Now or never

Have you ever felt something impressed in your heart, then you brushed it off or postponed, then you see someone else doing exactly what you were to do, and you regret? I have heard several stories of people who wished they took immediate action, I have also been there. Most times once we’ve realized it’s too late, is when it clicks in our minds that the prompting or the dream or what seemed like a passing thought was actually God who was speaking to us. I however find a character in the Bible who is not talked about a lot, quite amazing in how he responded with ease and swiftly when it came to acting on what God told him. The man’s name is Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Matthew 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (NIV)

Matthew 2:13 – 14 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, (NIV)

The above verses, give two scenarios, the first one is when Joseph had discovered that Mary whom he was engaged to was expectant and he decided to leave her but in a dream God told him not to leave her because she had conceived through the Holy Spirit. The second scenario is when the wise men visited Jesus to worship Him, but on their way they passed through King Herod’s palace, who requested to know where Jesus had been born, with an aim of killing Him. However again in a dream God told Joseph to escape to Egypt for safety.

In the first incident the Bible says in Matthew 1:24 , when Joseph woke up he did as he had been instructed in the dream, and took Mary as his wife. We don’t see him asking questions, or taking time to think about it, he just obeyed. The second scenario Matthew 2:14 when he was warned about Herod’s intentions to kill Jesus, he didn’t wait for morning, he acted in the night. For the two incidents I’d say maybe if he had hesitated things might have been different. For example, if he had decided to wait for Mary to first give birth, then he takes her as his wife, then chances are Mary would not have gone with him to be counted in Bethlehem for the census, then maybe Jesus wouldn’t have been born in Bethlehem and in a manger. In the second incident, maybe if he had waited for morning to come, chances are Herod’s officers might have caught up with them before they crossed the borders of the territory and probably killed Jesus.

These two incidents, just show us how important it is to obey, with immediate effect when we hear God speaking. Of course this would start with learning to hear God’s voice then once we hear we act. As we have seen, delays sometimes can cause negative effects that can not be reversed. They could even affect God’s desire and plan for our lives and the lives of others. May God help you and I to obey within the required timelines whenever God instructions get to us.

Be blessed

No nonsense person

I was watching an episode of a guest in Life is spiritual with Erica, who had a testimony of how she went to heaven and came back. One thing that she said was that God the Father is a no nonsense person. This has stack with me for a while, and as I read the Bible a few days ago, a verse just kind of confirmed this statement.

Numbers 35:33 – “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
Numbers 35:34 – Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.'”

In the Old Testament God did not joke around with sin. In the above scripture, a murderer had to die, to ensure that the camp where Israelites lived was free from bloodshed. There are so many other scriptures that show how God would punish sin, in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we have the story of Ananias and his wife who lied before Apostle Peter, and they died on the spot.

The Bible says that God is the same, He doesn’t change. It’s easy for us to forget the God who hated sin because we’re in a season of Grace. But today I’d like to remind us that the same God who didn’t want sin in the physical camp of the Israelites, now lives inside us. If He hates sin, then we cannot afford to entertain sin in us. I bet this will help us to be careful what we do, see, think etc because God hasn’t changed. His character is still the same. He hates sin although He loves sinners. As christians we just need to be careful not to offend Him as we constantly remind ourselves that He lives inside of us.
Be blessed

Prize giving day

As kids prize giving day in school was a day I used to look forward to, especially when I knew I was in the list of those who would get a present. However there’s this one time that I was sure I wasn’t in the list because we had talked with friends in class and it seemed I wasn’t among the top performers in that exam. The names were called out, and when it was our class’s turn my name was called. I hesitated because I knew I wasn’t supposed to get a gift, at last after my name was called again I went and picked the gift, but I went straight to our class teacher and told her that I didn’t deserve the gift. Later after the meeting, we followed her and she mentioned that the results had been calculated by a computer which she didn’t think would make a mistake and therefore asked my friend to go and recalculate the results.

On thinking about this day, I imagine how it’ll be in heaven as we all give an account of our life on earth. One lady who was giving her story on Near Death Experience talked of seeing people she had termed as very gifted spiritual people, in heaven being in lower grades of rewards, compared to the expectations based on how they were viewed on earth. That always makes me concerned, what will it be be like , standing before the creator of the universe and being answerable for all the gifts and assignments allocated to me.

Jesus even mentioned that there are people who call Him Lord, who’ll not enter heaven, leave alone get a gift. There are also those who will be shocked as they get gifts they least expected, and He’ll be telling them, the day you did this and that for this person you did it to me, you deserve the gift.

Which category would you like to be? Those who’ll be expecting a gift but they get none or little, or those who’ll get gifts beyond expectations? I bet the latter is your desire. Well now is the time to work for those gifts. Like the Bible says, we should work now while it’s still day, before the night comes and you cannot work anymore.

