Thursday, December 18, 2008

Gaining Periscopic Perspectives in this Season

I recently travelled from Abuja to Lagos (in Nigeria) on an official assignment. I was exceedingly glad that what I went for was done in less time that I had even expected. So I had to get back to Abuja the following day. Even though I dreaded the thought of having to spend an extra time in Lagos because of the ever-present tension in the lifestyle of Lagosians, yet I wished I could stay a little longer just to enjoy the company of my younger brother who lived there. I spent the night in his place, and he dropped me off the next day at the airport with his car. I boarded my flight, and as the aircraft took off, I relaxed and looked through the window. Then I had an experience that I had never really taken note of before, which inspired me to write this note. 

As the gradual ascent up the sky began, causing the earth and the immediate landscape to diminish to the appearance of mere microscopic organisms. Not as if they no longer existed – in existence they were, yet almost of no significance. All of the huge buildings and enormous human activity I left behind appeared as specks of dust far down below. Then I was filled with a sudden realization of the wonders and blessings in viewing things from a higher perspective. I thought of moments earlier, how the buildings around seemed so large in appearance, and the long distance we had to cover before getting to the airport - increased further by the usual crawling traffic of cars on Lagos roads. I thought of the huge sizes of the various aircrafts I had seen as they lay in wait for their passengers and their departure timings. 

As I continued to look through the window, I saw the vast expanse of clouds suspended in the atmosphere, having the appearance of the boundless blue oceans, causing the earth below to disappear. It was glorious. At that moment, I ceased to think of every difficulty I was facing in life – I left them beneath those clouds. All I could think of was the glory and the splendour of God Almighty. Suddenly a verse of Scripture (John 4:35) crept into my thought, where Jesus asked His disciples to lift up their eyes and see that the fields are ready for harvest, when it wasn’t even time for the harvest according to natural timing. Then I reckoned the blessing in seeing life from a higher perspective. 

Now, I believe that having a higher perspective is a grace which God gives His people to overcome the mountains of life. The obstacles of life are easily overcome when viewed from a higher perspective. Duration of trials in life is seemingly shortened by gaining a higher understanding. I believe that an elevated perspective is gained from an intimate relationship with God through His Word (Isaiah 55:9). 

The challenge for you and me today as children of God is to set our sights a little higher (John 4:35). We must realize that there are truths beyond what we can see in the natural. We must begin to walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) until what we consider as reality becomes only an illusion, and what we are able to see by faith becomes reality (Hebrews 11:3, Romans 4:17b). 

I believe that God is challenging His children to break free from the deception of the natural, and to go beyond the philosophies of planet Earth (Matthew 19:26, Matthew 24:35). It must become necessary for us to be defined by who God says we are, and to do what God says we can do. Do not be moved by the fears from the natural environment or even the various global crises occurring in our time, for God is fully aware and has promised to always keep his children safe in his care (Psalm 91, Isaiah 43:2). I sense that God is saying that now is time for a great harvest, but you need to lift up your eyes to Him in order to see it (Psalm 121)! 

As I conclude this note, I’d like you to check out an interesting story in John 2:1-10 about one of the first miracles of Jesus. Notice that even though Jesus said that it’s not yet time, but He still did the miracle. His mother, Mary did something that seemed out of timing, yet the Lord moved on her behalf. Be encouraged as you step into the coming year, believe God and operate in a new dimension with Him. You may think it’s not yet time for your salvation or healing. People may say that it’s not yet time for you to get that dream of yours. They may say that it’s not yet time for you to get married, or that you are getting too old to have a child. They may even say that you are not qualified for that job you are seeking or applying for. People may say whatever they feel or think about you, but God is saying today lift up your eyes and see everything from My (God’s) own perspective and you will be blessed in so doing. Merry Christmas. 

Uche

http://www.houseofvirtue.blogspot.com

 

         

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Call to Prayer!


It cannot be over emphasized, our need for prayer. We believe that regular prayer helps to release a continuous flow of spiritual power from God ( James 5:16-18). We also believe that our prayers provide God's intervention in situations (Ezekiel 22:29-30), until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). 

As lawlessness increases around us and many become overwhelmed at the intensity of crime, the people of God must pray for a revelation of moral righteousness. Practice of sin has increased even within the church. We must now: 

  • Pray for the true conviction of the Spirit of God. Many in the church are calling good evil and evil good. 
  • Pray for a revival of the fear of the Lord and that a conviction of sin will begin in the house of God (the church). 
  • Pray for the presence of God to bring people to repentance. 
  • Ask God to raise a standard in the church to protect believers from the seduction of the enemy. 

Jesus taught us to pray, "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We believe therefore, that God wants us as His people to pray for His ultimate will to be done in our Nations. If you feel the need to pray right now with us, please feel free to join our "Prayer Room" by clicking here.

 

Thank you for your anticipated response.

