Finishing Grace

Before we get into the full swing of the Christmas holiday, I thought I’d write one for the road lol. The inspiration for this post came when I was in the final stretch of my project, and I was reviewing all I had written. During one of these reviews, I remembered that I had listened to a message by Joel Osteen titled ‘Finishing Grace’ and also recalled Ecc. 7:8 which says that the end of a thing is better than its beginning. I daresay that it is easier to start something, but finishing it? That is a whole separate business. 

For many of us, in 2022, we started pursuing dreams or goals we had written down as part of our resolutions. But somewhere along the way, it got difficult, we experienced disappointments, and eventually gave up. Back in 2020, I had a goal to undertake an MBA programme. As with every goal, there were twists and turns on the road. I remember sitting in my car on a hot afternoon and getting a scholarship email. It was such an exciting moment, but one I couldn’t see to the end due to insufficient funds. All efforts to secure funding proved abortive and eventually I had to defer my January admission to September 2021.

One thing you get taught in life is to not put all your eggs in one basket. So, I decided to spread my net with the hopes of securing one that would be affordable. In 2021, I thought I had finally secured a place in another program, but I also had to once again defer my admission. A few Sundays after, I heard a message in church that prompted me to pick up the broken dreams and try again (unashamed plug for the article I wrote then- Do it afraid!). Phil. 1:6 reminds us that God will finish the work He started. Fast forward to December 2022, and the same guy who nearly gave up on his goal has finally completed it. Glory to God!

In Ps. 46:1 (NKJV) the bible tells us that God is a “very present help in trouble”. The road to fulfilling your dream will not be a smooth one, Jesus already told us this in John 16:33. But you know what, not only did Jesus overcome the world, but the bible also further reassures us that His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). It was this grace that enabled me to finish a journey I started all the way back in July 2020 in December 2022. My funding issues didn’t suddenly disappear, but I had faith in God and whenever I was down, I asked Him for grace.

God is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Whatever it is that you have started, the same God that helped you start will help you finish. You may just be at the point of abandoning it, I’m here to tell you that He has grace for you to finish. It may seem impossible but until you pick it up and run the race, you will never finish. Like Joel Osteen said in his message, “will you start, or will you finish?” God never starts what He can’t finish. 2022 is about to end but it is not too late to get back up and run the race. My charge to you is to stay in faith and run the race, God did not bring you this far to abandon you. Like Paul, may we be able to say that we ran the race, kept the faith, and finished the course with joy (2 Tim.4:7, Acts 20:24). I wish you a flourishing finish to 2022!

 

P.S. If you can, take time out to listen to Joel Osteen’s message, Finishing Grace

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Joy is Coming!

There are certain songs we hear that hit us in a way that at times can be unexplainable. Joy is coming by Todd Galberth is one of such songs. My church’s choir sang it this past Sunday (20^th Nov.) and it hit me so much that I had to walk up to the ministration’s lead singer to ask for the name of the song. The song’s lyrics reference the second part of Ps. 30:5- “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. This verse is also the scriptural backing to our word of the month: Morning Joy!

There’s something powerful about being reassured that joy is coming. But I can tell you from experience that when you’re in your weeping season, it is difficult to believe. This is why God made sure to give us this promise that joy is coming in the morning. One of the reasons I love movies in the action-fantasy genre is that the protagonists go through what they call a character arc. Typically, this tends to entail them either fighting a battle in which the odds are heavily against them, (think Lord of the Rings: The Battle of Helmsdeep in which they were trapped with the enemy army surrounding them; even the King had lost hope) or actually losing a battle as the Avengers did against Thanos. Just when all seemed lost, their arc came full circle and ended with joy. In the case of the Battle of Helmsdeep, it wasn’t until Gimli said “the sun is rising” that they recalled Gandalf’s words and rode out to face the army. But imagine if they didn’t?

This tells us two things. The first is the importance of studying God’s word. How can you remember His word if you don’t study it? The second is to constantly use God’s word to reassure yourself even when it seems like the weeping season will never end. A few years ago, I went through a season of unemployment. On so many occasions, I’d wake up in the morning and lay on the couch thinking of how all my mates were at work and earning an income while I was there on my couch, draining my savings and having no offer of employment coming through. Things got so tight that I once had to borrow money to fuel my car so I could attend a job interview. After doing this interview, I can never forget the disappointment I felt when after sending through my payslips to prove my past pay and justify my salary request (no idea why it was a thing) I was told to attend another interview for another role. I still didn’t get an offer letter, despite all this.

