The Women’ Fellowship in our church was very good. We praised God and prayed to Him. We also shared testimonies of His goodness. Then the Word of God came. It was a challenge to be like Sarah of old!

“For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror… then you will not need to fear offending your husbands… without fear of what your husbands might do” (1 Pet 3:5-6; NKJ, TLB; NLT)

Apostle Peter says that the godly wife should imitate Sarah. She was a good wife to Abraham, who was called ‘the friend of God’ (Jam 2:23). What can we learn from Sister Sarah? She was a holy woman of God. She trusted in God. She invested in her spiritual growth. She became a mature woman of God of a gentle and quiet spirit, very precious to God. This spiritual maturity became her wisdom and beauty, approved and blessed by God. Abraham and Sarah lived long and fruitful lives. They were not perfect. They were sinners saved by grace. But they are a great inspiration to us, not only individually, but also as a godly couple who struggled in life but they overcame at last. (They are buried together in Hebron. My husband and I saw their burial sites during our trip to Israel.)

Sarah was both submissive and obedient to her husband. Submission is an internal attitude, a heart thing. Obedience is the external manifestation of a humble heart. This obedience shows especially thru her actions. Just think of this… Sarah followed Abraham in all his journeys of life. She traveled with him from their native town, Ur of the Chaldees, to the Promised Land, then to Egypt and back. It is easier for a man to travel. Men generally love adventure. It is more difficult for women to travel because they love comfort and a stable home. But Sarah obeyed Abraham and was a helper to him until she died. They both made mistakes along the way. For example, she shared in his sin of doubt, adultery, cowardice and lying. But the grace of God ‘abounded much more’ in their lives. As a wife and friend, Sarah stayed faithful to her husband to the end; both in poverty and riches, in good times and bad. This is a wonderful testimony of a married couple!

The word ‘fear’ used in 1 Peter 3:6 appears only here in the New Testament. In Greek it means to be alarmed or to be terrorized by another. It is a fear that will make you fall, fail or run away. King James calls this fear ‘amazement’. You should not be amazed by any man, not even by your husband. Only God should amaze you because He is God! To be amazed it means to be shocked by something so strange, something that you can’t believe is happening to you. The lesson here is that we should pray to understand our husbands. This understanding is based on the Word of God and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. To be a good helper to your husband, you must understand his weaknesses and his strengths. This understanding is wisdom and makes your marriage happy, safe and peaceful.

Finally, let me say this: it was not easy for me to write this letter. I trust the Holy Spirit reveals the truth to you, who to fear and who not to fear! These are spiritual words describing spiritual realities. If you are not saved, you will not understand what I am trying to say. In no way at all I am encouraging rebellion, pride or stubbornness in marriage! Dear sisters in Christ, godly wives and mothers, let us be virtuous women, bold like lionesses, following the Lion of Judah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, walking in the power of the Holy Ghost! “Those who know their God shall be strong and do mighty exploits… will take action, show strength and prevail” (Dan 11:32). May your marriages be blessed! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Be a blessing to your generation! Let testimonies abound! Glory to God!

(After the fellowship we all went to celebrate the birthday of one of our sisters in the church. She is 50 years today. The husband spoke so lovingly about her. We were all touched. He said that she has been with him in the valleys and mountaintops of life for more than 30 years. She never complained about any hardship. She was always encouraging him. She saw ‘something good in him’ even when he saw nothing good in himself. God has blessed them with true love, peace and happiness in their home. God has also blessed them materially beyond what they can say. Their children are all good and obedient to the parents. The testimony of this godly couple is a very good example to other couples in the church. The celebration ended a wonderful day in the presence of God. As Pastor Leigh was praying for them, they knelt down and worshiped God. I took a picture of them at that holy moment. To God be all the glory!)

