A Lesson About Burdens...

A few days ago I found myself reading Matthew 11:28-30 and from it flowed powerful revelations from God. I wrote the lessons I learned in prayer form and so I will share it with you straight from my prayer journal. The lessons are too beautiful not to share with you.

Let’s read Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) together:

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (Emphasis mine)

"Dear Father,

In Matthew 11:28-30 You have asked me to come to You with my burdens and my weaknesses so that You will give me rest. So that You will teach me Your humility and gentility and exchange my burdens for Yours which is light and which fits perfectly. Please lift my burden of ill health, worry, earache, migraine, academics, and every other burden. Teach me what You desire to teach me. I want to learn from You. Please give my soul rest and take all these burdens. I surrender them to you oh God. I give them to You. Help me not to worry about my future, but to walk into it with You. Give me rest oh God, give me rest. How can I run this heavenly race carrying the burdens of this world? Oh God, take these burdens and give me Your yoke so that I can run this race effectively in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Oh God, you cannot work in me or teach me with these burdens taking my attention. Even from your word, it is after I come to You with my burdens that You begin to teach me. Therefore oh God, take my burdens and give me Your yoke so that You can work in me. In Jesus’ name.

I do not want my burdens to get in the way of what you want to teach me oh God. I surrender every burden to You. Take it Lord Jesus. Take everyone of them. “…Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle…” Ah Baba Your word! Your word! Because You are humble and gentle, teach me dear Lord. Only You are the embodiment of perfect gentility and humility… two very vital attributes for a teacher… a teacher who will not condemn me, a teacher who will gently lead me beside quiet waters… teach me Lord! From now on You are my teacher. I refuse to learn of anyone but of You. And as I have laid these burdens at Your feet, may I not pick them up again. Give me the grace not to oh Lord. For Your word says in John 8:36 that whomever the Son sets free is free indeed. By Your grace I am free from worry and all the burdens accompanying it. Give my soul rest oh Lord. In Jesus’ name, AMEN."

Dear friend, I don’t know what burdens you are carrying now. But I want you to know that there’s a place for them at the cross. You have been given an invitation to ‘Come’. Exchange your burdens for His. Let Him teach you and give your soul rest. The question now is, will you come?

In Christ,

Ishanpepe. 

(Images from Google Search)

Liebster Awards!!!

Hey everyone! *picksupmic*

Yay!!!!!! So I got nominated again, but this time for the Liebster award. *doingcartwheels* Thanks to a dear friend and fellow blogger as well, Mfon Etuk. You should check her blog Dainty M (www.daintym.com). She truly inspires you to live a victorious life! Thank you sister girl. ©

The Liebster Award is a great way to encourage other bloggers and get to know them more. J

So here are the rules:

1.      Post the award to your blog

2.      Answer the nominating blogger’s ten question interview

3.      Nominate 3-10 other bloggers with fewer than 3,000 followers whom you want to encourage

4.      Create ten questions for the new nominees

So here are Mfon’s questions for me:

1.      What was your first blog post?

My first post was titled Extravagant Love (www.misspetiteishanpepe.blogspot.com/2013/01/extravagant-love.html?m=1)

2.     Describe your happy place

My happy place is whenever I’m busy doing the things that I love, wherever. Photography, eating, reading, praying and studying the word, gisting.

3.     What challenges have you faced being a blogger?

Erm.. well.. I’ve faced the challenge of getting so busy and forgetting to write on a regular basis, I sometimes have the challenge of not having what to post or knowing what to post but not knowing how to pen it down. Another challenge is building a reader base for my blog.

4.     What’s your favorite food?

Hahahahahaha… *drumroll* Pounded yam and egusi soup!

5.      Who supports your writing the most?

Well… a couple of great people God has blessed me with! Isaac Hassan, Ruth Manzah, Mfon Etuk, George Ntor, my mom, Ejiro Juliet, Blessing Bonat, Magdiel Habila.. To mention a few. Thanks fam!

6.     What is your favorite Bible verse?

Hebrews 10:35 – “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

7.     Who is your favorite musician?

Heheheheehehehe… no one in particular actually. It changes as time goes on.

8.     Describe your blog in one word!

Truth!

9.     Apart from writing, what other skills do you have?

Event planning and management, photography, computer skills (loooooool)

10. Movies or novels?

Novels all day, erryday!!!!!

That was fun!!!! Hehehehe..