What I didn’t know was that God was using it to open a door to another company entirely. One day while I was laying despondent on my couch, Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) came to me. For some reason, I quickly opened my YouVersion bible app (shameless plug here, this is the most useful app you could ever have) and went to read the verse. It hit me like a thunderbolt, almost like I was reading it for the first time. The starting sentence of Joshua 1:9 says: “Have I not commanded you?”. I had to read it again because I never knew it was a part of the verse, I usually just mentally started with the second sentence that says, “Be strong and of good courage”. It was a revelation to me that God had actually commanded us to be strong and of good courage. Just like the warriors at the Battle of Helmsdeep, after hearing Gimli’s reminder of Gandalf’s words, who gained courage and rode out to face the enemy they had hidden from, so did I. Suddenly, I stopped feeling despondent and my hope and joy were renewed. Not too long after that, I got the job. Praise God!

My pastor (Pastor Abi) said that the morning referred to in Ps. 30:5 isn’t referring to the morning i.e., daytime but instead refers to the moment your eyes and mind are opened (regardless of the actual time of the day). That is what happened to me when I recalled Joshua 1:9. When you are in a weeping season, pray without ceasing (even when the season ends!) and do like the lyrics of the song say and give all praise to God. After all, the bible says that we should give thanks in all circumstances (I Thess. 5:16-18). As we wrap up the month of November, I’m here to remind you that joy is coming in the morning. Do not give up! God’s mighty hand is not too short to save you, His right hand does valiant things (Is. 59:1, Ps. 118:15-17)! My charge to you is to recall to yourself what God’s word says about you and the season you are going through!

Photo cred: YouVersion

Refreshing Springs

 “When you face opposition and things don’t go your way, recognize that it’s not permanent. That’s not your final destination. Quit worrying about things that are only temporary—the betrayal, the injustice, the loneliness. That’s not your permanent home. It’s a temporary stop”. The post’s title along with the opening sentence from Joel Osteen’s “today’s word” devotional of 10^th November. As I read it, I cast my mind back to all the struggles and disappointments I’ve faced in life and how it seemed like I would never get out of them. I’m grateful to God that I never settled in the valley of those struggles and disappointments.

In life, we are taught to always have a plan for whatever we want to do and not just start. Even the bible in Prov. 6:6-8 and Luke 14:28 admonishes us about the importance of planning before starting any activity. This reminds me of a wonderful quote from Alice in Wonderland:

“Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, who was sitting in a tree, “What road do I take?”

The cat asked, “Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know,” Alice answered.

“Then,” said the cat, “it really doesn’t matter, does it?”

This is why a plan is needed because without it anywhere would seem like the right destination. But one thing we typically don’t account for is that even the best-laid plans will have detours, pitfalls, bumps etc. and we make the mistake of assuming that these valleys are permanent with absolutely no way out. That my good friends is a lie of the devil. There is absolutely a way out, don’t stress over it because it is only temporary. Just keep your mind and trust in God and you will experience His perfect peace and before long you will find yourself in a place of refreshing springs clothed with blessings (John 16:33, Is. 26:3, Ps. 84:6). As you do so, it won’t be long before you begin to experience God’s restoration power over your life (Ps. 23:2-3). My charge for you is to not turn your valleys into a permanent stop but to keep your mind and trust in God. I wish you a great November in Jesus name!

 

P.S. I would like to share the prayer from the devotional with you, I pray it blesses you just as it blessed me in Jesus name: “Father, thank You that You have seen every tear I’ve shed and every dark valley I’ve walked through. Thank You that the valley is only temporary and that I just need to walk in faith through it. I believe that where You lead me will take me to refreshing springs and restoration. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Enjoy this song: Ocean by Hillsong

 

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How to Cultivate Healthy Relationships

While reading the YouVersion devotional of the day based on Phil. 1:3, there was an extra devotional that talked about cultivating healthy relationships. It blessed me so much that I had to share it with you all. Below is the excerpt of the devotional.

Imagine planting a seed. If you want the seed to grow into a flower, you have to care for it properly by giving it enough of what it needs to live.

