AND THEY VEXED HIS RIGHTEOUS SOUL

Good day.

Today, I'll be writing about Lot and his family. The story is found in various chapters of the book of Genesis.

 

The first time Lot's name was recorded, he followed his grandpa, Terah, his uncle Abraham, aunt Sarah and others. His father, Haran, died while they were back at Ur and somehow, he was left in Abraham's care. While he remained with Abraham, he fluorished. Infact, he became so successful that his servants started fighting Abraham's servants.

 

Abraham decided that they had to part ways and he asked Lot to choose first. Lot greedily chose the plain of Jordan because it was well-watered. He did not know that the cup of Sodom and Gomorrah would soon be full...He chose based on what he could see. I have heard of pastors who have used this to teach against people leaving THEIR church...It is a misapplication of this portion of the scriptures. Nothing in the story corroborates such lies. However, I'll like to say that if you're changing churches, make sure that it is the Lord, not your flesh that is leading you.

 

Making choices based on what we can perceive with our natural senses ONLY is a sure recipe for disaster. Ask the Holy Spirit about the issue and He'll give you supernatural insight.

 

Lot  pitched his tent towards Sodom but the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. After he left, God still willed the portion he chose to Abraham...

 

First, an invading army captured Lot and his goods. It was Abraham that came with men trained in his household to rescue him. It still didn't occur to Lot that his journey to the plains of Jordan wasn't working out as he thought it would. Sometimes, the battles we're dealing with are because we are in the wrong place. Somebody needs to go and apologize to that person whose help/sacrifices you have belittled.

 

Abraham rescued Lot, his goods, the women also and the people. Lot returned to Sodom. He lived with them for more than ten years, probably did business with them all the while and impacted NONE of them. God and Abraham agreed that if there were 10 righteous people in the land, He would not destroy the land. Amazingly, only 3 "righteous" people (Lot and his 2 daughters) left the land alive. Lot's wife didn't even make it alive; she ended up as a pillar of salt.

 

Lot didn't even minister to his wife...We also realise that Lot had got so used to compromising that instead of standing for truth and justice. He was willing to give his daughters to be raped instead of offering strangers that he took under his roof. He called the sin of homosexuality by its proper name - Wickedness- but I'm not sure I would have followed him ANYWHERE if I was his wife or daughter...He would have given his daughters to ALL the men of the city to do unto them "as is good in their eyes"? Seriously?

 

Thank God the angels smote the men with blindness. Even Lot's sons-in-law were part of the men that wanted to sodomize other men. And Lot's word didn't mean much to them! I'm amazed that God still considered Lot righteous, though...Lot still lingered in the city; the angels had to take him by the hand out of the city...I know it's not easy to leave a place one has "settled" in but if God specifically told you to leave that place; that is the way to go...

 

It is obvious that Lot's righteousness did not rub off on his daughters. Incest meant nothing to them. They eventually gave birth to Moab and Ben-Ammi, the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites...We know the trouble these people gave Israel...

 

It will interest you to know that Abraham also looked at what Lot's wife looked at and did not turn into a pillar of salt...Sometimes, it's not so much about what we do as it is about why we do them...

 

2 Peter 2: 7-8 tell us how God delivered Lot, a righteous man, who was vexed from day-to-day by the depraved conduct of the lawless. Unfortunately, Lot's righteousness could not preserve his possessions, did not prevent his wife from becoming a pillar of salt or stop his daughters from successful executing their incestuous plans...

 

Brethren, just staying righteous in your corner isn't enough. You need to do something about the evil in your land. Ask the Lord to show you how you can partner with Him to oppose the advancement of evil in your sphere of contact.

 

May the Lord help us all as we stand up and join the army of the Lord. Enjoy your day.

THOUGHTS ABOUT TAMAR (2)

Good day everyone.

I'm moving on to Tamar 2. Her story can be found in 2 Samuel 13.

Tamar is the only DAUGHTER of David we learn about. 1 Chronicles 3 suggests that she was his ONLY daughter, though we don't know that for sure. Daughters were rarely mentioned in Biblical genealogies. Don't ask me why, I don't know...Maybe they were trying to save ink and paper, lol. Whatever the case, Tamar was the only recorded daughter of David...It must have been pretty lonely if she was the only royal princess. She may have been really pampered.

