Difficulties...and Lessons

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 – “I think you ought to know dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And He did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that He will continue to deliver us.”

http://www.gates96.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Slide1-608x456.jpg

We all have gone through one difficult hardship or the other; each one varying in character and time duration. But the point is, we know what it is in to be a hard or difficult situation. Life is full of ups and downs and it will not always be rosy. I believe this post would be an encouragement to your heart and to mine all over again.

I have come to realize over time that just one single Bible verse can hold so much valuable truths for life, talk more of three verses. As usual, I would just be sharing what God has taught me from His word. I hope you are blessed as you open your heart to receive.

• Hardships and painful moments teach me to trust and rely totally on God.
• In difficult moments I am helpless and overwhelmed with sorrow but I can rely on God during such moments.
•  God has power to raise the dead and therefore He is able to lift me up in such difficult situations.
• Relying on God means handing over the situation to Him and choosing not to worry about anything because He is in full control. At this point my knowledge is null and void.
• God is able to turn things around. When I may feel like I’m not going to survive a situation, when I rely on Him, He turns it all around.
• Life and death are in God’s hands. Because of this, I can rely on Him.
• God’s power never dwindles; He delivered His children before and even right now He is still in the business of delivering His children from danger and hardship.
• “…He will continue to deliver us.” God’s deliverance has no limit. It is continuous, consistent. Thank you Lord. This is another reason why I can rely on Him. He will never fail me.
• Jesus is life. When I feel like I am near death, His life is sufficient and available to strengthen me.                        
• Relying on mySELF will just lead me to destruction.
• Since God is so powerful, why doesn’t He prevent such experiences from coming my way right at the beginning? He allows me experience such situations to prove His power. To prove and expose my helplessness and my ultimate need of Him.
•  Without God I am NOTHING.
• God has a reason for everything and therefore He allows me experience harsh experiences for a reason.

http://i.imgur.com/uwoUDNr.jpg

Dear Lord,

I give my hardships, difficulties, overwhelming pain and discomfort to You. I ask You to please take control of them. I choose to rely solely on You and no one else. Turn things around for my good. I am helpless and I need you. I am nothing without You. You have delivered before, You are able to deliver now.

“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

Oh for grace to trust Him more!

AMEN.

In Christ,

Ishanpepe. 

Seasons of Planting...

Psalm 126:5-6: “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”

Dear Friend,

I hope today’s post holds a word for you.

I am currently writing exams, and it is almost becoming a nightmare for me. As a law student, I have so much to get into my head; sections of the constitution, criminal law provisions, contract act provisions, philosophical arguments and so on. Sometimes I just want to throw my hands in the air and give up. In fact on some days I have shed a few tears of frustration… we all have our days where we just wanna give up… it is a part of this life, but once there is life my dear, there is hope.

The verse above reminds me that in my own situation, the time and effort I am investing in my education are all seasons of planting… and how I plant greatly determines how and what I will reap! The season of planting is a painful one. This is where the digging, hoeing, clearing of the field, planting, weeding and watering takes place. This is the period of backbreaking, exhausting work. But the harvest! It is a joyous season. The harvest comes after the planting. The harvest is the reward for the painful season of planting.

http://www.elementschiropractic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/yardwork-pic-300x168.jpg

In the verse, there is a guarantee (“…will harvest”) that when I plant in pain, I will reap with joy. Therefore, the planter plants with the aftermath in mind. He or she knows that there will be a time of rejoicing after the pain. After the tears come the songs of joy.

https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAZrAAAAJDhlNzBmMGZhLTEyZTgtNDQxOC05YmNhLTZiYjBiOWEzYzUzYg.jpg

The season of planting is not a forever something. It will surely come to an end and the way I plant determines how my season of harvest will be like. This season of planting for me (education/exams) is not funny. It is exhausting and backbreaking work. But I must look forward to the joys of harvesting what I have planted. This season will not last forever!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7538/15302724574_4b2a6f283d_b.jpg

Father,

Help me to be strong in my Spirit even though my body is weak… this education of mine… it’s wearying me, tiring me, it is hard work. I need Your grace to keep planting… to keep sowing, to keep investing. Help me not to throw in the towel and give up. Help me to be steadfast and resilient even when my eyes are filled with tears. Help me to look forward to the joys of harvest and to be encouraged. Give me grace Lord. Give me strength, give me patience even in this season of planting. I choose to keep planting. Remember my tears and give me a good harvest.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

I hope you are encouraged dear friend… keep planting… it will definitely be worth it in the end!

