I can’t believe what I’ve got myself into. I thought I had everything under control. I didn’t realise the whole time, that the enemy had plans to destroy my life. Father please won’t You have mercy on me. Please forgive me and restore your joy.

I can’t imagine staying here till I die. I got to get back to your side

The devil tempted me and I was drawn away but I have no desire to stay. No.

I’ve got to get out of here.

I want to be with You.

The heat you are feeling is from the fire approaching you even though you are hiding. Unfortunately, you are hiding at a bad place. Cold hard reality eventually comes knocking on the door. If only it could quench the approaching inferno.

It looked fun when you were going to do it, it felt good when you did it. Now, it’s not fun anymore. Sinking back into addiction; picking a dead weight again; visiting that house of sin again; tripping in the net that easily entangles; feeling the intense heat of guilt. It’s not fun anymore.

The blaze is getting stronger. The smoke is getting thicker. Am I on fire? Suffocating in hell? “Why can’t I focus?” Choking on on dark smoke, your eyes burn. “I cannot see.” Blindly feeling your way around for the way out you crave for one more breath. This thing doesn’t make you happy. You know your life gets no joy from it.

Sooner or later, you have to walk into the light and leave that burning house behind. The cool wind of freedom is beckoning you. “Come.” Will you?.

To save your life, reality will bang at the door – ready to barge in. Reality, which insistently calls on you, not caring to wait for the fire to consume you.

As you contemplate, “stay or be saved? ” “What should I do?” You realise your tiredness, hurt, burning, dying. At that place, you’re wondering, “do I stay in the burning house because I’m burned already, or do I walk towards my salvation – the light.”

Like the prodigal child you know you’ve done wrong. you’re rehearsing your lines and arranging your rhymes for a second chance. “Am I worth saving?”.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Eventually, you step towards the light. You reach for the soothing cool wind and breathe in fresh air. Your head is clear, your burning heart eases. Freedom feels great. Freedom is what you needed all along.

Then the whisper comes. Whispers of how you’ve just failed. Whispers of your weaknesses. “You’re tainted. Flawed. How could you? How could you do this? How could you go this far? Why did you drink that? Why did you go there? Why did you not stop? You said the last time that you wouldn’t, now look at you.”

Your thoughts are now in turmoil. Your countenance falls. Your emotions become a mess. Your flesh is still tempted. The deceiver is whispering and pouring lies.

Nonetheless, you pick up your phone and you see messages from God to you informing you of the cost of your actions YET He Paid.  Messages about the Love He has for you. You turn on your television and He says its not over for you, you Shine in Him. You reach for His word and His grace abounds to you.

There’s a point in your Christian walk when you have to choose whether His mercy will push you forward, keep you fighting, and keep you going. Or whether the lies will keep you falling, keep you stalling, and keep you cowing.

God doesn’t save you more than the salvation you desire for yourself. He desires to save you wholly. But you have to give yourself over wholly.

So in that moment when time freezes and the decision is made which direction will you turn your face. The enemy’s lies or the Father’s truth. Will you choose His mercy? Will you look back at the burning house or stay in the cool wind of His love. Will you be Lot, or his wife? Will you face the mountain or the destruction? Living flesh or a pillar of salt?

Death or life?

He’s still speaking because He cares. Yet still He says, “The choice is yours.”

What is it going to be?

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Father we love You.  We praise You.  We adore You.  Glorify Thy name in all the earth. Glorify Thy name. Glorify Thy name. Glorify Thy name in all the earth.

I wonder why Jesus said these words:

“I am the way, the truth and the life…”
John 14:6

Jesus said many things during His ministry on earth. He told the world that He had come as a Savior in order to make the Father known. He also made one of the most profound statements that would ever be uttered; that He is the way, the truth and the life. I want us to dissect the text a little bit.

First, take note of the use of the definitive pronoun. “I” in the statement. In a world where pronouns are starting to lose their meanings and any standard definition is begginning to lose firm ground, this word, “I” is important. It was and is not meant for just anyone. It did not refer to a random person. Not you. Not me. Not they-them. Not any of the disciples with Jesus Christ. Not a group of people. Not the religious leaders. Jesus was referring to Himself. As what? As the way, the truth and the life. Now, the emphasized word “the” is another important use of reference. It is a definite article, and also notable. According to the dictionary, is denotes that there is *only one*. Just one!

Considering these words Jesus uttered, anyone listening to Him must have thought “Whoa! This man is crazy”. No wonder the Bible says that some of His sayings were so hard to accept that many abandoned Him (John 6:60). What audacity must cause a man to claim not only to be the way, but the truth and then the life. So what about every other way people knew of? What about their personal perceptions of truth? What about ways they had carved out for themselves? What about their human lives? Did it matter at all? Jesus was essentially saying to them that all of that was nothing. “I am the embodiment of life”

What discussion led to Jesus make this statement? Jesus was telling those who followed Him about a place beyond the existence of the earth (John 14:1-5). He was telling them that life after death existed, and that life after death was controlled by God. He was telling them that after death, there was a reward for His followers. He informed His followers that there was life after death for them.  However, His followers at the time wondered how they could go where Jesus spoke of to collect the rewards that He had mentioned. They asked Jesus to show them the way. Jesus told them that they knew the way because He was the way.