 

I wonder what Tamar did to attract Amnon's "love". At least, we can claim that Dinah, the first recorded rape victim in the Bible, left her home in a bid to explore the land. Tamar was raped in her own home by her half-brother...

Amnon had an evil friend called Jonadab. Parents, we need to pray for our kids that they are shielded from evil friends who will give them evil counsel that would truncate their destinies and bring grief to your household. Pray against evil counsellors in YOUR life and in the life of your loved ones. Guard your heart and check every counsel you receive...Evil counsel eventually led Amnon to rape his sister and ultimately lose his life...It is not a joking matter...#BeGuided.

 

I'm wondering why David did not ask Amnon why only Tamar could serve him. Had she become a healer? Parents, be careful the kind of errands you send your children on. I was told of a woman who sent her daughter to go and help her collect money from a male customer who left his house to buy something without holding any money. He told the seller to allow her daughter follow him home to collect the money and she accepted the request. The lady telling me the story said she was in the woman's shop when this happened and after the man left with the girl, she warned her mother NEVER to do such again. I don't know how it ended for the girl but I hope she left the man's house with only the money he owed...Parents, be guided.

 

People, don't lose your sense of judgment in a bid to "Honour your father/mother ooo"...While it is good to honour them, ensure that it is IN THE LORD. Mother/father do not always know best...If they did, Jonadab would have been banned from the palace...Some destinies have been destroyed because people followed their parents BLINDLY...Let he/she that hath an ear hear what the Spirit is saying...

 

Tamar tried to negotiate with a rapist. The girl sef! The door wasn't locked na (Amnon asked the servant to bolt the door after her when he had concluded his evil).  Couldn't she have immobilized him with whatever was in her hand? I don't think God would have minded. Of course, many of us have ideas of what the rape victim could have done in such a situation. The unfortunate thing is that it is MEDICINE AFTER DEATH for the rape victim. It MAY be helpful as a tip for others, though no two rape cases are exactly the same. We need to be sensitive when addressing a rape victim...IT IS NEVER THE VICTIM's FAULT!

 

Annoyingly, after the rape, Amnon hated Tamar exceedingly. See why I had the initial "love" in quotes? It was actually lust, a counterfeit...True love never forces itself on another...Perfect love casts out all fear...Amnon NEVER loved Tamar; it was his inordinate desire for his sister that made Jonadab's counsel attractive and led him to rape his sister. A series of consequences, including Amnon's death, result from this. If you don't kill that inordinate desire, it will kill you! You have to mortify it...Identify the triggers, demystify it and kill it...Even if it doesn't result in physical death, it will alter the course of your life NEGATIVELY...#BeGuided.

 

David got the report of all that had happened. He was "very angry" yet he did NOTHING about it for 2 whole years...People, that matter you "swept under the carpet" is still there, waiting for an opportunity to come out...When it seeps out, it will be deadly! David's decision to ignore this issue almost cost him the throne and his life...Let he/she that hath an ear hear what the Spirit is saying...

 

Absalom heard of the issue...I guess he waited for David to do something about it...When it was obvious that David wasn't going to do anything about it, he took laws into his own hands. We need to be careful when addressing injustice. Two wrongs don't make a right (except in Mathematics, lol). Absalom was trying to right a wrong; it eventually cost him his life...#BeGuided

 

We really need to be wary of people like Jonadab. He monitored Amnon until he died. He was the one that reported Amnon's death to David. Pray that God reveals the activities of the Jonadabs in your life to you and helps you sever every tie with them...May the Lord deliver us from such people. You too, make sure you check every counsel against the Word of God. Your life/destiny is at stake...God will help us all.

 

We never heard from Tamar 2 after this unfortunate story. I think it was bitterness that kept her sad. She became a DESOLATE woman. Why? Many rape survivors have gone on to bless the world with great achievements. It is eventually up to you, dear rape victim, if you'll allow the unfortunate incident make you a desolate woman or if you will rise above it to become the woman God made you to be. I know you feel broken and traumatized; I won't ask you to stop crying. I'll only ask you to make sure you're making deposits into the future as you weep. God will cause you to smile again...

 

Tamar 3 was actually Absalom's daughter...For me, she represents hope of a comeback...

 

Enjoy your day.

HAPPY FATHERS' DAY.

