womenretreat-vcws-us.org

9-3-08

WHERE ARE WE HEADING

This message is for our African Brothers and Sisters who travelled millions of miles away to come to this Great Country in search of better life, wellbeing and to render support to our loved ones back home. Though no statistics has been taken, this message is from a woman who loves God and African, and by the grace of God embarking on awareness and a call of awakening to fellow Country men and women.

Before you begin to read, take few minutes to cast your mind back on the circumstances that led to your coming to America, the Joy, Expectations, and the day of a new dawn. For some people coming to America was not in the pipeline, others it was a long dream, yet for others it was a road to saving money for America, selling lands, borrowing, hoping and doing everything humanly possible to achieve and yet for some it was never in their widest dream however, chosen by the Most High God as those given the visa with a golden spoon. In all there is a story for every man and woman here in America from Africa.

The Big question for some coming to America has helped them achieve the American dream and in reality uplifted them from abject poverty. For others they still are not sure what or how to reconcile their dream of coming to America, expectations of easy money and the harsh reality of Hard Work.

The harsh reality of this Country is overwhelming for some, unfortunately the inner desires of our heart and the zeal to quickly make it push some to the cliff of committing monstrous acts, instead of taking the bull by the horn to struggle in truth, honesty, hard work and prayers to the Most High God for sustenance, direction and provisions, people resolve to get rich through dubious means. When caught up in the quest for get rich quick, you give the devil the opportunity to have a foot hold in your life/business. As a Christian we should always be alert not forgetting the enemy because we are not unaware of the devils schemes. As Africans what we do reflects who we are, where we come from and what others believe of us.

Discipline of one self and the saying that “A Good Name is better than Money” should surpass the quest for a get rich quick, entangle in evil, jealousy, ruthlessness, adultery, killing of wife, colt, pushing of drugs, 419 etc.

Unfortunately selfishness has eaten deep into the fabric of men’s heart that a couple who set out in good faith and one ness can no longer look into each other’s eyes without acknowledging the fact that either the man or woman is miss managing their hard earn money or laying their priority elsewhere instead on wife and children, (do not get me wrong, you cannot forget your extended family). So sad that you start together to build up from scratch, only to get to the top of the ladder and be pushed or attempted to be pushed down by either of the spouse , with the believe that the other party is no longer good enough, simply because of selfishness ; you want everything you have both labored for, for yourself and extended family alone or you want a male child so you need another wife someone to give you male (mail) children; you need a wife from your village or Country so you abandon the wife who has stood by you all this years ; simply because she is not from your Country ,village or worst still she is a white Lady who don’t understand your language  or culture , or you need  more fun so at 40 something years or sixty you think more sex with other women will gratify your appetite ; make you feel that you are a man , The family home has been completed so you no longer need your spouse who has labored to build the house together, the list goes on.

 It is no longer what can we do to maintain what we have built up, instead it becomes you are not good enough for me, I have to complete that family home back in Africa or its either you are married to me, continue to work your life out, provide  and take care of that bill or you have out used your value, in reference to Registered Nurse, it is said that nurses make the most money and are in business so men are encouraged to go for nurses for a wife thereby to secure a money making machine, made to work 24hrs to keep that money coming, pay the mortgage  for that big house, car and keep the family going and take care of that project back home . The husband will proudly assign the duty of a house maid to himself, will proudly agree to take the job as a taxi driver, take care of the home front , at the same time help himself to adulterous life to make up for the horrible hours that wife have to work. The English Man said that you cannot eat your cake and have it. An African man who God has made originally to be the head and culturally believed to be the bread winner, respected by wife, family and community, naturally cannot expect same recognition when obviously he lets his mantle of leadership slip off his hands, selfishly expect wife to hand over that pay check to him (not by mutual agreement), but simply for the fact that he is the man. And expect that the wife will and should not have a say in how the money should be utilized.

The Woman who is making so much money now believes that she is the Head what she says goes, she not only is a lousy housewife who does not keep the family as a home, cooking, cleaning, bringing up children in the way of the Lord; she also works that horrible hours, have numerous admirers and special boyfriend outside her matrimonial home. She even goes to the extend some times to be married woman running after another woman’s husband. Some go to the extend to want to divorce their spouse because it’s no longer happing with him.        

Where are we heading? How is it that a man or woman will sacrifice comfort, good life, health, and travel back and forth to Africa every other year to maintain and keep up the relationship and marriage to a spouse. Go through the frustration of immigration, waiting period, phone calls to immigration office, money spend for an Attorney, countless phone calls back and forth to Africa and after years and years of waiting period the visa pulls through and the spouse  joins,  and sooner than later the spouse who just joined  feels this man or woman is ordering me around or demanding too much from me, refuses deliberately to support the husband or wife  just because other men or women are out there who stands to gain from his or her ignorance and venerability. Unfortunately if  he or she gets entangle with other women or men who has tag themselves as prostitute or the happening ladies/ guys caution is thrown to the wind and Bible aside to quickly abandon spouse and children for another assume better life. The English man says you cannot bite the finger that fed you, he or she not only bites the finger but chews the hand off and in some instances kill the spouse because you want to prove a point and be free, the truth is nothing is new under the earth and all that wickedness will be chasing after the wind (Matthew 16: 26 “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?.).   Africans does this tell your story, oh yes we also have MEN PROSTITUDE WHO DO WORST THAN THE WOMEN.  African way worth men are lazy, uneducated, and IGNORANT OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REAL MAN, real men have wisdom, the fear of the Lord, unbroken spirit of hard work to  care for their family. Not men who will ran around father children here and there, become public broomstick and yes that might be true, but it comes with its consequences, Proverbs 6:32 “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroy himself”. Either way a man or woman who deliberately brings trouble to his or her home will be answerable to God especially for those who went in front of God to take the vow for better, for worst. Proverbs 11:29 says “He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind; and the fool will be servant to the wise”. A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

The devil does not like peace (John 10:10 “ The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy..”, unfortunately when you get entangled with agents of Satan they do all their best to make fun of you “ AS A MAN WHOSE LIFE REVOVLES AROUND HIS FAMILY; you will hear things like you have no life; how can you have fun staying at home; o boy you are missing out on all those  beautiful things; you are a death man;  Nigerian will say you are woman wrapper; they make fun of you, call you all kinds of names; ask you if you are afraid; some will tell you don’t worry I will organize a woman for you no big deal; man no be wood; join the happening guys. This is the devil using men who has sole their soul to the demon trying to get men to share in hell with them.

