“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me”…Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Mt 15:25, 28)

This is the story of a simple woman; a mother who deeply loved Jesus and her child. She has no name but she is remembered by all for her actions give glory to God. Her daughter was very sick. She was demon possessed; ‘mad’, as we say today. This woman is a Gentile, a Canaanite. She belongs to the enemies of God. You may ask: what good can come from such a woman? What lessons does she have to teach me? The Lord surprises us again, as His light shines in the darkness and His mercy speaks on behalf of this needy sinner.

This woman is asking for ‘help’. What is ‘help’? Help is receiving something from another who is stronger and richer than you. By receiving this gift of help, your life becomes easier. At least one of your burdens is gone. Think of it this way: If you have five problems and miraculously, God solves one for you – that is called help. But if you have five problems and you ask for five solutions in the same time, you are not asking for help. You are praying amiss. That is the prayer of a lazy, greedy man. You need wisdom when praying for help from God!

Another thing: The reason why God helps you and makes your life easier is so that now you have more time, more strength and more resources to better praise, worship and serve Him!!! God does not give you help for selfish reasons, to indulge your flesh. Your motives must be right with God. Help from the Hill of grace must lead you to serve the Lord of the hill. Never forget! The aim of help is to praise and give glory to God!

Let’s go back to the story… Jesus left Israel and went to the area of Sidon. This is pagan territory. Not many knew Him over there. But this woman, somehow, she heard of Him, that He is the Savior, Lord, Healer and Helper of the Jews, her enemies. She made up her mind to look for help among them who hate her. For the sake of her sick child, she will crawl under the table of God’s promises, looking for the discarded crumbs of grace. Even if she be called a dog, that is not a problem. In her mind she thought: Dogs too can go to heaven. This is called great faith! This is miracle working faith! Are you surprised? It is said that the brightest jewels are found in the darkest caves.

She called Him “Lord, the Son of David” (King David was the one who looks to the hills for help). Her daughter’s torment pushes her to the Desire of all Nations, the Hope of glory!  She knew that the help she needs, no ordinary man could give. Her faith brought her to the feet of Jesus. But the Help did not come immediately. There were hindrances down the road. But this mother knew that Jesus is the end of that road of seeking help. With great humility and faith she bowed at His feet and simply prayed: “Lord, Help me!” Some of the greatest prayers are very short. Just three words… But the work of the Holy Spirit in that heart was deep and glorious. The Lord simplifies our lives by His wisdom and grace. She pleads not merit, but depends upon God’s mercy alone.

This story teaches that there is love in Christ’s heart even when He ‘rejects’ us. This woman had great faith. This is written to encourage us. Though Jesus looks ‘harsh’ at the beginning He still answered her prayers. Let’s say with Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face” (Job 13:15). This woman had great faith because she was truly humble. She passed the test of greatness. ‘Humility comes before honor’ (PV 18:12). Those whom Christ intends to greatly honor and promote in life, He humbles them, first of all, that they may not depend on themselves for success. He who breaks them is He who heals them with ‘benefits’. This is the testimony of all the saints down the ages. Those who seek help from the Lord, and receive no immediate answer; they learn to turn even their weakness and discouragements into pleas for mercy! Then help comes from above!

Child of God, disappointment is not the end of your story. May all your rejections form men, may all your unspoken hurts and deepest pains lead you to the Helper! Lift up your eyes to the Hills of mercy and grace!  The Helper is coming to you! Praise Him as you wait for His arrival! Prepare the way for the Lord! Open the door of your heart as the King of glory enters in! What a glory He sheds on your way… “His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundaries known unto man… For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, He giveth, and giveth again’! Glory to God!