Being a father is more than providing the sperm that fertilizes the egg that results in a baby. A true father is THERE for his family. He covers them spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially etc. He looks out for his family. He does not leave his wife to do it all as a proof of her "virtuousness". A true father is THERE. The memory of such a good man is blessed. His kids remember him being THERE.

This leads me to the issue of single mothers and wives of deadbeat men who recognize themselves as fathers on Fathers' Day. I respect and honour the sacrifices made by these women. If they are truthful and honest, they'll realise that there is a man somewhere that lightens their load. I think that man is the one to be honoured on Fathers' Day. Show him your appreciation, along with the deadbeat/absent fathers. Spend some time to pray for your deadbeat/absent husband (or baby's daddy) instead. Celebrate your motherhood, but definitely not your "fatherhood". Most of all, celebrate your Father in heaven. He is always THERE. He is the FATHER we all can count on! I wish, though, that more energy was devoted to asking deadbeat/absent fathers to STEP UP than what is currently being expended to ask these women not to celebrate themselves on Fathers' Day. I will ALWAYS recognize and pray for such women on both Mothers' and Fathers' Days. They are carrying more load than other mothers. Well done, ma'ams.

To the deadbeat/absent father, you need to step up. Be THERE for your family. Even if your wife is TRULY verbally abusive, be THERE for your kids. You will give account to God concerning them and your wife too. You need to keep that in mind.

To all the striving dads out there, YOU ROCK! Thanks for always being there.

Enjoy the day!

MARRIAGE MUSINGS

Dear Husband,

My observation over time is that the man insisting that his wife is not submissive is usually trying to force a personal, not a divine agenda. Many, if not all, of these men are trying to force THEIR own will down the woman's throat. Some are trying to force their family and friends' opinions on the woman and it is her resistance that is termed unsubmissiveness. Asking your wife to steal, lie, kill or commit any of the "lesser" sins to save your skin is EVIL. You are putting her in a terrible situation.

 

Dear Wife,

It is ALWAYS helpful to learn how to win the battle and the war. If you have to choose between committing sin and saving your marriage, take Option 3. Take it to the Lord in prayer and let Him give you a divine strategy. It is for cases like what you're dealing with that the Holy Spirit was given. He will lead you to all truth.

 

Sarah asked Abraham to put away Hagar - a WIFE Sarah had taken for Abraham. Abraham was displeased with Sarah's "verdict". Did he go around town talking about how unsubmissive Sarah was? Did he insist on forcing his will/desire (which is probably a popular opinion) on Sarah? No, he took it to the Lord in prayer.

 

I guess it will shock you that in that case, God asked Abraham to listen to what Sarah was saying. It will shock many of us how God would judge in what we consider to be "clear cut" cases... I can bet that most counsellors would have told Sarah to go and submit to Abraham but you can see that God did not judge the same way...

 

I'm wondering if God was trying to point out to Abraham that they got to that position because they did not consult with Him before going ahead to marry Hagar. Both Abraham and Sarah were EQUALLY to blame...Neither of them asked God for His will...

 

Esther's husband, King Ahasuerus, was in error. He had neglected his wife and had even approved a plan to kill Jews who had done him no harm. Esther was on the right side but she still needed to be tactful. Many women have found themselves in trouble because they were too focused on proving that they are right.

 

Whatever you do, male or female, don't be so focused on winning the battle that you give the enemy an opportunity to come in and destroy what you're building. Take time to hear what God is saying so you can make godly choices...

 

Enjoy your day.

HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE

"“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

John 10: 1-5

 

Jesus is the True Shepherd and believers are His sheep. If you claim to be a believer yet you do not follow the Lord spirit, soul and body, you are in ERROR! Your proof of discipleship is in listening for the Lord's voice and allowing Him guide you in your decision-making. If you do not consult Him before you take decisions, you are NOT His disciple. Don't be deceived by your "acts of service" or the large sticker at the back of your car telling people which church you attend.

So, how do His sheep get to know His voice? By constant fellowship with the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Let me sound a note of warning that the Holy Spirit will not give you instructions that are inconsistent with the Word. For example, if you're hearing a "voice" telling you to leave your legally married wife/husband, it is NOT the Master's voice. He is NOT an author of confusion.

When your fellowship is constant, you'll be in tune with God's Word and the Holy Spirit. His vocabulary becomes yours.

