“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands” (Is 53:10; NLT)

When I was little I loved the story about a wild bird, a quail, that pretended to be injured to distract the attention of the predator. This bird had five chicks. She saw a vulture coming toward her nest. She told her babies not to move no matter what. She then boldly went before her enemy and started shaking. Her wings were fallen to the ground. She was making painful cries. The vulture thought that she is helpless or wounded and it will be an easy prey. He tried to catch her. But limping, she was going farther away from the nest. She wisely kept her distance from the hunter. Little by little the mother bird drew away the enemy from her babies. Once she arrived at a good distance she flew in circles and then went back home. The vulture slept hungry that night. Good for him!

I have faith to apply this story to my present condition. At least twenty five years ago I made a covenant with God that if my children (natural and spiritual) are under attack, I am ready to take that on myself. God approved my request. Over the years I have been attacked spiritually by arrows meant to hurt my children. I have my wounds as a testimony of my work as an intercessor. I know that I am stronger than them. It is better that I am attacked instead of them. This is spiritual warfare and a labor of love. For example: a spiritually poisoned arrow is able to make my child sick enough to have a surgery in the hospital or an accident. But it will only give me a headache. I gladly chose the headache. I am a mother and a spiritual covering for them. These are not just empty titles or cheap words. This is the truth and God is my witness.

Like I said, a month ago I fell and broke my left ankle. It is very possible that the devil attacked my family. Who knows what could have happened if my children had to take this attack on themselves. I am so grateful to God for the ‘diversion’. This is an encouragement to my children to praise God for their deliverance and to serve Him more! The devil is a deceiver but this time he was deceived. He ‘missed road’ as we say in Nigeria. Like the vulture, he is gone away Disappointed! Thank God for that! My bone will soon heal and we shall dance to the glory of God!

My children, be strong and happy! Arise and shine for your light has come! The devil has failed! The enemy shall regret this attack! Our family is blessed! The blessings shall increase and multiply! There is an overflow of joy coming directly to us! The anointing has increased! Happy! Happy! Happy! This is the time for that! I see it… Do you see it? The breakthrough has happened! Have faith in God! The sick is healed; the jobless one has a good job; the single shall marry; the oppressed shall be free! To the glory of God! In Jesus name, amen!

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip” (Gen 32:24:31)

It is more than four weeks since I fell and broke my ankle. My husband is my hero in this time of need! He is a champion and a true man of a God. He is helping me the best way he can. I thank God for his life! But he is also a very busy man. So, I am alone in my room most of the time. I now have more than enough time to read the Bible, to pray and to meditate about God and my life. It is my desire to find a higher level of the grace of God. I don’t want to waste my pain. This is a great opportunity for me to have an encounter with God. Because of the cast, I cannot go to church as usual. But nothing shall stop me to go to the throne room of God. I do not need legs to go there. I only need faith. I have faith!

I am interested in particular in the scriptures that describe the blessings associated with brokenness, which is the Royal Way of the Cross. One of best stories is found in Genesis 32. We see here Jacob wrestling with the Angel of God who is the pre-incarnate Christ. It is the story of Peniel, seeing God face to face and live. Jacob is coming back to the Promised Land. The pain and the blessing found at Peniel is the visa to enter the Promised Land.

Jacob ran away from home because he was afraid Esau will kill him. He cheated his older brother by taking his birthright. He deceived their father Isaac and took away the blessing of the first son. Afraid for his life he runs away from home. He has an encounter with God at Bethel. He goes to his uncle Laban. God prospers him there. He marries and has children. He becomes a wealthy man. At part, he deceives Laban by running away from him. His name Jacob means ‘Deceiver’. Deception and scheming was his strategy of success in life. And it worked for him in the past.

He is now ready to come back home. Jacob is humbled. He needs a new strategy of success. He does not want to deceive Esau like in the past. He wants to live as a man of God. He wants to be a worshipper. He needs a change of heart. He needs to be delivered from himself. He needs to discover his weakness. He needs to know the power of God in his weakness. He needs a new name and a new identity. He needs God to bless him with a true new beginning. He needs the anointing of God for ministry.

