Keresimesi ọdun de o

No, I don't believe in Santa, no, I don't buy a tree or cut one down, and no, I do not spend time decorating as a way to celebrate the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I do however, give gifts, have fun, and most of all, bless the needy. Of course, I let my children have fun! They wear new clothes and get lovely presents too. We all rejoice, take photographs and eat and drink.

However I tell them the truth. Santa is not real and Jesus was not born on December the 25th, the so called popular Christmas day. Yes, I let them know that the only way they can show their love to Christ is by obeying Him, by adhering to the bible. We celebrate the love of our Savior and appreciate His goodness, relishing in His grace. Merry Christmas everyone and a prosperous 2008!

The gift, the anointing, the grace

Ten years ago this date. The last Sunday in October, 1997, my church family in Tottenham stretched forth their hands towards me. The leadership team circled me. After the prayer, apostle/pastor Mark (I call him papa mark and his wife, mama Mary) prophesized to me.

I was leaving for Nigeria later that week. I had spent a little over a year in London. I left Nigeria thinking I was going for a career training, however God had bigger plans for me. I went through a lot of spiritual training. When I was sent forth, I was leaving in a better shape than when I came.

The prophecy was edifying, comforting, inspiring. I still remember some exact words. I wish I had recorded them. Ten years later, I see how far I've come. I stir up the gift that was deposited in me. I can testify to the anointing upon my life and ministry. I am honored that the Lord Jesus Christ chose me to declare His love to all. I appreciate His grace upon my life.

What was that apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:12?

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."

That fits the way I'm feel right now.

October is Pastor appreciation month, I appreciate every minister, particularly pastors that have blessed me. Because you gave, I can give to others.

- Derbrah

By Grace Alone

Grace, the amazing grace of God is so unsearchable. This week has been awe inspiring. Despite every sneaky and blatant attack of the adversary, God's grace is still more powerful and more sustaining in my life. Becoming a true single parent has made me appreciate in a deeper, enriching way, the grace of God.

Thank you Elohim, Adonai, Elshaddai, Ehe-Ashe-Ehe, Yud-Hay-Vud-Hay for your grace.

Baba mi, ẹşe fun oju-rere, ọla, alafia, anu, at’ore –ọfẹ yin.

Thanks Mr Coleman for the shots.

Twenty-eight years

Soji,

Twenty eight years ago,
You left me and this world.
I will always miss you,
I'm grateful for who you were to me
I'm thankful that you cared
I'm joyful that you were there.

Toyin

TWENTY EIGHT YEARS AGO - A POEM

Twenty eight years ago
You disappeared from my life
Death stole you from us
The grave ensured
That we could not have communion

It’s been twenty eight years
You would have been 46
But the sting of death
Destroyed the possibility
Of you marrying and leaving a seed
Of me, being cared for by you
The short victory of the grave
Left me without a biological brother
Deprived me of the only physical father
I could emulate and desire

Twenty eight years
Seems so long
Twenty eight years
I was bound
Twenty eight years
Satan’s deception
Twenty eight years
Till I gained freedom

I was too young then
Naïve, untaught, ignorant
Lacking information
Plunged in the wrong direction

The Devil saw the innocence
And doing what he does best
Sowed condemnation
My grief watered his deceit
Lack of knowledge
Was the soil for his whims
The seed of error
Germinated and grew
Bearing the fruit
Of dissatisfaction
Self-doubt and limitation

Twenty eight years
Yes it took that long
For me to break free
For me to confidently proclaim
Soji, you’re physically dead
But you’re still loved
Soji, you’re in heaven
But also in my heart

Twenty eight years
Is not too long
To shed a tear
To say thank you
To sing a song
To tell of you

No twenty eight years
Is just the beginning
Of my testimony
Of what God did for me
Of how Christ made me free

Twenty eight years
Doesn’t come close
To the time we’ll share in eternity
With the Bride of the Lamb

Twenty eight years
And many more
I’ll rejoice in the truth
That absent from the body
We are present with the Lord
For you believed that Jesus Christ
Paid the price for your sin

Yes it’s been twenty eight years
Satan, I’m still standing
What you did to crush me
Only served to prod me

Weeping endured for the night of twenty eight years
God’s joy has dawned
His light has shone
His mercy preserved
Even these twenty eight years

I have a brother in heaven
Sitted at the right hand of God in Christ
He’s been there for twenty eight years

Aṣeyẹ Ọjọ Ibi [Celebration of Birthday]

Today is my birthday. I'm moving closer to 40 now. What a blessing. God is awesome! I am grateful to be alive, to be loved, to be cherished and to be desired. Thank you Jesus for everything.

