Challenged Worshippers

Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1 from verse 5) were old and had no child. Despite their challenge though, they did not stop their worship of The One True God. Neither did they halt their service to God. Humanly speaking, they could have decided to turn back from following God since it seemed He wouldn't even give them a child of their own.

I am really challenged by the life of this couple. They had a serious challenge but they didn't cave in. Their faith in God was rock solid. Their faith was not dependent on physical circumstances. They loved God irrespective of what they were going through.

One thing of note is that both husband and wife were upright- Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations (Luke 1:6). It was not only one of them that was seeking God. They both did. They both faced God squarely. They were sold out to Him. They did not boycott their duty posts in the name of being challenged. Usually, in our world today, once a wife is unable to conceive (like it was the case with Elizabeth), you will see the wife going from mountain to mountain to pray. Many men, instead of joining forces with their wives, look for alternative routes to getting "their" own children, leaving the wife out of the equation. This should not be. Zechariah and Elizabeth's marriage was balanced by their relationship with God. They did not focus on their in-abilities. Instead, they faced the Able God squarely. They served Him with all their hearts. They served faithfully. And punctually too. They did not backslide because of the challenge they were faced with.

I don't know what challenge you are facing right now. Neither do I know what is going on in your family. I am here today to encourage you to hold onto God firmly. Do not let that situation (temporary) snatch Jesus away from you. Let your confession be that "Even though he slay me, I will yet praise Him" Keep the faith. Remember, God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. He owes no man. Keep depositing in your account in the Bank of Heaven. You will be amazed at the interest that would have accrued on your deposits by the time God decides to pay you back. God is a God that acts on time. God seeks your pains. In due time, He will show up for you. He is with you nonetheless. Never forget that.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:6).

Shalom!

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

The Results Of Your Association

My attention was drawn to some flower plants in our compound some days back. There were two of them, different species, planted beside each other but with the same flower. I kept examining the plants out of curiosity. I was so surprised because I kind of know that one of the plants was not bearing the flower it was expected to. The flower is original to one. The other plant was simply "infected" by the "domineering" plant.(Don't even begin to ask me about the science behind this occurrence. Lol) I caught the lesson God was pointing out to me though. And it is simple: Your association definitely have consequences, positive or negative.

If a goat continually flocks with a dog, it will eat faeces (a Yoruba adage). The people you associate with can cross-pollinate you with whatever they carry on their inside. They either infect you with their evil or inject good into you. It's one thing or another. We are like permeable membranes. Things pass through us and into us. Our relationship with people or things have certain ways of gradually affecting us.

If a wife beater is your best friend, you are at risk of becoming one too. If you are friends with a drunkard, soon you'll be mixing some alcohol with your soft drink and probably become a pro at drinking alcoholic drinks without dilution. If your friends are being pimped, soon you will be a victim too if you don't separate yourself from them. If your friends see nothing wrong with pre-marital sex or adultery, if care is not taken, you begin to get comfortable with what they are doing.

Your antennas must be very sensitive. Be at alert always. The devil wants you to fall at all cost, so, don't give room to the devil by being in close relationships with people on the path of destruction. As humans, we have weaknesses. Other people's weaknesses could lead to our own fall. Everyone is a potential tool to trigger your fall. Always remember that fact. I think preparing your mind with this help us not to let our guards down. We need to be watchful and vigilant AT ALL TIMES.

I once read/heard the story of a hunter who once brought home the egg of an eagle. He allowed a hen to hatch the egg along with her own eggs. The chicks and the eaglet grew together. The eagle will run with the chicks and it will hop with them. It had lost it's essence. It never knew it had the ability to fly high. And not only that, to soar too. It wasn't able to maximize its potential because of its association. In short, our environment has a way of influencing who we become or how we turn out in the long run. If you walk with crawlers, the tendencies are high that you will also become a crawler. If you move with flyers, you will most likely become a flyer too.

Your Association Leads Either To Your Dissociation or Appreciation!

Watch out!

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

2015

Waiting For Perfect Conditions?