Now think of the people who are there for you during hard times, the ones who encourage you, and the people you enjoy experiencing life with. These relationships are much like seeds- we need to care for them properly if we want them to not only grow, but thrive.

I thank my God every time I remember you. Phil. 1:3 (NIV)

In the Bible, we learn that Paul started a church in Philippi. While he lived with the church, the people were generous and kind to him, partnering with Paul to share the Gospel. But even when Paul eventually continued on with his travels, the Philippian church continued to support him.

And so, after he was out in prison, Paul wrote them a letter. He could have chosen to write about his troubles, but instead, Paul prayed for his friends, and encouraged them to continue to live God-honouring lives in the face of hardships and persecution. Paul recognised the sacrifices they were making, and chose to appreciate and encourage them.

In a similar way, we can help our relationships grow by expressing gratitude and appreciation for the people who impact us. This could look like praying for them, giving them a word of encouragement, or going out of our way to serve them. It could mean slowing down to truly listen to them, or expressing thanks for something that might otherwise go unnoticed.

God gave us the desire to pursue relationships with people around us. This means that, like Paul and the Philippians, we have an opportunity to encourage one another and pursue God together. But in order to do this- we have to be willing to care for our relationships and be intentional about helping them grow and remain healthy. And one of the best ways we can do this is by pausing to appreciate the people who support and encourage us. So today, take some time to thank God for the people who’ve poured into you, and then intentionally pray for them.

 

I hope this song encourages you to pray for them- Be blessed by Bishop Paul Morton

 

P.S. Thank you to everyone who has been there for me, poured into me, and supported the Sage Onomsky blog. I’m gonna be praying for each and everyone of you. Stay blessed!

Sheep, not Wolves!

A few days back, while reading my Open Heavens devotional titled “Who do you belong to?”, I came across John 10:27. One thing I love about the bible is the fact that each time you read it, you get a new revelation. While reading John 10:27, NKJV: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, I was reminded of a recent message by Bishop T.D Jakes in which he mentioned that God created us as sheep for a reason, to be fully dependent on Him. As I reflected on this verse and the message, I realised that whenever God described His relationship with us, He referred to us as sheep and to Himself as the Good Shepherd.

When you think about sheep, they are one of the most defenceless animals in the worlds. Why then would God refer to us as sheep, instead of lions or some other strong animal. Even when Jesus was sending out the twelve disciples, He said: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV). This tells me that God knew the terrain He was sending us to, and it definitely wasn’t some oasis filled with lush green grass and warm springs. He was sending us out to the jungle were we, His children, would be like prey in the jungle. Why then would He create us that way?

The reason, as earlier mentioned, is so that we can learn to trust and rely on Him. When you have our own strength or defences, do you go out looking for help. Definitely not! But when you’re weak, you’ll always be looking for a strong ally to back you up. This desire to trust and rely on Him, is what helps build the relationship God desires us to have with Him. When you think of the shepherd, their role is to not just lead the sheep, but to also protect the sheep from any danger. In order for them to do this, they need to know their sheep, not just the number of sheep but the unique features of the sheep, to ensure they do not mix them up with another person’s flock. Gal. 5:22-23 gives us insight into the features of the flock we should belong to. The sheep on the other hand, also needs to know the shepherd (in looks and voice), so it doesn’t go the wrong way and end up getting lost or dead.

From this, you can see that it is all about a relationship in which we learn to trust and obey God. If truly we belong to God, we would learn to rely on Him and draw closer to Him, no matter the situation we face. In Psalm 23:1, we refer to God as our shepherd, the One who provides for us. In Is. 40:11 and Eze. 34:30-31, Jesus in turn refers to us as His sheep, and as His sheep, it is His duty to ensure we never lose our way, even if it means laying down His life to protect us (John 10:10-11 & 15). When we are conscious of this relationship, and acknowledge God as our Shepherd, we have all the protection we need. No matter the situation we face, because we belong to God, we will always come out of it victorious and better. We do not have to fight the battle, because God is fighting the battle on our behalf (II Chr.20:17). Trust and rely on the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

Photo cred: Biblia by Faithlife

The Caleb Mentality

While reading the Open Heavens devotional for 18^th August, which talked about the letter to the Philadelphian Church, two things that stood out to me were what I would call the Caleb mentality and the Solomon mentality. When we look at life, challenges are a part and parcel of it. Even Jesus in John 16:33, said we would have challenges but then caveated it by saying “I have overcome the world”.