 

There was a time I was talking with one of my husband's friends. As I answered a question he asked, he started laughing. I asked him why he was laughing and he told me that my response was EXACTLY how my husband would have responded to the same question. That's when it occurred to me that I picked that up from my husband. That's what fellowship does to you. If you keep at it, there'll come a time when you'll have no words/opinions of your own. Everything you say/do will be in accordance with the Word.

 

Stay with the Word and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It will improve the quality of your life and your ministry. It will help you know the Master's voice, no matter what. Enjoy your day.

STILL ON ADULTERY (2)

Good morning.

Some interesting, unverified statistic, is that 99.999999999% of men and women cheat. Assuming it is true, then adultery (and its sister, fornication) is an epidemic and cannot be treated with kids' gloves. WHO needs to get involved.

When marital vows mean nothing to those that made them and others who can see that a person is OBVIOUSLY married (I know there are some children of Belial that hide their marital status but that excuse can only hold for sometime. It has an expiry date), won't sexually transmitted diseases continue unabated? What about children born out of wedlock, who have been statistically shown to be likely to turn out to be not well-adjusted increase? (I know that God's grace makes a significant increase in the lives of these children). What about children who are living with men who are not their biological fathers? The deceit is already making me dizzy, lol.

Frankly, I'm starting a personal fasting and prayer against the spirit that lies to the men and women of my generation that adultery is not a big deal...

I mean, God promised to judge adulterers and whoremongers oooo (Hebrews 13:4) and He has destroyed lands before because of the prevalence of adultery...It is a big deal...

We really need to keep praying for people involved in adultery lest they end up like the proverbial dog that refused to listen to the hunter's whistle. Adultery is a destiny waster.

Adultery led David to murder and the consequent troubles he had to deal with. IT IS NOT A HARMLESS "SIN OF THE FLESH"; YOU ARE NOT SHARING LOVE! It has terrible consequences...

If you are caught in the web of adultery/chaste affairs, it's time to go back home and work things out with the wife/husband of your youth; that's the Master's desire. Justifying sin, whether it is of the flesh or of the spirit is a recipe for disaster. The Father loves you and needs you to come back home...He's been looking out for you for so long...Return home...

You can send me a private message if you'll like to begin this journey back home.

Enjoy your day.

STILL ON ADULTERY

Good morning people.

 

The trending topic on social media according to my research involves 3 celebrities, two of whom are married to each other. Then there is the ex-girlfriend, turned Baby Mama.

 

As usual, the legally married wife is taking the bashing for focusing more on her career than tending to her man's needs. It may not be totally wrong but I have to ask if the man suddenly develop those needs after marrying a career woman. If he knew those needs were pivotal to his very existence, why didn't he pitch his tent with Baby Mama? Afterall, he was dating Baby Mama before he married 'Career Woman'. Is he not in dire need of deliverance here?

 

This is one reason why I'm not into 'forgiving' a man who has already disrespected himself and you while courting. As 'gentle' as I am, it IS a deal-breaker for me. If you 'mistakenly' find yourself cheating on me, please do me a favour and delete yourself from my radar. If it's after marriage that the mistake occurs, I promise to talk to God first before deciding if I want to delete you from my life...

 

As for the "He needed a child as he wasn't getting younger" angle, please read what I wrote about him choosing to marry a career woman!

 

And for those claiming that there is nothing in the Bible asking men other than Bishops and Deacons to be husbands of one wife, please note that there is NOTHING in the Bible asking women to be WIVES of one husband either, so abeg talk another one...:D

 

Adultery IS a big deal. The culprits are the married person that desecrated their vows and the Other Person that offered themselves as the "willing sacrifice" to be offered. Be thankful and fearful at the same time because I'm a believer.

 

Be thankful because the erring members of your bodies may suddenly be required as evidence in a competent court of law, if I was not a believer. Be fearful because I serve a living God who has promised to judge adulterers and whoremongers (Hebrews 13:4).

 

And if like Pharaoh, you are still asking, "Who is God that I should fear Him?" Hold on, you may find your answer in the middle of the Red Sea with your horsemen and chariots. #TheEnd

 

One more thing, people: please minimize how much of your life you FLAUNT. There are people who are envious and will stop at nothing to get what you have. Plus, I'm still struggling to see the value of trying to prove on social media that you are "happily married"...Happily married people are rarely newsworthy and celebrities NEED to be in the news...Let him/her that hath an ear hear beyond what I've written...#TheTrueEnd

 

Enjoy your day!

