LET YOUR GLORY FALL

Oct7 by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“Let the weight of Your glory cover us
Let the life of Your river flow
Let the truth of Your kingdom reign in us
Let the weight of Your glory fall…”

Safety is not the absence of danger, but living in the center of the presence of God.
Move on closer to the Throne of God!
Disappear in His shadow of light.
Lean on His everlasting arms.
Listen to the heart beat of the Father.
The fragrance of incense offered by the saints caresses your cheeks.
No noise, no fear, no worry! Too high for all that…
The Bridegroom smiles and calls your name…
Now, you are safe!

‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord: He is my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust’ (Ps 91:1, 2)

(Pictures of me and my husband during the Sunday service today)

SLL 53

RSL 8

FROM PAIN TO PRAISE

Oct6 by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me” (2 Cor 12:8, 9).
The thorn in the flesh troubles me, weakens me, oppresses me. It is a hidden pain. I prayed that it may be removed. I thought that its removal will be my healing, my deliverance. But the Lord said: ‘Leave it there. It is the attack of the enemy but I approve of it. It will dry your doubts, fail your fears and oppose your oppression. Thru it all, your spirit shall become stronger and your faith shall stand. My grace is what you need. My favor on you is the key to healing and ministry. Let the Cross do the deep work in you. The fruit is for My glory and it will surely manifest. Trust Me not only at the beginning of your walk with Me; not only for the destination. Trust Me for the journey. Every step together… The beauty of communion…We are in this together. Enjoy My presence. Relax and follow Me! Talk less and sing more! My grace and My love is all that you need… I love you, child…’

TESTIMONY OF CHANGE

Oct3 by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

I just received a wonderful testimony from a young wife and mother. Since last year, she has been attending our church (Father’s House Bible Church, Effurun-Warri). Reading it, I sense the leading of the Holy Spirit helping this young couple. When the Holy Spirit shuts a door, He opens another. You can see that God blesses spiritually first, and materially second. God rewards genuine faith, humility and spiritual hunger. This testimony is given to the glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of others!

“Dear Malia,
I want to share my testimony with you Ma.Please bear with me Malia its a long write up.God has been so good to me and my family. In July last year my husband stopped attending church services and when i asked he told me he was no longer flowing with the way the message was being dished out and he doesn’t like the pattern of the service (we were members of …. Christian Church).

I felt bad every Sunday when I go alone to church. People that knew us in church will always ask after my husband. But I kept on praying and fasting about it, waiting patiently on God to help me touch his heart.

On the 3rd week of September 2017 I woke up to prepare for service and I was amazed to see that he was willing to attend church that day. We got set and left the house. I noticed he was taking another route driving a different direction from that of our church.i was quiet because I dint want him to change his mind but our daughter curiously asked him where we were going to. And then he said: ‘I am taking my girls to our new church… don’t worry girls you will like the idea…’ At this point I was still quiet and calm, praying and thanking God for the breakthrough in my mind and for God to have his way. I prayed: ‘let it be a church I could relate with…’ Few minutes later we got to Father’s House Bible Church.

He parked the car and while we were still inside he turned to me and said: ‘a few days ago I was driving when I heard the Pastor of this church preaching in the radio and it was an instant connect.I couldn’t stop or change the channel.The Pastor was deeply rooted and so straight to the point. Infact let’s go in so you can hear for yourself. I have never been here and nobody invited me here…’ I said ok!

Prior to this time I have heard about the church so many times and have been invited to come for Nativity and Jesus Mega Party by my friend of over 20 years, who is a member of your church.
But since my husband doesn’t like the idea of going from one church to another I have never honored any of the invitations.

I was so elevated in my spirit that day and I really liked and enjoyed the church service. I started the weekly foundation school classes and also midweek service. In a short while i learnt a lot and it felt like I was so new in Christianity. My faith was increasing and I found my place. (I will like to say at this time Malia that the presence of God is truly really in Fathers House Bible Church)

The first week of October came with a major temptation. I got a call from my husband who left the house few hours ago for work,saying he had an accident on the major expressway and the car somersaulted 3 times into the bush. Let’s thank God because he is fine and without any scar! IT WAS GOD!!! The next day I got 2 different calls from family members saying it’s because we changed church that’s why the accident happened. I just ignored them…

In December I had finished the classes and shared my testimony with my friend that my husband has never missed Sunday church and midweek service since we started attending the Church. And to me it feels like I have a brand new husband. He became deeply rooted in the word of God and in prayers. Our marital life became even sweeter. ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!

