“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jam 4:8)

This is God’s command and conditional promise. It is such a wonderful promise! It says that if you draw nearer to God, He will respond to your spirit move and come closer to you. You need to start this mysterious dance of holy love. The angels can never learn the steps. But you, child of God, you can do it…. You need to come closer to your First Love, Jesus Christ, Your Lord… You need to declare your need of God. Do not be discouraged! Even if your desire for God is little, even if your prayer is just a whisper, God in heaven will acknowledge that and encourage you by coming closer. You shall sense a new deposit of peace, joy, wisdom and strength. It is called personal revival. That is what you need…

 
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God” (1Cor 3:6-9)

The church at Corinth was gifted but worldly. The brethren quarreled, got jealous on one another and divided the Body. These are the marks of carnal baby Christians. The cure for such a spiritual sickness is to become mature believers. God saves us and ‘hires’ us as laborers for Him and with Him. If you are saved by Christ and refuse to work for Him, you shall remain spiritually immature. You will be jealous on others, on their blessings and you shall quarrel every day. But if you chose to obey God’s call for service, He will reward you. The greater the labor the greater the reward. The more you are faithful to God, giving Him all the glory, the greater shall be your reward. Then quarrels die.

“Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
Strong tower from the enemy!
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings…
So I will sing praise to Your name forever…” (Psalm 61)

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance” (Ps 33:12)

Today is Nigeria’s ‘birthday’. I shall not bake a cake for the visitors but I can share in the joy of celebration. Most people complain that Nigeria is bad and is getting worst. I surely understand why they say so. There are so many things that do not ‘work’ in Nigeria. I will not list them for others can do that better than me. I will only tell you why I love Nigeria. I do not like it, but I love it! I may be a lonely voice but I am not afraid to be different (I am the only oyinbo in our church… Smile…)

Why do I speak like this? I see things thru God’s eyes. What I see always gives me joy. I am a foreigner (an oyinbo). I do not have a Nigerian passport. But I am happily married to a wonderful Nigerian man. When my husband, Dr. Richmond Leigh came to my country to study medicine, he was a young man. We met in the anatomy class, over a cadaver. We fell in love there, between dead men. We married in Timisoara, Romania 42 years ago. Against all odds, our love lasted and became fruitful. We a son and two daughters: John (Toju), Alina (Yemi) and Jemine. They are all successful and happily married with children.

This is my story: I came to Nigeria in 1980. I came as a confirmed atheist as most my country people were at that time. I did not believe that God exists. I never prayed any prayer before stepping on the soil of Nigeria. My husband and I worked as medical doctors for almost 20 years. We made money and fame. But in March 1986 I had a crises conversion and became a child of God. My life was never the same. My husband got converted too. In 2000 we started a church called Father’s House Bible Church here in Warri/ Effurun, Nigeria.

We are now in full time ministry. The Holy Spirit pours His grace on us. Each church service is unique, fresh, powerful and exciting. The Gospel is preached. Souls come into the Kingdom. We worship God freely, in Spirit and in Truth. God is faithful. We pray for revival here in Nigeria. The darkness is pushed back. The light of God is shining! Glory to God! The truth is that I did not choose to marry a Nigerian. I did not choose to live in Nigeria. I did not choose to be a child of God. These are all God’s grace choices for my life. God is good to us here in Nigeria. We live in the center of God’s will.

So, why will I not love Nigeria? What is my excuse?  I have absolutely no reason to complain. Nigeria gave me God and husband. I have many spiritual sons and daughters here. They are God’s gifts to me.  What more do I want? I am grateful more than words can say.  So, my dear Nigerians, I rejoice with you today! Be encouraged! The future belongs to God! Trust in God! He can change any situation! God bless you! God bless Nigeria!

I AM QUIET, GENTLE, PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1Pet 3:1-4)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A question is a sentence used to find out information. In an exam, a question is a problem that tests a person’s knowledge or ability: A question produces doubt about the truth of something, creating confusion in the minds. The devil was the one who asked the first question in the Bible. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1).

According to the definition of the word ‘question’ these are the motives in the devil’s mind when he talked to Eve: he wanted that she should open her heart to him. The devil wanted that Eve should give him more information about her relationship with God, about her marriage and her life in general. As you can see, a question provokes an answer. This is an invitation to intimacy, to close friendship.