We love you in Christ,

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Living Beyond All Subsidence of Earthly Sense…

It is my belief that the life of a Christian goes beyond all human understanding. It’s like a journey of consistently pressing on towards fruitful growth in every area of life. Here’s how the Bible puts it:

“Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.” 2 Peter 1:5-8(CEV)


Another translation of the Bible has it like this:

“….giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8(NKJV)


Now breaking it down into simple absorbable capsules, there are 8 characteristics in the text above that describes this fruitful growth. They are as follows:

1. Faith: (in Jesus Christ) the foundation on which we grow spiritually.

2. Virtue: a life of strong character and discipline.

3. Knowledge: an understanding of what God thinks and values.

4. Self control: the ability to lead oneself before leading others.

5. Perseverance: the ability to patiently stick to what is right.

6. Godliness: a spirit-filled, spirit-led lifestyle that reflects the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Brotherly kindness: a lifestyle that is warm, relational and caring.

8. Love: the highest quality that enables a person sacrificially give to others.

A life beyond earthly sense is a life that transcends the understanding of the trends of this world. Modern society cannot comprehend it. With such a life one is able to stand in joy even in the midst of great distress, sustained in God’s provision, even in the midst of the global economic depression, one remains productive. It is a life of stability, void of fear, so full of passion, grace and sincerity. It is a measure of life that flows towards God. God is orchestrating this kind of life in His people by the enablement of the Holy Spirit, yet we must learn to lay hold of it by living in Him. Here’s how to live in Him as the Bible teaches us in the Message translation of John 15:4-8,

“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes (fruits) by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes (fruits), when you mature as my disciples” John 15:4-8 (The Message).

Blessings
Uche

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Until Now...

There where we stand as fools for His wisdom’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are weak for His strength’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are dishonoured for His being distinguished’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are hungry and thirsty for His righteousness’ sake,

There I stand.

There where we are naked, and beaten, and homeless for His kingdom’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we labour, working with our hands for His gospel’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being reviled, we bless for His name’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being persecuted, we endure for His glory’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being defamed, we entreat for His goodness’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things for His joy’s sake,

There I stand.

Until now...

uche

 

Monday, May 19, 2008

Be An Example...

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago.

They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these sales men inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere...........Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for they nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you
Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not?
To be so much like Jesus that people can tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.

It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall.
He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Pray it will speak to your heart.



Contributed by Arun Philip

Friday, May 9, 2008

He gives the heart in which He dwells the same Spirit which dwelt in Him….

"And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured (Genesis 39:2 – 6 KJV)."

A look at the life of Joseph shows that he did not have to advertise himself at any time, as one possessed of the Holy Spirit; yet as the people of his time watched him, they themselves were compelled to say, "can we find such a one as this in whom the Spirit of God is?"

It is so beautiful when even ungodly men are compelled to see and glorify God in the life of a Christian. There is no greater triumph of holy character than to compel the testimony of the men of the world to the power of God in us.

This was the testimony of Daniel's life (Daniel 5:12, 14) that even his worst enemies had to say, "We can find nothing against this man, except it be as concerning the law of his God (Daniel 6:5)."

And one of the most magnificent testimonies ever given to Jesus Christ by human lips was that of His judge, Pontius Pilate, when he was compelled to say, "I bring Him forth to you that you may know that I find no fault in Him (John 19:4)."

Can this testimony be yours today, in a depraved world that loves to dwell on the darker side of things? Now we know that the same Spirit that guided the steps of Joseph, Daniel and Jesus Christ, and led each of them through painful pathways until the fullness of God's glory in each of their lives, can become our Guide, our Teacher, our Wisdom, and the Source of all our Strength, Success, and Happiness, through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.


Thursday, May 8, 2008

Becoming like Jesus Christ...


Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas.

Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a double of his change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you’d better give the half back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a half. Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.

When he gets to his stop, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the half to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change.'

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.'

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a half price.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian.'

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Becoming like Christ.

"One of the fundamental requirements of a church that is alive is that that church is knowledgeable and that the people understand the mystery of the kingdom of God, the nature of our calling and what God has already put in place for His people. So that we can become the kind of people that God expects us to be. The Christian life is a continuous struggle to become, because the more I become, the more I can do; it is only those who become that can do."

-Dr Okey Onuzo

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Christians - Poem by Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Tongues of My Unchained Spirit

Dear Friends,
We thank you all for your readership and comments on our blog. We are glad to announce to you our new poetry blog titled: Tongues of My Unchained Spirit© . Tongues of my unchained spirit is a collection of contemporary poems that speak of love, life and a profound relationship with the Almighty God. This best selling collection is laced with soul-searching poetic verses to whet the appetite of every one who yearns for life-inspiring poetry for the soul. It is based on the author’s experiences in love, life and faith.
Blessings always,
Uche & Lola