In Christ,

Ishanpepe

Jara O, na Jara!

Good morning from here!!!

First things first, I really have no idea why the post has some weird background on the font, but please just manage biko. 

*clearingthraot* So! I hope you have been blessed by our last two writers. Today's writer is a childhood friend of mine, Miss Dorcas Bitrus. *drumroll* 

To be honest, I never knew she could write like this ooooo..... I'm not yabbing you Dorcas, but i'm proud of the woman you are becoming. 

Happy reading guys!

"Either God is deaf, or God is deaf. Because on our own part really we've done everything. We have claimed, we have acquired in the spirit and beyond, we have captured, we have snatched and all what naught.

I wonder why the whole world is not wealthy already. Especially we in Africa and my dearest Naija. I mean I marvel at the ivory bronze irony (I literally just made up that expression, forgive me Profs). There are secret revealing books, key(s) delivering seminars, power packed empowerment services, Impartation services, wealth transfer anointing services and oh don't get me started on all the visions and prophecies we have bent our tonsils over from screaming amen to receive! Oh the folly of mankind!

When the wealth of the world is like the crumbs that has fallen to the floor, why are we busy chasing and claiming wealth especially the 'wealth of the wicked'? It's like a prince ducking under his king size table to grovel with the dogs for the crumbs that fell from the feast atop his table. It makes no sense at all. The crumbs are his, obviously but so is the feast ON TOP of the table why should he want crumbs?

I used this analogy to help clarify what Christ says when he says to seek first the kingdom and all other things will be added to us. It's like get your priorities straight. You know when you buy garri in the market and ask for jara... If your're asked which is of more worth to you, the garri you bought or the jara added, it's pretty obvious.

Wealth is one of the jara's of the believer. It's not the real deal and not what is absolutely important. And since God is good and gracious to both the sinner and saint, he decided to hand the jara to those who cannot afford to and are not entitled to the real deal. When beggars beg, what are they given? 'The main the main' or the extra? So you see the dangerous trade when a believer's heart is totally focused and consumed with trying to gain wealth? (note that I said TOTALLY consumed)

If you see an unbeliever boast, the high point, the peak, the pinnacle and the crown of all his boasting is that he has wealth and power in this world. I picked interest (Debbie can you believe this) for some reason in Nigerian circular music of recent (for the sake of definition, let's say it was for research purposes...lol and also I live in Benin now so really I'm immersed in them everyday). The trend is clear as the blue skies....money, sex, power. Half those guys that are singing these songs are in an over extended stage of puberty really. Pray for them, the light hasn't come on for them yet! Their boast is so sleek and shallow. For the sake of your sanity and to ensure a maintained level of maturity, biko listen to spiritually uplifting songs.

But have you seen a believer boast tho?! It's other worldly! So outta here! He boasts of living for eternity, he boasts of being heir to a God...the one true God. He boasts of being a dead man walking and doesn't bat an eyelid while saying that. You need to listen to one of my favorite Trip Lee songs 'brag on my Lord' (old but woke as ever!)

Look as a Christian you're a mystery to the world. They can't get you. They don't understand why you have the audacity to do some of the things you do. Like it's just not done, so how dare you? That's why a man married to his pretty bride of 21, will leave his country and home of comfort and come to Africa to translate the Bible from English to some Stone Age language. I mean who does that?!

You need to understand that at 21, there's some thing much more important than owning an iPhone, an iPad, and what ever i's Apple is yet to enslave us with. Youths, take a mission trip. Don't wait for the church to organize it. Meet up with a few friends and just go.

Wait lemme even check this girl's profile sef...which school she go? Where she dey work? Oh wait oh....So madam, you're a broke youth corper sef and you're here busy writing how we should not desire wealth? You never see money before na in make! And you never suffer before, na because you dey see food chop every day abi? na Bible I wan chop?! Anyway no be your fault, your papa don dey feed you tey tey! Ajebo pikin, abeg shift make I hear word. Lol.

To be continued."

Brag on My Lord - Trip Lee

We don't wanna waste our time braggin' on small pleasures, you know? 

We wanna brag on the greatest treasure

So go ahead Trip...brag on

Okay...let me brag

[Hook]

Can I brag on my Lord?