Be blessed

Their feelings matter

I have had an interest once in a while to watch Near death experiences, (NDEs). I think it gives me assurance and hope of life after death. The videos I have watched recently had one common thing that caught my attention. Most guys talked about a life review, this was both christians and people who didn’t know Jesus Christ before their encounter.

What they talked of was a review which showed one’s life, since childhood, to the age they were. This reminds me of a song we used to sing when we were growing up, that stated that when we go to heaven we will each watch a cinema, and what a wonder it’ll be as I watch your cinema and I watch yours?

The review didn’t just show life events but how one’s actions touched people. They stated that they could feel the emotions the people around them felt, as a result of their actions. That made me realize that what we make people feel, good or bad matters to God, if He takes the time to record the same. Then I remembered that we are God’s children, and just as I’d be mad at anyone who would hurt my baby, God isn’t happy with anyone who hurts His own. I also watched a lady who has an autistic baby, and she said the easiest way to get to her heart, is to love her baby. Meaning how one’s child is treated determines what the parent feels about the person in action.

It’s therefore important for me and you to be careful how our actions affect others. It could be words we say and things we do, that at times aren’t even intentional, but if they hurt others then they hurt God too. If our actions or words make someone else happy, then they make God happy too. My encouragement to you and I is to be more keen in making others happy and loved, I bet as they smile God in heaven is also smiling saying that’s my son that’s my daughter making the world a better place.
Be blessed.

Coned

I used to wonder how one can be Coned until it happened to me. We had been looking for a fridge but they seemed expensive, until my hubby stumbled on a promotion on Facebook on a sale at 50% off. We didn’t even think twice we quickly took the money we had saved and send. Our fear was that the fridges would be out if we delayed. The seller confirmed that we would get our delivery the next day which was a Sunday. That Sunday afternoon after doing quite some follow up is when it dawned on us that we had been coned. I was so angry that I was feeling like cursing the conmen but God impressed it in my heart to forgive.

For sometime I kept wondering why God would allow us to loose so much money, that we had saved for quite sometime. Not long ago I came across a verse that I bet is common but which answered my questions.

If we are living now by the Holy Spirit , let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives Galatians 5:25(NLT)

If only we had taken a minute to talk to God first then we wouldn’t have lost our money. My encouragement for you is to involve God in every area if your life. Don’t trust yourself beyond trusting God. It will help you evade alot of hurt. It might not be money like us, maybe it’s a friendship that’ll cost you your peace, maybe it’s a business deal that will cost all your investments, maybe it’s a decision at your workplace that’ll cost you your job and career, maybe it’s a decision that will cost you your family. I could go on and on.

Today choose to involve the Holy spirit in every area of your life. He’s not just concerned about your spiritual growth,but He’s concerned with every detail of your life to help make it better and better.
Be blessed

In the theater

When I was told we had to go for an emergency CS, and I was prepared I remember saying goodbye to my hubby coz they said he couldn’t join me in the theater. At the door I asked him to pray for me (he later told me he was too overwhelmed by seeing me going in there that he didn’t understand what I said)

As I walked in, I remembered a friend mentioned during my baby shower that during her time she just went in praying in tongues because she didn’t know what to expect. So I started doing exactly that. For sometime they just let me lay there in pain, my contractions were still very strong. They explained that they were waiting for the first drip to get finished. Then atlast I was injected at the back and the pain was all gone.

At that point I remembered my mum’s story when she was giving birth to me. She told me that one of the doctors was praying with her and encouraging her during the CS process. I looked at the doctors there and I realized that my story was different. They were just talking to each other except me. I was on my own. I then remembered the story of David the Bible says he encouraged himself in the Lord. I decided to encourage myself the best way I knew how. I started humming some songs, when the doctor heard me singing he was amazed.

Maybe you’re in a situation where you feel alone, everyone is going on with life as if you don’t exist. Things are too difficult and beyond your control. No one seems to understand you. Am here to encourage you to look up to the Lord. Encourage yourself in the Lord. Only He understands the deepest hurts and fears of our souls. Only He truly can rescue us. He says He’s our present help in times of trouble, with God you can never go wrong and He has never and will never neglect His own.

Be blessed.

Not as I prayed

As I prepared for delivery like most mom’s I prayed and trusted for an easy and normal delivery. I had friends and family praying with me for the same. I did exercises, I watched classes to prepare me for labor, talked to friends and family for all types of tips to ensure all went well. Then the due date came and passed, each day I kept praying that labor would come, but it delayed until I almost self induced labor. When I had given up at week 41, and was just waiting for week 42 at last labor came. It didn’t seem like labor because I somehow expected a pain unbearable, (according to the stories I had heard) but since the contractions were coming after every ten minutes my hubby and I decided to go to hospital just Incase it was real labor, and it certainly was.