In Jesus Mega Party 2017 I held my daughter by the hand and as we entered the field i prayed with faith that God will bless me with the fruit of the womb for the second time after 7 years.

In February 2018, Malia you declared in one of the services that God has answered prayers especially to the new comers. I BELIEVED THE PROPHETIC WORD! That same week I found out I was pregnant. After series of costly medical procedures that failed and after 7 years of waiting, GOD DID IT NATURALLY! First trimester I couldn’t move much. I missed going to church but I always hooked up online to our YouTube live services on Sundays,Wednesdays and all night services. God has kept me with a healthy pregnancy through the months. I am due to have a baby boy this month of October. I have faith everything will be fine! I will keep in touch!

Thank you so much Malia for your words of encouragement in church and on this social media platform.They go a long way in my life. I appreciate your continious prayers.GOD BLESS YOU MA….”

STOP THE ARGUMENTS NOW!

Oct3 by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.

Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars” (PV 18:19)

In Hebrew it means that if your true friend betrays you, the friendship is mortally wounded. Love becomes like a beggar, a fugitive on the streets of unfulfilled dreams. The broken heart will look for the home where it grew up but now, the gate is closed, the password forgotten. The split, the divorce will grow to become a monster, bold and loud, rude and wicked, too hard for mercy to conquer. A once close friend, when injured or deceived, becomes a potent and irreconcilable enemy. These are some sayings from wise men of old: ‘bitter are the quarrels of friends; those who love beyond measure will also hate beyond measure; deep friendship once injured is forever lost’. Jesus said this: ‘Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come but woe to that man by whom the offense comes’ He said that it is better to cut off hand or foot and even pluck your eye than to offend, to injure, to betray ‘a little’ child of God (Mt 18:6-9).

Do not take your marriage for granted. Be very careful to avoid quarrels which cause division. Be sensitive when you sense that ‘the devil is in the room and the quarrel is coming’. The Holy Spirit will prepare your heart to sense that you need to keep quiet and still. Communication is like playing table tennis. Each partner feels like responding to the words of the other. Be careful: if the tone of voice becomes too high, the tendency to argue increases. Show self-restrain. Both love and self-control are fruits of the Holy Spirit. Talking is like driving a car. It is exciting to drive it full speed. It is fun to defend your opinions. But look at the Holy Ghost ‘traffic signs’. Keep below the speed limit. Learn to use your breaks. From time to time check your spiritual brakes, if the pads of patience are still functioning well and the oil of wisdom still intact. Quarrels between close friends, between husband and wife can end in disaster. You can wreck your marriage and it may not be possible to repair it on earth. Behave and speak in such a way that tomorrow, you do not need to apologize for your actions and words of today.

MY TESTIMONY

For me, apology is a friend and an enemy in the same time. For example, if my husband tells me that he is grieved by my actions or words, I apologize immediately. If I am not aware that he is wounded that is different. But if he tells me that I grieved him, the apology must come instantly from my heart. This is not the time to analyze my behavior. I know that he loves me. He prays for me. If he says I was wrong, then I am wrong. Period! Pain for me is a wonderful teacher. I do not waste it. I learn from everything, even from my ignorant mistakes. I apologize and promise to change. And I keep my word. I pray and trust God to change. I do not foolishly repeat the same mistake again and again taking for granted that the Holy Spirit will help us ‘to settle’. I always remember that love is a very delicate thing. A sudden electrical surge of one second can destroy a very expensive computer. Even so, a ‘little’ quarrel can damage trust and quench the spirit of love. So, I am very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit! In Christ I declare that Jesus Christ is my first Lover! My husband is my second lover! Then follow the children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and friends! I thank God for them all! This is my story! This is my song!