Looking back, I have experience both the highs and the lows as I’m sure everyone else has. But something I noticed was that there were certain times I got to those high moments in life and relaxed spiritually. The decision to relax were not always taken intentionally but they happened. And when I relaxed, I began to drift away from my relationship with God and engage in activities that I shouldn’t have. When this happens, this is what I would refer to as the Solomon mentality. Solomon was a man that had everything any person could ever dream of. But a point came when he relaxed and as time passed, became an idol worshipper and a polygamist (I Kings 11). As Daddy G.O. pointed out, after building the temple, Solomon relaxed and in doing so forgot about God.

On the other hand, is what I refer to as the Caleb mentality. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan to obtain a report of the land and assess the Israelites chances of victory. Of the twelve, only he and Joshua gave a good report (Num. 13:30; 14:5-9). This same Caleb at the age of 85 decided to go and take a mountain that was filled with “great and fortified” cities (Joshua 14:11-12). He even went as far as saying that he still had the strength for war! I don’t know about you but when I picture myself at 85, I don’t imagine myself gearing up to go and fight a battle. But this is the mentality we ought to have. One in which we are constantly on the alert for opportunities, for new mountains to conquer. This is the sort of mentality Daddy G.O has. According to our 21^st century encyclopaedia (Wikipedia), RCCG has over 14,000 parishes all around the world. Despite this, at the age of 80 he is still looking for new mountains to conquer all over the world. That is the Caleb mentality!

As children of God, we were given one mission after the resurrection of Jesus: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). When you have the Caleb mentality, even when you get to the top, you will still be on the lookout for new opportunities. Because if you don’t, it is easy to go the way of Solomon or his father David, who stayed back in his palace instead of going to war and ended up committing murder and adultery (II Sam. 11). You may say that is extreme but as we dey say, na from clap dance dey start (meaning big things don’t happen suddenly). The charge I have for you is to develop the Caleb mentality! Don’t ever think you have arrived like the rich fool Jesus spoke about (Luke 12:16-20). As G.O said in the devotional “remain busy for God, asking for new mountains to conquer all the time”.

Photo cred: Mountain

Are You Doubting God? It's Ok!

TGIF guys! I’m sure a lot of us were looking forward to the weekend and I’m definitely one of them. While having my devotional (shout out to YouVersion for the daily devotionals) on this blissful Friday morning, the speaker while discussing Ps. 145:8 talked how he felt when he prayed for a loved one who had cancer. Unfortunately, despite his prayers, she passed away. This led to him having doubts in God. Many of us have been in situations when we prayed for something, anything. In some of these instances, maybe you even went on a dry fast because of how much it meant to you. And then you end up not getting it! Or you may still be in the midst of the battle and its beginning to look like it will never end. It’s only natural to have doubts in God.

 

Before we go any further, what exactly does doubt mean; and to answer this I googled (yes, googled!) it. According to google, doubt means a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction; or a disbelieve or lack faith in (someone). When you go through the bible, its easy to focus on the heroes of faith while overlooking those who experienced this human feeling. Even thinking back to the sermons I’ve heard, I don’t recall hearing a lot that talk about doubts or what to do when you have doubts, they tend to lean towards teaching us to have absolute trust. Even when I googled bible verses on doubt, I stumbled on 25 verses and majority of them talk about not having doubt, but then there were a few that talked about what God did when people doubted. So, it’s totally understandable that sermons usually focus on having absolute trust. How then do we deal with doubt when we are not taught about it? Do we fake it till we make it? Well, that’ll be dishonest of us. What tends to happen is that people get crippled by their doubt and over time begin to backslide. The bible says: we are not ignorant of the devil’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11), and you can be sure that the devil knows how to weaponize doubt.

 

Would it shock you if I told you that there were people that doubted God? Even among those that actually walked with Jesus physically. Let’s look at two of such people, with a sprinkle of another person. The first is the “mighty warrior” Gideon. You know him, the guy who went to war with 300 men against two nations whose numbers were so vast, the bible said they “were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts” (Judges 7:12). If you want to see the Hollywood version, watch 300; however, be warned that the only similarity between the movie and the bible verse is in the number of men (300) that went up against a mighty army. Going back to Gideon, this same man in Chapter 6 had so many doubts. Even when the angel called him “mighty warrior”, his reaction wasn’t “yes, that’s me”. His reaction was, naaaa, you’ve got the wrong guy (Judges 6:11-15). But guess what, God did not get angry with him. Even when he tested God with the fleece, God still did no get angry with him (Judges 6:36-40). Instead, He reassured Gideon.