Interestingly throughout this discourse, the use of the definitive article is used. This leaves one wondering why Jesus and His disciples spoke as they did? As though nothing else matters but this end. Jesus called God the Father. Meaning there is truly only one Father. He continued then declaring who He is. Although the conversation with His followers was about going somewhere it ended up being about who Jesus is. Jesus did not end by saying He is the way leading to the place He had spoken of. He continued further to say two other things. That He is the truth. And that He is also the life. The way, the truth, and the life is a person.

Why go a step further? I always believe that Jesus is always a step ahead. I want to zoom onto His second statement that He is the truth.

We live in a world now where truth is pushed into subjectivity. Now more than ever, these statements are common: ‘This is my truth’. ‘Know your truth’. ‘My truth is what I think about me’. ‘You determine your truth’. ‘No one can tell you what your truth should be’. ‘Speak out your truth’. ‘I determine what is true’. Truth has become fickle.

Truth according to the world is now subject to everyone’s whim and desire. The world wants a fluid truth. ‘Don’t tell me what is right or wrong. I determine that for myself’. ‘I am my own truth’ is the gospel of the world to itself as it continually elevates self-worship, self-adoration and self-glory over God. ‘The man sitting in the sky cannot come and tell me how to live my life’. ‘If He loves me or even exists, then He has to love what I do, support all my sins, and handle my truth’. ‘Who has the right to say that what I do is a sin anyway?’

There’s is a part is the passion of Christ movie that is unforgettable to me. In a discourse between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, Pilate had qualms about crucifying Jesus. He asked Jesus, “What is truth?” The people who wanted Jesus Christ crucified had said so many things about Him. And Pilate wondered what the truth was.

Today, that is the critical question of this age. What is truth? What is the truth that transcends all generations no matter the shifting shapes of time? Jesus makes it clear. It is Him. Truth is a person. And that person is Jesus Christ.

Jesus reveals to His disciples something so critical to life. Which is, despite the many ways of the world, there is one way that really matters. It is the one that leads to the Father. There are many good and bad fathers. There are many relationships that exist but the one that is important is the one with the only true Father and only that really matters. There is only one truth. And that is Him because He leads to the Father. There is only one life to live and that is His life (Galatians 2:20).

Taking us down history, we learn that centuries ago in a world of polytheists the Israelites believed in one God. They were what we call monotheistic.  They were hated for that. All the nations that surrounded them were polytheists.  Believers of many ways. Many gods. Many truths. And even many lives. No definite standard.

Christians today are hated and rejected for believing in one way, one truth, one life. One God. One salvation. One faith. One baptism. One way to heaven. Rejected for saying Jesus is the truth like He said. The world wants a polytheist many ways to many gods where their personal truth leads them to themselves. And they have crowned themselves as their owns gods. They do not want to be confronted with accountability to someone who demands a higher standard. They do not want a definite place after death to be held accountable. They would rather turn into a plant or dirt when they die.

Truth, subject to the world has changed so much.  In a world where stability is almost non-existent, Jesus is the truth. He brings stability. He is the life. The only life worth living is the life of Christ. One would ask how? Jesus said said it, “Believe in Me.” When you believe in Him, He prepares a place for you in the House of His Father. When you believe in Him, you begin to live His life. Because you give up yours for His.

Do you have your truth? Your own standard? It is unwise to measure yourself by your own self and your own standard.

Yes, you can ask me, “how do you know that what Jesus said is true?” History testifies. Truth endures. I believe it to be so. I believe that He came from God and that He is God And when I believed, He has by many ways confirmed to me that I have chosen the truth.

I cannot defend God. He needs no  defender. But I can testify of Him. And that is what I can offer you.

We all believe in something. Some believe in God. Some also believe in self. Our own standards. Our own good works. Our own abilities. Our own truths. Some believe that we are our own gods. Our own masters. But even though that may present itself as true, it is grossly false. It is so interesting that in Genesis 3, the only time man by his judgement considered something to be good was right before eating the fruit in the garden. He judged the fruit by how pleasant it looked to his eyes and the godhood it promised him. But his own judgement led to his fall.  He moved from God’s higher standard to create His own standard.  His own concept of what was good in direct contradiction to the direction of God. A wrong one. How does the creation determine good and bad?

We all came from someone. None of us made ourselves. We were born. There is no one in the world right now who was not born. We do not pre-exist and that proves our inherent weakness. Our inherent shortcoming. We are created. And where there is a creation, then there is a creator who cannot be denied. And the creator sets the standards. The creator determines the truth. The way. And the life. Submit yourselves to God and be saved. Seek the truth while He may still be found. The truth will set you free from yourself.

The path to the truth is the knowledge of Jesus. The knowledge of the truth through belief gives you life. The life you receive is Jesus Christ who is the eternal God. The eternal life you’ll live is Christ. So many things have been said about Jesus but believe what He says about Himself. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Veritas. Jesus is the objective Veritas.

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Now my heart’s desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing You, Jesus. Knowing You. There is no greater thing

You’re my all, You’re the best. You’re my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

God is inspiring. He inspires me everyday. Every morning, He has a word for me that tells me the right way to go; either to the left or to the right.

In my previous post, I shared a story about an athlete who received a revelation from spending time with God in the morning, and how it helped him to make a winning choice later in the day. Starting our day with God cannot be overemphasized.

This Morning

So this morning, I read an interesting piece during my devotion. The writer likened the process of seeking God to diving into the sea. He stated that in doing so, one is privileged to see and experience all the beauty hidden within this world. I was fascinated by this. I agreed with him that indeed seeking God is like diving into the ocean’s deep. I thought further about how I can have a knowing of what is in the ocean’s deep and a knowing of what is in the ocean’s deep. Take note of the different intonations I’ve used in the previous statement. Lol. I’m writing right? Don’t mind me. Writing has it’s limitations. I’ll explain what I mean soon.