“MY MOST DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND, I cannot express my love to you, as I desire, in these poor, lifeless lines. But I do heartily wish you did see my heart, how true and faithful it is to you, and how much I do desire to be always with you. I want to enjoy the sweet comfort of your presence and those helps from you in spiritual and temporal duties, which I am so unfit to perform without you. It makes me to see my need of you and wish myself to be with you. But most of all I desire that we may be guided by God in all our ways. He alone is able to direct us for the best, and so, I will wait upon Him with patience, which is all-sufficient for me. In your absence I pray for you, for us, for the children…I miss you dearly…

PRAISE REPORT

A sister in Christ shared with me this testimony. God indeed saved her life! To God alone be all the glory! In Jesus name, amen!
This testimony is given to the glory of God, to the shame of satan and for the encouragement of the brethren!

“Dear Malia,
It couldn’t have been done by anyone else or for any other reason than my great God and for his love and mercy that has no end. The story could have been different but He made sure it ended His own way. You see, this God that I serve is awesome and mighty beyond description. A true saviour and redeemer. Dependable and mighty, able and faithful. I had been trusting God for so many things at the same time and this very particular miracle wasn’t even on the list, but He did it anyway because He is God.

This same day 4 years ago, I woke up and prayed and proceeded to drop my daughter off at school. She had only resumed a few days before. I picked up a sister and her baby after dropping her off and we went to a few shops around GRA, Benin to get some things. I dropped the sister and I decided to go back home as I suddenly developed a headache. As soon as I got into the car I locked the doors and was about to back into the road when suddenly, a young man walked to my door and was trying to get into the car. He pulled at the handle and I looked at him with my crazy eyes like ‘you dey crase or something? ‘ . Hmmm, the guy quietly pulled a gun out of a plastic bag and showed it to me. At that moment I just froze. I gently opened the door and he ordered me to the back seat. He followed me in and some other guy gets in the drivers seat and starts driving. I was confused, horrified and broken. He quickly dispossessed me of the cash, phones and jewellery I had on.

I begged, I begged like I had never begged in my life. ‘please just take the car and let me go, I have a little child at school ‘, I pleaded. The guy kept threatening to kill me if I don’t stop. They demanded for a 20million ransom before I will be released. 20 million ke. I laughed small sha in the midst of the tears, I just couldn’t help it. I told them it wasn’t possible because I didn’t even have a tenth of that. I begged and cried my eyes out. We drove through the major roads in Benin undetected and my hopes of being let go dwindled gradually.

We hit the expressway leading to the East and apparently, their get away ride didnt show up( the plan was to ditch the car at the bypass and continue in another car). So we continued the ‘journey’ in my mum’s car. They stopped to pick two more gang members and my imagination went mad. I wept, I wept for myself, my baby who wasn’t even 2 yet, I wept for my mother and my husband. I wondered who was wicked enough to plan such evil against me. And then I remembered to pray, as in really pray. So I began to pray o. Psalms 121 plus 91 plus 23 all mixed up. And I said in my heart, ‘God it is all up to You, do as You will. I am Yours and everyone knows I am Yours. Defend Your name.’ then I wiped my tears and watched as we went on.

Suddenly, we saw a highway patrol vehicle ahead of us. Immediately the driver saw them, he turned the car around, heading back towards Benin. The guy with the gun started arguing with him and they kept bickering at each other. I noticed the car was travelling at almost 160km, haaa I panicked and took permission to use my seat belt. Before I could even strap up, we heard a loud noise and the car lost control and veered off the highway and into the bush between the going and coming lanes. I began to scream, ‘JESUS! JESUS!! JESUS!!!’ (in my mind I was thinking, haba only me? Kidnapping and accident same day?). As soon as the car stopped, like action film all of them disappeared into the bush. Ha, me? All alone? In this bush? Naaaa. So I ran the opposite way to the express and flagged down cars, screaming for help. I got into one of the cars, a bus travelling to Lagos and I joined the passengers in front.