 

The next person is our good friend, Thomas, who became known as doubting Thomas. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, don’t be a doubting Thomas. Well, he was THE doubting Thomas. Now in Thomas’ case, he even walked, ate, and spent time with Jesus physically. He was one of the twelve (John 20:24)! How then could he have doubts? I guess that’s because it’s a natural human emotion. In his own case, he was still reeling from the crucifixion of Jesus when news came through that some of the disciples had seen Jesus. Our friend Thomas said: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Imagine hearing this from someone who was personally chosen by Jesus. Did Jesus get angry and strike him down? No! Instead, Jesus went directly to Thomas and asked him to put his fingers in the holes in His body (John 20:26-27). He reassured him!

 

Now let’s look at the sprinkle. You would know him as the Rock on which the church would be built (Matt.16:18). Yup, our good friend Peter; the same guy that preached to 3000 (Acts 2:14-42). Asides Jesus, he’s the only other person that has walked on water. In Matthew 14, the disciples were alone in a ship that was in the midst of a storm. Out of nowhere, they saw someone walking on water, and of course they assumed it was a spirit. And when the “spirit” informed them that it was Jesus, our friend Peter decided to test Him (Matt. 14:28). Jesus being Jesus told him to come but as Peter walked on water, the storm increased (like it wasn’t bad enough already lol), doubt crept in, and he began to sink. Did Jesus get angry and let him drown? No! Jesus pulled him out (Matt. 14:24-32). He rescued Peter from drowning.

 

From these examples, we can establish a trend. God did not get angry at any of them for doubting, instead He reassured or rescued them. That tells me, that its ok to have doubts. It shows that you are a human and in touch with your emotions. Yes, God wants us to have faith and trust in Him. But He also understands when we have doubts and because He understands, He gave us instructions on what to do. In Heb. 4:14-16, the bible tells us that we have a High Priest, Jesus (who is seated at the right hand of God), who sympathises with our weaknesses. Isn’t that great to know? We have someone at the highest of highest that has experienced what we are experiencing. All we have to do, is approach the throne of grace boldly that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need. The bible also tells us that He is our ever-present help (Ps. 46:1). When we doubt, what the devil wants is for the doubt to paralyse us and keep us away from the place of prayer. What God wants, is for you to carry that doubt to Him and ask for mercy and grace (Heb. 4:16; Matt. 11:28-30). As we enter into the month of August, the charge I have for you is to carry your doubts to God. He understands and is willing to help you. Its ok to have doubts.

Photo cred: Mysteryandmeaning

The Goodness of God

When I think of the year 2017, my memory floods with the adversities I experienced while I was unemployed. It was in 2017 I discovered the bliss of custard; it was also the period that Goodluck Jonathan’s cassava bread agenda finally bore fruit and could be found in major supermarkets like Shoprite. My go to meal each day was cassava bread and custard while I managed whatever little funds I had to pay for fuel for my car and the generator amongst other bills. On numerous occasions, I would spend the afternoon at Nevada Hotel’s bar just so I could charge my phone and laptop ahead of another marathon of job applications. So, imagine my dismay when I was invited for an interview at an e-commerce company and I didn’t have the funds to buy fuel, thank God for an ex-colleague that lent me money. Or when I had to go to church on a Sunday and my tank was in reserve, somehow God got the car and I to church and back.

It was in this period that I found my way back to God once again. Nothing like a period of adversity to make you draw closer to God (James 4:8, NKJV). After interviewing with the e-commerce company, I was called back for a few more interviews, even got to the point of sending my payslips and all. Then radio silence. The pain from the disappointment was indescribable. At the same time, my rent was due, more bills. Somehow, God provided for me and made a way for me in the wilderness (Is. 43:19 NKJV; 41:18, NKJV). Out of nowhere, I got a call from a company I had never heard of to attend an interview. Imagine my shock when I found out that I was referred by the final interviewer from the e-commerce company that gave me radio silence. God is good! You would think by now that my hope was restored, and my faith strengthened. Nope! Instead, I fell further into despair as I wasn’t sure if I could deal with the disappointment of another rejection. To top it, my savings had fully dried up and as I told my guy “I no get two 50naira notes (or $0.15) to rub together”. It was in this moment that I learnt that even in the darkest valley, God is with us. One hot afternoon, of course there was no light, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Joshua 1:9, NKJV: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The first part of the verse “Have I not commanded you” hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was as if I was reading the verse for the first time. That verse along with Ps. 118:15-16, NKJV became my battle cry. Within one week of doing the interview, this unknown company gave me a job offer with a resumption date set for just a few weeks later. It was like a dream; my captivity of unemployment had been turned around (Ps. 126:1, NKJV).

