Welcome to Benjamin Oshoffa's Blog.

FIGHT FORWARD

2018-04-04T21:20:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been in a fight and felt like giving up? I’m not talking about a literal fight, but a fight for your peace of mind, or an inner struggle that challenged you?

The saying, “You don’t get what you want, you get what you fight for” was all I could think of as I made the decision to flip over on my back and start swimming toward my goal. I was halfway through my first half Ironman swim, and I was determined to not make the mistake of stopping and treading water when I got tired. No matter what happened, I would fight forward!

It’s amazing the things we can accomplish when we are properly motivated. For me, my motivation was a shirt—the Ironman shirt that I would wear only if I completed the event. When I needed motivation to keep going, I just had to think about that shirt, unwearable forbidden fruit, unless I finished! I would get a surge of adrenaline every time I remembered what I was fighting for. By making the choice to fight forward, continually moving in the direction of my goal, I was able to wear my shirt with a big smile that evening as I celebrated at dinner with my husband and friends.

Learning how to fight forward is crucial if we are to be successful in this world. We are all faced with challenges, battles, problems, and situations that try to keep us from our dreams. Maybe you are prone to paralysis by analysis by overthinking, which causes you to do nothing but think. Or you may be waiting on God, standing still as you cry to Him for direction so you can make your next move. Either way, you’re not going in the direction you want because you’re not moving!

God is the one who leads us and guides us, but He requires us to start walking in faith so He can easily direct us. As you make decisions and act, the path you are on gets brighter and brighter. It won’t be easy, in fact, you can be assured you’re on the right road if it feels like you’re climbing a mountain. If you’re coasting, you are going downhill, and that does not build the strength and endurance you need to be successful.

Trust the dream that God has given you, find your motivation, and fight forward!

PAUSE and REFLECT

• What motivates you?

• Ask God what His dream is for your life is and then start moving in that direction, one step at a time.

PICK YOUR PAIN

2018-04-03T22:04:00.001-07:00

Pick your pain” is something I say to myself every day. On this side of eternity, we all suffer from some form of pain, exercise induced or non-exercise induced. For me, the aching feet and sore muscles after a long run are a small price to pay for the health benefits gained from exercising.

If you are inactive you may not experience this but could very possibly suffer from the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle; obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure–just to name a few. This pain is far more dangerous so we should choose the pain that provides the better alternative.

Pick your pain doesn’t just apply to the running world but also to society as a whole. If everyone understood that there is no such thing as a “pain-free” route in life, we wouldn’t have the entitlement mentality that is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. Starting a business is hard, getting an education takes discipline, being a good parent takes endurance and patience, achieving goals takes commitment... but oh the reward is so great and desire realized is sweet to the soul.

The road to success, happiness, and fulfillment is the road less traveled because it is the hardest route to take. Only those who understand the consequences of the alternative dare to step foot on this path. It can be hot, hilly, and at times treacherous. Ironically, those on this journey are happier than their flatland counterparts who chose the seemingly easier route. They have come to realize that there is joy in the midst of pain. They have learned that faith, hope, goals, dreams, and purpose, provide strength to put one foot in front of the other and the journey becomes an adventure.

What the easy road travelers don’t understand is that a pain-free life doesn’t exist. The more they try to avoid “doing hard things” the harder their lives become. The Bible reminds us that there is profit in all labor but mere talk leads only to poverty. Profit is the reward for labor. Poverty is the reward for trying to avoid pain. I feel so sorry for those who take this path because they will never know the joys of accomplishment or the reward of hard work. When you wake up tomorrow morning you will have a decision to make. My advice to you is pick your pain!

PAUSE and REFLECT

In what areas of your life do you need to step out of your comfort zone?

He Waits for You

2018-03-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

The King waits for you. He holds His plans for you in His hands. He tenderly speaks to you, but He will not push you out of complacency. Your God, the lover of your soul, waits for you to want Him.

We will not find our souls panting feverishly for anything other than ourselves in a rushed fifteen-minute “quiet time,” in a frantic completion of our group studies, or in a prayer life consisting of our own concerns and the concerns of the ones we cherish. The glorious enlightenment experienced by those whose souls pant for God (the kind that illuminated the very face of Moses) resulted from the discovery that God does not have to conform to our fractured understandings resulting from our limited engagement.

In the movie Galaxy Quest, Tim Allen plays an actor in a TV series mimicking our Star Trek. Allen portrays a character similar to Captain Kirk. The movie opens with Allen and his co-stars attending a Galaxy Quest convention crowded with people dressed in costumes associated with the series. Allen meets an attendee in space garb who asks for his help. Allen misinterprets the request as a public-speaking gig and agrees to go. He finds himself in outer space on a spaceship identical to the one he pretends to navigate, fighting alien enemies. When he returns to earth, he hysterically reports to his undaunted crew, “It’s real! It’s all real!”

At some point in time, those whose souls panted feverishly after God came to this conclusion: He’s really real! And there is nothing on this planet that can compare to the thrill of Him! Their lives began to take on a dimension I can only describe as spiritually derived passion.