Where are we heading? how about our royalty to our Maker whom we sought night and day, please God if you do this and that for me…, if you bring me to America I will do a and b…, where is God in all the monstrous act we are committing against ourselves and one another, Exodus 20:2 states “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGHYT, OUT OF THE LAND OF SLAVERY,

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, THE lord  YOU’RE God, am a jealous God.

Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you

You shall not murder  

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor

You shall not covert your neighbor’s house. Where are we heading? The same reasons for which we are here in same reason which is pulling and destroying us, because we are too busy being selfish, James 4:1 “what causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it, you kill and covert, but you cannot have what you want. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Taking the one person that made our coming to America possible out of our life. When you take God out of your life what is left. If you take God out of the equation, your options of true happiness are extremely limited;. ... John 15:6 states “if anyone does not remain in me (Jesus), he is like a branch that is thrown away and it withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

My dear African brothers and sisters, finally I want to use this opportunity to ask that we look inwards ; into the reason why we are really here; not to destroy ourselves, to become monster in the making, killing each other living behind innocent children and bad legacy for generations to come. May God forbid that Men will forget that they are men ‘Heads of House Hold “whose first duty is to protect and lead their families to God. And Women to forget their proper place in the house hold as mothers who should have been full time house wives and not 24 hour carrier women and money making machines. Above all let us remember our Creator the MOST HIGH GOD who choose and appointed each of us to bear fruit – fruit that will last.          

October 1st, 2008.

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" 

We seldom hear Christians use this word these days. But the reality is that the word is not often used because people do not recognize / acknowledge fully whom the Lord is, and the over all fact that God is the one that sustain them through and through.

No wonder, Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel, summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel and remind them of whom God is and how he has continuously made away for them right from the time of the fore facts , everything God did was facts and their was no denying the hand work of God in their lives.

At the end of the long speech, Joshua who understood fully well who God is and all that God is capable of, felt a great need to summaries his speech and put it to the people of Israel, that today, he has decided that him and his household will serve the Lord and it is left for each of them to make their decision.

Seeing the magnitude of Joshua’s statement, the Israelite immediately concluded that yes indeed, it is God that saved and led them out of

and therefore they too will serve the Lord. And Joshua said them not too fast, because he knew that it is a great decision for any one to make to serve the Lord and it comes with a host of responsibilities, which must be taken and kept other wise it becomes less of a blessing for any one that will decide to step in and step out as the case might be.

Joshua reminded the Israelite that God is a holy, he is a jealous God, and He is God of justice who will not forgive their rebellious and sinful ways. Especially after they had tasted of his goodness and decide to turn away from him. Making sure that the Israelite understood what it meant to commit and enter into a covenant with the Lord, Joshua led them into a binding contract which states that God is committed to care and provide for the needs of the Israelite while they in turn will forsake other foreign gods and serve the Lord with all their hearts.

The question for each of us today either as Christians or non Christians is whom do we believe in? Do you know your Lord?

 Have you experience the Lord? And lastly are you willing to forsake all the foreign gods in your life and enter into the covenant to commit yourself /household to God?

 Joshua had no doubt at all about what God is able to do at any given time in his life. He is absolutely sure of God’s power and commitment to provide and take care of his needs both in good and bad times.

What is your decision today? Like Joshua said do not be too hasty in making any decision yet consider carefully whom God is, at most because he is a jealous God, he requires that you give up all the foreign gods in your lives. (Foreign gods is different to each person, it could be what you worship, example riches, material stuff, your husband or wife, drugs, prostitution, robbery, power, etc.). 

IT BREAKS YOU FROM WITHIN (STRUCTURED PRINCIPLES)

AND MOULDS YOU FROM  WITHOUT (ACCOMMODATE SPOUSE DIFFERNCES)

BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GO THROUGH TRANSITION

TO GET  TRANSFORMED

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE TRANSFORMED?

YOU NEED GOD TO ACHIVE TRANSFORMATION IN MARRIAGE

YOU NEED PATIENCE

YOU NEED AN OPEN MIND

YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN SILENCE

YOU NEED TO LISTEN MORE AND TALK LESS

YOU NEED TO LEARN TO ENDURE 

YOU NEED TO LEARN TO “PLAY THE FOOL”

YOU NEED TO LEARN TO LOOK BEYOUNG NOW

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE 

LET GOD CROWN YOUR EFFORT WITH A BLESSING.

Relationships that we enter into can affect our faith in a positive or negative way. In either way it is obvious that relationships affect our faith. Ezekiel 18:3”As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son-both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

As Christians, our fist obligation to uphold our faith is not to walk into any relationship that will affect our faith negatively, we should also be mindful that some people profess that they are Christians but at the end, their actions which is contrarily to Gods commandment speak louder than their believes. Nothing is hidden under the sun, these means that no one person can pretend to be what he is not for too long(Acts 19:13-15, in order words if someone profess that he or she is a Christian, it is only a matter of time.

As a Christian if you get entangle with some one who either is not a Christian or who profess to be a Christian but his behavior proves other wise……….. You should be careful because sooner than later, their behavior will start to rub off on you.

W e must protect our faith by being faithful to the one who has called us.

As a child of God if you get hook with one that always call you names, before too long you will be tempted to retaliate by calling same person names.

If you get entangle with one who says he is a Christian and does not go to church from Sunday to Sunday, very soon you might be looking for excuses not to go to church,

If you get entangle with one who is always telling lies to cover for wrong doing, soon you might be tempted to tell similar lies or worst.

Relationships can either make our faith in God, weaker or stronger.

The question is Are you strongly rooted in the Lord?