“The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands” (Deut 28:12)

Some time ago, during the Women’ Fellowship in our church, we prayed that God will bless the work of our hands. We repented of pride, doubt, fear, idleness, jealousy, laziness and foolishness. We asked the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh and to do miracles money cannot buy. The spiritual blessings are top of our list. But material blessings are needed also. They are one of the blessings promised by God to His obedient and faithful children.

“He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted…” (Ps 61:1)
Are you willing to help one with a broken heart?
In my experience as a wife, mother, grandmother, (retired) doctor and (practicing) pastor, people hate breaking things, even hearts. They fear a broken heart like it has a virus. The only ‘nurse’ able to handle a broken heart is the one whose heart was also broken in the past but now it is repaired (not by men, but by the Lord Jesus Christ). Like with fractures, once healed, the bone is stronger than before.

‘In all things give thanks’ (1Thess 5:18)
I like fresh cut flowers on my kitchen table. These ones in the picture are taken from my garden. They brighten my spirit. They remind me of the beauty of the Lord who created them. Even in America the flowers are not more beautiful. The flowers in my garden are another reason why I love Nigeria. This reason may be small to you but it is not small to me. This is the truth: these humble flowers taken from my garden in Effurun are fit to beautify the mansions of kings! I am just happy with my life…

“Thank You Lord Jesus!”

God bless Nigeria, my adopted country!

“But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground” (Gen 2:6)

There was a fog over Effurun this morning. I do not really like it. I was waiting for the sun to clear it away. But then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that in all things I should be grateful to God. Before rain came on earth, God used fog (or midst) to water the ground… This is like an upside down miracle of blessing the earth. If you are like me, I do not like upside down things, even if they are good, and even if they are a miraculous blessing. I want the rain to come down from the sky, water the earth and quickly go away. I do not like this mysterious midst coming from bellow, speaking thru silence and covering my vision like with dust. This midst is a reminder that God (and not me) is in control of this earth and He can bless it any way He likes it. This morning, as I am reminded of the greatness of the Elohim Creator God, Him who has no rival, I bow at His feet and worship…

“So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it” (2Kg 6:1-7)

This is a wonderful story that will encourage every believer who has lost something in the past. The loss can be spiritual or material. Many people say to me: ‘The money I don loss for this my life is enough to build me a mansion’. Just imagine that God can bring back to you the money that you’ve lost, or opportunities that you’ve missed in the past to make your life better. For God is able to do all things! Our God is the God of miracles! This story is soaked with ‘a recovery anointing’. Read, meditate and believe the Word of God! Come back with a testimony of recovery! ‘Pursue, overtake and recover all!’ (1 Sam 30:8)- says the Spirit of God!

Prophet Elisha was the ‘president’ of the Prophetic Bible School in Israel. His students approached him saying that ‘the class rooms and the hostel’ are too small for the number of the students. This increase is good news! May it be so in our churches! He agreed with their request and even went with them, to encourage them spiritually. This is a good example of a wonderful relationship between the pastor and his congregation. May it be so in our churches! They all went down to the River Jordan to cut down some trees to build the houses. Suddenly, one of the students shouted for help. As he was cutting the tree, his ax head fell into the River. To make matters worse, the ax was ‘burrowed’. He is a poor student and has no money to buy another ax to return to its owner. As you well know, River Jordan is a muddy river. The ax head sank in the muddy waters. Elisha cut down a new stick and threw it in the River at that same spot. Suddenly, the miracle happened: the iron ax head floated like it was made of sponge. Elisha commanded the student to ‘stretch his hand and pick it by himself’. God, thru the faith of Elisha did the miracle. For no iron floats on the water except by a miracle of God! The student has to exercise his faith by stretching his hand towards the iron and pick it. The stronger faith of the pastor is helping the weaker faith of the disciple. Wonderful ministry!

