them as a judge in the person of Deborah and she went with them to war against the people oppressing them. It happened that God fought on their behalf and the enemies who had come against them started to run away. Sisera who was the captain of the opposition army ran and found refuge in the house of a woman named Jael and she warmly welcomed him into her house. Right in her very house was her nation’s greatest oppressor. She was probably a housewife sitting at home whilst her husband had gone to work but Mr Opportunity visited her on that fateful day.  This was an opportunity dangling right before her very eyes; She either acted boldly or just allow things be. Refusal to act may lead to continued oppression of her people and so she took a step…

Judges 4: 19 -Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. 20And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”21Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

This is one of the most daring acts I have read about. A woman, probably very young, took a bold step in killing a man who was trained for war, experienced in fighting battles and who was a master in killing people….She nailed a tent peg into the temple of a prodigious General Sisera! The temple is the flat area on each side of your head in front of the top of your ear. No doubt he was extremely tired but he could have woken up at the slightest sound, being a General who had been trained to be at alert at all times; whether awake or asleep.  I am certain that if she had not gotten it right at the first attempt, that attempt would have marked the end of her life. I wonder how she got so near to the man and got her acts together, driving the nail in just once. Yes the bible tells us the man was exhausted but her success must have been attributable to her determination, focus and courage. She must have seen it as her one and only chance and she went for it. Bravo! Her courageous act delivered her nation from the hands of the wicked oppressor.

David in the bible killed Goliath at the first attempt, with one single stone.  1^st Samuel 17: 49 says “Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth”. Just one throw and the huge and overwhelming Goliath came falling down. Just one attempt at that opportunity and he became a life time hero. If David had missed the first throw, he probably would have become jittery, Goliath would have been trudging nearer as he brought out the other stones one after the other, and chances are he would have missed the other throws. Sometimes, we need to courageously take on an opportunity, tackle a challenge which would bring us out of obscurity forever. Some opportunities are very rare and you can’t afford to miss them.  Some come so suddenly that if we are not discerning enough, we may not identify them. Some come to us not even looking like anything worth considering, but in them may be the key to a lifetime “wow “story.

So I’m challenging you today- to seize the moment by courage. Fling that stone, touch that helm of the garment, climb that tree (like Zaccheus), take that bold step like Esther. Oh yes if the King had not favoured Esther and summoned her to come, she would have been dead, because she broke protocol to see him at that moment. Her attitude was “if I perish, I perish, but I’m just going to seize this moment and actualise my dream! Make that request like Nehemiah, whom the King asked what He wanted and by seizing the moment and declaring what he wanted, the chain of events that led to the rebuilding of the temple started (Nehemiah 2:1).  Send that proposal out today! Make that request to your boss, dare that challenge, snap out of that depression for once. All odds may be against you but when you are “single-eyed”, focusing on that goal, with the God factor on your life, you will achieve your goal and make a difference. God crowns your efforts and determination with an outstanding victory and He’ll give you a beautiful victory story.

Someone said “to every man there comes in his life time that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his "finest hour"

Today may be your day, seize it! Don’t forget, no prospect comes introducing itself by saying “Hello I am Mr Opportunity”, it’s up to you to unwrap and determine if that would be your life changing encounter or not.

Okay, Let me know what you think!

The Pen…

A Good Wait or A Bad Weight?

Bringing a child into this world is one of the most amazing works of God I never cease to marvel at. I won’t go into the details of the little we understand about it today but one thing that strikes me the most is the concept of having to wait for 9 months before the delivery of a baby.  A pregnant woman may feel uneasy many times  with bouts of nausea, backache, sleepless nights but hardly would you see her curse and complain so bitterly; She won’t do that because she knows very soon she will take delivery of her bundle of joy. She may be carrying a weight around but she is going to wait for the set time nature has purposed for delivery, so she waits eagerly and with joy as there definitely will come the "bringing forth" day.  

Every one prays to God daily about one need or the other and sometimes we wait for years to receive answers to some of these prayers in spite of promises from God and many confirmations from different quarters.  Oh yes, he is ALWAYS faithful to His promises, for His words will never return to Him until they fulfil the purpose for which they have been sent.  He opens His hand and satisfies us from His bounty. He is the Immovable Rock and Shelter, His name is a fortress that the righteous run into and they are safe. No doubt He is God alone; The God of all flesh with whom nothing is impossible.

As much as we know that God is dependable and strong for us all, the concern is if  He would find us equally dependable and steady in waiting for Him and trusting Him to meet our needs, give us deliverance, healing and whatsoever it is we desire. As we look unto Him for the fulfilment of our requests, He desires to find in us reliable and strong people who would stay focused on Him inspite of what it is they see in the physical. God honours in enormous ways those who dare to trust in and wait for Him when it is extremely hard to do so. People who have daring faith move the hands of God to do gargantuan (large, massive, enormous, mind blowing) miracles for them……

If we have to wait on God for something, it is better to wait well. With so much weight on our minds, we are robbed of the joy that comes with fulfilment of promises.Doctors have said the moods of a pregnant woman is likely to impact on her baby in one way or the other. When we are in school for the purpose of obtaining a degree, we don’t see the sleepless nights of reading as a burden or a weight, why? We are assured of the end results. We are admonished to wait with courage, wait with joy and an assurance that faithful is He who has promised who would also do it. Psalm 27: 14 says "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord"!

God is looking for:

People who would hold on to His promises tenaciously like Abraham. “Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said…. Romans 4: 19(Message version)

People like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who looked at the King straight in the eye and said:  If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3: 17-18)

People like David who looked at the towering Goliath and screamed “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.( 1st Samuel 17: 45-46).

People Like Joshua and Caleb who were part of the twelve spies sent to the promised land and whilst the others were so negative and pessimistic about going on to possess the land, they said  “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it”.( Numbers 13: 20)

People like Daniel who after a decree was given that no one should worship God “……….went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days”( Daniel 6:10)

People like the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years and just wanted to touch the helm of the garment of Jesus secretly “For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well”( Matthew 9:22)

People like the Centurion who came to meet Jesus for the healing of His servant and when Jesus was ready to go with Him to his House (what a great privilege), he said “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed”( Luke 7:6-7).

People like Esther who had to go in to see the King at a forbidden time knowing fully well that whoever violated protocol would perish. She called for a fast amongst the Jews and said “ My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”(Esther 4:16b)

People like Ruth who though was a Moabitess knew that there exists a God and she insisted on following Naomi after they both lost their husbands. She said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,Or to turn back from following after you;For wherever you go, I will go;And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;Your people shall be my people,And your God, my God.( Ruth 1:16)

How about the long list of people in Hebrews chapter 11

32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, andof chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth

They were Men of like passions as we are but tell me why God won’t honour such Faith. He did it for them and will do it for us. Yes God is willing to come through for us, but let’s dare to stay strong in waiting for Him.

This day is going to be the best you have lived so far.... 

The Pen…