Go and brag on 'em Trip (x3)

Let me brag on my Lord

Yeah he's hotter than fires

We roll with the flyest

He touch me and I kinda change like he's King Midas

He rolled with 300 way before Leonidas

He hold me down, I call him Your Highness...Get it?

I heard other faith groups

Talkin' 'bout they were the lightest

But the Father's portioned to Christ

He's gotta bias

He never does it quite the way we think

He's got surprises, our eyes is

Focused on him so we fired up

And we wired

He took us out the dirt

Grimy muck and the mire

Addicted to his grace

And I call him my supplier

Then we call him Most High

Cause ain't nobody higher

King Jesus we not sleepin' on him

All nighter

No He's not Elijah

Greater than Jeremiah

He's the best

Hear the crowd screaming from the risers 

Been workin' for eternity but never been hired

He's on his Brett Favre

You can't make him retire

(Brag on Him)

I'm still goin' can't quiet us

The Light of The World, nobody's brighter,

I try to 

Emulate his walk, I ain't original I strive to 

Copy his style, I aspire to be a biter

You can't make us turn on him for prizes

Or bribe us

Check his power mayne

From his love you can't pry us

Not even with pliers, so please don't even try to

If loving him's a crime, then indict us (I gotta brag)

Hook(x2)

Brag on...

Brag-brag on my Lord(Go and brag on em Trip)(x4)

Go and brag on 'em Trip (x3)

Thank you for this piece Dorcas. May we desire God more than silver or gold!

In Christ,

Shanpepe.

References:

http://genius.com/Trip-lee-brag-on-my-lord-lyrics

www.haikudeck.com (Image)

A Heartfelt Plea from a Future Mother...

Hi Everyone! Long time no see. Hehe. Pardon me oh. *handsonhead* Chai. In my last post I mentioned that I will be featuring a number of writers whose words I deem relevant to be shared with other wonderful people like you. 

Today's writer is Miss Epangelia Kiamu, a dear friend and sister of mine who's heartfelt plea caught my attention on Facebook. It is a short but very important message for present and future parents. Read up!

"To all parents; single parents, married parents, grand parents, guardians and anyone responsible for raising a child or children between the ages of 0-10 with special emphasis on 1-5 years old, to you I send out this heartfelt plea.

God has given you the responsibility to raise a good and decent human being, please take that responsibility with extreme importance. For you are not only raising a child, you are raising an entire generation. Stop being so irresponsible in your duties to these children. That's how some of you people are uselessly raising bad children who would now come and mingle with those whose parents used blood and sweat to raise them into great adults and be causing havoc up and down the place.

Tomorrow, beautiful innocent well raised children like my adorable niece here would now be so unfortunate to interact with or worst fall in love with your terribly raised ill-mannered adult who's parents were too damn lazy to raise them well.

See let me tell you, heaven would hold you responsible for the lethal weapon you produced and let lose on society!!!

In other news.... My niece is just simply the cutest thing ever. Love her so much. And I thank God that our family have been instrumental in helping her mother to raise her. She'll grow to be an amazing woman. A jewel and blessing to society. So help us God.”

‪#‎StarNeliaKiamu

‪#‎RaiseYourChildWell 

‪#‎SaveSociety

‪#‎SaveSomeonesChild

And I say Amen! God help us all. We are responsible for the precious lives God has given us or the ones He will give us. May we not be found wanting. 

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

In Christ,

Shanpepe.




(Images from Google Search)

Forgiveness Sets Free!

Hi everyone!

Over the next few posts, I will be featuring a number of authors that have blessed my heart with their writing and whom I believe will bless yours too. Today's story is authored by a dear friend and brother of mine, Mr. Ugochukwu Ogbonna. He is an upcoming Christian author who is slowly becoming a master of short stories. I will not go on and on... Just read up and be blessed!

And one more thing... Spread the word. If this post blesses you, please share the link. Everybody needs to know.

So here goes....

Story, story! Stoooorrrryyyy!!!! Once upon a time...

"Simi looked resplendent as she was driven to church. It was her wedding day and she could feel the nervousness around her, she looked out the window and just thought how far she had come through in life. The car came to a halt, as she began her dismount from the car. She was smiling from ear to ear when she looked up and saw him, again.