What are the lessons for us today? The first lesson is that God creates new things and God is able to recover things that are lost! The ax head was lost as the student was doing good, doing ministry. It is possible that as you obey and serve God, you may lose good things. If you are a child of God, you do not lose your salvation, but you can lose your spiritual weapons, your confidence, your testimony, your peace of mind or your anointing. The ax is a tool to work with. By losing it, you lose your usefulness in the house of God. That is great loss! Many people have accepted their losses. Their weapons, testimony, health, peace, joy and miracles are still buried in the mud. This is the time to revisit your failure so that you recover what you have lost! To the glory of God!

The iron is sharp. “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (PV 27:17). Iron sharpens iron. I need to remain sharp to be able to remain a true friend and a pastor to you. To be sharp it means to have a quick understanding, to be spiritually intelligent and have a clear vision of the Kingdom of God. The opposite of sharpness is to become dull, slow and foolish. God forbid! If you lose your spiritual and mental sharpness, you need to labor more before you arrive at the success desired. “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success” (Ecc 10:10) It is foolish to continue working with a dull iron ax when you remember that in the past, it was sharper and the labor was so much easier. Wisdom says: stop laboring, pray and sharpen your tool! Then labor will be a pleasure and success is assured!

This is my testimony: recently, I lost my spiritual sharpness. Initially I did not realize it. This is a reminder that the devil always works thru deceit. I thought that all is ‘normal’. But then I discovered that when I try to remember a scripture it takes me longer than in the past. When I try to sing a song to God, I forget some of the words. When I preach, I stumble over words, I stammer… It was like I had a spiritual stroke… God forbid! Once I realized that I have a problem, that it affects my ministry and testimony, that this is not normal, that something is seriously wrong with me, I cried for help like the student in the story. Jesuss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (If you keep quiet, you will ‘suffer in silence’ and your testimony remains buried). I almost panicked!!!! I fasted and prayed for a word from God. His word to me is both medicine and light in the darkness! I need His Word to be able to come out from the pit of sickness, blindness, foolishness, deception and defeat. That is when the Holy Spirit reminded me of this story. Once I read it afresh, I knew that my ‘iron will float’ too! Elisha cut a new stick to point to the place of failure. He did not take the old stick that lost its head. This new stick pointed to the old fall represents the Cross of Christ! In the same way, I too needed a new wisdom, a deeper understanding of the Cross! By faith I stretched the hand of my soul and I received my miracle! By the power of the Holy Ghost, my sharpness in thinking, speaking and writing was restored to me! The devil tried to bind me but he failed! Out of the muddy waters of failure and loss, I rise with new wings of praise to God! My Lord who walked upon the waters, has restored my testimony! I rejoice for what God will do from now on! Halleluiah!

“Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “Our LORD reigns!” (1Chr 16:28-31)

For me worship is a life style, a heart attitude… It means to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit who alone can help us worship God… It is an extravagant love that touches the body, the soul and the spirit… in worship no part part of us is idle or left behind…”Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]” (1Cor 13:8; AMP)… Agape love (worship done in Spirit and in truth) never fails to move the heart of God…it’s glory never fades… his joy never ends… Worship is the oxygen of eternal life!

‘As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible’ (Ac 17:10-15)

My husband and I continued to follow in the footsteps of the great Apostle Paul. Today we went to the city of Berea in Greece. Over here it is called Veria or Veroia. We took a local bus and after one hour journey, we arrived at Berea. We went to the site called ‘The Altar of Apostle Paul’. The Christians here have made a special place to remember Apostle Paul. There is a beautiful bronze statue of the Apostle welcoming you. Both my husband and I greeted our spiritual father and mentor. There are three original marble steps taken from a 1st century synagogue where it is believed that Paul preached. There are also two beautiful mosaics there. The one of the left depicts Paul’s vision when a man from Macedonia (present Greece) begged the Apostle to come and preach to the people here. The second, on the right, shows the Apostle Paul preaching in Berea. We took some pictures there.

We trecked from there to an ancient synagogue believed to be the place where Paul preached. We continued walking down the streets of Berea and visited two other ancient churches. We took pictures in all these places. My husband and I held hands and prayed thanking God for the privilege to visit these places that hold so much spiritual value for us the Christians.