What do you do when you see signs contrarily to God’s will? Do you correct it, talk about it, reaffirm your faith in God and pray for strength from God or do you sweep issues under the carpet?

We are told by the word of God that the Word is near us, it’s in our mouth and heart. If we profess “that Jesus is Lord” and believe in our heart that God raised him from dead, we will be saved. However there is condition for this to happen. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ, but of course not every one that hears the word believes. So also not all relationship is beneficial.

Some people have given up their faith because they want to “maintain relationship or give it more time” Example the story of Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:11, shows that Sapphira made her decision to lie along with her husband. Though we were not told what kind of person she was, still she had the chance to be honest.

When in a relationship that might affect our faith negatively, we must try not to destroy our testimony about Christ.

In 2 Timothy 1:5 we see how relationship can affect one positively; we see how a grandmother Lois passed on to her daughter Eunice sincere faith, which in turn is passed from one generation to the other. This reminds us (Christians that Christ has not given us the Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, love and of self discipline). In other words as Christians we can not make excuses for getting entangle into relationship that will ruin our faith in God. And even when we unknowingly find our selves in such relationships, we should be self discipline and on our knees. 2 Timothy 2:15 encourages us to do our best to present our selves as workman approved and does not need to be a shame and handles the word truth correctly.

Finally we should humble ourselves under God’s Mighty hands while standing firm on the word of truth.

1. BE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THE SITUATION

1 Thessalonians 5:18 requires us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Knowing that everything work for good for those that believe /trust in the Lord. God will always glorify himself in your situation because what will mean for evil, God will turn it around for good. We should give thanks to God, knowing that he will never abandon or forsake us. Instead, he makes his grace to be sufficient on to us to pull /see us through all our circumstances.

2. PRAY TO GOD FOR WISDOM & DIRECTION

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One grants you understanding. Wisdom lets us understand the situation that we are in, it helps us put the situation in the right perspective (Proverbs 9:10-11)… Wisdom is life; who ever have it finds favor in the presence of God. Having wisdom means the willingness to walk by God’s will & directions. Wisdom enables you to pursue peace in hopeless situation.

Wisdom teaches you to do God’s will and not your own, it helps you recognize God’s power to redirect your life and restructure your priorities for good, having at the back of your mind that life is short (Ps.144:3).

Wisdom will help you select purpose that has lasting value (living for God). Because He alone can make your life worthwhile, purposeful and meaningful.

3. BE WILLING TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Matthew 5:9 states that “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they be called sons of God. It is very hard to initiate peace in the process of quarrel, especially when you are being persecuted. Again, that is what God wants of every Christian to make peace. Peace is one out of various traits of a Christian. Christians get trialed in various ways and the only way we can escape the evil one is to remain faithful and wise by putting our house in order. Being willing to give peace a chance, means with holding yourself from doing wrong. (Proverbs 4:14 “Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it. This calls for one to be mindful of acquaintances or friends who might lure you to abandon your peace mission and do wrong. While with friends, we should seek healthy skepticism. When you feel you are being boxed into the corner of wrongdoing, you should proceed with caution and not allow your friends or anyone make you fall into sin.

4. FOCUS ON PROCESS OF MAKING PEACE

You have to trust in the Lord in your mission to achieve peace. Psalm 37:4 tells you to delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. . Once you trust in the Lord, He says he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. This means, that so long as you are in the path of peace process, you will be covered and protected by God. You have to turn away from the spirit of anger, especially when it seems your spouse is getting away with so many.

Ps. 37:37 tells us that there is future for the man of peace, this requires us to be patient, humble ourselves and in due time according to (one Peter 5:6) God will change your circumstances.

Avoid acting on quick temper; it is cable of destruction and drawing you away from your mission. Temper is like a wild fire out of control, it destroys everything in its path. It will make you make hasty selfish destructive decision, which will cause bitterness and guilt at the end. Anger in itself is not wrong, but it is the reason behind it and how it is exhibited that needs to be controlled. You need to pray for God’s direction to the right response toward situations (Proverbs 14:29).

5. DO NOT RECOUNT COUSRES OF QUARREL

Words are very strong, they can build or destroy, make or unmake. In already bad situation, recounting or remembering the hurtful words, your partner have said to you will make bad situation worst.

Instead of furthering peace, such words will make you harden your heart. Proverbs 10:19 tells us that when words are many, sin is not absent. The best thing to do in times when you remember the hurtful words of your spouse is to turn it over to God, by doing that, you will end up building a healthy relationship and avoid inviting ruin by retaliating.

Most importantly keep at the back of your mind that, he who guards his lips, guards his life. In seeking peace, you must learn to be self-control; you must control what you say. In pursuing peace, you must stop; think before you say anything, knowing that the tongue is the small part of the body that has the power to destroy (James 3:5, 2 Timothy 2:14).

6. DO NOT DWELL ON WHO IS WRONG AND WHO IS RIGHT

Often in a relationship, we always want to rationalize reasons why we are right and the other individual is wrong. In essence, this means we trust ourselves and believe in the cause we are fighting. Some times that might be the case. For a Christian , Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to lean on our own understanding of justifying our actions but to acknowledge God in all our ways, then will he establish our paths.

Matthew 6:33 states “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these will be given you to you as well“. We are carried away in our situations, fights, quarrels and how to do or fix it ourselves that we completely neglect God. By doing that, things will definitely get worst because we are leaning on our own understanding. But we are told in Matthew to seek first the Kingdom of God, meaning to hand over to God our problem by going to him in prayers , reading his words asking, what He will have us do in our situations, be obedient to him when he guides and direct your paths. That way you will have a sound mind, you will be focus and respond appropriately to your circumstances.

7. BE DETERMINE TO REACH YOUR GOAL (PEACE)

The righteous will never be uprooted. As long as you continue by the grace of God to pursue peace and walk by the will of God, You will be delivered. Your spouse may do or say something that will make you very mad and want to abandon your mission. When this happens, remember to act in wisdom, over look the insult, keeping in mind that only fools that show annoyance at once.