This is a spiritual lesson: When the devil is asking you a question, you should totally refuse to answer him. You rebuke him and not cooperate with him. You should not give the devil any information about your life. Secondly, when the devil is asking you a question, he wants to test your knowledge about God and His Word. If you fail the test, the devil will be more confident to attack you further. For example, when Eve replied that God said they should not eat or touch the forbidden fruit, the devil immediately attacked tempting her to disobey God’s command. This is because Eve misquoted God’s command. God did not say that if they touch the fruit they will die. Eve failed the test of the devil’s question. As a teacher, the devil ‘punished’ his student called Eve.

Finally, the devil’s question was designed to create doubt and confusion about God’s character and love towards men. This doubt is a poisonous arrow creating anxiety and inferiority complex. Eve started thinking that she is too foolish and she needs more wisdom so that next time she can ‘impress Teacher devil’ with her intelligent answers. She forgot that God created her perfect and she needed nothing more than an intimate relationship with her Maker. Looking for that wisdom, she eats the forbidden fruit and convinces her husband to do the same. Sin and death entered their spirits and bodies that very moment. This is the story of the fall. The deadly effects of sin can only be destroyed in Christ alone. Remember, he who asks questions may be a teacher or may be a student. The devil pretend to be the teacher who asks his students questions. If you submit to this criminal teacher, the devil becomes your master. God forbid!

Since Eve’s deception, women in particular have struggled with questions and answers ever since. Many are still confused about who to ask and when to ask questions. They still struggle with doubts and confusion more than the men. They still have inferiority complexes about their intelligence and wisdom. That is why in the Bible there is a restrain upon women, not to ask questions in public. This is so that they will not reinforce their inferiority complexes and expose their foolishness to outsiders. “If they (the wives) have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings” (1Cor 14:35). Asking questions and giving answers is to be done at home, in a quiet, safe and loving atmosphere. The Holy Spirit is their Teacher.

A MOTHER’S PRAYER
I pray for you, my daughters! I love you very much! I pray that God will deliver you from any fears, doubts, confusions and inferiority complexes about your mind, memory or intelligence! You have the mind of Christ! You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God! You can pass any exam. With hard work and God’s blessings, you can graduate from any school! You can take any job! You can do any business! You can do all things thru Christ who strengthens you! You are not in any way less than your brothers or your male colleagues! Your destiny is to be women of God, mothers in Zion! Joyfully embrace that! Worship the Lord! Serve God!I pray that you find peace with God and with yourselves! In Jesus name, amen!

I received a beautiful letter from a sister in Christ who lives in teh US. She was a missionary in Nigeria for 7 years. We became friends during her stay here, when she needed a medical doctor. Many people who call themselves Christians go to church. But very few know and understand the powerful royal way of the Cross. She is one of these very few… Please read and pray about these words…

“Good Afternoon Lia,
You are on my mind today so I thought to take a moment to write you. First of all, I hope you and Richmond are doing very well. It must feel amazing to see that the work you began on Father’s House, has come to completion. What a joy to see what Father has done through His people. I’m sure you rehearse the past years of walking through what must have seemed difficult and without end. Look what God has done.

I’ve thought many thoughts about your injuries when you fell, and your healing and the time spent in humility before the Lord as you healed. Isn’t it something that many times God uses what seems to be something negative, to bring forth so much of HIs glory. He delights to show His faithfulness and bring forth fruit from our situation. I so enjoyed your reports of what the Lord did in you during your time spent away from people and the festivities of church life, or as we know it is really “life in the body”. I think you know that I love to garden, whether it is with fruits and vegetables, or flowers. I find the most amazing truths in the garden, and I have the most amazing times with the Father while gardening. Gardening is hard backbreaking work sometimes, but the fruits that come from all our work, is the reward in the end. I have come to realize that in order to bring forth real beauty from many plants that flower, many times I have to break off limbs, leaves, flowers, etc., in order to get a future plant that will be profusely beautiful in the future. In fact, I was just outside on the deck looking at the flowers who have endured after a long hot summer. They have become quite parched and dry in places, though still producing.