Someone who is afraid to step out in faith is a disaster to himself. Your actions could be likened to you waiting for snow to fall in Maiduguri, Northern Nigeria. It won't happen. (Well, with God nothing is impossible, but literally, . . .) You say, "No wedding till I have 5 million naira in my personal account, my personal building, . . ." -tall order. "No business till I have ten million naira in my account." The exhortation for someone today is to stop waiting for perfect conditions. You will most likely not achieve anything that way.

He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We usually have to start from the base of the ladder and expected to climb up to the height designed for us. It is faith at work in us when we tell God, "I cannot see a boat on this river but at Your Word, I step in". The attitude of a winner is that which does not despise the days of little beginning. It is so sad that many people want to start their journey at the top of the ladder. They therefore keep procrastinating taking the steps they should.

If God is telling you to launch out into the deep, simply launch into the deep. If He tells you it's time to get married, wait no longer. If He says it's time to start a course, go for it. Do not miss out on God's timing for your life. Do not allow fear deprive you of the good that God has in store for you. Your current status has absolutely nothing to do with what God is making of your life. This is a phase. A phase that will pass. God can bring so much out of nothing. He is The creator. He specializes in doing the impossible. Trust Him to give you a safe landing at the end of your journey.

May God strengthen our faith in Him in Jesus' name!

Have a great week ahead!

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

Invest In What You Want

As I read the book of Proverbs 27, I found something really intriguing. I remember my mother always asking me when last I had called Dr This, Pastor That and Professor This-That. She would insist that I keep in touch with people who had been good to me in the past.

Here is the verse I'm emphasising on today:
Take care of a fig tree and you will have figs to eat. Servants who take care of their master will be honored Proverbs 27:18).

You seek help through someone, and you have not even called to welfare the person in two years. He/she had a celebration or negative experience which you were aware of but you didn't bother rejoicing or mourning with him/her (I was actually guilty of an incidence recently). How do you expect him/her to even remember you. When there is a job opening in his company, the probability is that your name might not even pop up in his mind. I have come to realize just how easy it is for busy people to forget some people.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that you should shift your trust from God to man. I am only saying that you can only reap what you sow. If you care for others, you will be cared for. If you show concern for others, concern will be shown for you too. You want to tread on cool ground, pour some cold water ahead of you (it's a yoruba adage that I don't seem to know a better way to interpret. Lol)

Have you seen this too?
A gift opens doors for the one who gives it and brings him into the presence of great people (Proverbs 18:16 GWT).

And it is not only those you seek help from that you should be good to. Be good to all. Be good without expecting them to repay you. You might not even reap directly from where you have sown. Keep sowing via the broadcast method. You will definitely not miss your harvest.

Begin sowing seeds of kindness today. Show mercy. Sow what you wish to reap.

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

Don't Turn A Blind Eye

As I was searching the scriptures this morning, my eyes got stuck on Proverbs 24:11-12»
Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?

God's instruction to us is to be our brother's keeper. We are to love others as we love ourselves. I am very sure that if you were to be in some sort of trouble, you will utilize every resource at your disposal in fighting your way out of the trouble. You will call out for help from those you believe can help you.

Please, one of the ways of being our brothers' keepers is by fighting for justice on their behalf. Don't keep quiet when a colleague or anyone as a matter of fact, is being unjustly punished. Don't ignore the cries for justice of those around you. If you have the means to deliver them from the shackles of their oppressors, please don't leave them to suffer unduly. When God blesses us with resources- financial, intellectual, social, etc, it is for the good of our neighbours and ourselves. And who is your neighbour? Anyone God allows to cross your path is your neighbour.

Another very important light through which I see this scripture is calling out to those on the path of destruction. If you see a sister or brother marching towards danger, do all you can to save that person from danger and herself or himself. When you see someone trying to dive headlong into a pit, talk to her about it.

Show pity. Be compassionate. When we look through the Scriptures, we will read, "Jesus had compassion on the crowd" severally. Jesus is very compassionate. One day, He was passing by and saw a widow mourning her son's death. What did Jesus do? He was moved with compassion. He could have said, "I was not invited. It's none of my business". But He didn't do that. He got involved in her business and brought joy to her. He empathized with her. He felt her feelings.