The signature of those who leave lives of complacency in exchange for the lives God dreams them to live is passion. Intensity, fervent devotion, and inexplicable joy, even amid adversity, exude from a passionate follower of Christ.

Both Nehemiah and Paul accomplished greatness for the kingdom. Their compulsion came from within. One simply possessed an acute awareness of God and His promises for His people. The other experienced a face-to-face encounter with Jesus. Both allowed God to change the direction of their lives, putting aside previous dreams to pursue something bigger than themselves.

Spiritual encounters with Jesus continue to have the same effect on people today.

Let’s not keep Him waiting to be wanted.

Is God Ever Going to Act?

2018-03-19T21:22:00.001-07:00

While Jeroboam heard God’s plan for his life, he seemed to want to help Him accomplish the plan right then, putting his cart before his horse. I know someone else who does that too: me. I know all too well how this works: I think I have received a specific word…so I begin working all the angles to bring it to pass.

Loving God with our whole hearts requires having patience to wait for God to move. We submit to His timing. Scripture contains the memo in 2 Peter 3:9 I always miss: Although it feels like He’s late, God is always on time.

The choice to rebel against God’s timing is a heart issue. We want God’s promise now. We fear that if we wait we might miss the blessing, or maybe this great thing will never happen. We think, I’d better act now, before it’s too late.

The truth is, just as for Barak, our fear of forfeiting our blessing while we wait on God’s timing is misplaced. God will not give your hero-making moment to another unless you refuse to believe Him. Even then, I’ve known Him to be gracious. Many times I have waited for God to do what He said He would do, only to lapse into discouragement, questioning my ability to hear Him. This is not what Jeroboam was doing. He was taking the blessing prematurely by force.

Choosing not to await God’s perfect timing—attempting to orchestrate His blessing ourselves—is always disastrous. When Solomon eventually died, everything changed within a matter of days. Solomon’s son Rehoboam acted upon advice that convinced the majority of people to reject him as king, inadvertently facilitating Jeroboam’s ideal opportunity—just as God promised. The prophecy became Jeroboam’s reality.

However, when Jeroboam perceived problems on the horizon, instead of relying on the Word of God, he forged his own path. Unfortunately, that progression of heart-to-thought is familiar to me too. I lose sight of what God said, exaggerating my challenges through my “life lenses.” Overwhelmed with a sense of urgency to act, I start thinking my way is the only solution. This is where heroes are lost, and this is exactly what happens to Jeroboam.

Let us not miss the blessing because we have given up on God’s timing. He will not be late. We will not be disappointed.

The Light in the Dark Times

2018-03-16T06:13:00.001-07:00

Did Jesus suffer? Was he sometimes lonely? Was he tempted to be discouraged? Was he misunderstood, maligned, and criticized unjustly?

Of course! None of us are exempt from suffering, loneliness, discouragement, or unjust criticism, because God is developing within us the character of Christ, and, in order to do this, he must take us through all of the circumstances in life through which he took Christ.

Does this mean God causes tragedies? No. God is good, and he will not cause evil or do evil. But God can use dark and stressful times for good. He'll use them to teach us to trust him, to show us how to help others, and to draw us closer to other believers.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:8b-9, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead” (NLT).

So, what should you do when you’re going through difficult times?

First, you refuse to be discouraged. Then, you remember God is with you. Finally, you rely on God’s protection and guidance.

We all go through difficult times. The difference for those who believe in Jesus is not the absence of the shadow but the presence of the Light.

Prepare Your Heart for Good Reception

2018-03-14T00:49:00.001-07:00

Let’s say you’re a gardener. You’ve learned that you can take the exact same seed and plant it in three different locations and get three different results. In one spot, you’ll get giant tomatoes. In another, you’ll get small tomatoes. And in a third, you’ll get nothing. What’s the difference? It’s not the seed; it’s the soil. The soil must be prepared for the seed.

The same is true when you hear God’s Word. It’s why you can take two people to church, set them side-by-side, and one will walk out thinking God really spoke to him and the other won’t get anything out of the service. The heart of one person was prepared; the other’s heart wasn’t.

Your heart has to be prepared for the Word. If you get up late, have trouble finding a parking spot, and are irritated as you rush into church, you’re probably not going to hear God’s voice! You’re not in a receptive mood.

The Bible says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:19b-21 NIV).

For good reception, this passage teaches you have to have four attitudes:

• You must be quiet. You can’t hear God if you’re talking.
• You have to be calm. You can’t rush God. If you’re frantic, you’re not going to hear God. The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.” My translation of that is: “Sit down and shut up.”
• You have to be clean. Before you can meet with God, you need to take out some emotional and spiritual garbage. You need to get rid of the stuff that stinks in your life. You get rid of the garbage by confessing your sin to God and agreeing with him that what you did was wrong.
• You need to be humble. Be ready to do whatever God tells you from his Word. A prideful attitude won’t work.