Political Hephzibah

Candidate A

Elected to the House of Representatives for XYZ state in 1999.  At different times, he chaired the House Committees on education and agriculture.

He was elected to the Senate in 2007. In 2008, he was a member of the National Assembly's Joint Committee on Constitution Review. In 2009, as chairman of the Senate committee on Public Accounts, he initiated and sponsored the Desertification Control Commission Bill. (Which concerns XYZ state)

 

In 2009, he spoke against the proposed ABC Dam. He stated that the other Dams had already reduced water flow drastically, and the DEF River was now the main source of water in the GHI River (located in XYZ state). He said the dams caused intense poverty, increased desert encroachment, migration and conflicts between arable farmers and herdsmen.

Source: Candidate A's Wikipedia page, edited 9 days ago

 

Candidate B

After his two-term tenure as governor of MNO state, Candidate B ran for the office of Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the QRS District and won, succeeding his sister. He was appointed as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and is also a member of the Senate Committees on Capital Markets and Finance. He also pushed a motion in the Senate to end the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria which has been an excessive waste of the country’s national resources. As a member of the Senate, Candidate B has campaigned extensively on health, food security, education and the environment. He was appointed as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and is also a member of the Senate Committees on Capital Markets and Finance. He also pushed a motion in the Senate to end the fuel subsidy regime in Nigeria, which has been an excessive waste of the country’s national resources. His work on the oil industry, has also led him to focus on arguing to strengthen laws relating to the clean up of oil spills. His National Oil Spill and Detection and Response Agency Amendment Bill seeks to ensure oil companies pay appropriate levels of compensation to communities affected by oil spills.

Candidate B has also intervened in the Lead Poisoning crisis in JKL State in 2010, and has supported the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which ensures safe and healthy methods of cooking for millions of Nigerians while conserving the environment through reduced deforestation. He has been a lead campaigner in the areas of desertification and climate change in the Senate and across Nigeria. Candidate B sponsored a motion on the floor of the Senate to end Nigeria’s fuel subsidy regime. Other motions and private member bills he has sponsored include the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Amendment Bill 2012, which was aimed at putting a halt to oil spills in the Niger Delta, the Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill 2012 and the Climate Change Commission Bill 2013.

Source: Wikipedia page for Candidate B, edited 12 hours ago

 

Which of these candidates would you have voted for as Senate President if you were given the opportunity to vote and why?

 

Enjoy your day.

A STORY OF THREE PRODIGALS - THE YOUNGER SON

"And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living."
Luke 15: 11-12

I'll talk about the famous prodigal today. I wonder why he was bold enough to ask his father to divide the inheritance and give him his portion. Whatever his reasons were, it is obvious that he believed that there were more opportunities in the far country.

He made his decision based on the current situation. Don't make permanent decisions because of your situation that is subject to change (If you think this statement justifies remaining under the same roof with a person that has threatened to kill you, I pray that God will open your eyes of understanding and helps you get help QUICKLY!).

Maybe the father had his shortcomings; maybe his brother was a douch to live with. Many times, our situation only seems terrible and hopeless because we've bought into the illusion that the grass is greener on the other side. Like someone rightly noted, the grass may truly be greener on the other side but it's because someone is actually watering the garden. Green grass doesn't just happen by chance; it requires effort. I agree that in some cases, the best of efforts wouldn't yield the desired results because the soil type isn't cut out for grass. Sometimes, you need to try something else other than grass. Sometimes you need to walk away but please don't walk away unless you can honestly stand before God and tell Him you gave it your all.

Whatever fortune you left your covenant relationship for, dear prodigal, WILL be wasted in the far country. After that comes a MIGHTY FAMINE that will cause you to fall behind and be in want. Even when you force yourself on a citizen of the far country, who gives you employment, you will still hunger. Believe me, things won't work IN THE LONG RUN when you've broken covenant and left someone hurting.