Don't put up an "I-don't-care" attitude when you are supposed to speak out or warn someone about approaching danger. God will ask us. Posing in an "ignorant" standpoint is punishable. Do all in your power to rescue the perishing. Plead with them to come back from the fast lane of life on which they are. Call out to the unsaved. Tell them about the imminent danger of not accepting the Saviour's love. Jesus is merciful. Care for the hopeless. Mourn with those who mourn. Whatever position we find ourselves in, we are placed there to minister life to people around us.

Be your sisters'/brothers' keeper!

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

Maybe It's Not Your Fault

Usually, when men decide to stray out of their marriages and back down on their marriage vows, the next thing people say is, "Woman, you must have driven him out by yourself." They go on to say that it must be because she is not patient with him enough. Or that maybe she is not dressing properly or that she has grown fat. Some even assume that it must be because she is not sexually exciting.

Alright, let's face the fact. It is true that some women could be involved in doing some things that could lead to the man wanting to seek solace outside his home. I still want to say categorically that some women cannot be held responsible. Some women actually bend over backward just to please their husbands. They do the 'monkey banana pose' (don't even ask me what that means). They are busy from morning till morning, all in a bid to please these husbands. They won't talk back at their husbands. In short, these women are just near perfect. But their husbands still cheat. Now whose fault is that?

Yes, do a proper scrutiny. Check yourself through the eyes of God. I mean, let the Holy Spirit examine you. Once He passes you, you are free from guilt. Stop taking the blame for what you are not even responsible for. All you can do for him is to pray for him. And keep doing the good that you have been doing. Protect yourself. Love him. He needs help. Believe that God will bring him back home. But please, don't kill yourself before he returns.

I pray for every family where a spouse is into adultery, that God will heal these homes in Jesus' name. Father, help the cheating spouses retrace their steps home. Help them repent from their sins. Help them seek to honour You by keeping to their marriage vows. Let every spell be broken. Let peace be restored. Let Your love for each other be deeply sitted in their hearts. Help the cheated spouse forgive the spouse who is cheating. Let there be divine restoration in Jesus' name.

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

God's Timing

God's plan for His Son, Jesus is ordered. Everything happened at the exact time God had purposed. Nothing happened before or after the purposed timing of God. Many Bible references support this. Jesus Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners, when we were completely helpless. It was at God's time, the right time, that God sent Jesus to the world. (See Romans 5:6, Galatians 4:4, Ephesians 1:10, 1Timothy 2:6 and 1Timothy 6:15.

Jesus was not even going to die before the appointed time. They tried to get Him arrested but no one was able to. Why? His time had not yet come. He successfully slipped away from the grip of those who wanted to hurt Him at that time (see John 7:30). However, when His time came, they didn't even have to struggle to get Him. Everything just fell in place. His betrayer was at work at the right time. Everything occurs just at the proper time. God knows why this timing is important and someday, we will understand.

We must trust God's timing for our lives. Let's look at some instances in The Bible where timing was of great essence.

* Pharaoh was tormenting the Israelites. God showed up for the Israelites by bringing different plagues upon the land of Egypt. Despite the pain, agony and anguish the Egyptians were going through, Pharaoh did not bulge. He would not give up on frustrating the Israelites. The simple reason for this was that God was not yet done showing His great power to the enemies of His people and the Israelites themselves. God has a purpose for everything.

But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. . .When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” (Exodus 7:3,5)
The LORD had said to Moses, “The king will continue to refuse to listen to you, in order that I may do more of my miracles in Egypt.” (Exodus 11:9 GNT)


* Lazarus' story (in John 11) is another story that clearly shows how important timing is to God. Jesus received the news about Lazarus' illness. His two sisters, Mary and Martha had sent word to Him. They expected Him to come right away and heal their brother. Jesus however did not go at that time. He waited two more days before going to see them. There was a greater miracle in the pipeline. God's glory was to be revealed in a bigger way than just healing the sick. God was going to reveal His resurrection power. It was an opportunity to build up His disciples' faith. I am sure they must have seen several sick people being healed by Jesus Christ. But you don't see the dead come back to life everyday. It was also another opportunity to bring many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We all know that raising the dead is a big deal compared to healing the sick.