Now that the cooler weather is beginning to set in, they are starting to “green up” and the production of new flowers and new growth is setting in. I have noticed that many of the lower stalks of the plants have many flowers on them, but the stalks look dry and burned. I had thought a few days ago that I would leave them on the plant so I could enjoy their flowers, but as I was looking this morning, I began to realize that for the health of the whole plant, I need to break off those flowering stalks that hang down so beautifully, so they can come back with new growth, new health, and new beauty. In fact, the whole plant was hoping I would cut off the lower branches because it was taking much nutrients to keep them alive and blooming.!! 🙂 So, I finally gave in and cut the stalks off that made the lower flowers hang down the pot.

In thinking of how the Lord pulls us back sometimes from what looks fruitful, and what looks like it needs our help, I have come to realize that the master gardener truly knows much much better than we do how to bring forth the most beautiful, most fragrant , and most useful parts of the plant. So my friend, I rejoice with you that your time of rest ( or dormancy as in the case of all things that grow) has ended and you are in a new fruit bearing season. One time the Lord spoke so clearly to me as I was driving in the countryside about all of the trees that were missing their leaves in the winter. They look so dry and so ugly during the winter, but the Father said that without the winter dormant period, we are unable to see the true structure and state of the tree. In the winter, we can take stock of all parts of the branches, we can see if there is disease, see if there are places that need special attention, or limbs that need to be lopped off due to disease, or parts of the tree that need something to kill the bugs that are attacking it. So winter is so important in God’s plan. Your description of what the Lord had done in you during your recovery, was so very precious. You will always cherish those amazing times you had with the Lord.

I will never forget when the Lord began to slowly let us know that He would be bringing us back here, we could hardly believe it, or bear the thought of leaving there, because that year was the most fruitful of all our years spent. My thought was…”why would the Lord remove us during our most fruitful season”? Little did we know we would face a long winter winter of purging and pruning with periods of fruitfulness mixed with amazing times of seeing the Lord move. It was there we begin to see that all the pain we went through here was pruning so God could get the most glory out of us. It really take s a lifetime of a very patient and loving Lord who so willingly takes all the time needed to bring us into His glory and fruitfulness. So, I am rejoicing with you Lia that you are being made ready for greater fruitfulness, greater understanding and revelation, and greater love than ever before.

Your sister and friend,
C…”

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (PV 21:31)

Last night I watched the debate between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. I am not a politician; not in Romania, not in Nigeria and not in the US. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I am a child of God. I chose to watch the debate looking for spiritual lessons .I can now say this: I enjoyed the debate. I gained something by looking at these two people arguing their case. I enjoyed the debate for personal reasons. I can identify with her much more than with him. Of course, she is a woman and I am a woman, but that is not the only reason.

To me, his spirit is not right. He is a bully and an oppressor. He takes pleasure in rising up by putting others down. He looks like a man who made money by making others poor. There is curse upon such a style of becoming wealthy. “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty” (PV 22:16).

He is too proud of himself. This pride is an ugly pride. He praises himself too much. He takes the glory for his achievements. But this is God’s advice: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (PV 27:2). He looks very selfish. He looks like a hunter with the reflexes of a hunter. He is aggressive and rough. It is true that sometimes you need to be rough, but that is only occasionally. But in his case, he lives in a stronghold of boastful oppression. It is his life style and spiritual identity. He mocks weak people. God hates that! “Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished” (PV 17:5)

Then there is another issue: It looks to me that he came to the debate unprepared. He was happy with his ignorance of the protocol. This was his downfall. He thought that just his ‘charisma’ was enough to pass the exam. He was wrong. As a mother, as a teacher, I tell my children that they have to pay the price for success, for any good thing in life. It is true that we pray, but we also need to prepare for the exams of life. God Himself paid the price for our salvation. We must do the same. “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1Cor 6:20).