How can I know God and his will for my life?

2018-03-10T21:25:00.001-08:00

How do we know God? How do we understand and see the world we live in? How do we grasp where we came from and why we are here? How do we know where this story is ultimately heading? The answer is profound—God reveals himself and his grand plan to us. Our Role is to listen and believe.

The Bible repeatedly records that God communicated to his people at specific times with specific messages. In some cases, such as with Moses at the burning bush, he spoke audibly. In other instances he spoke through dreams or visions or less direct impressions. But the words of the Lord were always given to his people to reveal his plan for them and for all humanity. God revealed his story because he loves us.

The Lord spoke mostly through prophets in the Old Testament and through Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament.

Throughout the Bible the writers warned readers that they should not add or take away from God’s Word. God has given and preserved his Word for us so we can rely on it to guide our lives into all truth and according to God’s good plan. Therefore, Christians revere the Bible and affirm its right to command our beliefs and actions.

KEY VERSE

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

KEY IDEA

I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides my beliefs and action.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live?

The Bible is the lens from which we view the world. God’s Word informs what we think and feel about everything we encounter. We see the intervention of God in history, in our present lives, and on into the future as he continues to write his grand story.
We are obligated and motivated to study the Bible to understand God’s will for our lives. The Bible forms the content of truth we seek to marinate our minds in.
The principles in the Bible must govern our lives, even when we don’t fully understand or like what it teaches.

How Can We Hope in a God Who Abandons Us?

2018-03-09T21:57:00.002-08:00

Jeremiah steadfastly recognized that the Lord had not abandoned his people, despite the pain of their situation. Rather, God’s people had abandoned him. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, is also called the prophet of hope, because he foresaw a day when the Lord would reign in the midst of a restored, renewed and reconciled people — people who had finally returned to him.

Jesus knew this paradox between abandonment and hope. In the midst of his suffering and death on the cross, he cried, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46). Yet Jesus also knew that he would be resurrected on the third day, opening the gate of eternal life to all believers. The despair of the cross has now become the gift of life to perishing sinners.

Abandonment, sorrow, struggle and pain — all these are transitory. Wholeness, healing, joy and peace are permanent, for they are part of the very nature of God. That is what sustains the believer through difficult times. Although Jeremiah grieved over Jerusalem’s destruction, he knew God would prevail.

Be Bold, Not Brash

2018-03-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

We all have seen many who have fallen. Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold. Do not presume it cannot happen to you. Our enemy has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years. Our experience, on the other hand, spans for but a brief moment. It is wisdom to recognize that we do not know all there is to know concerning warfare.

Therefore, be bold, but never brash or arrogant in your prayer life. Use your spiritual authority administratively, compassionately, but never presumptuously. Multitudes of well-meaning but ignorant Christians have approached the field of spiritual battle with flippant attitudes and have suffered greatly for it. Study and seek confirmation from the Lord for your strategies.

Gracious and loving heavenly Father, be my companion always. May I know You as You have revealed Yourself in the Scriptures. Daily illuminate my mind with Your wisdom. Strengthen me that I may stand on the day of battle, confident in the One who defeated all evil. Hallelujah! Amen.

GOD NEVER CHANGES

2018-03-06T22:29:00.001-08:00

The psalmist contrasted, in these few verses, that which perishes with that which is imperishable. In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth. The rationale follows that if the uncreated God preceded and made the heavens, then clearly he need not perish or change as they do.

All the promises of God depend upon the truth that God is unchanging. The apostle Peter used language similar to the psalmist to assure believers of the finality of God’s Word. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, he wrote, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1Pe 1:24 – 25).

Each autumn, yards are covered with the evidence of the world’s perishable nature. Yet, in the midst of this earthly fading, God does not change. The author of Hebrews quoted Ps 102:25 – 27 and applied it specifically to the Son of God (Heb 1:10 – 12), going on to argue that Jesus remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). Because of this — an unchanging God making unchanging promises — an imperishable inheritance awaits God’s people (1Pe 1:4).

Jesus, thank you for never changing. I am so grateful that I can always count on you to be who you say you are. Amen.

“You will never be good enough.”

2018-03-05T19:49:00.001-08:00

Have you ever heard that before?

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard that. Not from other people. Not from outside opinions. But from myself. It’s the one phrase that will throw my endeavors, creations, and purpose into the fiery furnace of defeat, never to see the light of day ever again.

To be honest with you, I’m sometimes afraid of hearing that voice, because that voice has said some pretty damaging stuff in the past. Sometimes, the voice sounds like:

“They are better than you can ever be.”

“That number on the scale will never go down.”

“You’re not as attractive as them.”

“You’ll never find love.”

“You are broken beyond repair.”

For all of us, there has been a time when the inner critic inside of us has crept out of the dark corners of our hearts to tell you something that has brought insecurity, lies, and falsehood to your calling. Your biggest struggles can stem from the deepest, darkest corners of your insecurity. Simply put, you are your worst enemy. And that inner critic inside of you will always have something to say…and it’s usually not a good thing.