For example, when the National Geographic, organizes an expedition to the sea, or the artic, or the rainforest or the desert, or the jungle, or some unknown place, they return to my television screen, YouTube or similar medium showing and telling me all the wonderful creatures they’ve seen. Multicolored birds, hammer-looking fish, anaconda snakes, Comodo dragons, great eagles and all the wonderful animals of the world. They are beautiful (well not all of them). And by these expeditions, I get to know about those animals. They testify of what they’ve seen and I watch their journeys. I accept all that they show to me as reality.

Now, if someone askes me if these things exist and where they do, I would say, “yes, they exist here and there…”. After all, I saw it on my television. I mean National Geographic said so. Nonetheless, if I am probed a little further, there may be a little doubt. My confidence may falter. Why? The answer is simple. I was not there with them. I was not in the deep sea or thick jungle. I was not on the high mountain or the cold artic. I did not have the personal experience. All I know is what they said. Their experience. I would never be entirely sure. A ‘what-if’ will probably linger in the background continually.

However, if I go to all those places. If I dive into the deep sea and weather the thick jungles and see all the lovely animals. Ask me of them. I would be absolutely convinced of what I tell you. I would describe the vibrant colors of the creatures. Their mannerisms. Their sounds. Their beauty. Their fierceness. All I see. Because, I would have been to those places myself, discovered, and experienced it. It would be real. This “knowing” would be a knowing I am sure of through revelation. And such it is with a relationship with God.

People have had their experiences and testimonies of God, and they can share them with us to encourage us. To introduce God to us. They can share their revelations with us. They can be witnesses. This is a great thing. But! if I want the enduring faith, the immovable, unshakable faith, the steadfast and sure kind of faith, that faith only comes from personal revelation. Personal experiences. Personal fellowship. Personal encounters. Getting personal with God.  That is when we hear Him. See Him. Experience Him. Know Him.

Then, you can stand in confidence no matter how life tries to question your knowledge of Him with its tough antics. It’s difficult challenges. It’s hard trials and temptations. It is good to encourage each other with our experiences. But those are not to make us reliant on each other but rather, ginger us to go on our own personal journeys with God to be totally reliant on and confident in Him.

Remember, Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. You must experience it. No one can do it for you. It is an open invitation to you and I to get personal with exploring the riches and wonders of God’s nature (Romans 11:33).

Dearly Beloved

There is a knowing and a knowing. Which knowing do you know. When you seek God, you will be found by Him. When you seek with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). God desires to have a close relationship with us. He desires to reveal the depths of Himself to us. You must be ready to dive into the deep ocean. Venture into the thick jungle. Hike the depths of snow. Travel the deserts lands. You must go and know His wonder for yourself.

A classic. Be blessed.

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I press towards the mark of the high calling. I’m pressing on to reach my goal. I press toward the mark of the high calling.

I press. I press. I press.

I forget those things that are behind me and I stretch myself to what’s ahead of me. I press towards the mark of the high calling.

I press. I press. I press.

I will never give up.

I’ve been binge watching Netflix competitive shows for a while now. My favourites are obstacle courses that test your endurance, perseverance, tenacity, strength and determination. I found a particularly captivating one that had me on my tippy toes. “The Ultimate Beast-Master”.

It was a joy to watch athletes put in their very best to overcome greatly challenging obstacles and tests of their strength and will to win. A particular athlete quickly stood out for me. Firstly, because he had a beautiful family and a super cute baby rooting for him. Secondly, because he was previously diagnosed with autoimmune multiple sclerosis but had overcome the disease to become a full blown athlete. Thirdly, because there was a light about him I couldn’t quite place my finger on. I just found myself rooting for him from the start.

By the semi-finals, a little background story revealed him to be a Christian missionary. At first, I thought, “every Christian missionary should look like that!” Lol. It was no wonder that I just supported the super ripped handsome Christian guy on the TV.

Now to the fun part. I hope I describe the scenario properly.

The semi-finals was down to six athletes and only the top three could progress to the final. The obstacle course comprised three separate parts. Each athlete had a chance to go at it twice. Therefore, if they failed at the first try, they had the chance to try it one more time although with a penalty.

The first athlete to run the course had a whopping mark which put him at the top of the leader board because he managed to run through the first and second parts of the course.

My favourite, whom I will call Christian was the second athlete to run the course. Before he run, he spoke about his missionary experience and love for God. He also shared another significant thing. The scripture he had read that morning. Psalm 115. He stated that he was not in the race for himself, but for the Lord because the Lord had given him the strength to run. And he wanted all glory to belong to God. Lastly, he said this, “it is not about competing, I am running my own race to win the prize.”

Wow. If I was half-heartedly rooting for him at the beginning, he had my full support from this point until the end.

Now, let me get to the interesting part of this story. Christian started the first part of the course, and just as he was almost at the end of it, he fell! Bummer right? He had a decision to make. He either had to use his lifesaver to run the course again (therefore loosing some points) and hope to finish the first part completely, or reject the lifesaver and stick with the points he had – hoping he could still somehow make it to the finals. Bear in mind that he was unable to beat the athlete in first place. He had no idea how the other athletes after him would do. His marks were also average at best. But he said something. He said that a voice deep inside him had told him not to do it again. He had done his best with his strength. Christian admitted that the area he had failed at was a weakness for him as an athlete and he was not sure he would be able to finish it even if he did it a second time. Yikes! I’ll bet that people thought he was a quitter.