If you go to an exam that you did not prepare for and you expect success, then you deceive yourself. You are a fool. If you need to pass an exam, do not trust your common sense or your ignorant memory. You need to look for the best books on the subject and you need to study them. To read is not easy. I observe that people who are proud of their looks, or their achievements, or their ‘connections’, do not like to pay the price for success. They live mostly in past glory. But the people who are weak, poor or plain looking (not what you call beautiful) they do not expect any special favors in the exam hall. They prepare themselves and that is how they pass the exams. Of course, success comes from God. But you need to train yourself to be the best soldier that you can be and do not be presumptuous assuming that God will help you even when you do not prepare yourself.

I also observed that she was thinking before answering, but he was not. Most of the time he spoke before thinking. That makes him a fool and a fool cannot be a mentor or a leader. “Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful” (PV 18:13). It is shameful when the mouth is more active than the brain.

He takes pride in being different than the ‘establishment’. He is confident that people are so disappointed with the present administration that they will vote for him just because he is different. Let me say this, it is good to be different than the others who have failed. But being different is not enough. You need to be different and better, not just different. To me, he does not look better than what is presently offered in leadership. He presents to the people a spirit of adultery as a different option, an alternative to a failing marriage. I am a married woman. I value marriage too much to be entertained by adulterous funny spirits. As a pastor I tell people that a marriage can still be repaired and prayed for before you can think of an alternative, a ‘better boyfriend’. A good affair is always worse than a weak marriage.

Physically she looked weaker than him. But she compensated well by being spiritually stronger, sure of her knowledge, trusting her experience and confident of her stand. She kept her cool and her smile thru the bulldozing attitude and words of a wild bully. He drank water more than 10 times. She did not drink at all. He looked like an overheated engine ready to explode. She sounded like a designer car ready for the long trip. At the end I can say this: ‘I am with her!’ Well done Hilary Clinton! You have impressed me as a woman, as a leader! Just give God all the glory for your victory last night! I pray that you are the next president! God bless you!

HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT

“These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance… Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet” (Rev 2:18-20)

The prayer meeting was very good. What made it good was the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, leading and strengthening us to pray. The spiritual ‘network’ was free. We took advantage of that and we prayed with all our hearts. We entered the courts of God with thanksgiving and praise. The message was from Revelation 2 and exposed the evil spirit of Jezebel. Read 1Kg 16-21; 2Kg 9; Rev 2. The meaning of the name Jezebel: “like a virgin”, “without dwelling” or ‘Baal’s wife”. Other names for it (especially in this area) are these: Mammy water, Water spirit, Spirit wife (husband), Ogbanje, Potiphar’s wife, Athalia, Herodias, Delilah, Queen of heaven, Sugar mummy, Sugar daddy, Iron Lady…

She was a wicked pagan queen from Sidon who married Ahab, a king of Israel. She was very religious and a false prophetess. She never accepted the worship of Jehovah, the God of her husband. She remained faithful to the religion of her ancestors, the worship of Baal. Jezebel spirit is not ‘an ordinary’ demon. She is a high rank principality who corrupts homes, marriages, churches and nations. The Lord praised the church of Thyatira for their labor, faith, patience and love. These are the elements needed to seek and serve God. But Jezebel is also attracted to these wonderful blessings and comes to corrupt God’s people. Love without discipline becomes sexual immorality. Loving one another and tolerating Jezebel will end in disaster. For example, if a husband decides to love his wife with the love of Christ, Jezebel will attack that man until he withdraws from such a godly commitment. In this way the husband will stop being passionate towards God and his wife. Another example: if a man decides to work harder, or to have a better business, or to serve God more, Jezebel will attack until the man becomes lazy, confused or passive. In this way he will chose poverty than to stand against this demon. He will tolerate Jezebel and then backslide.

Jezebel is a proud queen and she loves to seat on her throne. She loves to be worshipped and to be in control. Many marriages and churches fail because of the influence of this demon. But remember this: the wicked Jezebel died a tragic untimely death which was prophesied by the Prophet Elijah. Her own servants, the eunuchs (the men she has deeply hurt) pushed her to death. The wicked may prosper thru wickedness for a time but they never end well.