Being a maker is understanding that life is a process that has both good and bad. Life is a battle of an inner war that you constantly fight with yourself. So much so, that life will bend and break you in the moments when you least expect it. You will wake up one day, and tell yourself “this is the best I have been” and two days later, all four corners of your heart can come crashing in. Any coward can seem courageous when he’s surrounded by a life that fills him up. But when you are alone and your blood runs thin, that’s when you decide if you’re going to let your own doubt, fear, and hurt control the foundation of who you are.

Trust me when I say, the monster of hurt can come when you least expect it, from nowhere with absolutely no reasoning. But that hurt you feel has a deep truth attached to it. It has refinement. And as a maker, refinement is a very valuable tool in creating.

When hurt comes into your life, you have one of two choices. The first, being that you can sit in that hurt, and let the anger and confusion of your hurt slowly erase away who you are as a person. The second being, when hurt is created into the deepest parts of who you are, you can take that hurt, and craft it into something beautiful.

Friend: choose the latter. Take your hurt, and craft it into progress.

Always remember, you were made to kill your monsters. Study your monsters. Figure out what scares them, and then crush them. The monsters in your life give you a lack of complacency. And that’s exactly what they’re there to do. Don’t let yourself become comfortable. Comfortability equals complacency. Complacency equals status quo. Status quo equals failure. If you let risk become fear, then that means your monsters have defeated you.

At the end of the day, when all your monsters have been slain, it’s important that you don’t become a monster yourself. Keep yourself and your art humble. Just because you conquered today’s monsters does not mean a bigger monster isn’t going to come right at you tomorrow morning. Keep your work, your art, and your profession a place of humility.

Don't let the monsters of your life dictate what your masterpiece will look like. Let life breathe into you a sentence, and write back a novel. Put on a sweater with a loose thread that your hope and dreams cannot resist pulling, and then pull with the fear that all may unravel around you. Give yourself a boat, mount it with the fastest sail, and take on the darkest of storms.

The nightmare that is your monsters can be your crafting tool. Where many would be scared, you can find yourself fascinated. Don’t allow the shadows that surround your life engage you in frightfulness. Embrace your night, and battle your monsters.

Sure, this doesn’t sound normal. The world inside of your imagination can be a twisted a dream. But that imaginative journey is what makes a maker smile. Monsters can make us do crazy things. But always remember, you decided to be a maker and to choose that life, you’ve got to be a little crazy already. Embrace the darkness of your life. Craft that darkness into beauty.

I was reading through the Psalms while I wrote Makers & Monsters. David is a tremendous example of someone who used his inner artist to celebrate Jesus, but he sure had has fair share of his monsters. We're going to go on a journey with David through the Psalms and learn about the monsters he faced while finding who God created him to be. To start this journey, we’re going read through Psalm 139. In this passage, David showcases just how beautiful God is, but at the very end, he asks God to “investigate his life.”

And that’s what we need to do today. Reader: before we can fight our inner critic, we have to allow The Maker permission to completely rip open our emotional wounds so we can fight our critic with Jesus on our side.

Are you ready for this 5-day journey? I’m ready to go on it with you. And during this journey, let’s see if we can figure out how we can take what you think are the worst parts about you, and create something absolutely astonishing with it.

Yup, it’s as crazy as it sounds. And it’s going to take a lot of work....and a lot of fighting. But the outcome is beautiful, because we’re going to learn that we’ll never be good enough, because Jesus is more than enough.

The Prophetic Advantage

2018-03-05T06:56:00.002-08:00

We are living in days of tremendous crisis and turmoil. The Lord has set the stage where no one with a carnal mind can discern what is happening in our society socially, economically, or militarily. If there was ever a time when God’s people needed an advantage, it is now. The Lord in His mercy is releasing revelation knowledge through His prophets that will empower the people of God with wisdom, direction, and insight into the council of His will.

Israel had an advantage over the other nations because they possessed the oracles of God. The prophetic Scriptures gave Israel an advantage in preparing them for the coming Messiah.

The Lord is empowering the church with an anointing to communicate His heart and mind accurately. The church will speak as an oracle of God.

When we speak prophetically, we are speaking as the oracles of God. This will give us an advantage in all things pertaining to our lives. We have an advantage, just as Israel had an advantage. This is called the prophetic advantage.

Be United!