Just as we read in the Bible, the people of Berea were more noble and more spiritual than the people in Thessaloniki. It proved to be so even now, after 2000 years since Dr. Luke wrote the Book of Acts. It is amazing how the Word of God is so true! In Berea, two women in particular showed us great respect, kindness and help. They behaved like we are thier family! They could not speak English very well but they went out of their way to teach us the importance of this place, they walked with us along the road to help us find these ancient places. They gave us maps of Berea and cold bottled water free of charge!!!! I do not know their names but and God knows them and will reward them.

Berea is a middle size city, very clean, very nice and with very friendly people. It is about 2500 years old!!! Life is quiet and slow here. There are flowers in front of each shop. In Nigeria where we live people are restless to become rich ‘overnight’. Coming here, seeing these old places, we are reminded that a good life may be simpler than we have imagined in our teenager’s dreams. Peace is more important than money and spirituality is more important than success.

Today is a good day. Thank God for the favor, health, resources and strength He had given us to complete this journey. As Paul left Berea to go to Athens, we too will go home to Nigeria! Dear readers, brethren and friends, may God bless you all! With love from Greece, Tali and Malia!

(In the pictures you see my husband and I at the ‘altar of the Apostle Paul’ in Berea; in front of a first century old synagogue where it is believed that Paul preached, in front and inside a first century church and flowers on the very clean streets of Berea, Greece)

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country” (Deut 28:1-3)

My husband and I we are missionary pastors in Warri-Effurun (south of) Nigeria. This great country has many social and economical problems. It is easy to complain. But one thing I love about the people here: they love to go to church, to be involved, to volunteer to serve God in any capacity. The Nigerian Christians love to sing and dance unto the Lord! Even if you are old, you feel young again. The parents bring their children regularly to church. Another thing I love here is that The Holy Spirit loves the people of God in Nigeria. In each service, the Holy Spirit comes like a rain of grace and glory. The people are healed and delivered just by praising God.

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Ac 2:4)
I always thought of myself to be a strong person, creative, intelligent and optimistic. Thank God that the Holy Spirit humbled me so that he can blessed me. I became born again thru a crisis conversion. I was very happy! For some time I experienced what you call ‘the honey moon’ of Christianity. I thought thatI have arrived on top of the mountain of the world. I thought that I am stronger than the strongest. I thought that I can preach like Billy Graham and sing like Cece Winans… I became proud in my salvation. I did not understand the way of the Cross. Then the painful road of coming down the mountain of holy success started…

‘After Paul and his friends had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they went on to Thessalonica. A Jewish meeting place was in that city. So as usual, Paul went there to worship, and on three Sabbaths he spoke to the people. He used the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about. Some of them believed what Paul had said, and they became followers with Paul and Silas. Some Gentiles and many important women also believed the message’ (Ac 27:1-4)

My husband and I continued to walk in the footsteps of Apostle Paul. We left Neapolis (Kavala) and are now in Thessalonki. This is the second largest city in Greece, after Athens. It was founded in 300 BC and named after the sister of Alexander the Great. It was an important Roman trading post and an early centre of Christianity. Apostle Paul himself preached here. He was persecuted because of his message. Some of the citizens believed the Word, among them some women of high social status (again, as a woman of God, I feel proud and happy). The Jews living here caused trouble to Paul’s host, Brother Jason. They forced him to drive Paul away accusing him to be a traitor to Caesar. From here, Paul went to the city of Berea.

The believers left behind became very strong. They spread the Word to the whole region of Macedonia. They suffered persecution but they remained faithful (1 Thess 2:14). Later, Paul sent his spiritual son Timothy to encourage them. He gave Paul a very good report about the believers here in Thessalonki. Later, Paul writes two letters to them (1st and 2nd Thessalonians), encouraging them in the faith. Paul’s stay here was short and painful but not a failure.