To reach your goal you must put away pride as it breeds quarrel. You have to be able to admit to yourself that you are wrong in areas where you are wrong and ready to accept it and move forward. It is a very difficult thing to do because it requires humility. It is important to remember that each decision you make to live or do right according to God’s word will bring greater sense of order to your life.

To be determining to reach your goal does not mean that you set a time limit on when you achieve your goal, remember that you are dealing with fellow human who have their own emotional, psychological and mental issues to deal with. Above all remember that when it comes to issue of time , “only God have the power to decide” (Ps.144:3) when the dust will settle, meaning you have to keep doing what you are doing, praying, and holding on to God to bring change into your situation.

8. DO NOT RESPOND TO NEGATIVE ATTITUDE FROM SPOUSE

When some one insults or says hurtful words to you, it is natural to respond or retaliate, however you should know better, retaliating would only make bad situation worst. And will not solve any thing, instead it will encourage bitterness, hatred etc. If you must respond, you should do so with kind words in a gentle manner. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.

You should always seek to use words that bring healing instead of using reckless words that will destroy.

9. ACKNOWLEGDE POSITIVE ATTITUDE WITH APPRECIATION

In difficult situations, try to acknowledge positive attitude or actions with kind words. This will cheer up your spouse.

10. KEEP PRAYING /ASKING GOD FOR DIRECTION

It is easy to have a broken fence but takes time and energy to put it back together. When couples begin to have misunderstanding, it takes the grace of God to get back on track. This is the reason why one needs to keep praying , asking and seeking God out to mend the broken heart, give each party involve peace and the grace to seek peace and maintain a healthy relationship(Matthew 7: 7). Some might easily give up in the face of trial and test of Faith but knowing that God does not work with our time, we have to have Faith, follow through in prayers and put into action the peace we seek. While we pray and seek for God’s help, we have to put into action good behavior toward our spouse as God is more interested in our walk with him than in our talk about him, this means doing the Will of God (Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me “Lord Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven“. Moreover, God’s will for us is to live in peace and pursue it.

FINALLY BE OBIEDIENT UNTO GOD’S COUNSEL

Sisters let us pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; applying our hearts to true teaching.

What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world?

And loose his soul.

A dangerous trend is looming around the world and Christians are put in the fore front of these temptation and trend. The world is getting to a serious point of crisis which will detect for survival of the fittest. Man will be hedged on all side, pressed through every angle, attacked from family, by siblings, spouse, employer, employee, church unbeliever believers and the like. Will be a time of chaos.

When man’s source of basic needs is attacked, what happens? Man will be desperate to survive.

These art of chaos trickle down from the Top as its almost obvious in our world, Financial houses are being closed, companies are folding up, Job’s being taken, Houses going on for foreclosures, Sickness, Young men willing to work have nowhere to go; Families breaking, High rate of divorce; Teenage pregnancy, killings, Drugs, etc THESE AFFECTS CHRISTIANS AND NON CHRISTIANS ALIKE.

WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION OF THESE FOR CHRISTIANS?

These create an atmosphere of tenseness and uneasiness, alertness and desperation.

For the unbeliever it becomes intense, the spirit of manipulation intensifies at all cost; for the believer  his prayer life is weaken, the day to day hardship and art of wickedness seem to overtake the prayer less Christian and the urge to throw wisdom to the trash intensifies. The lost of job, foreclosure , credit card debt , the urgency of what do I do ,where do I turn to , what do I do  etc built pressure that sends hearts bounding & the impatience of waiting  defiles the Christian good sense of reasoning.

Serious manipulation in the spiritual realm is going on at this hour.

The spirit of “if you cannot beat them join them” intensifies. This is completely time of trial especially if you find yourself in position to make decision regarding doing right or wrong. Deficit is the other of day, Most CEOS, Directors are on the cliff of tumbling down or out for mismanagement, and  will do anything to remain standing. These highly placed individuals become rude less in the name of protecting their image, good name and keeping their jobs. The question for the Christian is “As an individual what do you do when approached to participate in such dirty games? When approached and asked to help falsify figures, lie or come up with reason to lay off innocent employees that has worked for yrs, what do you do? If you are in school, do you steal answers, cheat to pass, sell question papers? As a mother, to what length will you go to help your child do the right or wrong thing? As a father to what extend will you go to provide for your family, will you steal be dishonest in order to do the right thing? As a young lady what is your challenges, will you sell your body or soul for money? As a young man will you do drugs or steal to opt out for easy way out? As a pastor, will you give false prophesy or throw in the towel and say you have enough trouble of your own?.

These is completely time, an hour of trial

This is an hour to hold firm to who you believe in, your first love, you have to persevere   hold on to your faith.

It is not a time to renounce your faith, or think no one is seeing you or I can help myself.

Each Christian need to keep focus and hide the word of God in their heart, mediate on it day and night. With the Most High God, There is no room for heresy and moral impurity which includes pornography, sexual sin, cheating, gossiping lying etc.

Revelation 2:8 “These are the words of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty- yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and am not, but am a synagogue of Satan

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer, I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days (implication of consequences comes in various forms).

The book of revelation tells us (Christians) to be prepared for hard times, no hard time or suffering is joyous at the time, suffering and pain is part of life and we are bound to go through every experience, make decision in life, decision to remain faithful, not to be involved in all kinds of evil. God has already given himself for our sins to rescue us from the evil age, according to the will of our God and Father to whom be glory forever and ever (Gal 1:4) No one has an excuse to continue to live in sin except for him who chooses to do so and will end up making excuses to justify his action or decision.

As a Christian, you should know that God knows you intimately and has chosen you to be his servant even before you were born (Ps 139); He wants you to draw close to him and to fulfill the purpose he has for your life. However, IT IS YOUR CHOICE. May the good Lord help you and me to resist the devil and all that he stands for?              