2018-03-05T06:51:00.002-08:00

It is sad and unfortunate to observe the lack of unity, the divisions, and the splits in many churches. This lack of unity is directly opposed to the word of God and yet many believers justify their divisiveness and lack of unity. Jesus' prayer for his disciples was 'that they may be one even as we are one'. God commands a blessing when brothers dwell in unity. And what are the keys to having unity in the church - humility, submission, willingness to forgive. Let us take heed to these words and ensure that we, in humility, promote unity in the church through our submission and willingness to accept others and go along with the vision that the leadership has. Then, the Bible tells us, we will be blessed by God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for unity in our churches. Let us contribute to this unity through our humility, our willingness to accept and forgive others. Let us be submissive to leaders and let us accept the vision of the church as our vision and help in its implementation. We know that unity in the church is your desire for all of us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

To Be With Christ

2018-03-05T06:50:00.002-08:00

What happens when we die is a question many ask and this is true even of believers in Christ. Apostle Paul was very clear as to what the answer to this question is - he was confident that on his death he would be with Christ. In his letter to the Philippians, he actually states that it would be to his gain to die and be with Christ, but he knew he would live a little longer as he had more to complete for God's purposes in building Christ's kingdom. Let us be encouraged by this: Death is not something into the unknown but only into the presence of Jesus our Lord and savior, the one who loves us. And like Paul, let us live the life God gives us in serving Christ so that we can say with Paul - for me to live is Christ, to die is gain!

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the encouragement in the Bible, your word to us. We do not need to fear death knowing that we will be with you. Keeping this in front of us, let us use the life you give us to serve you with all our hearts. In Jesus' Name, Amen

“TIMELY VICTORY”

2018-03-05T06:30:00.001-08:00

No matter what you are going through, remember God comes through on time in your victories! Despite the setbacks, holdups, waiting periods, or seasons of perceived stagnations, trust that God is working everything out for your good and has positioned you for greatness for His divine purpose and plan. One promise that God has given us is that He cannot be mocked, so remember that as you live your life for Jesus Christ and walk obediently in His will, word, and way.

As you pursue a God-honoring life, you will experience naysaying ridiculers who doubt God’s promises for you and will even laugh at you because you elect to actively trust God in the challenging times and refuse to operate apart from His glorious plan for your life. God won’t allow people to have the last laugh when they attempt to mock your obedience in following His will, word, and way. They won’t be laughing too long because God will come through on time in your victory, and your Vindicating Protective Refuge will show Himself strong in your life.

Your timely victory is sure to be accompanied with a table prepared for you in the presence of your enemies lacking no good thing! Be encouraged today that although things aren’t going the way that you desire, Your Divine designer has stitched a custom, exclusive, one-of-a-kind masterpiece and master plan for your life, and when others see your favored embellished coat of many colors they will know it was from the LORD!

So when things appear to not be moving along or forward, trust that God is coming through for you in a timely victory.

When your dreams seem like they won’t come to pass, trust God’s word and believe that God is coming through for you in a timely victory.

When situations cause you to feel defeated, hold on to your faith in God’s promised word and trust that His word will not return to him void, He is coming through on time. God is on time because He is the author of time and will come through for you every time!

No matter what, don’t forfeit your promised divine sure blessings for the allured lies of Satan. Ask God for wisdom, discernment, and peace as you wait for Him to come through for you in your timely victory!

“TIMELY WISDOM”

2018-03-04T20:35:00.001-08:00

God comes through on time in providing wisdom during situations in life that appear confusing. Throughout God’s word we read several accounts when individuals faced situations when timely wisdom was vital. They needed the timely wisdom of God to enforce God-honoring solutions to the present problem.

For example, Solomon asked God for wisdom on how to govern his people effectively, and God came through in timely wisdom when a dispute took place between two mothers and their children.

Daniel replied with discretion and wisdom to Nebuchadnezzar’s bodyguard when a decree went out to put him and his friends to death. God came through in timely wisdom for Daniel to not only communicate and function in times of turmoil, but God granted Daniel wisdom for the interpretation of the king’s dream.

Esther sought wisdom when she learned about the evil attempt of Haman regarding the annihilation of her people.

Ananias sought wisdom from God when called to follow God’s will and purpose when commanded to go lay his hands on Saul. In following God’s timely wisdom, Ananias’ obedience led to Saul regaining his sight and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

God’s word is a reminder to you that God is timeless, holds time, not bound by time because He created time. These accounts are just a few of several testimonies in the Bible for believers to stand firm and know that no matter what we face, God is timely as it relates to his promise of wisdom being activated and in full effect in your life. Don’t think for one moment that God will not show up on time for you, even when you feel and it appears that time is lost, the time is over, and you can’t regain time. God is the one who has a plan for your life and He always fulfills his purpose, plan, and will for your life in due season (HIS TIME!).

When you ask our heavenly Father for wisdom, He promises in His word to give it to you without finding fault. God’s timely wisdom will kick in in every situation, even when you naturally think you aren’t prepared to get through a particular issue. Be encouraged today that God will provide you with timely wisdom as it relates to every decision and aspect in your life. Trust Him. God is coming through for you!

“TIMELY INSTRUCTIONS”

2018-03-03T22:09:00.002-08:00

God gives timely instructions that not only affect or benefit you but others whom you know and don’t know. When God instructs you to do something, it is wise to be obedient to what the Father is telling you because there is a purpose in his timing and plan. Rahab serves as a dynamic example of God coming through on time in timely instructions.