Fast forward to 2019, I had been working for a few years and also entered a new phase of life 😊. Anyways, new phase, new battle. This time, I was also responsible for another adult. Mhen what a trying phase. The old problems of lack of funds came up again. Not too long before this period, there was a particular song reigning called “Able God” and one of the key lines in the chorus goes: Shower your blessings, we want this money. It was a street anthem and spoke to so many of us experiencing the pains of insufficient funds (ATM oh!!!). Going through this period, anything I could sell, I sold. TV I was given as a gift, sold. Iphone, sold. Every credit alert at the end of the month was instantly followed by two debit alerts from loans I had taken to survive. Times were tough, and then came Covid. No savings, and my company started talking about salary cuts. Then came job cuts. Every call from HR was as nerve wracking as the next. Somehow, God brought me through these times. And He did it by His valiant right hand (Ps. 118:15, NKJV).

Amid Covid, I developed a desire to go on an MBA program. One that I didn’t have the funds for. But guess what? God has being faithful. The bible says “a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (I Cor. 16:9, NKJV). This was certainly my case but through it all, God was faithful and everything I needed, He provided. Did the devil stop trying to prevent me from walking through this door? Nope! In fact, a day or two after I applied for a study visa, Nigeria was added to the red list. Throughout the peak of the pandemic, when the traffic light system was used, Nigeria wasn’t on that list to the best of my knowledge and my limited google search lol. But here I was, visa pending, and now a red list. Romans 5:3-5, NKJV and James 1:2-4, NKJV talk about counting it joy when we go through trials and tribulations. Isn’t that crazy? It says so because just as gold is purified through fire, so do we as children of God develop and get refined. Thanks to all the previous trials and tribulations, we had developed the knowledge that God never fails, and we were able to trust in Him. Despite the red list, our visa came out on time (Glory to God) and a few days after, the red list was abolished. Cue a manic one-week period to book a flight, dispose of our possessions, take the Covid test and say goodbye to family and friends. All this was made possible thanks to the goodness of God. The same God that did it for me, can do it for you. Nahum 1:7, NKJV says: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. I am a testament to His goodness and if He has being good to me, He will surely be good to you, even in the darkest moments of life. Trust in Him! He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).

 

P.S. Here are 23 verses that you can read about the goodness of God.

P.P.S. This is a song that has blessed me: Nothing like your presence- William McDowell ft. Travis Greene & Nathaniel Bassey

Photo cred: 23 Verses

For God So Loved: An Easter Message

“For God so loved”

Going into this Easter break, I wasn’t sure if I would have any Easter message to share. But while reading my YouVersion devotion of the day (15^th April), the opening text (see quote above) of John 3:16 leapt out to me. The beauty of studying the bible is that you will always learn something new or gain a new perspective to verses you’ve previously read.

While reading the verse, it seemed like God felt a need to explain why He did what He did. He’s the almighty God and from what I know about people in power, they don’t believe there is a need to burden themselves with explanations for their actions. Merely asking for an explanation could get you in trouble or in the ancient times, imprisoned. But God did and His explanation was succinctly captured in four words: For God so loved! And because of this love, He was willing to sacrifice His only begotten son.

As children of God, the bible on numerous occasions talks about love and its importance. When the religious leaders of the day were looking for a means to implicate Jesus, they asked Him what the greatest commandment was, and guess what, His answer illustrated the importance of love. He gave them two answers: the first was to love God and the second was to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:28-34). His answer was so perfect that no one dared ask another question. But why is love so important? I daresay that it is because when we love, we will go beyond our selfish desires to help others to the point of sacrificing for them. In this scenario, love is not just a noun but a verb and forms the foundation to explain why we do what we do. Take for example a parent and their baby. Because of the love they have for their baby, they would go to any length to make sure the child is cared for and protected. One too many times, we hear stories of actions parents undertook that defy logic but because of the love they have for their child, they sacrificially did whatever it took. If it were an accident, they would be searching for a means of escape for the child instead of themselves or if it were an attack, use themselves as a shield even when there is no hope of fending off the attacker. But that’s what love does. It makes you go beyond yourself to care for the needs of others and that’s what God was showcasing through the death of His son. That He is willing to go to any lengths to bring us closer to Him and take care of us.