True friendship is perhaps the only relation that survives the trials and tribulations of time and remains unconditional. A unique blend of affection, loyalty, love, respect, trust and loads of fun is perhaps what describes the true meaning of friendship. Similar interests, mutual respect and strong attachment with each other are what friends share between each other. These are just the general traits of a friendship. To experience what is friendship, one must have true friends, who are indeed rare treasure.
Friendship is a feeling of comfort and emotional safety with a person. It is when you do not have to weigh your thoughts and measure words, before keeping it forth before your friend. It is when someone knows you better than yourself and assures to be by your side in every emotional crisis. It is when you can sleep fighting and get another morning with a better understanding. Friendship is much beyond roaming together and sharing good moments, it is when someone comes to rescue you from the worst phase of life. Friendship is eternal.
What does the word of God say about friendship: John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Greatest Friend is God
Automatically as an individual you relate in different ways and level with all the people around you whom are your friends, you do this for various reasons. Among your friends you have friends whom you rather will agree with me, are very dear to you, they are there for you in both good and bad times, they know almost everything about you because that is how much close you are with them. You feel that they are part of you. Because they are their when you are climbing up and when you are falling down; they share in your success and failures. They are friends who will cover your nakedness, pick up pieces or what is left of your emotions when you are in your lowest and also very ones who will truly rejoice with you in your time of victory. This kind of friends are very hard to come by however when you do get bless with such friends, they stick with you, your loved ones and family long after you are gone. Your family experiences this friendship which is worth more than gold.
Having talked about what and who a true friend is, there are “so called friends who are worth less than silver”. These friends really are not friends, when they are around you they put up the nicest front, they are not happy when you are happy, they rather see you sad and offer their sympathy while they will go behind you to gossip, put you down and tell the whole world that you are doomed, the word of God says these “friends” tell lies, and you are warned to beware of such people, do not trust them for they are deceivers, they live in sin and deception. They speak cordially to their friends but in their heart they set trap for them (Jeremiah 9:3-6)
The big question is how you know who these “friends’ are and of what use is it to put a distance between you and such so called “friends” All you need to do is quietly and prayerfully ask God to reveal them to you.
Proverbs 13:20 tells us that “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”. Such friends breed violence and down fall, they spend their time planning and plotting evil; we are warned in Proverb 14:7 to stay away from such foolish men, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. Such people only want to use you and move on. They are not happy campers, not satisfied with their own lives or how things are going for them as such cannot find happiness in some else’s success. These friends are worse than enemies.
“The righteous should CHOOSE HIS FRIENDS CAREFULLY, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26.
1. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverb 11:14)

2. “A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverb 24:5)

3. “Every purpose is established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war.” (Proverb 20:18)

Ref: Bible
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-friendship-20-good-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1id9eqNc3
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-friendship-20-good-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1ickFTMJX&h=zAQHXo3lOAQERdMQ2Cmgi0g4KuA-yOGjnl53Pb25kXrQ8yw

WOMAN & CHILD CAUGHT UP IN SENSELESS KILLING. 

PLEASE RISE TO THE CALL TO INTERCEDE.

YOU WILL BE BLESSED AS YOU OBEY.

The time we are in calls for prayers, for intercessors all over the world to rise up and put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms {Ephesians 6: 10-18}.

In our morning devotional today, the Spirit moved us so strongly to intercede for people all over the world that are suffering due to war, religious crisis, natural disaster. To bring it home we imagined the billions of children who have no father, mother, and siblings or has been separated from loved ones due to crisis and what they must be going through. Where they are at this very moment as we prayed, if just wandering in the bushes or in the hands of enemies who are treating them inhumanly, tears rolled down our eyes as we prayed. My six years old son prayed for Children all over the world. He prayed for God’s protection on the children and in his own words, “ God please stop those bad people from being bad, please give food and water to all children”. And we said amen.

I was born and raised in beautiful Jos City, Plateau State the Northern part of  Nigeria. I grew to know the city as a quite and peaceful place, its also known as the home of the tourist, the weather is beautiful and the people are kindhearted people. Christians lived side by side with Muslims and others for years and years past. Unfortunately today as I remember Jos it is a different story my heart bleeds for Jos, above all for the innocent children who are cut up in the monstrous greed, selfishness and attack of the enemy who have resorted to killing innocent children, pregnant women, women and men. Today in Jos people are being killed with knifes burned alive and in the most in human way you can think of.

I felt so broken this morning that I asked God to please renew my spirit, strengthen me to intercede for fellow women, children and people all over the world who are suffering because of God’s kingdom or for the greed of men and women who call themselves leaders or see leadership as something to be taken by force.

 For this reason, I have created this conference phone line and invite all God’s people who are caring and feel a burden in their heart to sacrifice 1 hour of their time every Saturday 6:00am – 7:00am to intercede on behalf of this people especially for members of God’s family.

PSALM 33: 16 –19. No King is saved by the size of his army….; but the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

Mode of prayers

Thanksgiving

 Forgiveness of sins

 Countries where there are war

Psalm 127 :1 state " Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain".

Marriage, in the beginning God made Man and woman and his sole intension is for man to have a companion and to procreate, (Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Verse 21 "So the Lord God caused the man to fall into deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Verse 22 "Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said,

This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man."

If God is the creator, author and fonder of marriage, this is the uttermost reason why all marriages should be led on the Cross-for God to carry it through. The quest for marriage should start from seeking God’s face to direct, lead and match each individual who seek this holy matrimony. Only in doing these will you find bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh? (Big question you should be asking is Oh my God, did I sort God before I got married or did it just happen?). The essence of seeking God before, during and after marriage is as follows

Him alone knows the intent of man both hidden and seen. He alone can match two different people and make that 1+1 = 1. These enables the couple that sort him to shade off the storm and wind that comes with marriage and continue to work bear feet on that rocky mountain which accomplishes that vow taken in the alter before man and God

" (For better and For worst)".

This indicates that marriages should be initiated by mature minds because it is obvious that either way all marriages go through storm and windy times tailored to each couple. The only difference is those build on the solid rock will have direction and a pathway to escape the dreadful monster called divorce or death {as in physical) where these days we see a man kill his wife or a woman kill her husband}.

