“The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe” (PV 18:10)

Today is exactly four weeks since I fell and broke my ankle. It has been quite a journey. I know that God could have prevented my fall, for He has done so all my life. But He allowed this accident to happen so that thru it all, He may be glorified!
There are so many revelations I have received since this fall. Like I said to you, God’s ways are often strange to us, human beings. His ways are different and much higher than ours. As a child of God you should be always grateful and give thanks to your Father in heaven! This should be your attitude in life!

My dear children, let me remind you of this: God is never afraid of what we call emergencies of life. He is never shaken from His throne in heaven by our crises and challenges. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses for as a Man He experienced all our pains. But He is never troubled by them. After our Lord went back to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit that we may live in victory just like He did. He also gave us access to the authority invested in His wonderful name. Oh, the name of Jesus…

This is my testimony: the moment I fell, I did not stop to ask any questions. I ran to hide in the power of the name of Jesus! It is not only that I called His name aloud, but my spirit ran towards the throne of mercy and grace to find help in that my time of need. Like we say in Nigeria… ‘See race…’ But if I did not know how to go there, I could have been in serious trouble. If I did not know how to seek God at the mercy seat, I could have been confused. If I did not know God’s ‘address’ I could have been captured by the devil. If I did not know how to dive into the ocean of God’s grace, I could have been shaken spiritually. I could have ended not only with a broken bone, but with a broken spirit, filled with anger at what has happened and querying God in all this. Then the devil could have rejoiced at his victory. But thank God for victory!

This is my experience: the name of Jesus was too strong for my enemy to break, too high for him to climb its walls, too hot for him to quench. I ran there as a child runs to the mother when he is afraid. And immediately I entered the strong tower of the name of Jesus, I felt safe, secure and strong. My leg was still paining me but my spirit had the victory!

This is an extremely practical lesson: It is what you do when there is peace that you can apply in times of war. Walk while you have light so that when darkness comes and the walk stops, you may be found in a good safe place. Learn to love the name of Jesus before the trouble comes! Study the Word of God and find the revelation of the power invested in the name of Jesus! This eternal deposit of holiness shall be your strength in times of trouble when no man understands and no man can help.

My children, please listen to me: If you are lost and you need salvation, if you are afraid and you need comfort, if you are lonely and you need a friend, if you are poor and you need provision, if you are single and you need a life partner, if you are barren and you need a child, if you are weak and you need help, if you are anxious and you need peace, if you are sick and you need healing, if you are confused and you need direction, if you are foolish and you need wisdom, if you are under attack and you need protection from enemies, if you need the strength of a father, the compassion of a mother and much more that all these things, go to Jesus! Run towards Jesus! Do not look back, left or right! It does not matter what men or devils say about your situation! Believe the report of The Lord! Run to Jesus! There is power in the name of Jesus! Dwell inside His name and you shall be saved!

Singing: ‘No other name like the name of Jesus… no other name like the name of my Lord… No other name like the name of Jesus.. Is worthy of glory, is worthy of honor, is worthy of power and of praise!’ Hallelujah!

“Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:27-31)

Tomorrow shall be four weeks since I fell and broke my ankle. I have to stay on bed rest because of the cast. There are so many lessons I am learning from this time of slowing down. During that fall, my flesh was weakened and my bone was broken. But surprisingly, my spirit became stronger and more alert than ever. It is like I suddenly became wide awake from a deep sleep! Right now, the power of resurrection bubbles in me like an engine fueled from heaven! This revelation is a great mystery but such a blessing to me!

If I ever have to chose between flesh being strong or spirit being strong, I will always chose the latter! I wrote ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ on my cast so that I remind myself that in whatever situation of life, in poverty or riches, in sickness or in health, the covenant of God stands forever! The name of Jesus shall be the standard by which all things shall be judged! At His name all knees shall bow and all tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!

My flesh is slower than before because I am not supposed to apply weight on my left leg. Standing on only the right leg, even with the help of the crutches, it is not easy. I feel unbalanced and insecure. In the past, I will just look ahead and move, talking my feet for granted, that they will cooperate without grumbling. But now I have to look well, study the path ahead of me, and calculate my steps. The ground should not be wet and slippery… Things should not be scattered on the floor to hinder my steps… I am thinking like a baby now… But there is progress… I have discovered that I am now faster and more confident on my crutches… Of course I could have desired to walk without them but until then, I am grateful for this little improvement… I have also discovered that my right (good) leg is getting stronger to compensate for the weakness of his twin ‘brother’ that is hurt… I can now stand longer on the right leg without shaking or getting tired… ‘Right leg, well done!’