The commentators called his decision a chess move of chance. I called it faith. He took a leap of faith. To be honest, the odds were against him. There were four excellent athletes attempting the course after him who had done waaay better than he did in previous rounds. His decision seemed to be completely foolish. The worst thing was that the immediate athlete who run the course just just after Christian messed up at the same place he did but decided on a do over. That do over took that athlete at first place and put Christian in danger of being eliminated. I was on the edge of my seat!

Christian understandably began to doubt if he had made the right decision. At this point, I was almost giving up with him. But people! Keep the faith. Because what came next blew my mind. The final three athletes who had to beat his mark to oust him all failed in their first courses. They failed right before the area that he had failed at. What even made it more interesting was that they all used their lifesavers yet still they all could not complete the course. It was as if an angel was at the exact same point of the obstacle, blocking them and pushing them into the water. It was hilarious. It was miraculous! I was grinning from ear to ear like a clown. I could not contain my excitement. I was blown away. So blown away that I picked up my Bible to see exactly what was written in Psalm 115!

I will share from verse 1 to 11 below:

Psalm 115

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Why let the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.
Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands.
They have mouths but cannot speak,
and eyes but cannot see.
They have ears but cannot hear,
and noses but cannot smell.
They have hands but cannot feel,
and feet but cannot walk,
and throats but cannot make a sound.
And those who make idols are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
Israel, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.

Wow. This is the kind of revelation that empowers you for any obstacle.

First of all, my first lesson was to do my devotion. Because it is that word that will lead me to make a winning decision in my day.

Most importantly, this showed me how God works. Our God is not asleep. Everyone thought Christian was done for. But instead, they all watched the rest of the athletes fall like helpless dominoes attempting obstacles they had previously bested. Right there, Christian realised that his faith in God had not failed. God showed him in the most fantastic way how He works. God does as He wishes. And men are but mere men. Christian realised where his strength ended and where God’s sovereignty could elevate him to. It was marvellous to see.

In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul had a weakness, and he wanted it to just go away, but he had to learn that God’s strength is perfected in his weakness. Christian learned that on this course. And I also got to learn it too as I watched it unfold. I especially needed it because I have been trying my best to overcome my own weaknesses. Hoping that going at it again and again will do the trick. But my strength can only go so far. Grace is what I need.

Grace is also what you need. Grace doesn’t say keep trying, it says keep trusting. The point has come to trust in God’s all encompassing grace. The grace that covers our wrongs and shortcomings. The grace that tells us that no matter how much you go at it, your strength will fail so trust in Me. Trust even if you fail. Trust in My divine power. Trust in My mercy. Trust in My love. Trust in My Son who gave His life to perfect you. Trust in the One who can make you into what He wants you to be.

Like Christian said, we are each running our race. Running not against each other. But running to each win our prize. We are on our own obstacle courses filled with so many weights and sins and temptations. Trying to tame the beast. The biggest obstacle in the race being our own selves and our weaknesses. But like Paul said in Hebrews 12, we get to run and finish only with our eyes set on Jesus. The grace giver. The prize giver. The author and finisher of our faith.

So it might seem like you have failed. It may seem like you have fallen into the water with a big splosh. it may feel like you have hit the hard ground with a huge splat. But where your strength ‘felled’ you. Grace will lift you up. And you will finish knowing that grace won you the race.

Press on by faith.

This one is an all time favorite. Don’t pass it over and be blessed.

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You are my hiding place. You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong with the strength of the Lord.

Michael Ledner – You Are My Hiding Place

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Matthew 4:1-11 or Luke 4:1-13.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. ² For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. ³ During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, ⁶ and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’
⁷ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’
⁸ Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
¹⁰ “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’
¹¹ Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus

As I lay on my bed and mulled this over, I compared the temptation of Jesus with another temptation story in the Bible that some of us may know well. The infamous fall of Adam and Eve (See Genesis 3). For those who do not know the story, satan, disguised as a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve to eat a forbidden fruit God had instructed them not to eat. Therefore, they sinned.

With this background, I decided to explore the two scenarios.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:45 that Jesus is the last Adam. The perfect Adam. A life-giving Spirit. I compared these two Adams and their temptations. I have, on one hand, ‘first Adam’. First Adam was living in a beautiful and perfect garden. It had everything good. A beautiful woman (in my opinion, everything God made was good so I believe Eve was beautiful). In the garden, there were trees that produced all kinds of fruit which he could eat to his fill. He was in a fruitful green blossoming garden. Birds chirping. A beautiful breeze. A gentle brook. Colorful swimming fish wiggling their fins. Every kind of animal you can think of living in harmony and eating plants. No predators or prey. Perfection. (See Genesis 2).

Then I take a look at Second Adam (Jesus). He was in the wilderness. Dry, hot, and dusty. Barely any green trees to be seen for miles not to talk of fruits. No pretty birds chirping. No harmless plant-eating wild animals. Rather there were probably those who would readily have him for breakfast, lunch or supper. A blazing hot sun. Buzzing flies and biting bugs. Thorns and thistles. Snakes and scorpions. And hunger. His cousin John had previously been eating locusts from the same wilderness.

These two Adams find themselves in divergent circumstances. One (the first Adam) was in a place of plenty and the other (Jesus) in a place of want. The first was in a very comfortable place, and the other in a place you and I wouldn’t go for a holiday vacation.