When we think of heroes of the bible, Abraham’s name tends to be the first on the list. Why? Because he loved God so much that he trusted him to the point of sacrificing a child that he had waited on for years (Heb. 11:17-19). Imagine the struggle he would have faced to carry out such an action and it will give you an idea of how difficult it must have been for God to sacrifice His son. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled to understand the logic behind the action and debated on the reasoning before ending up with the simple answer “For God so loved” (Rom. 5:8). If we never got the explanation that preceded the action of John 3:16, we may still be clueless as to the reasoning behind the action. But God being God knew that by giving us this context, He also provided a template for His children to follow in their interaction with others. The parable of the Good Samaritan sheds light on how we should live as Christians (Luke 10:25-37).

There is not enough that can be said about God’s love for us, but the bible captures it all and when you read it, you’d be amazed about the recklessness of God’s love. His love is so great that when one of us returns to Him by giving our lives to God, heaven throws a party (Luke 15:7). The parables of Luke 15 let us know the joy God feels when we accept His love and return home to Him. This Easter season, I’m here to tell you that God loves you and He loves you so much that He will do anything for you. Accept His love and come home to him (Rev. 3:20), nothing would make Him happier. And as you do so, I charge you to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. Happy Easter!

 

P.S. In keeping with the tradition of previous posts, here are two songs that speak powerfully about God’s love for us:

Jireh- Elevation Worship and Maverick City

Reckless Love- Cory Asbury

 

Photo Cred: YouVersion

For Every Mountain

We all have different reasons to praise God. It could be because of the birth of a new baby or receiving that long-awaited congratulatory email. But have you ever thought of thanking God for the mountains you face(d)? Imagine if your life was a constant straight line with no peaks or valleys. Would you consider that a life well lived? Without the mountains, there will be no way to know what we are capable of and how powerful we are. So why don’t we ever say: “God thank you for this mountain. I praise you because of the mountains ahead”. Mountains represent the challenges and obstacles we face in our daily lives and like our last post (Magnify the Lord!) instructed, we should be thankful for both the blessings and the mountains. Over the course of my life, I have faced challenges at different points. Some were big, others were small. Some lasted for a long time, others were over in the blink of an eye. Through these experiences, I’ve learnt two key lessons which I’ll be sharing below along with songs that have being a blessing to me.

The first lesson was that challenges were a way of drawing nearer to God, hearing His voice and building our trust in Him. At a much younger phase of my life, I had a very simple plan: enjoy all life has to offer and around age 40, re-dedicate my life to God and become serious about my Christianity. It took a mountain to completely rip up those plans and it was a financial challenge that lasted for a long time. While going over this mountain, I got closer to God. I learnt more about His ways and began to let go of my worldly ways. If I never faced this challenge, I may never have gotten serious about my Christianity. I stumbled on a song recently that speaks to this by Gaither Vocal Band- Sometimes it takes a mountain. The beauty about God’s mercy is that He is willing to receive you with open arms, just approach Him and let Him in (Heb. 4:16, Rev. 3:20). His love is so strong that He sent His son to die for you (John 3:16).

The second lesson I learnt was the importance of praising God during a challenge. It sounds strange saying we should praise God for the challenges. You’re not praising God because of the challenge; you’re praising Him despite the challenge and from a place of understanding. You’re praising Him because you know that victory is yours as His child and that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (I John 4:4). So, when you magnify the Lord like David did (Ps. 34), its because you understand that you should thank Him in all circumstances and that all things work together for your good (I Thes. 5:16-18, Rom. 8:28). There may be times when it feels like all hope is lost, simply remind yourself off all the other times He brought you out and the thoughts He has for you (Jer. 29:11). This song by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir- For Every Mountain, has being a blessing to me. It constantly reminds me to give God the praise for every mountain and trial I’ve faced.