All these little gains remind me that God has created me and not myself. My 62 years old body, even with a broken bone, is clearly ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ by God. That is why I have hope that I will walk again without the help of crutches! As I am waiting for God to do His work in me I have faith that He will not abandon my body in this cage of infirmity! His promise stands that I shall rise up with wings like an eagle! My new wings are getting ready! I am not a chicken! I am an eagle with a broken leg but still an eagle! The coward chickens on the ground should still fear me! I shall fly like an eagle! I shall hunt like an eagle! This is what the Holy Spirit tells me and I am ready to believe every word He says!

You too my children, please be encouraged! Our God knows the future because He is the One who creates the future! His plan shall prosper in our lives! Imitate me as I imitate Christ! I am not saying that you should fall like me… But from whatever cage of limitations you find yourself in, put all your trust in the Living God! He is the God of miracles and wonders! He is the God who changes the impossible into the possible! He is the God who heals you! He is the God who fulfills the words of the prophets! He is the God who created the eagles! He renews our strength! God is not afraid of your problems! Let’s arise and shine, for the glory of The Lord is risen upon us! In Jesus name, amen!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Tske My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)

My dear children, I have received a word of wisdom for you… For you who are over- worked and under- payed: I believe that you carry more load than you are supposed to carry. This is a spiritual problem. God gives us burdens to carry, responsibilities to fulfill. He tells us to pray for some people… He also gives us the wisdom and the strength to carry those. Then the devil comes and adds his own, secretly trying to deceive us that it is God’s burden. But the devil’s load comes with anxiety and depression. He is merciless and wicked. His intent is to frustrate you and blame God for your failure in life. The devil will not help you carry these fake burdens. He will deceive you to waste time and energy in prayers God cannot answer!

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jam 4:7)
It is almost 4 weeks since I fell and broke my ankle. As I am forced to stay indoors I have been praying more than ever before. Thank God for the gift of prayer!

There are many things to learn. One important lesson is this: if you like it or not, if you believe or not, there is a spiritual warfare going on. The devil is real and the battle is strong. He hates God and he hates the children of God! That means, if you are a born again believer, the devil hates you! We have a tendency to read these words like they are fiction or fairy tales. But the truth is that spiritual warfare is real and the best thing you should do is to prepare for it! Selah!

The scripture above is so simple that you may ignore it. But this is the Word of God! It reveals the key to your personal deliverance! The first thing you notice is the command to ‘submit to God’. To submit it means to totally surrender and to stop resisting. Remember that we are born sinners and enemies to God. For many years we have lived in rebellion to God, practicing doubt and indulging in foolish fears. We resisted God’s will for our lives. We resisted God’s Spirit and His Word! We loved the world with its superficial glamour and empty promises. We were addicted to a life of foolishness, oppression and greed.

Once you became saved, you need to completely change direction. You need a new vision and a new purpose in life! You even need to change camps in the battlefield. You need to leave the devil’s army and go to the side of God. You become a soldier for Christ. Then, putting on the whole armor of God, you turn back and face the devil. You abandon and betray the devil! You start fighting him! You need to actively resist, oppose and stand against the devil! It is an experience! You need to learn how to stand strong in the faith against the accuser of the brethren! You say NO to fear, doubt, confusion, complication, pride, lust, greed, selfish ambitions, wickedness, slander, oppression, lies and intimidation! You cannot do it in your strength! You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to resist the Tempter! Like Jesus, you need to declare the Word of God over your situation saying: ‘It is written…’ The devil will attack mostly with intimidation saying: ‘if you resist me I will kill you…’ But this is a lie! Resist the devil and he will flee (run, scatter, vanish) from you! Not from your neighbor or you pastor! From YOU! I say ‘FROM YOU!’

I pray that these words will strengthen you to stand and fight for you life, for your marriage, for your children, for your ministry and for your destiny! God is with you! Obey the Word of God! Confess and repent from all known sins! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! You overcome the devil by the Blood of the Lamb and by the words of your testimony! Do it! Be free! Be strong! There is victory in Jesus! Your situation shall change! Just like that! In Jesus name! Amen!