In the far country, no one gave the prodigal ANYTHING! I'm sure he looked hungry enough but NO ONE had compassion on me. At some point in my life, I was in such pain and NO ONE showed me the compassion I thought I'll get after telling them my story. I had to go back to the Lord to ask Him if I was living in the FAR COUNTRY. Since I was ready to listen, God showed me areas where I had made SELFISH choices that led me to the FAR COUNTRY, though I hadn't left home physically. I cried in repentance and the Lord healed me. The relationships soured by my SELFISH choices are slowly being restored and I'm trusting God for perfect healing...

Thankfully, hunger helped him come to his senses. He finally realised in the FAR COUNTRY that what he took for granted at home was not available in the FAR COUNTRY. He may not have had his father's attention the way he wanted it but he had his father's provision. His experience in the FAR COUNTRY made him appreciate what he had back at home. You don't have to have horrible experiences, though, before you learn to appreciate what you DO have. A good number of those you relate with have good intentions but YOUR unrealistic expectations may be clouding your judgment.

Thankfully, hunger led the prodigal son back to his covenant relationship with his father. Some, when they came to themselves, thought their case was too hopeless so they relocated to a FARTHER COUNTRY! Some stayed put in the far country and died there...Please, prodigal, return home. Someone is praying and trusting God for your return.

The attitude of the prodigal son when he returned home humbles me. He didn't go back home with a long list of the areas where his father/brother/servants etc failed him thus justifying his SELFISHNESS. He ACKNOWLEDGED his sin, sought forgiveness and was ready to become a servant. It was the father that graciously restored him back as his son. Some prodigals return home EXPECTING to be treated as royalty. It doesn't always happen that way. Some prodigals had to be "servants" for a while before the "stander" could trust them again. Please remain committed to the healing process. Dear Stander, begin at this point to release your hurt and pain to the Lord so that when your prodigal returns, healing will be faster.

Enjoy your day!

The story of the three prodigals is found in Luke 15:11-32

A STORY OF THREE PRODIGALS - THE FATHER

"And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living."

Luke 15: 11-12

 

I'll like to talk about three prodigals. There has been a lot of focus on the son that asked for his inheritance and wasted it. I'll like to focus on the father in this post.

 

My first question was - Where was the wife/mother? I am asking primarily because she was amazingly silent. I do believe, unlike many others, that men can raise kids "alone" just like women can, if they have to. Just like single mothers, single fathers can rely on women in their support system to raise kids. There is nothing in the woman's DNA that makes her more likely to succeed as a single mother than a man would succeed as a single father. That excuse of a man remarrying an EVIL woman because he needs a WIFE to help him raise his kids doesn't fly, in my opinion. Please feel free to share your views on this.

My next question to Dad is this - "Why did you divide the inheritance just because the son asked?"

I believe the father could have probed further to understand the ROOT CAUSE of the request. I'll soon give my thoughts on why I think the son made the request. I think a little probing from the Father may have saved them all the heartache. I think he could have learnt was the real issue was and improved his relationship with his TWO sons.

 

Interestingly, the father did not go looking for his son in the far country. He stayed in his lane and let God bring his son back to him at the appointed time. I believe if you've explored every godly avenue to keep the prodigals from leaving and they still choose to go, LET THEM GO! If the relationship is God-ordained, HE will work things in your favour and will bring them back at HIS appointed time. Stay in your place of assignment and let God deal with the prodigal. If God (not your emotions) is leading you to seek the prodigal in the far country (like Hosea), please do. If not, stay in your lane. Just make sure that it is God, not your emotions or the opinions of (helpful) others that is leading you.

 

The father did not stay paralysed in one place while the younger son was away. He wasn't in an infirmary or broke or whatever when the son returned. He continued running his business and his household. Someone trusting God for the return of a prodigal needs to hear this. Pray for your prodigal but please, don't stop living. THEY made the choice to leave, YOU don't have to stop living because of their selfish choices. You can cry when you miss them but please don't let them come back and find you either in the same state they met you or in a worse condition...KEEP MOVING!

 

While the younger son was away, the father still kept watch. I doubt that he spent all day sitting by a window, waiting for his son to return. However, he still looked at periodically. You need to still keep watch for your prodigal. You can choose a time daily to pray for your prodigal.

 

The father celebrated his prodigal son's return. He showed his son that the love he (the father) had for him (the son) could cover a multitude of sins. I don't believe the prodigal son knew his father's love was stronger than his sin while he was in the far country. When God brings back your prodigal, you need to let them know that your love is stronger than their sin (which they should have repented from and FORSAKEN). If they are still continuing in the sin, they are still PRODIGALS! It's not yet time to celebrate. They need to come back to their senses and return "home" before any celebration can start. If they are still justifying their selfish choices, they are still PRODIGALS!