Every word that is written in the bible is there for a purpose and every word spoken by Jesus was said for a reason. It is not for nothing that Jesus told us that we will have challenges in this world, but He also told us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). There is absolutely no mountain that is too great for the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He has never been and will never be defeated. If you find yourself facing a mountain or if you’re currently scaling a mountain, I charge you to draw closer to God and take on an attitude of praise. He has already sorted out the challenge!

 

P.S. Have a great Easter and remember, He is risen.

Here are a few of our Easter posts from years gone by:

2021- He is Risen: Rejoice!

2020- Hope: The Easter Message

2019- He is Risen

Photo cred: YouVersion

Magnify the Lord!

 

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

These beautiful words gotten from Ps.34 (NKJV) were written by King David in a time of deep crisis. Things were so bad that he pretended to be mad in order to escape. But despite this, he still found time to say to those around him “magnify the Lord with me…. let us exalt His name” (Ps. 34:3). How beautiful and inspirational would this have been to those around him?

For any of you that know me, you’d know how much I love music. So, when I heard these words been sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir, it hit all the right spots. And guess what? I heard it when I was going through a trying period. I did as the song and the bible said: this poor man cried! and God heard him.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be sharing songs that have blessed me in innumerable ways along with a snippet of the lyrics of the song. I hope they bless you as much (or even more) as they have blessed me. For this week, just like King David did, all I want you to do is MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME!

 

Song: Psalm 34

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfW2mkkMTAg&ab_channel=BKTabernacleVEVO

Artist: The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

I sought the Lord

And He answered me

And delivered me

From every fear

Those who look on Him

Are radiant

They'll never be ashamed

This poor man cried

And the Lord heard me

And saved me from

My enemies

The Son of God

Surrounds His saints

He will deliver them

Magnify the Lord with me

Come exalt His name together

Glorify the Lord with me

Come exalt His name forever

  

Lyrics: Musixmatch

Photocred: Psalm 34

 

Praise Him in the Pits

"No matter how deep the pit, His arm can get down there and get a hold of that life and change it".

For those that know me, you will know how much I love music. While working on a presentation, I heard the above quote from a song (For Every Mountain) that I’ve heard on numerous occasions. But for some reason, this time around, it resonated differently with me. A quick google search will tell you that a pit is defined as a large hole in the ground. When you are in a pit, more often than not, you are too helpless to get yourself out and all you can do is sit there and either wallow in misery or pray for help.

For anyone that has ever been in a pit, you will get what I am talking about. A few years ago, I found myself in a pit that I never imagined I would enter and it was one of the most hopeless moments of my life. As I listened to this song, I couldn’t help but thank God for rescuing me out of that large hole. If He had not, there may be no Sage Onomsky. But God in His everlasting mercy (Heb. 4:16) heard my cry and like Jonah, He rescued me. Remember Jonah? His pit was the belly of a whale and he stayed in it for three whole days (Jonah 1:17) due to his disobedience to God. There are times we end up in pits due to faults of ours and there are times when it isn’t.

Paul is a perfect example of someone who entered pits due to no fault of his. What was his crime? The spreading of the gospel as Jesus instructed each and every one of us. Paul was a Roman citizen and he could have chosen the cushy life; instead, he chose a life dedicated to preaching the gospel in every place he could. He spent so much time in pits (prisons) that it must have likely been of little to no impact to him.  But what does the bible say Paul did when he was in the pits? He wrote bible verses that would later form the bulk of the New Testament and he also praised. Just imagine that! Praising in the pits! That is what God would like us to do. Even when we are in those pits due to faults of ours, He wants us to approach him and ask for mercy. Just like Jonah (Jonah 2) and I did. He wants us to praise Him, just like Paul and Silas did (Acts 16:25)! And guess what? His loving arms will come down there, hold you tight in a warm embrace and pull you out. Ps. 40:2 (AMPC) says that “He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings”.

So what do we do when we find ourselves in the pits? Do what Ps. 40 and Heb. 4:16 say: ask God for mercy and grace and wait on Him expectantly. He will definitely come and pick you up and set you on solid rock. How awesome is that. In 2022, I give you this charge, no matter how deep the pit is, trust in God’s ability to rescue you from the depths of whatever pit you find yourself in and praise Him while waiting. He will definitely come for you! Stay blessed and have an awesome 2022.

Image Cred: YouVersion