“Get up; go away! For this is not your resting place yet…” (Micah 2:10)

These are notes from my traveling diary:
One of the most difficult things to do is to keep walking until you reach your destination. We easily find excuses to slow and sit down. Every nice bench will do for tired bones. Even the floor looks inviting…
This hotel room looks better than my own back home. The bathroom is marble and the door is made of mirror. So why leave them and go? This is the answer: Because it is not mine. I have not yet reached my resting place.

 
“Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” ( Ecc 4:9-12)

Today is the 23rd day since I fell and broke my ankle. I have to stay indoors with a cast on my leg. Like I said, God’s paths are often strange to bring us to a place of humility and power. In all things I chose to obey His commands and to give Him thanks. I am grateful to God not only that He ‘broke my fall’, for it could have been worst. But I actively thank God for His presence with me and for the great lessons He is teaching me thru this journey. Faith in God must be tried to be proven true! I am excited and happy, for I know that my faith shall shine like gold purified in the fire. I have prayed for this purification so now I have it! Pain or no pain, the end of this trial will bring fresh anointing from heaven! That is another reason why I give God thanks! You too my children, you should give thanks to God with me!

A great lesson I am learning right now is the power and the reward of a true laborer in Christ! The blessings that come to a worker who works in a team! Look at the scripture above: it is said that ‘two are better than one’. This can be applied to marriage or godly relationships. But here it is applied in particular to workers who work together. The benefits are great: when one worker falls under stress or under attack, the other workers will lift him up! This is God’s promise! For workers love and appreciate one another , for they need one another. This help is not promised to sinners who waste their lives together in empty pleasures. When that sinner falls, the other ‘fair weather friends’ will abandon him and run away! But not so in the Body of Christ, among the co-laborers with God! We are together ‘thru thick and thin’! Praise The Lord!

This is my testimony: My husband and I are married for more than 42 years. We help and encourage one another thru the many challenges of life. If you want a successful and happy marriage, then you should be ready for hard work. Lazy people end up in divorce. Now that I need my husband’s help more than ever, I discover that he is strengthen by God to help me more. I am so grateful for his patient help!!! Culturally speaking, it is not easy for a man to go to the kitchen, cook and bring food to his wife. But this is what he is doing, happily so. We are husband and wife and friends. We are also co- laborers with God in His vineyard. This is a great lesson: if I was a selfish wife, a careless friend or a lazy worker, I could have suffered now when I am in need… But by the grace of God, I say like the Apostle Paul ‘I have worked hard’ in the past so now God’s insurance and promises are working on my behalf. The help I receive now is more than I could have imagined!

Apart from my husband, there are other brethren who come and help us at this time of need. They do not help because we are beautiful or rich. They help us because we are family in Christ and laborers together for God! ‘The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me’ ( Ps 118:7; NKJ). We shall share in the reward and we shall rejoice together. The devil has failed to scatter us, to divide us! The worship must continue! The work of God must continue!

So you see that you should not be ‘sorry’ for me! I too am free from self pity! I declare that in Christ, I am blessed! My team of holy laborers is blessed! Pity him or her who separates from the Body, who is alone in her labor, who wants to eat alone and be happy alone! Pity that one!

But as for me and my household we shall serve The Lord all the days of our lives! We shall work and rejoice together in the Lord! The Holy Spirit makes us to be ‘a three fold cord not quickly broken’! I fell an broke my ankle but the cord of the eternal love in Christ can never be broken! Be sure of that! Be encouraged today! Glory to God in the highest! Jesus is Lord!

 
“Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him!
I will surely defend my ways to His face.
Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before Him!
Listen carefully to what I say;
let my words ring in your ears.
Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated” (Job 13:13-18)

Today is three weeks since I fell and broke my foot. I never knew that God planned for me such a wonderful time with Him alone, for me to rest my soul and feed my spirit in His presence… Apart from the first hour of pain the rest part of this journey is filled with light, peace and joy.

Like I said, there are so many good lessons for me to learn… With my foot arrested in the cast, I am forced to slow down my physical activities. But my spirit is not in prison for it is bound with the Word of life that knows no limitations.

What are some of these lessons? The first one that comes to my mind is that God often leads His children thru strange paths but He remains the same! In the natural, we do not see any good coming from a time of sickness, for example. We ask ourselves ‘what good can come out of this situation as I lie down on this hospital bed… Or having no money… Or abandoned by friends?’ We try to think of a gain in the pain but we find none. But not so with God. He leads us thru dark ravines, stormy seas and valleys of shadows so that we discover that His Word, His grace and His presence is sufficient to live!