*Joseph became Prime Minister at the appointed time though he received the promise several years before the manifestation. He was being proofed and tested, he was being prepared for the greater glory ahead of Him. He had to face shame, ridicule, slavery, . . .in order to develop godly character in him

There is no mistake in God's deeds. He never commits errors. He is ALWAYS right on time. Wait for God to rescue you and place you in safety. He is a faithful God. Wait for His favour. Don't try to run ahead of God. Wait for God's timing with patience and alertness.


Do you know what I remind myself about everytime? There is time for everything. And God makes all things beautiful in it's time. If something I desire is not happenening for me, I simply tell myself, "It is not yet my time. When my time comes, no stoppability can stop my God."

When God is ready to do what He believes His best for you, he does not need permission from anyone to bless you. He will break protocols if need be. God makes everything beautiful at the time allotted it for blossoming. If the time is not yet ripe, you will just keep giving yourself unnecessary headaches if you do not trust God's timing for your life. God has good plans for everyone of us. These plans will only come to be, though, at the time He deems best.

Remember, “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

God's time is always the best!

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola

It's A New Week...

Let us pray!

Father, we thank you for this beautiful day, the start of a working week. We praise You for who you are in our lives, homes, work and all. You are faithful Lord. Great is your mercy towards us. Mighty are You Lord.

Thank You for all that You have been to us and done for us. Thank You for salvation, healing, protection, provisions, promotions, safe deliveries, journey mercies, guidance, deliverance, . . .

We declare that this week shall be a week of peace.
The lines shall fall in pleasant places for us.
We shall not lack any good thing.
The hand of The Lord is upon us for good.
Favour shall attend our ways.
Our paths shall draw fatness.
No evil shall befall us.

As we go to the polls in Nigeria this week, let Your will be done. Choose for us leaders after Your heart. Leaders that will work tirelessly for the good of this nation.

Thank You Father for hearing us in Jesus' mighty name we pray!

What Makes A Man Wise?

Wisdom is defined by a dictionary as understanding what is true, right and lasting and acting upon it.

I'll like to talk about a man whose name could have been interpreted as confusion, from the sound of the name he was known by. But he was by no means confused at all. Confucius, a Chinese teacher and the most famous philosopher was born in 561BC. His full name was Kong Qui. Due to the turmoil and injustice he saw, he set himself to develop a new moral code based on respect, honesty, education, kindness, education, kindness and strong family bonds. His teaching later became the basics for religious and moral belief and life throughout China.

Confucius identified 3 ways to learn wisdom:
1. By reflection» this is the noblest way of acquiring wisdom. When you reflect and meditate, you have great tendencies of learning wisdom.

2. By imitation» this is the easiest way of learning wisdom. If you are up for the easy way out, just look for a wise person, copy and paste his ways. Jesus is the Wisdom of God. You see that God really loves us and really does not want us to be stressed out. The disciples were called Christians in Antioch because they were "imitators" of Christ. This is the best way ever. Imitate Christ through His Words. Imitate God (Ephesians 5:1). We can have mentors too. Like Apostle Paul said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

3. By experience» this is the bitterest way to learn wisdom. This way, you launch into the forest without any map per se. There are no road signs that would help you take caution. Well, I don't seem to like this way.

*How To Gain Wisdom

God makes a man wise. He is the custodian of wisdom. Here are some things you must do if you want to be wise:

1. Be a seeker of the truth» You must remember that wise men still seek God. The 3 wise men sought the King of kings (Matthew 2:1-2). God's Word is The Truth that one must seek if he must be wise (see John 17:17). Seek to allow God lead you by His truth (Psalm 25:5).


2. Fear God» The fear of The Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). If you want to be wise, fear God. It's a simple equation.

3. Cultivate the mind of a beginner» Do not despise the days of little beginning (Zechariah 4:10). The wise is ready to start from scratch. He knows well enough not to build the roof of his house first before the foundation. He lays a solid foundation for his life. He builds on the Chief Cornerstone- Jesus.

4. Think first and talk later» A wise person is swift to listen but slow to speak. The way Jesus handled the case of the woman that was accused of adultery in John 8 verses 1 to 11 depicts great wisdom. He didn't talk much. The little He spoke drove the point He had to make right home.

5. Read and study» You know the saying that "If you wish to hide a treasure from a black man, hide keep it on the pages of a book"? The wise must learn to read and study. They dig deep into Scriptures. Study to show yourself approved unto God (see 2 Timothy 2:15). When you are sure of what God says, you won't have to bow your face in shame.