Child of God, when things are hard, when tears freely flow and nothing is able to stop them, when you make mistakes, when you are misunderstood, when friends fail and family withdraws… then remember that God is always faithful! “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!” (Heb 13: 8). He was betrayed by sinners but He loved us to the end. Crawl into His loving arms and find peace. You may not have all the answers. You do not need to have all the deep revelations of conflict because God knows them all. He knows your heart. He knows that you love Him. He knows your weakness and your strength. He knows each word even before it comes on your tongue. He loves you with an everlasting love. You are secure in knowing Jesus, your Savior, King and Best Friend. He died for you. He forgives you. He is still with you inside your heart. No matter what, you can always rejoice! Love is not easy. But love is still the best gift of God. Be jealous over your heart! Cherish it! In all thinks give thanks!

ATTENTION PARENTS!

Oct2 by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years.” (Gen 5:21-23)

This is my story… As a doctor I delivered many pregnant women. As a pastor, I prayed for many women to become mothers and I rejoiced with them when their children were born. They all look so happy. But in my case it was different! I still remember the feeling I had once my first child was born. I was an unbeliever at that time. I was also very young. I prepared myself mentally and emotionally to be a wife and a doctor. I did not prepare myself enough to be a parent. Motherhood was bestowed upon me by a God I did not know at the time. Our first baby was born as a medical emergency before the expected date of delivery. They were complications… I was a medical student at that time… The doctor said that the chance for the baby boy to live is 50-50. But the baby made it! Oh, the relief… I looked at him… So beautiful… but fragile too… I suddenly became afraid that I will not be able to be a good mother to this baby. I also knew that our relationship will last for a life time. For better or for worst, that is a long time… I felt the mantle of responsibility fall on my young shoulders. Often, this mantle was light and easy but heavy other times. Our baby is a man now. He is a father of children. But the mantle of motherhood is still on me. I feel it. Motherhood thought me many lessons of life I could not have learned otherwise..At the beginning I struggled with it. I felt it as restrictive… But it stayed on… Thank God! .It was only after I became saved that I truly accepted it without complaining when hard days came by. I grew with my children… I now walk with it, in the assurance that God, who gave me these children, He is in charge of their lives and mine… We shall walk together, from beginning to the end. This knowledge makes me happy as a mother! Even as a grandmother… It gets better day by day! Motherhood brought me closer to God! Glory to God!

Enoch is listed among God’s many heroes of faith, but apparently, he wasn’t always such a spiritual champion. Something occurred in Enoch’s life that changed him for being someone who was ordinary into someone who was extraordinary. What was it that changed Enoch so much? He became a father!

Notice that the Bible says that Enoch walked with God ‘after he fathered Methuselah.’What his spiritual life was like before he became a father we’re not told. Scripture seems to indicate that it wasn’t anything special. But after Methuselah was born everything changed. What was it about this child’s birth that changed Enoch?

Parenthood has a way of changing most of us. It’s sobering to suddenly realize that you are responsible for taking care of this little life. But there is more. Enoch also realized that he needed to prepare his son for what was ahead.

Enoch’s son was named ‘Methuselah.’ Many of us know that Methuselah was the oldest man who ever lived. The Bible says that he lived to the ripe old age of 969 years. But Methuselah’s longevity of life was due to more than just good genes. Many believe that his name means: ‘when he dies it will come.’What would come? God’s judgment would come upon the world through a catastrophic flood.

Putting the numbers together, it seems that the year Methuselah died the flood came. Some have gone so far as to say that the day Methuselah died the flood came. How close the flood was to his death we’re not told, but we do see from his unique name and longevity of life that God does all He can to save men from judgment. We read from the book of 2 Peter:

“… in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?’ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:3, 8-9)

We’re not told who gave Methuselah his name. Perhaps it was Enoch. Perhaps it was God. Either way, through Methuselah’s birth, Enoch was suddenly made aware of the fact that he shouldn’t take his walk with God for granted. Parents must realize that they not only have the responsibility of providing for their children, they also have the responsibility of protecting their children, and preparing them for the future! Oh, the wonderful privilege and responsibility to be a mother or a father to children, both natural and spiritual! God bless you parents!

(Me and John, our first born, in Romania, about 1974)