God alone can shine His light in the midst if darkness! He alone can squeeze the grapes of my soul to produce the sweet wine of mature faith! He alone is able to disappoint the hopes of my enemies when they see me down like a fallen sparrow with a broken wing…’can she ever fly again?’ They say to one another…Yes, for with God there is always the supernatural strength for a new beginning!

Like Job, me too I say that no matter what happens to me in this life I will always hope in my Savior! If God is my friend or my ‘enemy’ I will still trust in Him! Jesus died to save my soul? Why will I then be so ungrateful and wicked to doubt His love for me now? No devil can destroy this my hope for it us not him who gave hope to me! I boldly declare that I am God’s child. In His will, He gave me the right of inheritance. He shed His Blood that I may inherit His Spirit, His peace, His joy, His faith and His personal hope. No enemy can take these promises away! These blessings are mine forever! My sickness or my trial cannot go so deep that I will find myself lost and without hope. That can never happen! God will never allow it to happen! I know it!

Jesus commanded us: ‘Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life!’ (Rev 2:10). This is my desire! I want to be found faithful to the end! In good times and in bad times I want to hold on the hand of my Jesus! It is my prayer and my choice! Fever or no fever, fracture or no fracture, I refuse to doubt God’s goodness in my life! He is my everlasting Father and my God forever! The path God chose for me may look strange for now, but in the end I shall be vindicated and rewarded for my faithfulness!

My children, be encouraged today! Be faithful to God! Our enemies shall regret their attack! They shall fall for our sake! In the end, we shall be rewarded for our faithfulness! Do not fear boasting! Not all boasting is bad! I boast in knowing my God! You my children should do the same! Welcome to the family of royal holy boasters! Rejoice! And I say again: rejoice! Jesus is Lord!!!

PRAYER REQUEST
“For His anger is only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” ( Ps 30:5)

I received a letter from a woman who is broken hearted. Her loving daughter suddenly became rebellious and left the house because of a man she says she loves. Both mother and daughter are born again Christians. The man is not. The daughter is an adult and she has the right to do what she wants to do. But the pain of rejection and betrayal is tearing the mother’s heart. ‘I have cried all my tears… I have no one left…’ – she told me… Please pray for her that she will become better and not bitter; that God will glorify Himself in her life; that God will strengthen her to serve Him more! In Jesus name, amen! Thank you for your prayers!

 
“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Faith in God eliminates disappointment in life (Romans 10:11)!!! Disappointment comes from failure to satisfy your hopes and dreams. It is manifested as sadness, anger or bitterness. This is the promise of Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth: as a born again child of God, if you put your trust in Him alone, all your hopes and dreams shall be fulfilled! You shall never be ashamed and you shall never regret your trust in God! You shall rejoice always! Signs and wonders shall follow you! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, amen!

 
MY TESTIMONY
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us” (1Thess 5:23-25)

Once you become born again the process of sanctification starts immediately. Sanctification means to become holy as God is holy. Justification from sin is instant. It is the result of the death of Christ on the Cross. But sanctification is a life long process, slow and painful. God could have sanctified you in a moment but He chose to make it a life long journey with Him, that you may appreciate His long suffering and love for us.

You need to go back to the Cross again and again. You need to study the Word of God and allow its sword to pierce your sinful heart. Christ will use the Word to cut round the hardness of your heart, just like a circumcision surgery. Each sin must be exposed, confessed, renounced and repented of. You shall weep many tears as God humbles you daily. In the light of God’s Word you shall see yourself as you really are: a wicked, greedy, lustful, jealous, foolish and stubborn sinner. This revelation is extremely painful. But like a woman in labor, this pain is necessary ‘to push’ away the sin.

God the Father who sent His Son to save you, is the same who wants you sanctified. As the God of Peace, He is faithful to finish His work in you. He will do it! The only people who have peace and joy are the ones who are cooperating with the deep work of the Holy Spirit and desire to be sanctified.