 

The father was sensitive enough to observe that his older son was not so excited about his younger son's return. Thankfully, he probed this time. The older son's response is the basis for my conclusion on why I think the younger son left in the first place. I think the father did not share his heart with his sons. Neither of them knew the extent of his love for them. One of them rebelled and left home; the other one served harder in order to gain the affection he desired.

 

I'll end with a message first to fathers (biological and non-biological) and then to all of us. Fathers, let your children know that your love for them is unconditional. If your love is conditional, you need to let God work on your heart. You are a manipulator if your love is only available when your children meet your conditions. If your love is unconditional, you need to communicate that. Your words and actions will let them know if you love them for who they are OR for what they do. This does not mean that you shouldn't discipline them when they err; just let them know when you're disciplining them that it's a love-based action.

 

To the rest of us I say, ensure your love is unconditional. If your love is conditional, you need to let God work on your heart. You are a manipulator if your love is only available when the other person meets your conditions. If your love is unconditional, you need to communicate that. Your words and actions will let them know if you love them for who they are OR for what they do. This does not mean that you shouldn't stay in an abusive/one-sided relationship; just let them know that their actions are hurting you. If you can't take it anymore, let them know when you're leaving that it's a love-based decision. Let God guide your decision to stay or to leave.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

The story of the three prodigals is found in Luke 15:11-32

Hephzibah on Prayer (Part 4)

I'll continue with my Bible Study on prayers.

BV004 2 Samuel 15:31

Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness."

 

Commentary:

Here we read about David's prayer when he was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators.

Ahithophel was a human being blessed with so much wisdom that when he spoke, it was as if one had heard from the Lord. Subtly, Ahithophel had taken the place of God in David's life. Instead of seeking God's face, David had inadvertently made Ahithophel his oracle.

Anyway, imagine how David would have felt to find out that a man that he trusted so much was among those seeking his life. Unfortunately, in life, some of our so-called 'backbones' do not have our best interests at heart. We are only tools of bargaining to them.

Some people will learn that 'Ahithophel' is amongst the conspirators and they'll be praying that God will change 'Ahithophel's mind so that he will become their backbone again. I don't believe there is wisdom going that route but you don't have to agree with me. If God has graciously revealed the character of the conspirators to me, I'll be praying like David that God should turn the counsel of such conspirators to foolishness....

 

Let us pray

Dear Father, Lord, turn every "Ahithophel’s counsel" against us into foolishness. You frustrate the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. Lord, we declare that no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises against us in judgment is condemned. Show us your mercy, deliverance and salvation, in Jesus' Name.

 

We pray for our nation (whatever nation is yours) that only those that love her peace and prosperity will prosper therein. Every noble that is practising wickedness is exposed, disgraced and the wickedness of the wicked comes to an end in Jesus' Name. Every "Ahithophel" gathering against the Lord's annointed in our lands are exposed and disgraced, in Jesus' Name.

 

Enjoy your day.

STILL ON CHOOSING WORDS CAREFULLY

Good day.

I was on a motorcycle a few days ago. As we were on our way, the rider had a call. His body language indicated that he didn't want to pick the call but he had to. Thankfully, he parked the motorcycle to receive the call. I wasn't in too much of a hurry so I decided to wait for him to finish before continuing the journey.

As he brought out the phone, his first comment was "Olori buruku yi tun ti pe" (This unfortunate being is calling me again). I was shocked! As he conversed, I realised that the person he was talking to was his wife.

 

As we continued the journey, I asked him why he referred to his wife as an unfortunate being. Apparently, the wife forgot the key to the house where she went and had been pestering him with phone calls to come back home quickly and let her in. Obviously, the pestering was getting to him. He hadn't worked much all day because it rained and she wanted him to stop work and fix her mistake. He claimed that the next day, she would be the one shouting at him asking for money.

Since it was the man I had access to, I told him to stop using terrible words in reference to his wife. I told him that as the priest of the home, he had to speak what he wants to see and that though I don't expect him to leave his job to attend to his wife's whims, I expect him to accommodate her weaknesses and manage her properly. I believe he listened because I saw his expression soften.