We also have a third person in both pictures, “the snake” (the devil), who comes to tempt them. Now, something we need to take note of is that the snake is very deceptive (Genesis 3:1). His job is to twist the true picture of any circumstance as long as it makes God look like the bad guy. He is good at it. We have a multitude of people in the world today who have fallen for that deception. The Bible tells us not to be ignorant of his wiles (2 Corinthians 2:11).

The first Adam had so much! You and I can agree on that. He lived in plenty but in the garden of all that abundance, the snake deceived him so well that he overlooked all the plenty he had. He saw what He did not have. He only saw the one thing he could not have among the others that were readily his to enjoy. This picture was a lie. A fraud. A hoax. The first Adam had God as his father. He had everything because God is the source of everything. Yet God was transformed in first Adam’s eyes. Transformed into a wicked God who did not want to give him the best he deserved. So first Adam believed and accepted the lie and fell from his place of sonship because he trusted in the words of the devil over the word of God. He failed a test that ideally should have been easy to pass.

Now, this crafty serpent again shows up in a completely different scenario and this time around changes his narrative. He doesn’t show up as a lying snake this time. He comes as himself. For forty days he was on ‘Mission Temptation’. For forty days he attempted to get Jesus Christ to repeat the mistake of the first Adam. In his temptations, he tried to make Jesus, the last Adam believe another lie. Using the same modus operandi. The falsehood he was perpetuating was that even though Jesus had the right to plenty, God was making Him live in lack. Therefore, he incited Jesus to do something about the situation. Just as he did in the garden, he again comes with his word (a lie) to challenge the word of God (the truth). Luke 4:1-13.

Satan’s wiles:

a. Why was Jesus hungry from unnecessary fasting when He already had the power to turn stone into bread. I mean God was asking too much wasn’t He?

b. You are the Son of God. Why have you allowed yourself to be limited and belittled as a mere man here? Show God that as His Son you deserve better. you don’t deserve to be treated this way.

c. If your Father won’t give you what you truly deserve, I will. Just turn Your allegiance to me. Make me your god. I have what it takes to make you rule.

These are the same lies he sells to man over and over again and many fall for it.

But where the first Adam failed, the second did not. Where the first Adam was weak, the second was strong. Where the first Adam was deceived, the second Adam untangled the web of lies.

Jesus could see the value of God’s word beyond the present circumstances. That God would not withhold any good thing from him. Because as the Bible says in the same chapter, the Spirit of God led Him to that place of hardship. For Jesus, it was the will of God, and if it was God’s will, then it was good. He saw God’s love and faithfulness in lack and hunger. In a dry place. In a difficult place. He saw a garden of goodness in the word of God which He had heard and absolutely believed. He was sure of His place as the Son of God. He had nothing to prove of Himself except to trust His Father’s word and to do only what the Father had asked Him to do. Where the first Adam chose to live by the bread (the forbidden fruit) rather than the words that had proceeded from God’s mouth, the second Adam made a better, higher choice which set the pace for the redemption of mankind. Redemption towards a place where we can see plenty in the driest wilderness. He established Himself as one who gives life by upholding the truth unconditionally. Where God’s word is enough to sustain us whether we are in plenty or in want. For the word of God is what we need to live.

Jesus made a choice for truth. He believed in God’s word. His circumstances gave Him every reason to doubt, yet He trusted God in spite of it. He overcame the devil by the word of His testimony of who He believed God to be. True about His words.

So dear reader, it is not about plenty or the want. It is not about the circumstances you find yourself in. It is all about whom you believe. There is the truth, and there is the lie. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. He alone knows it, and it is through Him that we know it too. In this world full of falsehoods and deception. We need truth to hang on to. A foundation that does not quiver so that we can build our existence. Just like the two Adams, a choice is always available. And whether we like it or not, it is either truth or lies.

My fervent hope and prayer is that you would choose the one who is able to lead you into all truth. Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world.

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The destination of mortal life is death. Everything else is an experience.

We often find ourselves living with the expectation of a certain destination in this world. For some, it is a dream job. For others, the woman or man of their dreams. Yet again, others, a big project. A business; career; education; children. The list is endless and different for each person.

We are a species of tomorrow. Focused intently on “brighter lights at the end of tunnels”. Focused on what we are yet to achieve.

But you know what? Tomorrow never comes. Wishes and wants do not end. The eyes see. The ears hear. The heart perceives. The hands reach out in desire. Wanting. Wanting. Wanting what is next. Eventually, we become trapped in the rut of tomorrow. And a tomorrow-focused heart misses out on today.

To live with the expectation of a certain destination is not wrong in itself. What we need to understand is that the destination is composed of the actions of today. Then again, we often err on what our true destination is. However, I will not discuss that today.

The greatest man I know (Jesus of course) taught us to pray, “Father, give us today our daily bread”. All we need is bread for today; the important actions we must take today in order to make tomorrow a worthwhile tomorrow.

Life is not promised tomorrow. Our lives can be lost suddenly and in the most unexpected way.

Living “in” today seems myopic, however, we will find that it will bring us the opposite effect of peace, joy, and gratitude. We will value moments we actually are privileged to have. We will learn to value the seconds, minutes, and hours, and with those with which we are presently privileged to enjoy them.