Each believer has to battle with his own demons. For example, one of my past strongholds of flesh was lying. I was so deceived… I really thought that lying is useful. I was so good at it that nobody knew I was lying. Even me, I forgot that I was lying and I paraded myself as a honest woman. I thought that truth is too harsh and a little lying is a form of hope and kindness. For example, as a medical doctor, if one of my patients was dying with an incurable disease, I will tell him that he will live long if he takes his drugs. That was not not a speech of faith for I was a confirmed atheist, an unbeliever. It was a lie helping him to ‘die in peace’. I could tell his family the truth but not the patient himself. I did not trust what truth could do…so I lied, giving false hopes. Terrible…

But after I became born again, I started feeling very guilty. The Holy Spirit started His work in me! Now, to lie was not as easy… Each time I had to lie, just seconds before the lie in my heart came on my lips, I will feel a restrain, not to speak like that. But it took me some time to learn how to ‘apply the breaks’ of the Holy Spirit and to have self control. This guilt bordered me. I wanted to have peace with God and my own conscience. But the only way to have peace was only thru deep repentance of this sin of lying.

I started praying for mercy. I saw myself as a devil. I wept and wept and begged God for forgiveness. I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me and to empower me to change. I still remember the place where, on my knees, I made a vow to God that from that moment on, I will never lie! I promised God that I will speak the truth even if I have to die! From that moment I had peace! The Holy Spirit took control of my tongue! Glory to God! I had to learn to speak slowly and to listen to my words. I never spoke on an impulse again. Truth became my best friend who set me free from sin and shame.

This testimony of deliverance from the demon of lies happened in 1987, one year after I became saved. I can boldly say that now I am not a liar! God forbid! I speak the truth in love for the sake and honor of my Savior, Jesus Christ who loved me enough to die for my sins and to make me His child! My children (natural and spiritual) can testify to thIs…

My dear children, I pray for you this morning… That God will make you willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and to become like Jesus, holy, blameless and undefiled! That you become holy as God is holy! That you make truth your best friend! That God’s power will manifest in you by changing you from glory to glory! God will give you peace from your battles with a wounded conscience! You shall know the truth and the truth in Christ shall set you free! This shall be done to the glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of the people who know you! I promise you that God will do it! Come back with great testimonies so that we can rejoice together! Jesus is Lord!

WISE WORDS

“Christ is the most cheap physician, he takes no fee. He desires us to bring nothing to him but broken hearts; and when he has cured us he desires us to bestow nothing on him but our love.”

“Christ heals with more ease than any other. Christ makes the devil go out with a word (Mark 9:25). Nay, he can cure with a look: Christ’s look melted Peter into repentance; it was a healing look. If Christ doth but cast a look upon the soul he can recover it. Therefore David prays to have a look from God, ‘Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me’ (Psalm 119:132).”

 
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:12, 13)

I recently had a wonderful fellowship with a Christian brother. He is a born again and Spirit filled Christian. He is one of the pastors in his church and very committed to the ministry. He is also an engineer by profession. Recently, his company in Warri promoted him and transferred him to Lagos. He told me that together with his wife they prayed about this transfer. Both feel lead that he should resigned from his company. He will then work in Warri as a professional consultant and private business man. He said that he did not have the freedom to ‘resign’ from God’s work in his church in Warri. I was impressed by his mature spirituality. I was telling him that unfortunately, many Christians are lead by their professional ambitions and not by their spiritual responsibilities. They go wherever their companies send them hoping that they will find a church in the new location. They do not pray about promotions and transfers assuming all these are always from God. They are not ready to go where the Holy Spirit tells them to go. Their commitments to their jobs are greater than their love for Jesus. This is a great temptation for the ‘successful’ carrier men and women all over the world.

This is a good question: why do we need to attend a local church? Is it not enough to just be born again? The answer is both yes and no. To be saved and to go to heaven you need to be born again by the Spirit of the Living God. Jesus died on the Cross that your soul be saved! Nothing can be added to that. But for you to live a happy, fulfilled and fruitful Christian life, you need to attend a living church and do ministry there. This is how God designed this Christian life to be. Please remember: Jesus Christ your Lord ‘loved the church and gave Himself up for her’ (Eph 5:25). Jesus called it ‘My church’ which ‘I will build’ (Mt 16:18). According to the Bible, if you love Jesus, you must love the church, which comes from Him, belongs to Him and is sanctified by His blessed saving work!