I had grown up in the best family. My father loved me so much and my mum had always been there for me; until mum gave birth to Jide, my younger brother. Jide was a charming child and would always raise his arms to be carried by anyone; in fact, one could hardly resist his appeal. One year into Jide's birth, we discovered he had Down's Syndrome. Immediately, Papa, as we called him, changed his attitude towards us all. He would come home late, drunk in other days and would completely lock himself up in his room, shutting us all out. Jide would crawl up to his huge feet wanting Papa to carry him and toss him in the air, but he would shove him away and disappear into his room. He was always antsy around Jide. Whenever Jide was scared or unhappy, his eyelids would flutter in fast motions and he would twitch. You hardly see tears fall off his eyes.
More often than not, we would hear Papa screaming at mama, blaming her for everything that went wrong in the house. Papa was my best friend because I could remember he gave me piggy-backs, he took me horse riding on my fifth birthday and anytime he came back from work he'll tickle my sides. I really loved him. But he had not smiled at me in a long while. He abused Jide mentally. He would mock on his stuttering speech and would punish him severely when he made mistakes. Papa was embarrassed about him.

I loved Jide with the whole of my heart. When we went out to play, some kids in the neighborhood would imitate him and he will just flutter his eyelids and walk away. He didn't understand why he was like that. I had promised to protect him from such people and I had on many timed gotten into fights with other kids in a bid to protect his interest. There was only one person I couldn't protect Jide from; Papa. He would pick Jide up, alone in the room and leave him there till he falls asleep. Mama would just cry because she too couldn't do much to protect him. I began to loathe my best friend. 'Maybe he's not my dad' I thought.

Few years later Papa brought another woman in and in the following weeks kicked us out if his house. That day mama cried as if someone had died. Jide was twitching and that was the first time I saw a tear slip off his big brown eyes.
Things became very difficult for us. We had to change our school to the one mama could afford. Mama had arthritis and it got worse to the extenct if being confined to a wheelchair. We lived in a single room apartment for ten years if my life. I had promised myself to become someone great in future and the fact that I harboured a deep hate for my father was a booster for me to achieve my goal. I would be an engineer and train my brother.
I hated men. I would frown when it was a male teacher that taught in class. I would not greet Nonye's father even when he blithely greeted me. I had fought with Paul, that boy that tried to remove a bug from my hair. I would not even sit beside boys in class because I perceived they were yet to grow into men who were brutes. I saw men as wicked beings. I had locked Everyman in my heart and had thrown the keys into the Atlantic Ocean; except Jide of course. On many occasions when people asked about my father I would just say he was dead because as far as I was concerned he had died a long time in my heart.

I had met Lanre in my third year in the University. After so many encounters he became my only male friend. He taught Jide how to ride a bicycle, how to paint and do other masculine stuff. After graduation, I got a good job and sent Jide abroad to an Arts Institute. I had opened up to Lanre and whenever he rose the point of me forgiving my father it almost always ended up in an argument.

Two weeks into our traditional marriage, my father came to our house. I was coming back from work when I saw him kneeling before mama pleading her forgiveness. I burned with hate! After all these years he had decided to return. I was not ready to let him go. I am a Christian, but he who wears the shoes know where it pinches the most. Mama forgave him, but I had made up my mind.
Few days later I found myself thinking of those precious moments I had had with my father. But what about the years lost? There was no way to bridge the gap. 'Maybe I'll forgive him in my heart but have nothing to ever do with him' I thought.

Through my flowery veil I saw him again. In a white 'agbada' standing in front if the church, looking very nervous, holding Jide's manly palm. I frowned, holding my flowing gown, walked up the few stairs; Papa knelt in front of me sobbing like a baby begging my forgiveness or even a chance to walk me down the aisle. I had somehow wanted him to always walk me down on my wedding day. Of course I had prayed to God for the grace and strength to let go. All of a sudden the walls in which I had prisoned him began to quake. Brick by brick; and like an earthquake the walls crumbled to the ground. With tears running down my madeup face, Papa  hugged me so tight I didn't ever want to leave his embrace. My best friend had returned! It was not easy but I had forgiven him. I slid my arms in his as he walked me down to a smiling Lanre, the band played my favourite hymn, 'Great is Thy Faithfulness.' "

I believe you were blessed. Infact, you have no choice. :)

In Christ,

Ishanpepe.

Are You Ready? Will You Be?