The purpose of God in creating man is to serve God. So marriage again is not an excuse to neglect your basic reason for being created which is to serve God. Although God stated in the bible that it is good to be single and be focus in serving him, however if you choose to get married go ahead but be warned that when you do get married, you will have a divided attention, because you will spend your whole life thinking and figuring out how you will please your spouse, and dealing with the issues that come with marriage. That is not saying it is wrong in itself in seeking how to deal with daily life situations God just want you to be warned that marital issues can be very very stressful; God forbid you get married to the wrong person or to a selfish individual who only seeks to please himself.

This boils down to recognize that marriage involves two individuals raised differently, with different values, principle, social upbringing, psychologically different, mentally at different level, financially different, spiritually at different level, educationally different, culturally different etc add your list, only God can match a right couple, couple who will be willing to let go of different personalities, give in here and there to accommodate the spouse, try to share in selfless love instead of selfish one. 1 Corinthians 13 verse 4 –7 rightly sums up what love is as follows " love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, It does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." Love never fails. Hellooooooooooooooo as you read on do you see your self in any of this? Because unfortunately the world we live in is filled with the opposite every one doing his own thing.

When a couple go to the alter in front of man and God to voluntarily take a vow and say for better and for worst they will stick it out till death do part, it is not to be taken on a face value, that is why God has said that what he has put together let no man separate.

It takes two or should I say One (1+1=2) to make the marriage work. It takes couple to be on their feet crying out to God to help each party involve to die to self, because till one die to self it is difficult for the marriage to work. When you begin to allow your selfish nature to get better of you, you will be thinking to hell with that woman or man after all, what do I need him or her for, the men will say there are many women out their who will be on their knees to have me helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. If you are a married man / a " Christian" you will be making the first and greatest mistake of your life to allow your marriage to crumble, if it does crumble I don’t care what any one has to say "YOU HAVE FAILED AS THE HEAD". What does that vow say " for better for worst till death do part", forsaking every other, …………. So if as a man or woman you leave your marital home, divorce etc the Word says if you like get married to seven husbands or wives God only recognizes one " the very first spouse whom you willingly took to the alter.

Again all marriages should be led on the cross for God to carry it through, some things you can’t do by your power nor might, you have to only seek God continuously and let him carry it through remember he alone can move mountains.

For couples intending to get married these is for you. For those of you married already going through un believable situations, this all so is for you, remember it is not over until it is over. What ever you do lay that marriage on his cross, don’t let that divorce come from you, and don’t force that spouse stay back, let him or her go, for God works in mysterious ways. Let his will be done.

Show me one Christian who has and never will go through tribulations or trial.
Every Christian go through tribulation or trial at one point or the other in a life time, is this natural? Yes it is natural, for the main fact that Christians live in this world, given the foot step of Adam and Eve in the beginning and the fact that they were driven out from Garden of Eden for disobeying God. That single disobedience makes it apparent for what Christian / any individual goes through or will go through. No one single person can ran away from going through one trial or the other in a life time. God created a perfect world but man messed it up and no wonder God said he regretted creating man. There is no one man who walks the earth can claim perfection because in reality there is no one perfect except God. So long as we are alive living in human flesh, we must each go through something.
As Christians we should know that trials will come but like” the woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come ; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world “ John 16: 21. So is the time of trial or tribulation, at the time, it is painful, uncomfortable, frustrating, and you might go through sleepless nights. However as Christian you are reminded in 1 Peter 4:12 not to be surprise at the painful trial you suffer and assume it’s strange; but be encouraged to rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be over joyed when the glory of God is revealed. If you suffer because you belong to the family of God praise God because the Glory of God rest upon you. The big question you should ask yourself is when you do you suffer, do you sit down to ask yourself, did you  contribute in any way to bring the trial or suffering on yourself? Was it something that could have been avoided?  If yes have you tried to make things right in the most honest genuine way? If you answered yes to any of the questions and have truly committed the issues in to God’s hands, God will surly manifest himself in your situation; no matter how long it takes. 1 Peter 4:19 states “Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do well” Be rest assured that God is able to calm the most furious storm in your life only if you believe.[Matthew 8:23-26]
The world we are living in is good but man has turn it in to a weapon, remember we are told in the word of God that the mind or heart of man is desperately wicket, some people will go out of their way to plan evil for fellow human beings with the intension to make them suffer, however in Job 36:15  we are  told that God delivers his children from their suffering and speaks to them in their affliction ,meaning even when your enemy thinks his won, he is making a great mistake. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Above all having in your mind that Christ died and rose again and for this you have a greater hope for tomorrow because he lives, so you can face tomorrow, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These is so; so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed[1Peter1:6-7].
As Christian you are encouraged to stand firm and rid yourself of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. And like a new born baby crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salivation[1Peter 2:1-2].It is hard very hard to deal with trial and keep a focus mind, remain steadfast in prayer, trust, hope and and have faith in God, without doubting sometimes of what the end will be. Again we are reminded that as Christians we should not be like those who hear the word and allow it to be squeezed out of us by worries of life. Instead we should remember that as branches we are attached to the main vine Jesus Christ in whom there is life and outside whom there is no life what so ever and without Christ we can do  not thing by ourselves. We must always remain in the vine in good and bad times and with consistent prayer we stand a better chance to be victorious against the work and plan of the enemy. That is why we are encouraged to pray at all time because the devil is out their brawling and looking for whom to destroy but as we know we fight not against flesh and blood but against the wicket ones in the high places. Thank God that the battle is the Lord and as a child of God we have been given the secret of the weapon [the weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world, on the contrary, the weapon we use and by that I mean that Christians have weapons which have divine power to demolish strongholds.
 As Christian’s strife not to put stumbling blocks on any one’s way no matter the trial or trouble that you are going through, so that your ministry will not be discredited. Rather as servants of God, you should endure hardship and distress holding on to the  weapon of righteousness in the right hand and in the left so that at the end God will bear his testimony in us.
No matter what you are going through, it might be real hard to bear, sometimes you might seem to be broken, just keep in mind that everything work out well for good, for those that believed in him, don’t let the world tell you otherwise, and that is why it is very very important that you know the God that you serve and truly believe in him as you allow yourself to be filled with his words especially in time of trouble. [Psalm 30 verse 5 tells us that weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.    
   