I know that there are some dangers here… One of them is this: overfamiliarity with your pastors is not good. After a long time in that church you may discover that your pastors are human with weaknesses and failures like you. But we are commanded to submit to their authority and to respect them ‘very highly’ not because of their charisma or gifts but because ‘of their work’ they do for the sake of Christ! It is their spiritual fruitful work that is the bases for that humble respect you have for them!

If you are sure that your spiritual leaders are truly called by God, then joyfully submit to their authority, even when you do not understand everything! If, on the other hand, you are not sure that your pastors are genuine Christians and you are not sure that they are called by God, please change your church! Church is designed by God to be a blessing, a spiritual family and a spiritual covering with wonderful benefits! Do not attend a church just because you like a girl there, just because you like the music or the fashion style of the pastor and his wife!!! Commit yourself to a good living church where the Holy Spirit moves, where the pastor preaches the true Gospel of Christ and were all the glory is openly given to God!

In Christ I declare: Blessed are you if you attend a good local church where your pastors are leading the flock well; where your pastors are working hard to prepare and preach good life transforming sermons; where your pastors love and pray for the souls of the people in the congregation; where your pastors worship God in Spirit and in truth; where your pastors speak the truth in love and are not afraid to rebuke and chastise the sinners or the backsliders; where your pastors share not just their words with you, but their lives as well! Pray for your pastors! Attend all the church services! Encourage your pastors! Support your pastors! Then God will bless you! You shall have peace with God and with all men! In Jesus name, amen!

 
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed” (Ps 37:23-26)

Today marks the 18th day since I fell and broke my foot. I am on a compulsory bed rest with a cast on my leg. I am a woman who likes to work. It is not easy to ‘rest’ for so long. But I am not complaining. In fact, I give God all the glory for everything, for He is my God and He loves me and He knows best!

During this trial of faith I am amazed at the treasure of wisdom and revelation that The Lord has opened to me. These are some observations… We just came back from a two week holiday abroad. We traveled by train, by car and by plane. During this time I prayed that no accident should happen. I was also very careful not to miss my step when we climb the steps in the airports, hotels and all. No accident happened. But immediately we arrived home, I became more relaxed and took my very house for granted. I fell from the steps I thought I knew best. This is something to ponder about…if I was as careful inside the house as I was outside, maybe this accident could not have happened…the lesson is to trust a God always and not only sometimes!

One of the greatest blessings that came in the same ‘package’ with this fall was the strong presence of the Holy Spirit over me. This is truly very surprising. In the past, this strong anointing comes when I am in the church and it is time for me to minister. I am a shy person naturally. I totally depend on the Holy Spirit to anoint my words, my memory and my mind. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit to strengthen me I am lost. I am like a fish outside the water. I know what the anointing can do… But to find this anointing sustaining me now, in this sick bed, this is most surprising to me. As I was falling I remember thinking ‘Wow… I am not afraid… The Lord caught me with His hands… He broke my fall…Jesussssss….I am fallen but not forsaken. The Lord wants to glorify Himself thru this my fall. I don’t know how He wants to do it, but He will surely do it!’

Another testimony is that God anointed my husband even more at this time. He preaches the Word with more passion and courage. The Holy Spirit does wonders even now, when I cannot attend church services. He surely does not need me, but I am just saying… Also, the Lord sent many humble faithful helpers to pray, to cook and to encourage us at this time. Another miracle is that our finances have increased and not decreased so we do not need to ‘beg for bread’. I give God all the glory for all these wonderful things and many more to come!

My children, be encouraged! You are blessed! You too can never be forsaken by God no matter what you pass thru right now! You too are blessed spiritually and financially! We are in this together! We shall rejoice! Do not worry about your mother… I shall walk again! I shall dance again! God’s ways are mysterious and perfect in the same time! God is the only One who changes sorrows into songs and trials into triumphs! The glory of the future had not been revealed yet but it is surely greater than the present discomfort! In all things and in all situations, let’s give thanks to God! Worship the Lamb who was slain and who seats upon the throne! For He alone is worthy to receive all honor and glory and praise! Jesus is Lord!

“Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established” (PV 16:3)

“Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in Him and He will act on your behalf!” (Ps 37:5)

“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse” (PV 24:16, AMP)

I had a dream that I was a marathon runner. The race was hard. The heat and the effort was much. I was a village girl who trained in the bushes. I came to the city just because of this race. Among the spectators I had nobody to cheer me up for my village people were too poor to come. My competitors were very strong and professionally prepared. But I wanted that crown. I wanted to win not only for myself but for my children and for the honor of my village. I ran and ran without looking back or left or right. I was leading but I did not know. Just before the finishing line somebody from among the spectators threw a rock at me. I stumbled and fell. But I fell after the finishing line. My leg was broken but I was still the champion! The wicked person who threw the rock was arrested by the police. The crowning ceremony had to be postponed until I could stand. I climbed the podium limping but I was the champion. This time my children and all my village people came and cheered me on. The devil attacked but it was too late. The crown was mine and nobody could take it away! All the glory went to God who always helps the lonely humble faithful fighter!

It is said that success is defined not by how bad you have fallen or by how many times you go down, but by the capacity to rise up again after each fall. This is the promise of God: the true born again believer in Christ may fall but he will always rise up again! A child of God will not die in the devil’s ‘gutter’! The testimony of his sure salvation must be proven to the last breath! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will quickened your mortal body and you shall rise from the ashes of mistakes, failure and regret!

The unbeliever, the wicked evil man shall stumble and fall also. For life is hard and there are many wicked enemies (like him) who take delight in another’s fall. But the wicked does not partake from this grace of rising. He falls and remains glued to the ground. The power of resurrection is not his portion. His fears of failure and total disgrace shall be fulfilled. There is no security, hope, joy or peace for the wicked. Their evil makes them too ‘heavy’ and no one will be there to help them rise again.

As you can see, there is no middle ground! It is 17 days since I fell and broke my ankle. It is not easy to lie in bed for so long but even now I give thanks to God! One of the things that excite me is the expectation of my rising from this infirmity… I dream about going back to my kitchen and do wifely things, going back to do ministry in the church… It will come… In Jesus name!

‘My enemies, do not rejoice for soon I shall rise again! You who throw rocks at the children of God so that they can fall, you shall regret your actions! You shall see the power of God and you shall know that my Jesus is the Lord! I don’t know how God shall manifest that future ‘rising’ but one thing I know: it will be glorious! I shall rise again! The ashes are behind me! The beauty of holiness is calling me forth! My children ( natural and spiritual) shall be encouraged to run as champions too! I have no doubt about it! In my falling and in my rising, I shall give Glory to God! In Jesus name, amen!’

“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Mt 18:21, 22)

Many people ask for the secret of a true happy life long marriage. My husband and I are married for 42 years. We come from very different backgrounds. We have different gifts and strategies of success in life. But we have more things in common than those that separate us. We are both born again and Spirit filled. The Cross keeps us together! That is our secret!

One of the basic attitudes to keep a marriage happy is the ‘science’ and the ‘art’ of forgiveness. You need to be born again. You need to study the Word of God until you understand what forgiveness is. There is a price to pay. Forgiveness is the glue of marriage. Marriage is tough work. For example, the great Mandela did hard labor in prison for 27 years. He forgave his enemies. But even he could not forgive his wife and they divorced six years after his freedom from prison.

The devil attacks marriages but forgiveness neutralizes the strategy of the devil. Forgiveness is expensive but necessary to manifest the love of God. Forgiveness is hard because it is not just a feeling but obedience to the Word of God. Forgiveness is costly. You pay the price for the evil you chose to forgive. But forgiveness is designed by God to give you liberty!

In this world people offend one another. You cannot escape that. Even in the marriage, the risk of hurting one another is very high. You can respond in two ways: forgive or not forgive. Each is a choice. Forgiveness is more than a feeling. It is a choice. Forgiveness leads to freedom, peace and joy. Refusal to forgive leads to anger, bitterness and bondage. The choice is yours. Forgiveness is not something you do on and off. It is a life style. You practice forgiveness daily, when it is needed and when it is not. The Holy Spirit helps you to walk this royal road, so that when you are offended it is easy to forgive.

A healthy marriage lives under the sky of grace. Forgiveness is an advice to troubled marriages. If sin comes, when confession of adultery comes, you may ask if your marriage can ever be the same. Yes, it can be, if you practice forgiveness. By the grace of God, it can even become better! Look at the father and his prodigal son! He thought he will be a slave. He thought that things cannot be like before! But they became better! Thru repentance and forgiveness their relationship became better.

Many people lose hope in a marriage when they need to forgive again and again, especially for the same sins. Practicing forgiveness is an attitude. It has to be done patiently by at least one of you. It is hard. But this is the sure road that leads to success in marriage! Your forgiveness must be rooted in God! Forgive the way God forgave you in Christ Jesus! Be like Jesus! In the end, that will be your reward!