The world teaches us to chase our dreams. The thing about dreams is that you wake up to realize it is all a dream. You were the main character in a sub-plot of the main plot. Completely oblivious to the stage you should actually be on. Behind many faces plastered with smiles of achieving a dream, are realities of sacrifices and costs many will not share but cannot deny they would rather not have made. The world reminds me of the first time I discovered the sign, “For credit, come tomorrow” in front of a shopkeeper’s store, it was such a funny light bulb moment. Because like the world, the shopkeeper never intends to give you credit. You will keep paying today for what you will not have tomorrow.

What we are chasing after is definitely moving away from us and not towards us (Think about it. That is the reason why we are chasing.) By the time the chase is over, we will be an exhausted, sweaty mess. So many things would have whizzed by in a blur as we chased. Whether we would catch, is not guaranteed.

The world shifts so much that nothing is really grasped. The physical is even more elusive than the spiritual.

Imagine that you only had today to live, what would you do differently? How would you give? Into a life in need today or a fat bank account for tomorrow? How would you treat people? Would you forgive the friend that offended you? Would you reconcile with the lover that hurt you? Would you spend time with that person you care for but believe you would see tomorrow? What are you postponing for tomorrow that should be done today?

I was a victim of tomorrow. I lost the last moments of my mom’s life when I said these words, “I will check up on her tomorrow”. I guess I learned…

I am not here as an angel of doom and gloom.

Indeed, it is good to plan. It is great to envision a beautiful future. We can have things we wish to achieve. We may or may not achieve those aspirations. However, by tomorrow, would we be at peace about how we spent today? Our lives really are composed of our yesterdays and today. Tomorrow is elusive. At the end of the road which is (mortal) death, will your life have been spent chasing or living?

Every moment until you take hold of a dream is what we must cherish. For history has proven that a dream, if achieved, is not as satisfying as the journey if we valued the journey. Better even, I wish not to chase a dream. I search for reality. Searching demands a critical acknowledgment and examination of all and everything around me.

I would recommend to you the best reality to search for. That is Jesus Christ. It is only in finding Him that we immediately attain; we continually attain each day with what we have attained and, attain the final and true attainment at the end of mortal life with our first attainment. Beautiful indeed. You can’t lose with Him.

In Him, we learn not to devalue today’s moments in exchange for earthly achievement. He teaches us how to do it.

In Christ, we truly live.

There is always something we want to achieve, pretty soon we realize that the wanting never ends and the stop to it is death. Often, that realization comes too late for many. For the one who receives Jesus Christ, He or she knows that the greatest achievement has already been received. Jesus Christ. The end of mortal life is not an end, but rather, a glorious continuation.

You can assuage the tomorrow syndrome by the realization of the truth of cherishing today. The truth of contentment. This comes from knowing Jesus.

I am so glad that I have achieved the greatest reality this early in my life. I am 30 years today and ecstatic to have spent it with Christ. I am glad and absolutely grateful for today. For this cold morning in Aberdeen. For the opportunity to write this at this very moment while listening to a beautiful song by Jervis Djokoto (I am actually listening to Cece at this moment. I was listening to Jervis during my first edit. Final edit is in silence). I am elated that Jesus loves me today. I am thankful for the people I love and those who love me. I am grateful even for the people who hate me and give me the opportunity to divinely love.

For if I have not tomorrow, today, may I live the best way possible.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEE!!! Hurrrrraaaaayyyy!

Sharing all the music that ministered to me as I wrote this piece.

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I wonder what to do to keep my heart. What to do to curb a crack. Make no room, perchance a scratch. Emotional investment, returns a loss. I need not sing the “Lonely” song.

How far is too far with the heart? At what point calls a back-up, reverse and turn-tail? How to trust a mere man enough to hand this heart? Must I even? A measure given per a measure received? Give more? To what profit? Perhaps hold back, thus, not disadvantaged?

Too many questions? Yet a lifelong reality I must protect. After all, little less given, little less lost. For history has testified man’s expertise as an unreliable custodian of even a speck of dust. In God alone we can trust. Must I indulge in the foolishness of repeating grim history? Many greats have fallen for such unequal treaties.

But, I may miss out if I never give the full measure. How will I know how far I can throw if I swing not with the fullness of strength? How will I know the depths of the waters if I do not dive? How will I know the expanse of the galaxies if I do not fly? Ball in hand. Safe at shore. Knowing one atmosphere.

I may never know because I quake to hand over my all. The risk is great. The wound is deep. The fall is fatal. But a combination of it all is the lack luster pallor of safety and self preservation. No step of faith, no leap into grace.

The greatest risk, is never knowing possible greatness.

A great loss is possible but also a greater win.

Circles in sight. Turning wheels. Ticking clocks. The forward chime. Time may not be mine.

Have I an answer? A great wish is that.

Yet here I sit and still wondering. Why should I invest my heart?

I wrote this at a confusing period in my life where I tipped the concept of a romantic relationship out the cup of my mind. I have a different story now. Epiphany you might say. Here it goes.

I see not as yet why to invest my heart. For in man no heart is safe at last. His tendency to fail is his unconscious ailment. To place such high demand will yield no supply.

Perhaps my heart belongs elsewhere. The safest account. A trusted manager. His name is Christ. In Him I trust. With Him an investment yields a definite return.

Over and beyond the best expectations. A heart goes in, love comes out. Perfection from heaven. Not a doubt. Enough for me and everyone without.

So I seek not man to invest this heart. I seek man rather to spend the profits of my love. I place no high expectations on any flesh. I rather rely on the place divine.

Thus, disquieted the tables have turned. My question now, have I invested this heart? For where and why my question answered. But whether executed I stand to defend.