Mirror, many a times as an adult when you sit to reflect back on your adolescent life, not many like what they see, the kind of life style they lived. Many will like opportunity to redo things differently desperately so too. We know the saying yesterday can never be regained. This leaves many with bitterness, heavy heart, sorrow, regreats and sometimes a scare for life that can never be watched off no matter what.

Some are living in bondage because of the past life or mistakes they made. They battle in their mind of how to move forward, for some it’s like there is no way out. So they end up living a life of un told happiness, carrying a heavy heart, pretending all is well yet masking so well that bitterness that eats at them. For most people this past is a secret which no body must know about let alone associate them with the past.

Does anyone have to live the rest of his or her life brooding over the past? Being held down, chartered or frustrated by what he or she has done in the past? Absolutely not. Show me a Perfect man and you have seen Jesus; Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light". When you are carrying heavy burdens of sin, excessive guilt and weariness, Jesus said you don't have to continue in that, for He is the way, the Light and the Truth. Today He will free you from all that and give you rest, peace and healing. You have to make a choice to have a relationship with God not the type that got you where you are today but a relationship which will change all meaningless toil in your life into a meaningful and productive life.

The devil wants you to believe that you have lived such a horrible life and yes that might be so, but he wants you to believe that you are doomed for life, he manipulates you into believing that you cannot share your past experience with any one least you be rejected, outcast and forsaken. Deuteronomy 31:6 encourages you to be strong and courageous, not to be terrified by the past because the Good Lord will never leave nor forsake you. Jeremiah 15: 19 say if you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me. The Lord said in John 8:12 "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of light of life." Ignorance keeps us from reaching our heights, if you know the truth, it will set you free.

The truth today is that whatever you did in the past is in the past and it should not detect your present or future life........... Even if you entered into covenant with the devil himself, God is able to deliver you from them all to day. Isaiah 58 talks about Sin, Confession, and Redemption “ Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Arise and shine for your light has come, you need to believe that he is able to forgive and when you go to him with all your heart, you will surely receive forgiveness.

Oh that you can pick and choose

Oh that you can pick and choose

Pick and choose anything you want

What a world we would  be living in

Oh that you can pick and choose

The most powerful will choose the best in life

The less powerful will be left with less than nothing

Oh that you can pick and choose

The world will indeed be a chaos

Greed, Selfishness, Ruthlessness will be the other of the day

Oh that you can pick and choose

Will you be where you are today?

Your honest answer; tells the real you. 

                DISCRETION  OR DECEPTION

PROVERBS 6: 32 “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys him”

Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away;”

The Bible is the word of God written by inspired men of God for men. The Lord said that his word shall not go forth or out without accomplishing the purpose for which it is intended. Every word of God is life and breathing and No Man can stop it or put it off no matter what anyone wants to belief or choose to believe. It is amazing that great men and women “who know and claim to believe in the Lord; “Servants of God have allowed themselves to be lured away by sexual immorality “with the word discretion. Forgetting Proverbs 5:21 which says “For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths”.

Sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage relationship and is approved and bless by God only in that state [Ge 2:24] through marriage the husband and wife become one flesh according to God’s will. The physical and emotional pleasures resulting from a faithful marriage relationship are ordained by God and held in honor by him.

Adultery ,sexual immorality, impurity and degrading passions are considered grave sins in God’s sight, since they are transgression of God’s law [Ex 20:14] a defiling of the marriage relationship. Such sins are severely condemned in Scripture PR 5:3, and place one outside God’s Kingdom [Ro 1:24-32; 1Co 6:9-10; Gal5:19-21].

The word of GOD IS STRONG, POWERFUL like two edge sword…………. No man can scoop fire in his lap and expect not to be burned nor walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched [PR 6:27-28]. To fear the Lord is to hate evil.

An act of uncovering or exploring the nakedness of another as long as it stops short of full sexual union is a teaching contrary to God’s holiness and the Biblical standard of purity. God explicitly prohibits having any kind of sexual relations with [literally “uncovering the nakedness of “] anyone who is not a lawful wife or husband [Lev 18:6-30; 20:11, 17, 19-21].

Believers   must exercise self-control with reference to all sexual matters. Keeping in mind that God is a just God. Most time people allow themselves to be lured away for several reasons however, fact remains that no reason is enough reason to excuse any Christian from sin especially to break the covenant of marriage vow which he or she took voluntarily in the presence of man and God.

An Ordain Bishop continuously engaged a lady for sexual acts and sort to have a child outside wed lock by this woman forgetting that every good gift come from God. Yet will stand in front of many every Sunday and preach against adultery, forgetting that God cannot be mocked, probably encourage other young men into such disobedience bragging about his dual personality or should I say “DISCRET”. With God there is no such thing as being discreet for he is omnipotent omnipresence and omniscience. And will reward every one according to his deeds. No one should deceive themselves for God disciplines his sons therefore lets us keep in mind that we are surrounded by great cloud of witnesses, therefore we should throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus , the author and perfecter of our faith.

 FEAR

Psalm 56:3    Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Dictionary meaning : a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Fear is the enemy that slowly and secretly cripes on you. It is your worst enemy, it comes uninvited to remind you of your short falls, over power and torment you. While you allow it to dual longer than expected or welcome, it reminds you  of millions of  ways  that you are Doom or will be doomed if a and z DOES NOT HAPPEN.  It goes on and on, unfortunately if you feed into the terrible lies presented by fears you will completely lost it in no time. It has a way of hemming you in like you have no way out and you are under the mercy of fear.

Fear not only affects your mental state but also impact the physiology of the body and the chemical balance of the brain as well. Fear can easily tear you apart; reduce you to depressed state of mind.

Fear plays out in one’s mind. The impact can be devastating if not thing is done about it. Are you dealing with FEAR right now, ask yourself what does the word of God say about fear?  2 timothy, For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

The human mind is anxious and afraid in situations that are unpredictable. The fear of the unknown can push one off the cliff or make one go crazy.