When Joshua sent two scouts to spy out the land of Jericho, these two men went to Rahab’s house and lodged there. Rahab looked out for the spies and disclosed her belief to them that the LORD had already granted success to the Israelites in conquering Jericho. Rahab even revealed the state of Jericho’s inhabitants by informing the scouts of how terror and dread had fallen on them, and their hearts melted in despair.

But even in all of that, Rahab received a revelation and knew that God was the LORD in heaven above and on earth beneath and that revelation most likely caused her to take timely action in seeking an oath between the two spies regarding the saving of her family when God’s plan of action was to take place. God came through in timely instructions for Rahab by instructing her through the two spies to bring her entire family into her home and to tie a cord of scarlet thread in the window.

When Rahab followed the specific instructions of the spies, God came through on time when Jericho was conquered and Rahab’s family was saved. There is power in being obedient in God’s timely instructions to us.

One can only imagine what would have happened if Rahab didn’t follow God’s timely instructions or if Noah didn’t follow God’s instruction when commanded to build the ark. As you journey through life a day at a time, don’t discount God’s instructions for your life. There is purpose in his plan, and if you love God you will obey all that He has commanded you to do.

Act when and how the LORD commands you to act, because your timely obedience not only affects you but so many others. Follow God’s timely instructions and watch how He comes through for you.

TIMELY TRAINING"

2018-03-02T21:41:00.001-08:00

God has a plan, purpose, and will for your life. Before your existence in history, God appointed your days before one of them came to be! How amazing and all knowing is our God!

Despite what people, circumstances, or your thoughts attempt to tell you, remember God knew what He was doing when He divinely ordered your steps as you endured those challenges, sad times, disappointments, setbacks, promotions, expansions, blessings, and positive accelerations. Your collective life experiences are working together for your good and training you for the plans, purposes, and will of God. As we journey through life as children of covenant, trusting God is absolutely paramount in our lives, although we might not understand all of the puzzle pieces.

But when we trust God, knowing that He loves us and will never leave nor forsake us, we are empowered to faithfully believe that God’s training is for where He is taking us. The training God has you going through is timed and on purpose! Your training is strengthening you for where God has ordained you to go. No matter what, remember obedience and faith is God’s way to the TOP!

When God ordered Moses’ steps as a baby to be led, raised, and educated in the house of Pharaoh, God came through in timely training because Moses was equipped in the ways and customs to communicate with Pharaoh to serve as advocate for the Israelites' freedom.

When God ordered David’s steps to shepherd, defend, and tend his father’s sheep, God came through in timely training because not only did his training assist in defeating Goliath, he served as king, shepherding, defending, and tending His heavenly Father’s sheep in praise, God’s will, and worship.

When God ordered Esther’s steps, she received advice from the king’s eunuch and found favor with all who saw her, including the king. God came through in timely training because Esther learned order and how to converse with the king on behalf of the deliverance of her people.

When God ordered Joseph’s steps to have a dream, be disrespected by his family, rerouted from his homeland, lied on, thrown in jail, forgotten about, God came through in timely training because Joseph was used to save many lives as a leader.

Allow these models of timely training to encourage you today. God is training you to fulfill his plan, purpose, and will. God comes through on time.

“TIMELY ENCOURAGEMENT”

2018-03-01T20:27:00.001-08:00

Life’s challenging obstacles can cause us to feel overwhelmed with heartache, sadness, and despair. During these challenging experiences in our lives, it is vital that we draw close to God so He will draw close to us. Although you face troubles, remember that God, our heavenly, all-knowing Father, knew what you would encounter before the foundations of the earth were laid.

That unpleasant, life-changing experience you faced might’ve been a shock to you, but God knew about that before He created you and He already set up an internal encouragement system within you to assist you during difficult times, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior. Despite the setbacks, detours, and pit stops you face, remember that God has a purpose for you that will be fulfilled.

In scripture, David experienced a devastating, overwhelming event. David returned home with his men only to find that the Amalekites raided and burned his land with fire and took captive the women and children. David and the people who were with him wept until they were too exhausted to weep any more, and the people with David spoke of stoning him.

Everyone was affected and in distress, but God came through in timely encouragement. Remember David had a relationship with God; David was a worshiper and a man after God’s own heart. So even in the midst of distress, the scripture states that David felt strengthened and encouraged in the LORD His God and sought God’s direction regarding his troubles and David recovered all that the enemy stole from him.

After David encouraged himself in God, I believe he was able to inquire of God’s direction because he had faith and witnessed God’s provision, protection, and promises performed in the past and knew without a doubt that God would come through for him.

You’ve probably experienced a situation similar to David when your steps were ordered to return to a place and everything was totally out of your control, individuals connected to you were negatively impacted and their actions and words indicated that they wanted to get rid of you! Let this be encouragement to you that no matter the situation you are facing or have faced, allow God’s encouragement system to kick in (The Holy Spirit) and inquire of Him at all times regarding your route of divine recovery. God comes through on time for you!

Anticipating the Lord’s Return

2018-02-28T20:38:00.001-08:00

An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively.