As soon as I got in the bus I started screaming, ‘thank You Holy Spirit,thank You Holy Spirit’, ohhh I wept, I was overwhelmed. I explained to the driver and passengers and I got a phone from them and called my husband. I couldn’t explain well enough so I handed the phone to the driver to explain better. I got off at an army checkpoint along the bypass and explained to the kind officers who drove me back to the accident scene. My husband had joined us at this point. We got down and saw some policemen towing out the car and we told them what happened( that was when I discovered that it was one of the tyres that bursted and led to the accident). They were shocked at my story. We went to the nearby police station and I couldn’t even write my statement because I was still shaking and weeping.We went back to Benin to report at the headquarters and some officers accompanied us back to the village police station.

When we got there, the officer in charge was angry at us as he had been trying to reach us on the phone but hubby’s battery had ran out. He said the vigilante group in the community had brought in two suspects and that I needed to identify them. Haaa, see me o. I finally went in after plenty fear and I saw a young man tied on the floor, I didn’t know him so I told the police so. The officer shouted at him and he immediately admitted. Ahh, that’s when I saw him well as the one who was driving. Kai, I broke down in tears, I asked him ‘why? What did I do to you?who sent you? ‘. Then they brought the second guy. I recognised him immediately. He was the one that pointed the gun at me and was sitting next to me in the car. They brought out the items found in their possession and it was all mine. Wow. This great God.

When we got back to the headquarters a few hours later with the kidnappers, it was like a party or something. People were rejoicing with us and asking so many questions. For me, I was just thankful. The Lord had delivered me and defended His name. I slept well that night. Yes I did. The devil had planned for me to have slept in the forest or a swamp or creek that night, but God’s mercy said NO. Three days later another gang member was arrested and after a few months, yet another was arrested.

Hmmm, it has been 4 years but it feels so new. Things changed, my life changed forever. I get paranoid, sometimes I’m scared, but I’m not broken, I’m strong in Jesus Name. God gave me another chance. He gave me a testimony that never gets old. He gave me a new song. He delivered me, He saved me. I know He saved me. Sometimes, I imagine what could have been if not for God who showed up for me. Hmmm, let’s not even go there. Thank you JESUS. Please all join me as I hail MY HELPER, MY KING- THE GOD OF AWESOME WONDERS!! JESUS IS LORD!!!”

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Ac 1:8)

The prayer meeting started well. The praise was good and strong. We praised Jehovah, the covenant keeping God. At the beginning, the brethren were quite shy to enter the presence of God. The evil spirit of religion was a hindrance. The brethren were spiritually passive. We had to do warfare against the evil powers of darkness, the spirits of fear, intimidation, manipulation, Jezebel, water spirits, doubt, discouragement and confusion. We destroyed the spell placed on them by occult powers. I was sure that the people of God were hungry. I could hear the rumblings of their (spiritual) stomachs. But the hunger was not strong enough to push them on. There was a battle in the atmosphere. Led by the Holy Spirit, we sang a prayer: “Do something new in my life, something new in my life, something new in my life, Oh, Lord…”

Because of my broken leg I did not attend the ‘Saturday Class’ for about three months. I was very hungry to be (re) filled with the Holy Spirit in the midst of the brethren.  But my reflexes of a mother kicked in. I had to wait until ‘the children’ eat and drink first. They did so slowly, carefully. At last, there was a breakthrough. The Holy Spirit came down closer to us. I could ‘feel’ Him as a weight, as a burden on my heart. That holy pressure was the signal for me personally. I freely dived into the river of Living Waters to cleanse and to drink. For the next few minutes I was only partially aware of the people around me. The Living God became very real to me. It is hard to explain… I stood in the light of God’s glory. I felt light and at peace; totally satisfied that I did not miss my holy moment. Yes, it is good to go to the House of the Lord! Nothing compares with the presence of the Holy Spirit filling a room in response to believers seeking God with all their hearts.  Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit we sang: “Jesus who died, He is now glorified! He is King of all kings!” Jesusssssssssssssss!!!!!! Hallelujah!