What is the lesson? A little ministry cannot be destroyed by a great persecution. A little love cannot be drawn by the flood of hatred and envy! The anointing of the Holy Spirit cannot be neutralized by empty religion! Jesus is Lord! Let’s continue to plant the seeds of the Word any place in this world and leave the rest to God. Another great and useful lesson is that we cannot do it all! Some plant the seed, some water it and others reap the harvest. In ministry you cannot be selfish, proud or impatient. Often, things seem unfair. That can be painful! But for as long as your spiritual labor is done to the glory of God, all is well! God rewards His servants! Praise the Lord!

This morning, we took an open roof bus and went round the city. It was very interesting. Most of the city was burnt in a major fire in 1917. Only few ancient buildings were preserved. The city was later rebuild and it is now very nice. There are many markets, shops and restaurants. We saw very few police men. You feel free… The city has many students in the university. The people are friendly and helpful to foreigners. That is good! The general feel is that of an old city with a youthful zeal. Like a man who had suffered a lot, almost died, but survived to tell the story. The journey continues…

In the pictures you see some of the Roman ruins and ancient churches we saw in Thesssloniki. My husband took me a picture on the roof of our hotel as we were eating breakfast. This is from me to you, greetings from Thessalonki… Let me add this … The best cake and ice cream we have ever eating is here… The temptation is great… Vacation is an excuse for me to eat this very good cake!!! But later, I had to ‘manage’ a Greek chicken salad to ‘balance’ the calories… Smile with me…Lastly, the trash cans in the hotel where we stay are transparent… I have to be careful… Let the trash be ‘clean’ a little if not it is seen by everybody… Smile again…

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Lk 22:32)

Yesterday we had a wonderful Holy Communion Service in the church. I read The Book of Luke Chapter 22 to refresh my memory concerning this holy event. The Lord told the disciples to prepare the place so that they will eat the Passover meal. They obeyed not knowing that this is the last time they will eat together. Jesus said that He really wanted to have fellowship with them ‘before I suffer’. Judas has already agreed to betray his Master for religious money. Jesus institutes what we now call ‘The Holy Communion’. He tells them to do it ‘in memory of Me’. I tried to imagine the place and the feelings of our Lord during this ‘good-bye-send-off’ meal. He knew that He will die soon. He also knew that His disciples do not yet understand the gravity of the moment. The atmosphere was tense. Jesus says: ‘I give you my Body… I give you My Blood…’

These are eternal heaven soaked anointed words. They define the perfect love free of all fears. These words should provoke men to worship Jesus! When a man gives you his life, the only acceptable response is to give your life back to him. By laying down His life for His friends, Jesus proves that He is Man and He is God. And God is love. But men do not understand the passion, the pain and the price of Love. The disciples started quarreling among themselves who is the least and who is the greatest among them. Can you imagine that? The Lord was talking about His kingdom, saying that they will seat with Him on thrones, that they will be Kings and Priests with Him. But the disciples quarrel about ordinary things… things that money can buy… earthly things…fading profits… It is like a King telling his son that he will one day be a king ruling from his throne… but the son goes to the servants’ quarters and quarrels with them about the next ‘contract’… who will supply bread to the royal home… How sad…

Here you see the great distance between the way the Spirit thinks and the flesh thinks. Jesus is clearly lonely during that last supper with His friends. Loneliness is a price to pay if you want to be like Jesus and especially if you want to be a pastor. But these lonely moments are holy pregnant with glory moments, when you draw closer to the Lord more than ever before. Nobody likes to be lonely. We all want a group of friends, admirers and followers to be around us. But there are times when God will isolate you from family and friends, so that you can experience His pain, understand His grace and see His glory.