 

Dear husbands, please live with your wife according to knowledge. You were the bridegroom at the wedding. You have to tend your garden. The first thing is to commit to praying for her daily. Then you need to appreciate her and her efforts. When she isn't acting right, point it out to her gently and lovingly.

 

Dear wife, be careful of little foxes that spoil the vine. If I had access to the man's wife, I'll have told her she was acting like a brat. SHE forgot her key so SHE had to wait PATIENTLY (not disturbing him with phone calls) till he got back home (I'm sure the husband of a patient woman won't keep her waiting, though). I'll also have told her that shouting at your husband and telling the whole world that he didn't give you "chop money" is a quick way to destroy your family. When you are not handicap (And many handicaps are making waves, please). This is a good time to quote Proverbs 14:1 "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1 (NIV)

 

Enjoy your day!

MOVE FORWARD...INSPITE OF THE TEARS

Dear Friend,

It's so easy to get caught up in whatever challenge you may be going through and you end up becoming a grouch that everyone avoids. I'm not asking you to pretend there are no issues. I'm not even asking you not to cry. Cry, if you find it soothing. However, don't get paralyzed in one place because of pain.

 

Naomi and Ruth were in pretty much the same position. They were both widows. Naomi was a bit better placed because at least she was with her people. Thankfully, Ruth was practical enough to realise that they arrived Bethlehem at the time of harvest. She could have joined Naomi in the 'pity party' and missed the time of harvest. When you're too focused on your challenges, you will miss opportunities that abound around you. Then you may try to glean when it's past harvest time and you'll have missed both the supply and the "Boaz".

 

Feel free to cry as you go about doing what ought to be done, even in the midst of the pain. You won't be the first to do that.

 

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126: 5-6

 

Take the next God-ordained step; watch God move and beautify your life. You will testify, in Jesus' Name.

 

Enjoy your day!

MANAGING FAMILY MEMBERS

Dear Husband,

If you expect your wife to satisy EVERY request from YOUR family members, YOU are in error.

It's great for your wife and your family members to get along. However, YOU, sir, have a huge part to play. YOU need to LEAVE your father and mother and CLEAVE to your wife.

Let your family know that you respect your wife and you expect them to show her respect too. I agree that your wife also needs to accommodate your family members but that is not the focus of this post. Please, sir, CLEAVE to your wife; that is God's instruction.

Dear Extended Family Members,

No matter how much you love your son/brother/cousin, your respect for his wife is a very important component of that love. His wife is ONE with him. You can't claim to genuinely love him and hate his wife. You are being economical with the truth...

Dear Wife,

Respect your in-laws and address their legitimate concerns. Let your husband address their irrational requests. If he is not manning up and establishing boundaries with his family members, take it to the Lord in prayer and let your husband know (as respectfully as possible) that you consider the requests from his family members to be irrational. Then, let God lead you on your next steps.

If your family members are the ones (subtly) causing problems, please read what I wrote to husbands. Don't let your family members overtly or covertly destroy your home. They will be the same ones to mock you when their works yield fruit. #‎BeGuided May the Lord bless and keep our homes. May He open our eyes to the areas each of us need to address. May we be humble enough to acknowledge our shortcomings/sins and allow God perfect His work in us, in Jesus' Name.

Enjoy your day!

Hephzibah on Prayer (Part 3)

I'll continue with my Bible Study on prayers.

BV003 1 Samuel 8:6

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.

 

Commentary:

In this case, the people of Israel asked Samuel to give them a king. It wasn't really Samuel they were displeased with; it was his sons. Just like it's not GEJ per se, but those that surround him (Okay, I'll stop, lol).

Essentially, the people of Israel wanted Samuel to by himself terminate his own appointment as the leader of the people (Why is GEJ the face showing in my imagination instead of Samuel? Lol).

Obviously, Samuel was displeased. However, instead of making inciting statements that would lead to bloodshed, he prayed to the Lord. We all know that God granted Israel the "change" they asked for but He warned them about how the king they asked for would oppress them...

On Samuel's part, he told them that he would not sin against the Lord by seizing to pray for the people of Israel, inspite of their obvious rejection.

 

I pray for Nigeria that this "change" we've clamoured for is a positive and transformational one. I pray that God will work everything together for our good.

 

Happy new month. Enjoy your day.