Feb 24, 2017 |
Did you ask Him before you set out? Wanted to transact a banking business in a neighborhood I thought I was familiar with. I took off heading to the location quite confident that I know the place. After 15 minutes of walking to the place I saw that branch has been closed the space rented to another business. It was then I pulled out my phone to use the google search to locate the next branch. If I had done the checking first before my walking I would have saved some time. We should develop a habit of constantly checking with God our routines. Are you in that place too where what you are doing is out of familiarity and not checking with God on the current situation with that matter.Time and change does not wait for us. People you know before might have changed. It’s Never too late to ask God for an update in directions on the matter at hand. David followed God’s step in the battlefield. He never assumed about God. Samuel told Saul let me tell you what God said yesternite when the disobedient king was still holding on to half truth which he comprised on. Let’s take the “pain ” to always ask God first before continuing on what to do next.
Feb 21, 2017 |
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”Proverbs 18: 21.
What are you saying to yourself this new day, this new week.? You have heard the quote” you become what you eat. ” This is not about what you eat but what you confess with your mouth about yourself, the situation you face.
Never express negativity about your challenges. Stay true to your dreams which translates to attainable goals.
You may be hearing news contrary to your expectations but stay true to your confession.
Several issues of life may come your way say only what lines up with your purpose.
Remember to choose to always say things that will give LIFE NOT death to your desires.
Feb 17, 2017 |
God will perfect that which concerns you. When a toddler starts walking there are some falls, stumbling and awkward steps and that child does not give up. He/She tries again and again. The parents too don’t give up on that child. They cheer and remove the obstacles around the child to enable smooth walking. So Don’t be discouraged with the fumbles that you have made. If parents don’t give up on their child at this stage so also God has not and will not give up on you.
You may ask yourself it’s Friday what have I achieved this week? Don’t lose hope. You can make today the best day of this week. Honestly look at what has been hindering you and have an action plan to correct it.
Yes your goal and dreams are attainable. Rise this day to make it your best this new year Feb 14, 2017 |
Recently I needed to use a function on my iPhone and had to ask one of my son’s to help which he gladly did. I see the dexterity with which he uses the phone. It’s the same phone. Model. Manufacturer. Yet he can perform a lot of functions with it that I cannot. The difference between us is our understanding of the phone. It then occurred to me that we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have the same Holy Spirit that Jesus promised us. Same Holy Spirit that is available in that “Mega” Preacher, Evangelist etc is the same that is equally in all believers. The manifestation of God in us entirely depends on each of our understanding of Him. Be determined today to know more about the functions of the Holy Spirit just as we try to understand and use our gadgets. The phone manufacturer gave list of functions and warranty. Most of us just use it for the basic necessities. Sadly that’s how we relate to the Holy Spirit in us. HE can do much more than what Jesus Himself did while on earth. Determine today to understand and use Him more for His Glory.
Jun 19, 2016 |
She laid the foundation.
Felicia laid the foundation of love. It was a love that gave. And she did give until she literally gave herself. She gave to God in every way she understood. She gave to her husband Matthew in every way and in everything within her ability. She almost made me believe that the husband in marriage relationship is Numero Uno. But I have since learnt that it is the partnership model that God gave Adam and Eve. I had to unlearn the notion that the husband was always right and cannot be questioned. Now I know 100% accountability and partnership are what make marriage to work and last. But for Felicia, she just gave without reservation.
I used to think that Church was a Sunday-Sunday thing. We always had donuts from Mrs Williams, the Sunday school teacher at the Ebenezer African Church Cathedral, Ogunpa, Ibadan. Then I noticed that some days in the week, Felicia would take her Sunday bag, which had her Bible, the catechism book and the Scripture Union yearly Bible plan and go to Church. She explained to me that Church was not only attended on Sundays. There are important midweek services a Christian should attend. When the time came for me to qualify to receive confirmation before communion from the Bishop, she sent me to the midweek services. Trust I did not attend all the classes but I was qualified for the then Bishop N. A. T. Abon to lay hands on me.
It was from her dressing table I first saw the Radio Bible Class Daily Bread. One early morning during the week before 6am, she sent me to go and waive down a taxi that was going to Mapo Hall because she was going to join other Christians to pray for Ibadan City, for God to reign in that mega city. I understand and know what communion, daily bread and praying for cities mean.
Felicia loved her two older sisters. She had such a bond with them that she cared, respected and loved all their children together as one. When I was growing up and anybody asked for my mother she would answer that it was her eldest Sister (Mama Odo Ona) that was my mum. Not too long I figured out she was my real mother. She demonstrated a rare kind of being there for all her family, which is still quite challenging for any of us to attain. There was a time General Gowon visited Ibadan and we had an Uncle working at the airport, broda Nata. She granted my request to follow him to work so as to catch a closer glimpse of the head of state, which I was able to see few feet away. I’m sure she smiled over there when, years later, I was now privileged to welcome General Gowon and His Pre-eminence Mbang to a leadership program of the Foursquare movement in Nigeria. I am learning and aspiring towards better leadership in my God-given dominion.
Felicia gave sacrificially and made education a priority for me. She encouraged me to read and I have read up to Doctorate level and I am still reading. I was glad and certain she was too over there when I, with the management team met Adebayo Faleti who came to preside at one of the National Communications meetings. Felicia and Matthew had earlier made me read all his published books.