These times of loneliness are times of temptation too. The devil will come and try to flatter you. In these last days I see that the devil has ‘fallen in love’ with the Church. Jesus warns Peter saying: “behold, Satan hath desired to have you” (Lk 22: 31; KJ). Satan wants to have you! To control your mind, emotions and will! This is his plan! Be careful, you who like to complain saying: ‘Nobody loves me… I am lonely…’ Satan, the Accuser, may supply ‘love’ to you… but the price for this fake love is your destiny and your soul. So I say: “Backslider, come back home! Run to Jesus! Run to the Cross! God loves you! Jesus loves you! The Holy Spirit loves you!’

The Lord says: “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” We recognize what Jesus sad done on the Cross two thousand years ago. We also acknowledge and honor His present ministry as our High Priest in heaven, the Author, Finisher and Sustainer of our faith. Your faith in God is supernatural! If not, you could have gone back to sin and to the world! Tell me the truth: how many times you got tired of Christianity and wanted to backslide. But you could not do it! Why? Because Jesus Christ is praying for you right now, that your faith should not fail and should not quench! Give Him glory! Now that your faith is established, now that you are strong in the faith, strengthen the weak Christians as they walk with Jesus!

As for me, this is my testimony, my story and my song: Jesus Christ is My Savior and My Lord!!! Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so! His love is enough for me!!! Because of Jesus Christ, I declare that I am a child of God and my faith in Him is unfailing! Thank You Lord for Your Blood, for Your Body and for Your Spirit! It is well with my soul… Glory!

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ – Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone. With shouts of “Grace, Grace” to it! Moreover the word of the Lord came to me saying: The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zech 4:6-10)

This evening the prophetic prayer meeting was very good. In the natural, there were obstacles. Let me explain… This is the season of football (The Word Cup). Many people are tempted to stay at home to watch the games. Also, today we experienced a very heavy rain. For many brethren it was hard to come outside and find a keke or a taxi. Few of us gathered to pray. As we started praying, the electrical power (NEPA) went off. Some brethren put on their phones to provide light. We were in 90% darkness for about 30 minutes, until the generator was finally on. Having all these things against us, we encouraged ourselves by the Holy Spirit! We reminded ourselves that God is with us and for us. Things change. Circumstances change. People change. Seasons change. But God never changes! We stabilized our spirits holding unto the anchor fixed behind the veil. In the spiritual realm, today was declared to be ‘the day of small things’! Can anything good come from Nazareth? But God is faithful! The day of little things surprises and blessed the people who refuse to despise it!

Brother U shared a wonderful testimony. His two years old son called Shalom was very sick but God healed him today, on his birthday. For about two weeks he could not breathe well. When the doctors said that he needed surgery his faith almost failed him. He said that he has experienced firsthand the wickedness of death. He knows the sound of digging a fresh grave. In the past he has buried a brother and a sister. The devil was tempting him that his little boy will be the next one to die. He resisted the devil’s lies! Together with his wife they held on the promises of God and prayed. Today was Shalom’s birthday. By faith, this morning, they went out to buy a cake, toys and food to celebrate his life and healing. Before they left the little boy was still breathing hard. By the time they came they found him sleeping peacefully and totally healed! Hallelujah!

The Holy Spirit said: “I will finish the good thing I started in your life. Fear not! You shall not be ashamed. You shall not be disappointed. You shall praise God and praise God! Take your dancing shoes and dance! Sing a new song! The benefits released at the Cross are your inheritance, your portion. Receive peace and joy! Be healed! Be delivered! Be fruitful! Let prosperity manifest! Your enemies rejoiced at your weakness, at your stumbling… They shall be disappointed. Be strong with supernatural strength! Pursue, overtake and recover ALL!!! Not half, not in part! But ALL that the enemy has stolen. Take it back! There shall be a restoration testimony! There is a turning of the tables! Your future is surely better and much brighter than your past! See your future… Like rivers in the wilderness, so the life power of My Spirit shall overflow into your lives…Joy…Joy…Joy!!! Like the eagle, catch the holy current of My wind and glide… no struggles… just easy and easy…your life will be much easier… glide into glory! Arise and Shine for thy light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…upon you…I release a finishing touch on you… It is a finishing touch on you!”