6. Be Humble» It is wisdom to be humble. Because you don't want to be debased right? God despises the proud. The haughty is simply a fool (see Proverbs 16:18). I came across this quote:
"Be humble for you are made of dirt. Be noble for you are made of stars."

7. Learn to recognize your faults» Take responsibility for you errors. When you fail, face it. Don't ignore your issues or mistakes. A wise person faces his challenges head on, looks for the way out of the pit he has found himself and marches forward. Adam and Eve refused to take responsibility for their actions and I think that's the dumbest thing man ever did.

8. Uncomplicate your life» Slow down. Do not become the 'jack of all trade and the master of none'. Whatever you do, do it well. Joseph and Daniel were known for interpreting dreams and they were really good at it.


9. Ask questions» It's fine to be inquisitive. Ask questions about things you do not know or you are not sure about. No one knows everything. So, do not even try to act like you do. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Using a dull ax requires great strength,
so sharpen the blade.
That’s the value of wisdom;
it helps you succeed (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

Benefits Of Wisdom

1. A wise man will always stand out. Uniqueness is his first name. One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town! (Ecclesiastes 7:19) How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things (Ecclesiastes 8:1a). Wisdom makes a person likeable. It removes sternness from his face.

2. Wisdom gives secret knowledge. Just like in the case of Daniel and Joseph. They were privy to information beyond the knowledge of any other person in existence. Or who knows the dream someone else dreamt if not a wise person? Someone in whom The Spirit of  God lives.

3. Wisdom makes you experience inner joy which radiates on the outside. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness (Ecclesiastes 8:1b).

4. Wisdom changes the inner disposition of a person. Wisdom changes the disposition of the man that possesses her. He does not have the mind of a mediocre.

Wisdom is profitable to direct. . .

~OMOSEBI Olushola

Testing! Testing!!

How do you know that a brand of tea is really good? You dip the teabag in hot water. How can you be sure that your faith is growing? You've got to be tried and tested. Tried by the fire of adversity, lack, delay, failure, etc. When you write an examination in a particular class, it's an opportunity to move to the next class. Your promotion however depends on your passing or failing the exams.

Troubles are exams that we must write in life. Life is full of the bad as much as it is full of good. Everyone has the shoe pinching them in one way or the other. One common thing is the "pinch". The variability exists in what area of life the pinch exists. Each one of us have our customized crosses that we must carry daily. Many people want testimonies without being tested, well, that's the wrong order. The tests must come first before you can have a testimony. You cannot say that you have passed when you have not even written an exam.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4)

We can be compared to gold. Gold goes through the refiner's fire to remove impurities. The gold becomes more and more beautiful as time passes in the furnace. Our strength is increased in the furnace of trials. Many people fail/fall at the point of adversity because they have not gathered strength prior that time. They chicken out because their hearts have not been circumsized. They have not been proofed by trials. They have been shielded and 'breastfed' all their lives. They have not practised cracking bones, all they eat and can digest is milk. They run away from every hard nut. Always looking for the easy way out. Always running away from tough challenges. Anyone with that kind of attitude will not grow.

We must face out challenges head-on. Or have you ever wondered why there is no armour securing our backs? I perceive it's because we are not permitted to turn our backs on the battles of life. Our motto must be: No retreat; No surrender. We endure the rigours that come with trials. We march forward into battle with the Lord going before us. Our faith in God gets more and more grounded. We get promoted from one 'class' to the next. And the cycle continues as we move on. We are being prepared for the phases yet to come.

I have heard of people testify of how calm they were in the face of serious troubles. They had that deep-sitted faith in God to settle their cases. Their hands must have been trained to battle. They had grown in faith as their endurance threshold increased.

You can get to that level too, and beyond. Hold on tightly to the promise of God never to leave nor forsake you. Endure you test period, it'll soon be over. Examinations don't go on forever. There's always a duration. Be prepared by feasting on the Word of God. Acquire strength from God's Word, for the journey is far. Build up your faith through prayers. It's the way to perfection.

Testing. . . It's a continuous process.  

We shall overcome in Jesus' name.

~OMOSEBI Mary Omolola