The word of God is our weapon against fear. Psalm 40:1-3 KJV    I waited patiently for the Lord.  He inclined to me and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. 

No matter what your situation is or the lie of the devil, you need to hold on to your faith, when fear reals its ugly head, you use the word of God to remind the devil of the WORD of God. Psalm 41:10-13 KJV    Fear not, for I am with you.  Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you.  Yes, I will help you.  Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.  Behold, all they that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded.  They shall be as nothing.  They that strive with you shall perish.  You shall seek them and shall not find them that contend with you.  They that war against you shall be as nothing.

Remember that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the wicked ones in the high places, the principalities of darkness and mermaid world.     
Understanding that the word of God is powerful real and comes to pass, gives you an edge over the schemes of the devil and manipulation and freedom from fear. All you need do is use the words of God

Psalm 56:3    Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Psalm 56:11 KJV    In God have I put my trust.  I will not be afraid of what man can do to me.
Psalm 57:1 KJV      Be gracious to me, O God; be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in Thee.  In the shadow of of Thy wings I will take refuge, until destruction passes by.
Psalm 91    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust."  Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the (1) terror of the night, nor the (2) arrow that flies by day, nor the (3) pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the (4) plague that destroys at midday. (Spiritual insight = Prior  4 categories cover all of  God's covenant protection promises.)
A 1,000 may fall at your side, 10,000 at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.  If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, Who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent (house/place).  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all you ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  "Because He loves me," says the Lord, "I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him.  I will be with him in trouble.  I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation."
Psalm 107:6 NIV    They cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”  THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES  GOD IS ALWAYS  PRUNEING US, John 15.             (Isa 29:16, 45:9, 64:8, Jer18:6, Zec 11:13).

A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily (molding Character is a very hard job to do, Pro 31: 10 a wife of noble character, a woman of noble character who can find  )   through rotating on an axle through its center , facilitating movement or transportation while supporting  a  load (mass), or performing labor in machines.

To expand more on a woman of character, supposed to be one with reverent fear of God, filled with compassion for those in need, faithfulness and love toward her family, All though all this attribute might not be found in one person, however, each person is to use the gift, ability, resources that God has deposited in them to serve God (Eph 5:22, 1 Ti 2:15). Sometimes it is easier said than done, there might be obstacles in your way that could make you want to change your mind or completely put you off track or throw in the towel like the English man will say. At that point always remember that you are the clay.  (Ro 5:4,Jas 1:3)

Stability – For unarticulated wheels, climbing obstacles will cause the body of the vehicle to rotate. If the rotation angel is too high, the vehicle will become statically unstable and tip over. At high speeds, a vehicle can become dynamically unstable, able to be tipped over by an obstacle smaller than its static stability limit. Without articulation, this can be an impossible position from which to recover.  Remember that we are on a journey here on Earth and no matter what you are going through or have gone through is not enough for you to forsake God or hide the talents he has given you because you feel your life is over and done with(The Parable of the Talents Mt 25:14-30). You have to trust him with all your heart, with all your soul in good and bad times and He will never leave you nor forsake you. THINGS THAT COULD  TIP US OVER……  SIN, FAITH : WOMAN THAT LOST TWO CHILDREN IN WEDDING

WOMAN THAT WORKED NIGHT ANDDAY FOR YEARS TO SUPPORT FAMILY ALL EARNINGS GONE

WATCH YOUR FAMILY SWEPT AWAY IN NATURAL DESERTER

WOMAN WITH NOBLE CHARACTER WATCH YOUR HUSBAND SLEEP WITH OTHER WOMEN OR ABARDON YOU,

BETRAY BY LOVE ONE.

 , DUTY TO GOD LUKE 16:1-6 ,

THE COST OF DISPLESHIP LUKE 14:28-33.

SEEK HIS KINGDOM AND RITHEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN YOU. IF YOU ARE BEHINDE THE WHEEL BE FOCUS.

 LUKE 16:13 NO SERVANT CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS.

The book of James 1-4 tells us that we should consider it joy when we go through trials of much kind, keeping in mind that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Again I say it’s hard to persevere by our human strength and this is why you and I must remain in the POTTERS HANDS, TO BE REFINED.

JOEL 2:12 God requires us to rent our heart and not our garment,IT is not late, even now he is asking you and I to reurn back to him with all our heart, for he is gracious and compassionate PSALM 51:17.

IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ON THE WHEEL OR YOU ARE THEIR BUT DISTRACTED BY WORRIES OF LIFE, TODAY ITS YOUR DAY. LIKE THE LOST SON ALL YOU NEED IS TO RISE UP AND GO BACK TO THE FATHER,ACKNOWLEGDE YOUR SIN ,HE IS EVER READY TO ACCEPT YOU BACK.

We must believe that we can’t give up no matter what. James 1:12 states “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”.  (1 Pe 1:6, 2 Pe  2:9 2 Th 1:4).Some people want the easy way out remember that narrow is the way that leads to heaven and wide the gate that leads to destruction. In other words it is very hard in the day we live in to see women of faith, who rather will die for the right course. All over the world women are hurting including their children, what will you do, all over the world women are raped, burned alive, watch their suckling   children snatched and cut to pieces, women go through brutal and hideous death. What are you going through? Are going through unbearable situation?  

WE ARE ON A JOURNEY AND WE ARE REQUIEGED TO BE WATCHFUL ANF FAITHFUL BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.

  We will look up unto the hills and our help will come from the   Most high God, the maker of Heaven and Earth. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

We only have one destination, in the potters hand, do not be like those who go from here to there to increase knowledge Daniel 12:4. THE WORD IS WIH YOU, ALL YOU NEED DO IS EMBRACE JESUS

 BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I AM STILL IN THE POTTERS HANDS, ARE YOU?  

EBELE ONWUACHU Coordinator Volunteer Women Speakers www.womenretreat-vcws-us.org. Sept 6, 2011