One word that Jezebel hates is “NO!” She hates to be refused. This is God’s promise that if you resist the devil, he will flee from you. You must see not only the ‘face’ of Jezebel, but her back too, running away from you in disgrace! Until you see that, the battle continues! When the evil comes like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise a standard against it. On that standard it is written: “NO!” By the Blood of Jesus we say No to Jezebel! We say No to poverty! We say No to fear! We say No to divorce! We say No to backsliding! We say No to barrenness, miscarriages, sicknesses, accidents and untimely death! No! No! No! But we say Yes to God! We say Yes to Jesus! We say Yes to the Holy Spirit! Jesus is Lord!!!

PRAISE REPORT

I received this letter from a sister in Christ. She is quite new in our church. She is married with three children. She is born again for some years serving God faithfully. But she became dry spiritually. She was attending a church where the pastors manipulate the congregation to give money. It affected her spirit. She told me that she has depression, fits of anger, she is impatient with her husband and kids and generally unfulfilled as a Christian. I told her to fast and pray that God will help her come back to Christ, her first love. I told her to reject the evil spirit of religion. I also told her that if she humbles herself and comes to the Cross, God will bless her in all areas of her life. This testimony is given to the glory of God, to the shame of satan and for the encouragement of the children of God. If you want to pray for her or counsel her, please do. This is her story:

“Good evening ma. May I kindly share with you how God has graced me and my family…
First, I am a grocer and have a shop upstairs in a mall where I sell raw foodstuff. Having a shop upstairs and selling foodstuff was pretty challenging as I was a bit hidden and lifting items upstairs and downstairs into clients’ cars was not easy. I desired for long to have a shop downstairs by the road. God just gave me a big shop downstairs by the road. Hallelujah! It’s much more expensive and because of its strategic position many who had ready cash put me under pressure as I didn’t have the full amount. So I prayed and left it all in God’s hands. Long story short today almost a month after the shop is mine and I only paid for 4 months instead of what they were asking for. I also gave my offerings and praised God for that shop and He did it for me. Hallelujah!

Secondly Mother, my kids are really doing a lot lot better all round and in their academics. My daughter who was always behind was declared the top speller of the week. Its never happened. Our two sons also are doing a lot better at school. My husband’s company got awarded contracts he has been bidding and working towards. Praise God!

Mother, after I spoke with you and you put me on a fast, the Holy Spirit showed me how un-thankful I had been. He opened my eyes to see things in my life to be thankful for. Ma, I asked for mercy and began thanking Him for everything even those things I was ashamed of. I also began teaching my kids to be thankful. I have a home today even though there is great room for improvement As a family, we now pray together, we love what we have and are thankful for our lives. That war, that anxiety, that turbulence I used to experience inside me has stopped and I’m now peaceful. I have learnt not to worry about vanities but To Seek God and live for Him.
I woke up one morning crying Lord I want nothing more but you. Waoh… amazing.

I’m so thankful Ma for your mentorship and TaLi’s teachings.
I’m grateful that you are my Pastors. God bless you!
Your daughter…”

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24)

If you are married or single, please meditate upon these words. God invented the institution of marriage! It is not man who invented it. It is not the woman. It is not the devil! It is God!!! Before God creates governments and the church, He created the institution of marriage. The Christian marriage is made of one husband and one wife brought together by the Holy Spirit in a lifelong covenant. Do you know that God values your marriage very much? Not just the idea of marriage in general, but your own marriage! God wants your marriage to succeed! God wants that both of you should be happy serving God together. Do you really know that? This is the truth! Read the first three chapters of the Book of Genesis. In the first two you see how God created man and woman and put them together as husband and wife. In chapter three you see how the devil succeeds deceiving Eve, Adam rebels against God and their marriage crumbled. From an ideal relationship it became something lower. We too suffer since then. Only in Christ can our lives and marriages become saved and granted a new beginning.

What are some lessons?

First of all, marriage is a relationship between blessed equals. “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them…” (Gen 1:27, 28). God created both of them. The man is not created in the image of God more than the woman. Both man and woman ‘resemble’ God equally. God blessed them equally.

Secondly, God who created them gave them different functions to exercise in the setup of marriage. “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Gen 2:18). Man is to be the head, or the leader of the wife. This is God’s gift to him. The wife is to be the body, or the helper of the husband. This is God’s gift to her.  No one is superior to another. The head cannot live alone just as the body cannot live without the head. Each has to fulfill God’s purpose in the role given to them.