The profit of love from my heart’s investment. Freely received for free giving.

What matters then is whom this profit spend? The man deserving or one of naught? One which must receive, this I merit. Christ did lead my love I wholeheartedly accept. My fears begone, no more forlorn. By the horns, brave new world! Here I come.

Failure. Disappointment. Out of the one I may see. Without surprise, I take in stride. My profit be over, exceeding, abundant, beyond the multiple expected debit.

Clarity in sight. Turning wheels. Ticking clocks. The forward chime. Time is mine.

Have I an answer? As I wished.

Sit I in sound divine conclusion. I’m certain I should invest this heart.

Notes

I just want to say quickly that too many times we fail to see the relevance of God in relationships. We fail to see that He plays such a major role in it. He is the author of relationships. This poem does not seek to replace man with God or vice versa. Jesus definitely sits in a class of His own. Incomparable. I simply learned that once I make Him the first point of call, His grace changes my perspective. I am no more afraid that my expectations shall not be met by any significant other neither am I held back by the concept of a failed relationship. He constantly refreshes me with what I need to succeed. I seek by His grace to be a giver of what I have received.

The heart of man or woman belongs in no other hands but God’s.

Awaken.

I twirled my hair to tangles yet I could not figure out this time a song to go with the post. Any suggestions please?

Edit: I got some really great song suggestions which I am updating on this post. Thank you Bervlyn, Yingsongti, Kay O and Phyllis.

https://www.deezer.com/us/album/167167212 to listen to Eyes of My Heart by Christ for Youth International.

The post The Heart Investment (…the dilemma of making one of life’s crucial decisions) first appeared on .

I’ve been changed, healed, freed, delivered

I’ve found joy, peace, grace and favor.

All my shame, guilt, sins, they’ve been forgiven

No more chains, fear; for my past is over

The analogy of the renovated wheelbarrow.

I really wish that there’s a “before” photo to match the “after” photo of the wheel barrow in the picture above. It will be the perfect picture with that addition. The name on the wheel barrow will be explained in the story I’m about to tell in the next few minutes.

Believe it or not, that wheelbarrow which we will call J.B (Jollof’s Barrow abbreviated) has been sitting idle in the front yard of my house for the past three years. It was given to us by a neighbor but, we completely ignored it because of its broken wheel. It has sadly endured all the elements of the weather and all too many unfriendly conditions. Stricken by sunshine, beaten by rain, cold to touch, scorched by heat, eroded by sea salt (I live by the sea), coated in dust, assaulted with trash. Subsequently, its coat of paint peeled, it lost its shine, and gradually deteriorated into a rusted, dilapidated mess. It has escaped the garbage van more times than I can count despite the numerous times we decided to trash it.

-Fast forward to April 2020-

We decided to start a house garden and an essential equipment was a wheelbarrow. Once again we remembered this abandoned ruin. Yet again, we decided it was finally time for it to go. “Trash the old, in with the new.” Yet, somehow a renovation of J.B was suggested and agreed. J.B was thrown into the bucket of my dad’s pick up. It went on a trip to the metal worker and the vulcanizer. To receive preliminary work. A change of wheel and tyre pump.

Then the real work began. Getting the rust off. I can say without exaggerating that it took about 2 to 3 hours for me to polish J.B. All the accumulated rust, dirt and old paint needed to be completely stripped off with sandpaper to reveal the clear metal underneath all the grime. The dust was cleaned off and new paint applied. Then viola! I got what you see in the picture above. A wheelbarrow that looked nothing like what it used to be. Abet you would buy it in the market without knowing that it was a rusted, condemned barrow destined for the dump. However, it is now a polished, black and beautiful, functional barrow fit to work in our house garden.

The interesting thing is that I was so proud of how transformed the wheelbarrow was that I wanted to place my identity on it. I wanted everyone to know just what I had been through to transform the wheelbarrow. I wanted people to see, “Jollof’s Barrow” and ask how the wheel barrow came by that name so I could share with them. Like I’m proudly doing now hahaha. Seeing that barrow everyday pleases me so much. I don’t dwell anymore on how it once looked. I’m so glad about how it looks now with my name on it. And I am looking forward to using it in my garden.

Of course this led to a revelation. Duh! Trust me, God uses everyday things to speak to us always, always, always. So keep your ears open to Him at all times. Anyway, I said to myself, ” If I imperfect Steph, believe I have the right and I am so eager to place my name, my seal or stamp on this wheelbarrow which I made anew, how much more God?” The work God has done in transforming our lives is far more exceedingly greater and perfect than what I did to that Barrow. He places His stamp of righteousness and perfection on us. The seal of His Holy Spirit.

If I felt such a deep sense of pride and joy toward J.B, how much more does the Creator and Savior of our lives feel much more holy pride and joy in transforming the lives, destinies and existence of mankind. He took our rusted lives, cleaned all the dust and grime and polished us. He made us brand new. Pause and reflect.

I was so pleased and eager to use the barrow because for it I gave of myself. My energy, my time, my sweat, my dedication. How much more is God pleased with us whom He has born again. How much more is He pleased to use us. He is exceedingly pleased. Glory be to God!

Mr. Mrs. and Miss Wheelbarrow. God is so proud of you as His handiwork. He loves you so much and wants to use you. If you didn’t go into the trash when you were dirty, rusted and dilapidated, you will definitely not go in there now that you’re made anew. Roll in that confidence.