This is what Nehemiah, a slave set free by God, said to his enemies:
“The God of heaven will give us success! We His servants will start rebuilding! But as for you (my enemies) you will have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right in it!” (Neh 2:20)

God wants to bless any of His children who are willing to take the risk and go and to do ministry in His name. The first thing you must do is to accept the burden of the Lord! It comes as a strange sadness. You look around and see the damage sin has done to humanity. God does not despise a broken hearted man, especially when he is willing to be used by Him to repair or rebuild a situation.

“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” (Lk 10:36, 37)

Today is the 14th day since I fell and broke my leg. Apart from the initial pain and the difficulty of learning to walk with crutches, I can say that this is one of the best periods of my life. God has touched not only my husband and I separately but our marriage. It looks very much like what people call ‘honey moon’. What is the honey in it? It is this unity of the Spirit in the bond of supernatural peace! This cannot be bought with money and no Bible School can teach it. It is the gift of the Father! Glory to God!!!

Let me explain… Not long ago a friend’s daughter had a car accident. She entered the junction on ‘yellow’ and another car collided with hers. Both drivers were unhurt, thank God. But my friend’s daughter’s car was quite damaged. They needed to spend money to fix it. The girl’s father was happy that she was not hurt but very angry that she was ‘too careless’. This anger lasted for a long time and it affected their relationship.

In my case, I too was ‘careless’ for I should have looked better when I stepped down on the stairs. My fall was my fault, you can say. Except for the devil, I am the only one to be blamed. My husband’s natural reaction could have been like that girl’s father. But to my greatest surprise he was not angry at all. From the moment I fell he picked me up, tied my broken leg, prayed for me and encouraged me. He had been an ‘angel’ in the house. He brings my food from the kitchen and cleans our room daily. He does it with a smile on his face humming worship songs. After he does all the chores (faster than I use to do them… I am almost getting jealous…) he goes to his office and studies the Bible. He comes from time to time to ask if I have any need. If he drives out he phones to say he is coming back soon…How can you explain this love after more than 42 years of marriage? This has to be God so that our testimony will be greater than initially imagined.

Interestingly, this week, at the mid week service, he preached a message called ‘who is my neighbor?’ I could not attend the service but I read the notes from the sermon on Facebook. It was from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. A Jewish man fell at the hands of robbers. They wounded him badly and left him on the side of the road. Two religious men cam by, saw him, but chose to ignore him. When a Samaritan man came he had pity on the wounded man and helped him at the hour of his need. Samaritans are historical enemies of the Jews so he had enough excuses to ignore the victim. But he showed supernatural compassion and helped the wounded man. Jesus said that whosever showed this Holy Ghost mercy to a man in need, that man is the true neighbor. It is this generous free supernatural love revealed to one in need that makes men neighbors and friends forever. That bond of peace can never be broken.

This is our testimony: My husband proved to me in the our of my need that he is my true pastor, my compassionate neighbor and my friend forever! My husband revealed the heart of Jesus to me, especially now! He really practices what he preaches! 43years ago, when I told my parents that I want to marry my class mate Richmond Leigh, they were afraid. They saw him as a black man from another continent. They said ‘why do you want to marry a man who lives so far away? Why can’t you marry one of our neighbors?’ I could not answer their question. I just said that I love him. Many years have passed… We came to Nigeria in 1980. We had three children. We became born again. We have been living happily since then. But God keeps the best for the last…This is a wonderful latest revelation: I have married my neighbor in the Kingdom of God!!! There is no doubt in my mind that our marriage has been ordained and approved by God! I am very sure that in heaven we shall live on the same side of the golden highway! What a privilege! What a blessing!

The pain has gone. Soon, the cast will be removed and I shall walk (and dance) again! But the lessons and the bonding of agape love manifested during this trying time will endure forever! God bless my neighbor! Like we say in Nigeria… Anywhere you see him, please greet him for me! To God be all the glory!

(My husband and I on a camel in Israel in 2013)

“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (PV 28:1)

Boldness is one of the great qualities of a true leader. To be bold it means to be courageous and not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger. A bold person stands out conspicuously and is not hiding from or behind others. To be bold it means to be creative, free and imaginative in thought or expression.