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it…” (Philip 1:6; AMP)

Give thanks for your lives, for your spouses, for your children, for your church, for your pastors! God does not borrow you. God gives and gives again… grace and more grace.  He who has laid the grace foundation shall place glory roof with shouts of ‘God bless you’! Grace has multiplied on your behalf! Favor has increased! Joy is fruitful”

“I see the Lord… I see the Lord… Exalted high above the nations, of the people of the earth…I see the Lord…”

‘From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days’ (Ac 16:12)

Today, is a Sabbath day. We are in Kavala, Greece. This afternoon, my husband and I visited the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi, Greece. The area is filled with massive stones, columns and broken walls. We saw the amphitheater where people came to be entertained with the famous Greek dramas. We saw streets with houses, market places and public baths. We imagined Apostle Paul walking there. But what impressed us the most where the ruins of three churches and the prison where Paul and Silas were detained. It was Sunday afternoon. Before going out we worshipped God watching the church service from our church, Father’s House in Warri, on the Internet. The sound and the pictures were so clear that for a moment we thought we went back to Nigeria. Later, as we sat down on the stony ‘pews’ in the ancient church at Philipi, we tried to feel what the Apostle Paul felt when he came to this town. Many of the stones that littered the grounds had the sign of the Cross on them.

We went to the museum and saw the sculptures of men and women from that era. They placed them on their tombs. Many of them had the sign of the Cross on their foreheads. This was because they wanted to be sure that anybody who saw them, even after thousands of years, they will know that they lived and died as Christians. Very interesting…

We then went to the prison cell where Paul and Silas were thrown into. This was because they delivered a slave girl from an evil spirit of fortune telling. As you know, Paul and Silas sang praises to God until the gates scattered. To me, this was a reminder that in every situation as praises go us to God, deliverance, freedom and breakthrough comes down. Praise the Lord! It was here that the jailer and his family got converted.

We left the ruins and went to the nearby village now called Lydia. We went to the river bank where Paul sat down to pray. It is now called Zigaktis River. It was here that he met some women willing to listen to the Gospel. One of the women, Lydia, got saved there. Even today, the river flows fast and happily. Out of many Biblical sites we have visited all over the world, this was one of the most anointed. The Holy Spirit is clearly here as a witness to this wonderful story of salvation to the Gentiles. As your remember, Paul had a vision. He saw a man pleading with him to come to Macedonia (Greece) to preach the Gospel to the people here. Paul obeyed. Led by the Spirit he came to this spot and he preached the Gospel to this woman, Lydia. The Holy Spirit ‘opened’ her heart and she believed! She was the very first convert in Europe!!! I like this! A man interceded and a woman answered the call! Glory!

The grounds around this very spot are very clean and beautiful. There is a little ‘grotto’ in the memory of Sister Lydia. There is a little church, still functioning, built to the glory of God and to the memory of Lydia’s conversion. This beautiful church garden is the Spirit’s gate to Europe!!! The grass is green. The flowers are bright in color. There are many butterflies and birds singing. (Let me add this… It is a private matter… The public toilets are very, very clean). The walnut trees, the olive trees and the fig trees are heavy with fruit on their branches. To tell you the truth, I was very proud to be a small woman of God visiting the memory park of another great woman of God. The cleanness of the garden, the beauty of the flowers, the fruitfulness, the peace, the palpable anointing and spirituality of this place, is a wonderful memorial to the blessings women (and men) have found in Christ. There is peace and joy here on earth. This was also a hope glimpse of glory we shall have in heaven. Wonderful God I praise You!

Coming back to the hotel in Kavala, I saw the smallest church built by the side of the road. They said it was the place where a Christian man died. They said that it was his dream to build a sanctuary for God before he dies. He died an untimely death and his family built this little church in his memory. It is a reminder that a small dream fulfilled is better than none. It is also a reminder to be humble and trust God to the end. Today is a good day for us! We increased our store of Biblical memories and marriage wine joy. Thank You Lord Jesus!