I remember Mami

August 25, 1995 my blessed grandmother whom I call Mami was buried. She was a blessing to my mother, my siblings and me. Her love, teachings and demeanor steered my life in the right direction. I remember mami with joy in my heart.

Zephaniah

Zephaniah 3:5 states:

The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: Every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; But the unjust knoweth no shame.

The reassuring thing about God is that He is JUST, He does not sin, and He perfoms justice. God is the Lord. His rulership is higher, a cut above. He is the only true Judge. He is Lord and He is trustworthy. His faithfulness is everlasting. His mercies are new every morning. His compassion fail not and His love is strongest (most enduring). He saves to the uttermost those who TRUST Him. I am privileged to have God as my Father.

He is GOD;
God
Our
Delieverer

What a blessing!

June Tune

June is always an emotionally charged month for me. I observe, appraise, analyze, reflect and rejoice every June. I think it's because of some experiences from my past, especially what I discovered June 2004 which inspired the new person I am today.

On the second of June this year, I adopted a new birthday. I stood in the congregation of the righteous and testified of God's faithfulness. Today is the last day of the month and I am still awed by God's faithfulness, particularly in my life and that of my nuclear family.

My first son became five years this month. He also graduated from preschool. He is starting kindergarten and he passed, won, and will start ... (tears of joy reamed my eyes). Why do I still shed tears of joy and gratitude? I am such an emotionally-passionate person. I amaze myself many times with the degree of emotion I have and express.

Someone told me the highest level of joy is contentment. There is some truth to that. I am so content. God has been very very good to me. When I'm sad, I cry, when I'm exicted, I cry and when I'm grateful, I cry. I also smile, dance and shout, but I still cry. Especially when the victory I won is not due to my own ability.

Five years ago, when God made me a mother, I had no idea what that position of stewardship would cultivate in me. Now as I see the fruit of my labour and the rewards of grace, faith, hope through obedience to God's word, I can only shed tears of joy and gratitude.

It's June again, and I'm singing the tune of praise to my God.

Joy of motherhood

Daniel Ajike, my first born son at nineteen months.

When I first became a biological mother in 2002, I had a naive view of the responsibilities of motherhood. The challenges I faced, particularly from single parenting, made me grow up fast. In my growth process I realized what the term mother really meant. I was no longer at peace with myself if my son was not at peace. I was sad if my son was unhappy. I was distressed if my son was upset. I was distraught if my son was ill. Motherhood gave me a different perspective into the Father heart of God the Father. It offered me an insight into the love of God the Holy Spirit, and assured me of the grace of God the Son. Motherhood helped me to trust God in a deeper level. I learnt to cast my mothering burden upon the Lord. (Matthew 11:28).

Dael Ajike, my second born son at nineteen months.

When I had my second son in 2005, I was aware of the motherhood road and empowered with God's grace and faithfulness. Then other challenges arose that tried to taint my joy of motherhood. However, I knew the Sara wisdom. Apostle Paul wrote of Sara's faith in Hebrews 11:11, she judged God FAITHFUL. That truth became my shield against evil attacks. That truth has kept me a godly mother to my sons and guided me in raising my sons in godliness. I run daily into the name of the Lord and my sons and I are safe. (Proverbs 18:10).

Motherhood is really about faithfulness, the fullness of one's faith. It is about the level of one's committment. It is about the depth of one's love. It is about the quality of one's dedication. It is about the strength of one's integrity. It is about sacrificial giving. It is about the wealth of one's devotion. I received a godly legacy from my mother and grandmother in terms of mothering. My grandmother was a godly mother. My mother was selfless. I have the BEST mother in the world. Her example became an inspiration for me and I am the BEST mother to my children. Thank you mummy, I am always grateful.

A few days before mother's day which was celebrated two days ago, I wondered if I lost anything by becoming a mother. I did a quick survey amongst friends. My question was "What did a woman end by becoming a mother?" Nobody could answer the question. I told my friends that since I became a mother, I only GAINED. I couldn't find anything that I had lost by choosing to be a mother. Thank You Lord for making me a mother. I am eternally grateful! The Holy Spirit is like my spiritual Mother and His love garrisons my heart. It's a blessing, a godly joy to be a mother. Halleluya!

Joy of Living

It's such a blessing to be alive. A greater blessing to belong to Life. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) and I belong to Him. What a blessing!

Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has set us (believers in Christ) free from the law of sin and death. I'm almost forty years old but I look twenty and feel five years. Living a life free from sin is healthy, invigorating and exhilirating.

We just celebrated the resurrection of Christ from the dead and His ascension into the third heaven. I am awed, strengthened and re-energized from the fact that Jesus Christ, the second and last Adam, Who gives life (1 Corinthians 15:45) lives within me.

Joy of living is belonging to Christ and Christ belonging to me.