Throughout Scripture, we find three admonitions given to us about the Lord’s return:

1. We’re to watch faithfully. The Word of God encourages us to stand fast in the faith with courage and strength (1 Cor. 16:13), watching soberly and arming ourselves with faith, love, and salvation (1 Thess. 5:8). As we watch, we’re to remain especially aware of false prophets, discerning the spirits and rejecting all who do not confess that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-2).

Jesus spoke to John in a vision and gave this great promise to those who remain watchful: “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake” (Rev. 16:15).

2. We’re to work diligently. Why does Jesus leave us here on earth after He saves us? Why aren’t we born again, then immediately taken into the Lord’s presence? Simply because we still have work to do!

We’re to be the Lord’s witnesses, telling of the love of God and the atoning death of Jesus Christ. We’re also to testify to others about all He’s done in our own lives, both with our words and by our example. As long as there remains a soul on earth who hasn’t heard the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we still have much to do.

3. We’re to wait peacefully. More than four hundred times in Scripture, the Lord commands us to not fear but to enjoy peace—and He calls us to peace as we await His return. We’re taught in the Bible that apart from Jesus, there is no peace … not within a human heart and not among human beings or nations. With Jesus, we can experience peace that surpasses our rational capacity and settles deep within (Phil. 4:7). We are to seek and find this peace as we await the Lord’s return.

When the Lord comes, will He find you among those who love Him and call Him Savior and Lord? Will He find you doing what He’s commanded of you, eager to see Him and ready for His appearing? You have it within your grasp to positively answer these questions. So how will you choose to respond to the Lord’s call upon your life?

The fact is, He is coming again!

Warn your children to desist from use of illicit drugs, cultism, unlawfully possessing and using firearms - Lagos Police CP

2018-02-28T20:20:00.000-08:00

The Lagos state commissioner of police, Imohimi Edgal has advised parents to warn their children to desist from the use of illicit drugs, cultism, unlawfully possessing and using firearms.

In a statement signed by the PRO, Chike Oti, the command revealed that youths who challenge law enforcement officers with firearms would be met with proportionate force.

In view of the recent development in the state whereby some youths in Aguda Surulere, Itire and Akala-Mushin areas of Lagos State engaged in acts of brigandage, sell and use of illicit drugs, cultism, unlawfully possessing and using firearms to fight rival cult groups, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi today Wednesday, 28th February, 2018, met with stakeholders, traditional rulers and opinion leaders of Itire community, in Itire/Ikate LCDA.

At the meeting, attended by the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Olohunde Salami, SSA to the Governor of Lagos State on Security, Yinka Akinriade, the Chairman Itire IKate LCDA, Mr. Apatira Ahmed, the Chairman Coker /Aguda LCDA, Mrs Akinyemi -Obe, traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Itire community, the CP sought their partnership and cooperation in the ongoing effort of the Command to eradicate cultism, stem the rising trend of drug usage and abuse and other forms of social vices prevalent among the youths in their areas.

The CP urged parents and elders of Itire community to borrow a leaf from their counterparts in Ikorodu whose partnership with the police ensured that over 860 youths in their area renounced cultism and surrendered their firearms to the police. He urged them to treat the issue with the urgency it deserves .

He further urged the youths to take the olive branch offered them by the Command as the Police authority would be glad to welcome and retrieve drugs and weapons from them.

The CP however warned that youths who challenge law enforcement officers with firearms would be met with proportionate force.
He stated further that if persuasion fails, the Command would be left with no choice than to arrest and diligently prosecute law breakers no matter how highly placed.

The meeting ended with a pledge by the elders and stakeholders that they would assist the Command in addressing the issues raised at the meeting by talking to their youths on the negative impact of cultism and drug abuse.

SP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer
Lagos State.

UNESCO condemns abduction of Dapchi girls, pledges to support Nigeria

2018-02-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through its director-general, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the abduction of the Dapchi school girls
- Azoulay, in an international conference, said that the attack on the girls is a violation of their right to freedom and education
- He said that the organisation will partner with the federal government to ensure the safe release and recovery of the missing girls
The director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe.
Azoulay, who was speaking at the ongoing international conference on saving the Lake Chad in Abuja on Wednesday, February 28, said the organisation would support Nigeria in ensuring the girls' safe return, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
Newsmen reported that the conference is attended by Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Mahammadou Issoufu of Niger Republic, Idriss Debby Itno of Chad, Faustin-Archange Touaderae of Central African Republic and Ali Bongo of Gabon.
Azoulay, who was represented by UNESCO’s deputy director-general, Getachew Engida, said the incidence has breached the right of the victims.
He said: “Let me express the support and solidarity of UNESCO to the government of Nigeria over the abduction of the schoolgirls in the North East. As an organization promoting gender equality, peace, human rights and education, we are deeply concerned by the fact that these girls are deprived of not only their rights to freedom but education."