As part of my education, I also learnt discipline; self-control; and other must have virtues a Christian must possess. I remember vividly the day I saw some money belonging to Felicia lying around. Assuming that whatever belonged to her was rightfully mine, I took a coin and used it to buy candy. A friend saw me quietly enjoying the candy and asked how I got it. Innocently I told her how I took from my mother’s money. She reported me to Felicia who immediately showed her displeasure. She gave me some strokes of the cane after which she sat me down and lectured me about stealing, and proper behaviour.
She was neat and always organized. Whether we were at the rented apartment at Omitowoju or our own house with its extensive gardens at Ikirun; things were always in proper place. She taught me how to cook. She allowed us to do the house chores with every other person living with her then. Certainly it was God in her good heart. She was good and kind to everybody in the house and countless visitors that came to our house. I understood through her what hospitality is really about. She genuinely cared for people from her heart and she shared whatever she had with those who needed it.
As I do remember her I am thrilled that God gave me a wife and mother in my Olutoyin, who by His Grace I am living with longer than I lived with Felicia. My wife has consolidated and exposed me to other truths of life that Felicia did not get to do. In Olutoyin, I have found a mother whose feet fit the shoes Felicia left behind. Olutoyin has become a legendary mother: a mother to me and to our children.
While Olutoyin and I recognise the foundations Felicia started, it is an honour for me to celebrate and appreciate the two women in my life; Felicia my mother and Olutoyin my darling wife whom the LORD has bestowed with untainted virtues and who has loved me all the way and still does.
Happy Mothers Day
Jun 19, 2016 |
She laid the foundation.
Felicia laid the foundation of love. It was a love that gave. And she did give until she literally gave herself. She gave to God in every way she understood. She gave to her husband Matthew in every way and in everything within her ability. She almost made me believe that the husband in marriage relationship is Numero Uno. But I have since learnt that it is the partnership model that God gave Adam and Eve. I had to unlearn the notion that the husband was always right and cannot be questioned. Now I know 100% accountability and partnership are what make marriage to work and last. But for Felicia, she just gave without reservation.
I used to think that Church was a Sunday-Sunday thing. We always had donuts from Mrs Williams, the Sunday school teacher at the Ebenezer African Church Cathedral, Ogunpa, Ibadan. Then I noticed that some days in the week, Felicia would take her Sunday bag, which had her Bible, the catechism book and the Scripture Union yearly Bible plan and go to Church. She explained to me that Church was not only attended on Sundays. There are important midweek services a Christian should attend. When the time came for me to qualify to receive confirmation before communion from the Bishop, she sent me to the midweek services. Trust I did not attend all the classes but I was qualified for the then Bishop N. A. T. Abon to lay hands on me.
It was from her dressing table I first saw the Radio Bible Class Daily Bread. One early morning during the week before 6am, she sent me to go and waive down a taxi that was going to Mapo Hall because she was going to join other Christians to pray for Ibadan City, for God to reign in that mega city. I understand and know what communion, daily bread and praying for cities mean.
Felicia loved her two older sisters. She had such a bond with them that she cared, respected and loved all their children together as one. When I was growing up and anybody asked for my mother she would answer that it was her eldest Sister (Mama Odo Ona) that was my mum. Not too long I figured out she was my real mother. She demonstrated a rare kind of being there for all her family, which is still quite challenging for any of us to attain. There was a time General Gowon visited Ibadan and we had an Uncle working at the airport, broda Nata. She granted my request to follow him to work so as to catch a closer glimpse of the head of state, which I was able to see few feet away. I’m sure she smiled over there when, years later, I was now privileged to welcome General Gowon and His Pre-eminence Mbang to a leadership program of the Foursquare movement in Nigeria. I am learning and aspiring towards better leadership in my God-given dominion.
Felicia gave sacrificially and made education a priority for me. She encouraged me to read and I have read up to Doctorate level and I am still reading. I was glad and certain she was too over there when I, with the management team met Adebayo Faleti who came to preside at one of the National Communications meetings. Felicia and Matthew had earlier made me read all his published books.
As part of my education, I also learnt discipline; self-control; and other must have virtues a Christian must possess. I remember vividly the day I saw some money belonging to Felicia lying around. Assuming that whatever belonged to her was rightfully mine, I took a coin and used it to buy candy. A friend saw me quietly enjoying the candy and asked how I got it. Innocently I told her how I took from my mother’s money. She reported me to Felicia who immediately showed her displeasure. She gave me some strokes of the cane after which she sat me down and lectured me about stealing, and proper behaviour.
She was neat and always organized. Whether we were at the rented apartment at Omitowoju or our own house with its extensive gardens at Ikirun; things were always in proper place. She taught me how to cook. She allowed us to do the house chores with every other person living with her then. Certainly it was God in her good heart. She was good and kind to everybody in the house and countless visitors that came to our house. I understood through her what hospitality is really about. She genuinely cared for people from her heart and she shared whatever she had with those who needed it.
As I do remember her I am thrilled that God gave me a wife and mother in my Olutoyin, who by His Grace I am living with longer than I lived with Felicia. My wife has consolidated and exposed me to other truths of life that Felicia did not get to do. In Olutoyin, I have found a mother whose feet fit the shoes Felicia left behind. Olutoyin has become a legendary mother: a mother to me and to our children.
While Olutoyin and I recognise the foundations Felicia started, it is an honour for me to celebrate and appreciate the two women in my life; Felicia my mother and Olutoyin my darling wife whom the LORD has bestowed with untainted virtues and who has loved me all the way and still does.
Happy Mothers Day