The devil attacks both these revelations. He tells the men that they are superior to the women. Or he tells the feminists that they are superior to men. These are both lies. You should reject them! The devil also attacks the understanding of the different functions in marriage. Deceived by the devil, the woman becomes rebellious and proud. She is tired to be the helper and she wants to be the head of the home. The husband is also deceived when he is tired to lead the wife. He now wants to be lazy and passive trying to ‘help’ his wife become the head of the home. Both are sinful positions. They are confused about the roles they need to play. This confusion brings a lot of troubles in the marriage. That is why it is good to go back to the Bible and read the Word of God again. The Word is our anchor in this difficult life.

Please obverse that the wife submits and she is the helper to ONLY her husband. No wife should submit and help other men around her. This arrangement is designed only for the marriage. In the office, in business or in the army women can be the directors and men have to submit to them. But if a wife submits and helps other men the same way she helps her own husband that is adultery.

We all need wisdom based on the understanding of the Word of God on how to have a godly, good, strong and happy marriage. I write these words with a burden for you, young (and not so young) people, that you should marry and marry well. This is my testimony and recommendation: I am a happily married woman for more than 42 years, a mother of three, a grandmother of six, a pastor’s wife and a pastor myself. From the bottom of my heart I wish you well! God bless you!

This is a letter from a sister in Christ who lives somewhere in Southern Africa. She is my Facebook friend. She is a single mother of three. She is a cancer survivor. She is a committed Christian. She works full time as an accountant. Her desire is to be a charity worker in Africa. She has trained her children in the ways of the Lord. They all pray and fast. God has been keeping them. This testimony is a reminder that God is faithful. He supplies all that we need and the He listens to the prayers of His children. This testimony is given to the glory of God, to the shame of the devil and for the encouragement of many. If you have any word of encouragement, she shall read it. Thank you all!

“Hello My Sister
I should say it has been long since we last communicated. How are you and family? A lot has been happening and I have been so busy with a lot of things though I am always thankful for the daily posts and testimonies you always post on Facebook. Be blessed my sister!

I will update you about the family first. The children are all fine. My first son A… is doing fine, he has finished his degree in Finance and Accounting. The economy is bad. A lot of companies are closing down so it has not been easy for him. However he has since been taken on temporary basis at a company called… where he is working in the finance department. I want to give Glory to God for that job because at least he is being exposed to working environment. I was also happy when the temporary job came along because my children would not sleep praying and they would go on all night prayers and absolute fasts that they have both lost so much weight. B…, my second daughter, excelled in her ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels academics. For Advanced level, she had Mathematics A, Accounting A and Business Studies A in all she attained 15 points so she has finished her high school now. She was supposed to start her degree in Accounting in August, but the Big God we serve opened a better door for her. She was taken by an Audit firm called…. It is one of the big four Audit firms in the world, so she will be studying Articles so that one day she becomes a Chartered Accountant and at the same time she is gaining some work experience.

I have always told the children that if you trust in God He will never put you to shame. My sister the children are leaning on God and they believe with God on their side even the sky will not be the limit. I want my children to keep on praying in good or bad times, God is our only salvation. So basically my house has been a house of prayer.

C my last son is also growing into a very big boy and he is improving so much in his academics. He still has to understand though why we pray so much at home but very soon he will understand. He is now in grade 5.

I still have my dream and passion of becoming a charity worker. I want to travel around Africa and the world. I wish I could just be located by someone or an organization that could use me in that area of being a charity worker. I will be the happiest person on Earth, it will be a dream come true. I also want to cry tears of joy one day. Though I have to say I no longer want to relocate from my country, I do not want to leave my home. I would prefer something that would just take me away for a few weeks or a month and come back to my home with my heart filled with joy just fulfilling my dream. One day I was watching TV and there was this team from England in Kenya, they had assisted in that area to have tap water and they were giving out food packs to the poor people and talking to them. And I said God I want to be part of such teams and I will be happy. I want to be led because I have discovered that I am not much of a front person but I don’t mind working hard. My health, God has been faithful, I have always declared that cancer is not my portion and it will never be part of me again.

Please remember to pray for me. I am much happier now. But I still need your counsel and prayers. Love from me to you,
T….”

“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…