“I was asleep, but my heart was awake. There’s a sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open up for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. For my head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night” (SS 5:2)

Yesterday I spend the day with our daughter and her baby. Her husband has gone to work. I observed that her phone has two types of ring tones. There was the regular official tone for everybody calling. Then there was another tone, ringing a sweet music of love, coming from her husband. That is how she knew when he was the one ringing. She ignored the crowd tone some few times. But when the phone was ringing that special music she always ran to the phone, place the phone on her ears and went to a secret place to converse with her husband. I think this is wonderful… May all married women take this as an example…

“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it” (Is 46:9-11)

A sister said to me recently: ‘Malia, one reason why I like you it is because you are always intentional in all you say and do…’ I was a little surprised. This is the first time anybody called me ‘intentional’. I did not know what to think about the ‘compliment’… So, I decided to look at the word ‘intentional’. What does it mean? This is what I found…

To be intentional it means to think before talking, to be calculate and deliberate; to do all things on purpose, considering the consequences. It means to have a strategy in life and to apply it; to be pre-planned and premeditated. It is a form of loving effectual wisdom. To be intentional you need to have a purpose. A purpose is God’s design for that action! It is the reason for which something exists, something is done, made or used. The purpose is the intended or desired result of an action. It is the end or the goal of anything done. This behavior is blessed by God. This is because God is a God of purpose. Everything God does has a purpose. He knows the end from the beginning because He planned that expected end.

The opposite of being intentional means to be accidental or impulsive. This describe a man who acts without thinking, swayed by evil forces outside his control. If someone is impulsive, it means that he acts on instinct, without thinking decisions through. This man talks for talking sake. He acts just for acting sake. He has no plan, no design, no strategy or purpose. He is foolish man, ignorant of the consequences of his words or actions. For example, if you worked for an entire year to save money for a car and then suddenly decided to spend it all on a ‘designer bag’ instead, that would be an impulsive purchase. This behavior always ends in regrets.

In Christ I declare: I am a child of God! I serve the only Loving God! I worship the only Living God! I have the mind of Christ! I do all things to the glory of God! I love God! I love people! It is my desire that the will, the plan and the design of God be done in my life! By the grace of God, I think and pray before I speak! I think and pray before I act! I take responsibility for my words and actions! I take risks loving people and speaking the truth in their lives! If they receive my words, both them and me shall be blessed together! If they reject my words, I let go and just go on. Life is too short to dwell on rejection. May I ever be intentional in all I say or do; in my marriage and in my relationship with all my children ( natural and spiritual)! May all I say and do give glory to God! In Jesus name, amen!

“I will stand at my watch post;
I will remain stationed on the city wall.
I will keep watching, so I can see what He says to me
and can know how I should answer
when He counters my argument.

The Lord responded:
“Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets,
so the one who announces it may read it easily.
For the message is a witness to what is decreed;
it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.
Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently;
for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late” (Hab 1:1-3)

This is an advice for the children of God who receive prophetic messages. There are only two types of prophecies: false or true! There are no spiritual neutral (innocent) prophesies! You can never ‘play safe’ with prophesies!

The false prophesies originate from the devil and are spoken by false prophets. The intent of these words is to excite your flesh and quench your spirit. For example, a prophet tells you that you will become a millionaire but he does not inspire you to draw closer to God. That is a false hope and a false prophesy. Any word that does not lift The Lord Jesus Christ, that does not inspire you to worship God the more, does not challenge you to love the Bible, that is a deception and a lie. It is spiritual poison and it is deadly! You have to identify these false prophesies as soon as possible and with all the spiritual strength you have, you need to reject them the way you fight an enemy or a sickness. If you tolerate them, ‘meditate or pray about them’ the risk is that you grieve or quench the Holy Spirit in you. That is exactly what the evil wants. Then you become spiritually crippled and too weak to believe the truth when you hear it. God forbid! I say it again: God forbid!