A little over a week ago, I was expecting an important visitor to my house. On that very day because I knew I would be away in school for the most part of the day and by the time I got back, I would not have the time to fix things before this visitor came. With this knowledge, I was up that morning at 5am and I began to fix my house in preparation of this visit. I began with clearing every cobweb I could lay my eyes on. I swept the floors, mopped the tiles, dusted the furniture, the appliances and made sure nothing was left unclean. I even cleaned the doors! I wanted everything to be spotless.

However, at the point of cleaning my front door, this thought hit me: “If I would go to such lengths for a common human, then what if Jesus came today? Would my affairs be tidy and ready?” This got me thinking deep!

Image from thenationalcouncil.org

Because I knew that this certain person was coming to my house that day, I took the time to make sure everything looked spotless, clean and organized. I mean, I usually keep my house clean, but that day I took extra care to do things I usually won’t do like cleaning the doors! When I was done and going through the day, I kept thinking of how sad I would be if this person didn’t eventually come, considering the effort I put in preparing things. The person in question finally came and I was happy that my efforts hadn’t been wasted, but it got me thinking again because from it I learned that even if this person didn’t come, I could sit back and enjoy the satisfaction of a spotless house. (lol)

That being said, what in essence am I trying to pass across? Dear friend, sister, brother, mother and father, Jesus will come no doubt and when He does, would He find you ready? Are we being lax about tidying up our lives and living spotless and lives worthy of the life we have been called to? Are we still having an appearance of godliness yet wallowing in sin? What scares me more is that we do not know when He will come and thus we have to be prepared each and every moment! We must “live each day like it’s our last.” Daily ask the Lord to cleanse your life of every cobweb and dirt of sin that may be indwelling in you. Remember, He will not fill dirty cups. You must first of all be cleansed and ready. And even if He doesn’t come today, tomorrow or next tomorrow, what greater joy than to bask in the wonderfulness of a clean life, ready for whenever He appears!

Matthew 24:36 – “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

2 Peter 3:10 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief…”

He’s gonna come one day soon. Will you be ready? If He comes today, are you ready?

In Christ,

Ishanpepe. 

Monday Night Musings... 8-02-16

*drumrolls*light*action*

*clearsthroat*

Good evening and welcome to today’s edition of Monday Night Musings with your host, Ishanpepe.

I sincerely apologize for the break in transmission. The Master was doing some construction.

It’s been an eventful three weeks packed full with sooooo many lessons! I will share as many as I can remember with you. Stay tuned!

1. Sometimes God brings people my way just to teach me a lesson or reinforce a truth I need to remember. I must be open to what God has for me.
2. Its time to do less talking and more observing and praying. The Bible says watch as well as pray. Not talk as well as pray. I will watch. And pray even more.
3. Forgiveness sets free… until you forgive, you’ll never realize how much of bondage you’ve been in.
4. I must never forget who I am in Jesus Christ. The type of company I keep can affect my identity and therefore I must be cautious in choosing companions.
5. Whatever I do I must do as unto the Lord with the whole of my heart. Diligence lift us up to stand before Kings and not mere men.
6. Jesus alone is my source of joy. Even in a painful situation, He is able to bring joy in the midst of it.
7. God remains God before, during, and after the bad times.
8. When others look at my life, they should see GOD and not me. This flesh must die.
9. I must learn to love God with everything I am and have. Everything. I must hold nothing back. When I do this, I will be able to trust His ultimate goodness even in hard times.
10. My desire should be that my life shouldn’t be an obstacle to other people’s walk of faith.
11. I must discipline my mind to know that pain can be a school I can learn in.
12. I am God’s extended presence in this world. Without me, the world would have an incomplete picture of God. I am woman. God’s own woman. I must pride myself in that.
13. God has a divine purpose for every interruption and inconvenience.
14. I must not feed my soul carelessly. When I think pure and lovely thoughts, I will grow to be pure and lovely like them.
15. “Sharing the good news is one beggar telling another begger where to find bread.” (ODB) I must not look too far. There are people around me who need Jesus and whom I need to share salvation with.
16. Unanswered prayers shouldn’t stop me from praying.
17. God is working behind the scenes for my deliverance. He will never leave my side. Even when I can’t see what He is doing, I must trust Him for He is faithful.
18. “You must worship no other gods, but only the Lord, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14)

I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here for today. Thank you for tuning in, I hope you learned a thing or two as always.

Until next time,

In Christ,

Ishanpepe.