And so I nominate the following bloggers for the Liebster Awards:

§     Stacy TBD from www.omolora.wordpress.com

§     Frances from www.imperfectlyperfectlives.com

§     Karen TBD from www.okundayorsthoughts.wordpress.com

And here are my questions for you:

1.      Why do you write? Like honestly.

2.      Mention 3 goals at the top of your list for 2016

3.      Rice or beans?

4.      Do you know your spiritual gifts? If you do, what are they?

5.      What’s your favorite meal?

6.      Your favorite color?

7.      Your favorite book in the Bible?

8.      Do you like travelling?

9.      Would you rather do laundry or wash dishes?

10. What skill would you like to learn if you had a chance?

Answer up!!!!

Have a good weekend everyone. *dropsmic*

In Christ,

Ishanpepe. 

Monday Night MuSINgS... 18-01-2016

Hello!

Its Monday again! Oh how time does fly!!! Thanks for joining me as I muse tonight before dreamland begins calling. J These past two weeks have been eventful! A lot of different things have happened, both good and bad, but in all I have seen God’s faithfulness! I wonder how your own past few days have been. Sweet sour experiences I presume? Do not be dismayed, I bet you will see God’s faithfulness if you look really closely.

Well! Here are some of the key lessons I have learned these past two weeks:

·       Time spent with God is never wasted. I must make it my priority to spend time with Him daily.
·       Like a child who worries for nothing, I must learn to leave myself in God’s hands and trust Him to take care of me. He will not allow me to be stranded and His peace will rule my heart.
·       No man can meet all my expectation or fulfill my desires. Only God can!
·       Trials, temptations and hard times are meant to build me up as a soldier of Christ Jesus.

·       The wonderful thing about the Christian life is that no matter who you are or what you’ve been through, Jesus Christ invites you to freely come. No restrictions or conditions. Just come as you are. And thus this hymn comes to mind: “Jesus my Lord to Thee I cry. Unless thou help me I must die. Oh bring thy free salvation nigh, and take me as I am. And take me as I am, and take me as I am! My only plea Christ died for me, oh take me as I am.”(Eliza Hamilton)
·       Prayer is the greater work… I must spend time in on my knees praying for the work of God to bear fruit in the lives of others.
·       I must live with eternity in view. This world is not my home.
·      Yesterday I spent time praying and studying the word and God spoke to me through Matthew 11:28-30… one of the things He spoke strongly to me about was that He is inviting me to come and receive His rest. He’s calling me to COME, and exchange my burdens for His. Thing is, will I answer the call?

And that’s it for tonight. As always, I pray you learn a thing or two. Have a blessed week ahead.

Sleep tight!
Ishanpepe.

Monday Night Musings... 04-01-2016

Happy New Year to you!!!
Thank God for life. Today is Monday and yes, I know Mondays are crazy days,  especially the Monday after a long-short holiday.  #yawn
Oh well,  we must remain thankful for the busy and not so busy days.  It's a new year and I know the trend is to make new year resolutions that most likely won't survive January 30th. Hahaha.  I'm not saying don't make resolutions,  but all I'm about is that,  we need not wait until the start of a new year to make changes in our lives.  Every day is the start of a new year for us.  Don't wait until the calender turns to a new year..  Changes should be made as the need arises.  All I am resolved to do this year is take one day at a time and follow God's direction.  And so!  Unto some of the many lessons I have learned this past week.

1. The first daily miracle we all experience and must never take for granted is the miracle of the breath of life.  That you are breathing is a miracle on its own. 

2. Love what you do,  do what you love. 

3. Don't compare yourself with others.. Everyone of us is on a different path of life..  Stay focused on finishing well. Don't be distracted by the progress of others.  You have your own journey to undertake, and remember you will give account to God.

4. Don't rush into anything without taking time to seek advice,  pray,  read extensively about the subject and pray!

5. Don't sow bad seeds..  You will reap it. That's just the plain truth.

6. Your love shouldn't be restricted to words alone... Act it.  Be generous,  share,  sacrifice,  let others feel the warmth of God's love from your life. 

7. Be careful who you pretend to be.  You might just forget who you are.

8. Trust God's dealings in your life..  He knows exactly what He is doing.

9. God can use my trials to work good in spite of the pain they may bring.  Trials can be God's road to triumph.  I must believe that God will use my trials to encourage the faith of others. "Because of my chains,  most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." (Philippians 1:14)

10.  God is unchangeable..  Our "changedness" (if that's a word) cannot change Him.

Well, like always,  I hope you learn a thing or two. 
I wish you a fulfilled year ahead, there's still more land to be conquered, but you gotta step into what God has given you.
Night ya'll.
Zzzzzzzzzzz....

Ishanpepe.