How can God bless him? By breaking his will, by killing his flesh, by crippling him. This is the strange way God blesses strong men for ministry!

Jacob is left alone. He wrestles with God in Christ the whole night. God dislocates his hip. From now on he will limp and use a walking stick. But from now on the Sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, will rise on him with healing in His wings. His name will be called Israel, Prince with God.

Here we see God’s grace hunting and hurting a man until he conquers that man. We see God and man wrestling on the ground until the connection of holiness and the eternal blessing is established. In the natural, in a wresting match, there is a winner and a loser. It is a battle for control and superiority. But in an encounter with the living God there are no losers. God wins and man wins! There are two wrestlers and two winners. This is the way of The Lord! Pinned to the ground, finally, God has His man in the grip of His grace. From now on, God can trust man with His resources. Delivered from the power of flesh, man can now rest in the power of a new identity and a most special blessing.

Waiting for God to heal my broken ankle, there is nothing more I desire than the blessing of His presence upon my life. Let my pain lead the way to Peniel! Let me see God face to face! Let my travail be not in vain! Let it bring forth eternal fruitfulness to the glory of God! Like Jacob, let me lean on my staff and worship God! May the power of Christ find my weakness acceptable as a dwelling place! May God bless my husband with a stronger anointing for ministry! May God bless my children (natural and spiritual) with the blessings of Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen!

“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Eph 6:2, 3)

Today is Father’s Day and I remember my father, Prof. Albai Ion. I want to honor his memory. He went to heaven about 15 years ago. He was my loving father, my history teacher and the principal of our school. The best thing I remember about him is that he loved his wife (my mother), my sister and I very very much. He was very protective of his daughters. I loved to be his daughter. My mother was a disciplinarian. My father was the mediator. Each time my sister and I misbehaved and our mother punished us, he always ‘begged’ on our behalf. Because of that we decided never to misbehave and hurt him. It was not the punishment that changed us it was his constant love! I remember that… His love was the greatest encouragement for us to be good!

 
One of the best movies i have watched is called ‘Chariots of fire’. It is inspired from the true life story of Eric Liddell who won the gold medal at the Olympics in Paris in 1924. He was a Scottish athlete and a committed born again Christian. His parents were missionaries in China. He was a very fast runner. He prepared for the 100 meters race. When he was told that the heat for that race was on a Sunday he refused to run. He said that God commanded His people to rest on the Sabbath and to go to church. His stand brought him a lot of persecution. The news went all over the world. The Olympic committee put pressure on him but he refused to compromise his stand. Then one of his team mates suggested that they can exchange their races. Eric can run the 400 meters race and he will run the 100 meters. This was a much more difficult race and he was not prepared for it, but he agreed. Miraculously, the Olympic committee approved the switch.

The very Sunday he was to run he was invited to the Church of Scotland in Paris to preach. He encouraged the congregation from the Book of Isaiah 40:31.
“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”
He ended by saying: ‘if you honor God, God will honor you!’

The word of truly prophetic! Two days later he ran in the finals of the 400 meters race. The Americans were the all time favorites. Nobody gave Eric a chance. They all stated running. Half way in the race the French runner pushed him and he fell injuring his knee. For few seconds he lied down there looking the sky… He had to chose between victory and defeat. He silently called the name of Jesus. Then, in much pain, he got up. Limping, he stated running again. To everybody’ surprise he overtook them all and won the gold medal to the glory of God! After this success he fulfilled his vow. He never ran again. He went as a missionary to China. He died there in 1945 serving The Lord!

I remember this story especially now. It is such an inspiration! As you know, four weeks ago I fell and broke my ankle. For now, I have to stay on bed rest in a cast. But this early Sunday morning, I am encouraged to get up and dance again! To the glory of God! This is a great lesson for us all: Even if you fall, you don’t have to give up your dream! Against all odds, you can rise again and still win that battle! Your enemies shall be disappointed! The devil is a liar! Your friends shall rejoice! God is on your side! Jesus is Lord!

This is is a quote from his book:
“It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal. But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize. You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the true medals.” (Eric Liddell)

(The movie can be seen fee of charge on utube. The original song is very anointed! in the picture you see the real Eric Liddell)

“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!’