On arrival I had dilated 8cm and after a short while, it was time to push. I pushed for about two hours until the doctor decided I had to go through emergency CS because there was no progress. The baby couldn’t go through a certain bone area that’s what the nurse told me, I later figured out it could be the pelvic bone. It wasn’t easy to understand how I would be fully dilated and still have obstructed labor.

It’s easy to feel like God didn’t hear my prayers, or He just neglected me in that delivery room. However looking back I can see God’s hand in the whole process. First when we called my mum when we were leaving the house, she was apparently up praying for us, at the hospital they allowed my hubby to be in the labor room with me all through, God gave him strength to be there for me when I needed him most, the surgery went on very well and I my healing process is going on perfectly. To add God intervened that we didn’t pay anything on the hospital bill, that the National Health Insurance Fund covered all the expenses to our surprise because we had earlier been told that it could only cover normal delivery and not CS. We had gone there by faith that I wouldn’t go through CS but God was in control that the hospital signed a new contract just before I went for delivery. Who is like our God? Another thing is I went through both labor and CS so I bet I can understand women who’ve been in either of the processes. I could go on and on about how I know God was there with me in the process.

Are you in a situation where you feel God hasn’t answered your prayers? Does it feel like He has left you on your own? If that’s you I encourage you to look more keenly and you’ll realize God is still there with you. You’ll see His influence in the situation. He says He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. Things might not go as we had desired but it doesn’t mean God isn’t there with us. It might take time before you see anything good, but He says all things work together the good… That means there’s good in every situation, give yourself time and you’ll be grateful that God has been with you all through even when you didn’t feel like He was.
Be blessed

Grambling Mum

It’s now a month since our daughter was born, I must admit that when people say new parents are sleep deprived they’re right. The last few weeks I had started getting overwhelmed by the many times the baby would be up at night. I found myself dreading nights, and being really angry at times when she’d be up and just kept crying and crying. Our story has however changed the last few days, when I remembered the power of gratitude.

I remembered that God expects me to give thanks for everything, and at that point I realized there was so much I could give thanks for. I had a baby who could actually wake me up in the night, she was able to cry, she could feed several times at night I didn’t have to wake her up to feed her, I had milk to feed her etc. With that our nights have become better, am no longer complaining, I have started enjoying the season and I trust I’ll keep enjoying.

In the same way, you might be going through a difficult time, feeling overwhelmed, maybe it could help Abit if you took a step back and became grateful for what you have. It’s easy to focus on the problem that we forget the blessings. Things might be very difficult at the moment, but like it’s said nothing in this world is permanent. Even that difficult season shall come to pass. Being grateful will give you hope and strength to go through, and I believe God is happy when we are grateful even when things aren’t going as we expected them to be.
Be blessed.

The longer route

Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.

God in His wisdom led the Israelites into the desert instead of leading them through a shorter route, because He knew if they faced war they could easily run back to find safety in Egypt.

Might you be in the longer route. Maybe you’re wondering why things are taking longer yet they could be accomplished in an easier way.

Today’s encouragement is, although things might look like they’re not working, God might be taking you through a safer route. A route that might seem longer, but it’s what is best for you. Your dream job, your dream wedding, dream family etc. It could be that God is taking you through a route that is not as short and easy as you expected but it is for your good.

3 easy Tips – Saving money successfully

Saving money is the new year resolution that very many write but hardly achieve. Below are easy steps you can follow to ensure you are looking back at the end of the year with a goal ticked.

1. Know your why?

Saving for a specific purpose gives you the energy to continue saving even when things become tough. A goal helps you to be focused. If you have no specific reason as to why you are saving, you might find yourself saving but never seeing any tangible results. This is because things will always come up that feel more urgent, and those that need immediate attention. Therefore it’s very easy to find yourself spending the money you’ve struggled to save for a long time, on something of less significance just because you never set a goal.

2. Amount or percentage

Your why will determine whether you are saving a percentage or a certain amount. For a long term goal I’d recommend saving a percentage of your income. This way regardless of whether your income increases or decreases over the years you will have your savings still going on. For short term goals, you might need to set aside a certain specific figure depending on the amount of time you have to accomplish your goal. This way for a short term goal you can save a huge amount by denying yourself some luxuries but just for a short while, since there’s a goal you are aiming at.

3. Keep away

I have realized the reason why at times it’s very difficult to save is if we have the access to the money at our disposal. If you are struggling with savings, you could have a standing order on your salary, you could keep the money in a fixed account, you could join a chama (club). Think of ways that you can keep the money away, to a place you don’t have easy access. This will help you not to end up misusing the savings due to unexpected events that may come up along the process.

Saving is a discipline that anyone can learn, and whenever you see the results of what you have been saving for then you will be happy you did.