Then there are the true prophetic words. These originate from the heart of God and come to you thru the appointed servants of God. These prophetic words are to be received and believed with all your heart. These are good spiritual healing blessed words. Please note that God does not need your money to produce results. In matters of faith, the poor and the rich are on a level ground. You need faith in God and faith in the prophetic word! God needs to work with your faith. Many believers have been disappointed by false prophets and now decide to reject all prophetic words, if they are true or false. That is foolishness. As a maturing believer you need to learn how to receive the good and reject the evil. You need to do both these actions! With time your skill in doing so will increase.

As a practical advice… I write down godly prophetic words. I love to write. I write them in my diary or even paste them by the mirror in my bathroom. I force myself to see them as often as possible to make it easier for me to believe them. Faith takes time to grow. I want to help my faith. Just like a mother and her baby, it is my responsibility to nurture my faith, to see it produce visible results. This is what I do daily: I study the Word of God, I pray (in English and in tongues), I worship God with words and songs and I believe prophetic words. This is my basic daily spiritual menu and I forbid dieting.

My prayer: I pray for you this morning that your spiritual appetite will increase, that your spirit will be revived to dream again, that you see yourself loved by the Father, happy and fulfilled as a child of God! For with our God, nothing is impossible! God loves you! God is never late! To Him be all the glory! In Jesus name, amen!

Somebody sent me a note this morning…
‘Dear Malia, I am a born again Christian. I have a good job. I am usually good in my office, hard working, patient and faithful. My boss is a good person. I know that I walk in the favor of God. recently I made a mistake in the papers… I am worried about the reaction of my boss… I need encouragement… Thank you…’

This is my answer to her:
‘Dear… thank God that you are a child of God. This is the most important thing to describe yourself. Things, people and jobs come and go but salvation is eternal. The. Bible promises that if you are a child of God, obedient and faithful to God, then peculiar blessings shall follow you (Deut 28:1-14). For example, God promised to bless the works of your hands! This blessing is from heaven! It is not from your boss! Just try your best in that office. The rest leave it to God. When you make mistakes, remember that you are not perfect, that you are human. Also, pray that God will turn your mistake into a testimony! God can do that! God wants to do that! So you see, there is no need to live your life in fear or have regrets. All things work together for good for the children of God! Never forget that!
Love, Malia’

“Where there is no revelation (prophetic vision) people cast off restraint (run wild and become naked); but blessed and joyful is whoever obeys God’s law” (PV 29:18)

God speaks to you first if all thru the Bible and His Spirit. He also speaks thru His prophets whose words are always in unity with the Word of God. God gives you not only a short term vision, how to solve your problems now, what you should do today. But He also gives you the long term plan, the strategy on how to maintain and refresh the miracles, your marriage, children or the healing you have received. Just like the lights of the car, you need both these revelations to be happy and successful in life.

“So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” ( Gen 18:6)

More than three months ago I broke my ankle. I could not stand or walk. My husband chose to lovingly and sacrificially take care of me during those difficult weeks. Some people advised that I should go ‘abroad to stay with our children, to have a better treatment’. Others said that we should hire a maid to take care of me. My husband and I, in one accord and ‘with no shaking’ (as we say in Nigeria) decided that I am going nowhere and I will stay in the house, in Warri, until healed. My husband also decided that we shall not hire anybody and that he will cook the meals and do whatever is necessary in the house. This decision was not easy because he is a very busy man with ministry and all. But this was what we decided as a married couple.

The devil attacked and I was incapacitated for a while. We did not want to make it easier for the devil by allowing any form of separation in the flesh or spirit between the two of us. We did not want to bring in any strange spirit in the form of a hireling ‘maid’. The danger to negatively affect the atmosphere in the home was greater than the so called benefits. So we decided ‘to stick together’, to pray and to seek the face of God thru it all. Looking back, I can confidently say that it was a very wise decision. As my ankle was healing, so our marriage became better, stronger and sweeter. We had time to re-bond as a couple. We had long uninterrupted hours of fellowship in the presence of God. We open our hearts afresh to The Holy Spirit and to one another. We became vulnerable to one another once more. We prayed new prayers. We sang new songs.