“A five stars marriage is like a five stars hotel: expensive, but worth it. True love unlocks doors and opens windows that were not even there before. A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person” (Mignon McLaughlin 1913-1983)

(In the picture Mr and Mrs Jacob, members of our church, who are happily married for more than 45 years! Praise the Lord!)

God has just blessed my family in Romania. My only sister’s only son, Mihai Alexandru and his wife Georgiana Alexandru had a baby girl called Iulia. They waited for this baby for years. They are both medical doctors but they had problems to get pregnant. Medical science said that they can never have their own child. But against all odds, Georgiana got pregnant and now they have a beautiful daughter. I am so happy for them! To God alone be all the glory! I use them as a point of contact to pray for other couples who trust God for the fruit of the womb. With God all things are possible! Praise the Lord!

“Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph…They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (Jn 1:45; 6:42)

Last Sunday we celebrated ‘Father’s Day’. There is one holy man in the Bible that I admire a lot. My choice may surprise you. I am talking about “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ” (Mt 1:16). He is one of the most neglected characters of the Christmas story. But his life is a treasure of encouragement to me.

What is his story? Humanly speaking, Joseph’s life was not easy. He had to deal with much disappointment. First of all, as a husband, he heard that Mary, the girl he loved and planned to marry, was pregnant!!! Of course the Angel told him that she got pregnant by the Holy Spirit. But in his flesh, it was not easy to accept this ‘good news’. ‘The joy to the world’ meant silent sorrow (at least for some time) in the heart of Joseph. As a father he had his own pains. His sons with Mary did not believe that their older brother is the Messiah. “For even his brothers didn’t believe in Him (Jesus)” (Jn 7:5). Because Joseph was a believer in Christ, to have unbelieving sons, that was not an easy fact to deal with. Until he died, Joseph did not see his sons converted to Christ. Then there was also another painful issue he had to accept: his loss of social status! Joseph descended from the direct lineage of King David. In the history of Israel, the people of God became rebellious against God. They needed to be humbled. God sent them to Babylon for seventy years. When they came back to their land, they came without their royal mantle (read Matthew 1). They ‘lost’ their crown in the wilderness of Babylon. They came back as ordinary men. If it is not for the rebellion of his people, Joseph could have been ‘His Royal Majesty King Joseph’. He could have lived in David’s palace in Zion, married to a Queen and with many servants around him. But that dream died and was buried in Babylon. Instead, Joseph was known as the village ‘carpenter’, too poor to bring a lamb when his Son was dedicated at the temple. He could only bring two doves, the offering of a poor man.

But thru it all, with all these losses and disappointments, I do not see any trace of bitterness in Joseph. He was a man of God! He was a good caring husband to Mary. He was a wonderful father to Jesus and to his other sons. He was a righteous man, a wise, patient and spiritual man. God spoke to him thru dreams and he obeyed God with all his heart. He was led by the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit chose Mary to carry God’s seed in her womb. God also chose Joseph to be a father to Jesus for many years. The greatest achievement of Joseph was that he was called the father of Jesus!!! He lost his crown but his adopted Son was the King of kings!!! What a vindication!

What are the lessons for us today? Be born again! That is the first and most important lesson! As a child of God you can live a life of humility and thanksgiving, no matter the difficult circumstances around you. There is no need to look back, at what could have been. There is no need to compare yourself with others. If you are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, then you shall be free from inferiority complexes, depression, doubt and bitterness. Your greatest achievement, your heritage and gain is your relationship with Jesus! In the light of His glory and grace, nothing else matters! Hallelujah!

(In the picture, you see Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, wonderfully played by Mr and Mrs Joseph Alika (and baby) who are part of the drama organized by our church every Christmas and called ‘The Nativity’)