Sometimes J.B gets dirty from all the work it does. I make it my priority to make sure it’s clean and in proper shape for work. As we give ourselves over to the work of Jesus, we get messy sometimes, but the One who made us anew has made it His responsibility to ensure that we are in the best shape for work.

Too often, we second guess ourselves and our worth. But we forget that He saw how imperfect we were “before”, yet He gave us a “now” in spite of all the bad things He saw. Our focus therefore should be on the opportunity He has provided for us to give ourselves over to Him completely. To be a part of the Faithful in His vineyard.

What am I saying in all this? You belong to God, the One who renovated your life and made you a totally different person the moment you believed in His Son Jesus Christ. You are worthy to be boasted of. I tell you, He has written all about you in His book, the Bible. You are the proud handiwork of God.

Isaiah 43:1-4. But now, God’s Message,
    the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
    the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
    I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
    When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
    it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
    The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
    all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
    That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
    trade the creation just for you. Amen.

PS: My nickname is actually Jollof. Lol. So that explains the name on the Wheelbarrow. The origins story of the name will come later. If you ask in the comments though I will share ;D

I want to here from you. Comment down below. Share. Subscribe to spiritawakenings so you’ll be first to hear. Shalom!

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Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

That is the Kingdom of God.

Don’t you want to be a part of this kingdom?

Once upon a time. There was a man who once lived many many many many years ago. You can actually add a few more “manys to the count. Because really, he lived many years ago. He was a man in his prime. Ginger haired, sturdy and strong. Willful and determined. A man of the world. He was a first born.

This man went out to hunt for meat. He loved to hunt. You can say that he was a man of the wild. Skilled in his craft. He was gifted. His success ratio was often guaranteed. Failure, close to nil. He returned home one day from a hunt, exhausted and famished.

And that is when he saw it. Bubbling on the fire. Dispersing a lovely aroma. Filling his senses. The pot of lentil stew. He saw its Cook stir the pot. And his empty belly yearned for a taste.

But the Cook presented the stew at a price. Not a price in gold, or in silver. Neither a price in wheat nor in barley. But rather, a price in rights. Interesting isn’t it? At what price will anyone be willing to sell their rights?

Let me first state a few rights I learned and probably you may have also learned in Junior High School.

1. The right to move
2. The right to faith/religion
3. The right to speech
4. The right to education, and ultimately;
5. The right to live

There are many other rights. I have just named a few. In fact  I realize that humans are passionate about rights.  We in no way tolerate anything that attempts to impede, intrude, take away or steal them. Nothing should come in the way of our freedom to do x-y-z. We are ready to fight for them. Defend them. Keep them. Many past and present movements are wheeled on the concept of equal rights. Yet I dare say, some of these rights we intensively agitate for are not important in the greater scheme of God’s blueprint of life. I believe the most important to God is right-eousness. 

However, this sturdy, red haired, skilled man made a fatal choice that day as he sat and stared at a bubbling pot of stew. In the seconds of time in which his mind and heart weighed and processed the value of the “right” in question, against the value of the mixture of perhaps tomatoes, onions, garlic and some lentils, the stew tipped the scale.

And in that moment, he gave up his birthright! Now in modern times, the system of birthrights are slightly different, especially with laws that divide inheritance equally and so on. But at that time, your inheritance as a first born meant that the whole of your father’s estate belonged to you at his passing. His blessings and all its associates were handed to the firstborn son as a custodian.

This man named Esau gave it all up for a bowl of stew to fill his stomach one hot afternoon. Mind-blowing right? He devalued his inheritance without once considering the repercussions of his actions. It’s unfortunate to think that many centuries before him another man bit into a fruit in exchange for his inheritance. But that is another story for another day.

Just like Esau, too many times, we exchange things of value for things of no value. Too many unfair and unequal exchanges in our lives. Too many unwise decisions. Too many ungodly choices. I have made a few exchanges of my own. Exchanges that have cost me. Sales that have led to shortfalls in my life. We make them one too many times. But it must stop.

Paul said in Hebrews 12:16 & 17. “Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing- but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.”

Take an account. An account of your; life. Open the balance books. Examine your inflows and outflows. Critically assess your assets and value them. What is eternal? What is temporal? Where have we exchanged our birthrights for stews.

Do you have eternal life in Jesus Christ? If not, what you have is a bowl of stew. It will finish, and very quickly too. Then, what you’ll have is nothing. No eternity.

If you have eternal life. Check your trades. Your futures and your spot buys. Invest and trade in what will last.

We have in us an inheritance of eternal value. 

A vineyard of grapes, a field of wheat in which we must plant seeds of eternal value and harvest fruits of eternal value.

A fishing company of eternal value. Where we fish men from the darkness of the sea to the light of the boat.

A search and rescue mission. Where we seek and find the lost to bring home.

We have a baking company where forever bread is produced. Manna which one eats and never hungers again.

We own a well which springs living water that men drink and never thirst again.

We have an eternal inheritance! Righteousness! We cannot exchange it for the flimsiness of temporal bowls of stew which have great instantaneous taste. No lasting flavor. For it fills us now but not forever. We eventually get hungry again.

The eternal inheritance is different. Look at all the assets listed above. That is 0.166666 of the whole. Such a small fraction. The total value of our eternal inheritance is so much more. Priceless.

Eyes have not seen; neither have ears heard the things that God has prepared for those that love Him.

Choosing Jesus is a wise choice. Submitting to the will of God is a good standpoint. Following the purpose of God is the right direction. Choose wisely.

This is an old one. But definitely a classic. Enjoy!

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