Since last year we had planned a vacation during this time. For some time we were not sure if I can make it. I did not want to travel in a wheel chair. But God His wonders. This vacation is one of the best we ever had. I am still limping (for now) but the sweet wine of Jesus produced long ago at the wedding in Cana flows gently in our marriage. This trip was free from errors of judgment, foolish anxieties and unnecessary complications. It was very relaxing and good for our bodies and spirits. Thank God!

I want to confess this: one thing I truly missed all those weeks of lying in bed is to wake up before my husband, to have a quick ‘quiet time’ alone, drink my coffee, and then prepare our breakfast. It is true that my husband became a champion at cooking during this time of trial. But I still consider the kitchen to be my own personal ministry and I was so happy to come back to my holy duties as a wife. We are in Houston in a hotel with a mini kitchen (we generally like to stay in hotels that have cooking facilities). I just finished making an omelette (4 eggs, onions, tomatoes, hot pepper, ham…) and I am happily waiting for my husband to wake up hungry for both spiritual and physical food. By the grace of God, I am ready to give him both. Like with Sarah of old’, you never know if one day you have the privilege to cook for angels or even for The Lord! Your dreams can come true at the end of a good meal!

Marriage is sweet for me, for us… What the devil intended for evil, God used it for good. God always has the last say in the affairs of His children. To God be all the glory!

Lastly… dear children, be happy for your parents are happy! This is your inheritance and approved by God portion in life! Reject depression and frustration! Reject poverty and foolishness! Reject doubt and stagnation! Rejoice in The Lord! And I say again: rejoice! It is well!

Your mother,
Malia

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (Jn 10:28)

One thing that surprises me each time we come to the US is the amount of disposables that fill the trash cans. It is true that using them makes the work easier. You eat from a paper plate and drink soda from a paper cup. No need for washing. I use this ‘method’ too when I am here. But seeing so many disposable things filling the trash cans all over the place affects my spirit. Not immediately but slowly it erodes my understanding and my appreciation for eternal things ‘that never perish’. i need to remind myself today: the salvation of my soul and the blessings of Christ are Eternal!!!

Our daughter took us to a place in Houston called French Riviera Bakery. It is a very successful and unique restaurant. It is not the most beautiful place in town. They serve good breakfast (omlette, pancakes…), cakes, French bread, coffee and tea. surprisnigly, the place is always packed with many customers, especially on Saturday mornings. It is a Christian family business. What is interesting is that they close each day at 4 pm. They do not open on Sundays. Another interesting thing is that each summer they close down the shop for 6 weeks. You see it writen on the main door: ‘We and our staff have gone on vacation with our families’. In spite of all this, their business is very successful. This is another proof that if you put God and family first, the work of your hands will be blessed. This is a good word for the wise!

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart” (Ezekiel 36:26)

The Bible describes two types of hearts: hard (un spiritual, unbelieving, of the flesh) and soft (spiritual and believing). We are all born sinners. A sinner needs to come to Christ and repent of his sins. Then the miracle happens: God will change his heart, his spirit. This is what it means to be born again, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It means to be saved and have eternal life. Are you really saved?

The hard heart is a sinful stubborn and proud heart. It is un-sensitive to God or to the feelings of other people. The hard heart is the reason why men and women are not able to marry, why couples divorce or why they cannot be faithful friends to others.

Read in the book of Exodus the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh. Jehovah God commands Moses to go back to Egypt and free His people from their slavery. God tells him that Pharaoh will not listen because He has ‘hardened’ his heart (Ex 4:21). These are some of the signs of a hard heart as seen in Pharaoh words and actions: A hard heart is a wicked heart. It hates God and His people, he hates the true worship of God and prayer. It sees no value in serving God. It calls spiritual sacrifice laziness (Ex 5:8). A hard heart is very stubborn, unwilling to change, totally resistant to any outside influence. This extreme stubbornness is not natural but demonic (1Sam 15:23).