“UNESCO strongly condemned this act and jointly with other UN agencies we will reinforce our support to the government of Nigeria.’’
According to a list published by the government on Tuesday, February 27, 37 of the girls are in JSS 1 to JSS 3, while 73 are in SSS 1 to SSS 3. President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, February 26, pledged to safely rescue all abducted persons by insurgent groups, including the schoolgirls.
Earlier, NAIJ.com reported that the UN had expressed outrage at the abduction of the Dapchi school girls by suspected Boko Haram assailants.
The secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, said in a statement by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric that he strongly condemned the abduction and the attack.

Dapchi Abductions:Stop playing blame game,Dogara tells Police, Army

2018-02-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday asked security agencies to take responsibility for failing to stop the abduction of 110 school girls in Dapchi, Yobe State, adding that the buck-passing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force is unacceptable.

In a press statement, issued by his spokesperson, Mr Turaki Hassan, Honourable Dogara said rather than trading blames, the various security agencies should strengthen inter-agency collaboration and intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.

The statement read: “The statements credited to the Army and the Police in which they tried to exonerate themselves from any culpability in the unfortunate and embarrassing abduction of innocent girls from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State, is highly condemnable.

“This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.

“The traumatic experience of the Chibok abduction which is still fresh in our minds should have served as a warning signal to security agencies to provide adequate security protection to all schools in the North East.

“I want to use this medium to console the parents of the abducted girls and the entire Dapchi community over this unfortunate incident.

“I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over to pray for the safe return of the girls”, the statement concluded.

The Valley Experiences in Our Lives

2018-02-27T21:51:00.002-08:00

We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops.

Adversity, anguish, trials, tribulations, and heartaches operate as lessons in the school of experience. They bring us to a place of new insight and understanding. They can alter our perceptions of the world, our views of God, and lead us to change our behaviors. The Lord, of course, is the ultimate Teacher. He’s the One to whom we must look for the meaning of any lesson related to adversity.

God allows adversity for at least three reasons:

1. To Get Our Attention

The Lord uses a wide variety of methods to gain our attention when necessary—and adversity is one of them. Don’t delay in responding to the Lord when He moves to get your attention. Respond quickly and humbly. Hear what He has to say to you.

2. For Examination

At times, God allows adversity to motivate us to self-examination. The winds of adversity blow away the surface issues and force us to cope with things on a deeper level. Nothing has the ability to drive us closer to God than tribulation. It removes the cloak of denial and reveals who we really are, as well as what we believe about God, His deity, and faithfulness.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians, “A man must examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28). In other words, “Take a straight forward look inside and discover what’s driving, motivating, and enticing you.” If it’s anything but God, then it’s not right. He needs to be your motivating factor at every turn in life.

3. To Change Behavior

It isn’t enough that God desires to get our attention or encourage us to take a truthful look at our lives. We must also allow His Spirit to have free access to every area. Unless we change our response and behavior, we’ll never benefit from adversity or grow as a result of it. God provides a challenge, and we have an opportunity to obey or disobey Him. The choice is ours, and the consequences that come belong to us as well.

If you’re willing to allow God to surface the inner rubbish of your life—and if you’re willing to change what needs to be changed—you’ll emerge from adversity closer to Christ, more mature as His child, and with far greater potential to reflect the love of God to the world around you.

Together in the Christian Life

2018-02-26T21:22:00.002-08:00

No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.

In Hebrews 10:25, the author makes it clear that believers should not stop meeting together. God wants us to regularly meet with other believers—He wants His people in church! There are those, however, who don’t take this admonition seriously.

I’ve often heard this refrain: “I can worship God at home. I don’t need to go to church.” Many believe the sole reason we meet together is to worship—and understandably so. After all, we call it a worship service.

If worship were the only reason we’re commanded to meet, then those who claim they can worship at home would have a strong argument. But worship isn't the sole reason. Nor is it so we can be taught God’s truth. We can turn on our radios, televisions, and visit websites to hear sound biblical teaching. On the surface, it seems that anything we can do at church we can do just as well at home.

So why are we commanded to meet? Why go to church?

The writer of Hebrews says it’s to safeguard against drifting. We’re the body of Christ, and when we’re with other believers, we’re doing what comes naturally and what we’ll do for eternity—being together in His presence. We make up the church, and together we provide strength for one another through prayer, fellowship, and encouragement.

Enemy forces are always at work around us, seeking to blow us off course. Sheer individual commitment is not enough to keep us in line. We need the presence and accountability of other believers—and they need us. When we surrender our lives to Christ, He uses us in countless ways we may never know.

The accountability and encouragement found in church anchor us against the tides that work to sweep us away. To neglect the regular assembly of fellow Christians is to miss out on this essential element in the development of our faith.

Regular church attendance should never be viewed as something you do to gain God’s merit. Instead, it should provide the catalyst for spiritual growth. Ask God to lead you to a church that teaches the Word of God without compromising His truth and demonstrates His love, grace, and forgiveness to all. When He does, you will find He's led you to a church you can truly call home.