God punished Pharaoh. A hard hearted person will be demoted losing all privileges and social position. Poverty, loneliness and failure are the effects of a hard heart. No man or woman can prevail against a person whose heart is hard; no begging or pleading can change him. Only God can ‘break’ that heart and change it, but thru much pain and suffering. Pharaoh pretended to repent but his repentance was fake. He did not fear God even after much display of His supernatural power (Ex 6:1; 9:27-30). A hard unrepentant heart surely ends in disaster! (PV 28:13. 14)

If you have a hard heart, my words seem like foolishness to you. You will reject the truth that sets you free. I can only plead for mercy from The Lord on your behalf. If you are a believer and married to a hard hearted person, then you should know that it is only God who can help you. There is no need to fight, quarrel or plead with your stubborn spouse. It will not work. Pray this prayer: ‘Father God, no matter what it takes, save my husband’s (or my wife’s) soul. Have mercy on us! In Jesus name!’

Salvation in Christ is the beginning of the true change. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit the hard heart becomes soft, merciful, wise and loving. The change is supernatural, dramatic, real and gives God alone all the glory. The saved person becomes responsible and spiritually mature. He now is a true faithful friend!

Humanly speaking, the change of heart is a difficult process. There are tears and sleepless nights of prayers. To enjoy the benefits of a new heart and a new happy marriage takes years of work. But it is worth the effort! It requires knowing and applying the Word of God, love, faith, patience, wisdom, fasting and many prayers. There is also need for spiritual warfare and deliverance as the Spirit leads. This is the deep peculiar work of salvation, done by the Holy Spirit in the souls of men. Religion cannot do it. Attending church cannot do it! The pastor cannot do it! Only The Lord Jesus Christ can change the hearts of men! It is not an easy road but it is the only road that leads to life eternal, success, prosperity, peace and joy. It is the only way to have a happy and successful marriage! I am a witness to it! I promise you that if you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, The Lord will do it! To God be all the glory!

“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth” (PV 5:14)

I received a letter from a sister in Christ, a testimony to God’s grace in her life. She is a committed Christian. She is married for about 12 years. She and her husband struggled with their relationship at the beginning of their marriage. They come from difficult backgrounds and did not know how to apply the Christian principles to their marriage. The husband did not know how to love ‘like Christ loves the church’ and she did not know to submit to her husband ‘as unto the Lord’. As they were trying to have children they had three miscarriages. For a long time they also had financial problems. They are much better now. I am a witness that both of them overcame many odds by the grace of God. This letter shows a much happier woman. As you read this letter, may your faith increase! May God change your water into wine in your marriage! God can do it! He can change impossible situations and make the Rose bloom in the dessert! If you believe…

“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And this is their vindication from Me,” says The Lord” (Is 54:17,AMP)

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (Jam 1:19, 20)

More than three months ago I fell and broke my ankle. My cast was removed about four weeks ago. Since then I have been trying to exercise my leg and to walk as normal as possible. This vacation trip was planned since last year. For a moment there was the possibility that I could not travel. I did not want to go in a wheelchair, to be a burden on the other brethren who are traveling with us. But God made a way. I started the journey with one crutch. Then I walked with a walking stick. Two days ago I abandoned the stick also. I am now walking by myself, though limping. If I am very tired, I hang on my husband’s arm. I am grateful to God for the small daily improvements. If you have never been sick, you will not appreciate the joy of getting better. God is great, I tell you!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters” (Ps 24:1,2)

“There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you” (Deut 12:7)

We are on vacation, on a cruise ship, together with twelve other Christian couples. We are seeing new sights, eating new food, experiencing new things in different other cultures. The purpose of this trip is relaxation and excitement, as couples, in the presence of God. Some have already learned how to ‘enjoy’ life. Some others still struggle with fears of losing control or with guilt about spending money. They cannot fully enjoy this time.