My people suffer for lack of Knowledge

You know a few months ago someone told me that my issues don't come because I had enemies or not. He told me just one simple phrase. He said and I quote "You lack understanding". Truly I was insulted and a little angry, but because He was older and a man of God I kept quite. Plus the fact that my mum instilled in me that you listen while people talk. So I kept quite and listened to him talk. Truthfully, I had this believe that I might not be very knowledgeable but that as long as I had the internet nothing was far from me. But that one phrase really undid me and kept me thinking. Today I know for a fact the meaning of what God meant when he said "My people suffer for lack of knowledge". God's knowledge is not the same with ours. The knowledge he was speaking of is not the same that I was thinking of. It was not the knowledge of what I could read online, neither is it the knowledge of what I can read in the bible. Yeah! I know we are all wondering her what I mean by "not the knowledge of what we read in the bible. But the truth of the matter is that like me a lot of us just "read" the bible and not get to "know" God through the words. I know that sometimes I would read and just sleep off, other times its like reading the same novel all over again. It was so bad I had some passages I loved to read and some I dont bother to open. I would read the book of Esther, and jump past job, I would read Isaiah or Ezekiel and past Jeremiah and Lamentation. I rarely read Revelation but I would glance through first four books of the new testament. Then someone told me that I must read a chapter of the bible every day and I just said okay. I tried doing so mainly because he would ask me everyday if I read my bible and I could not tell him a lie that yes I did. But after the experience and time getting to know i my suffering because I did not know God as I should things changed. Now I really do want to know God and in knowing God I am becoming more confident and doing away with old habits one at a time. Now I know that those habits are there because because I let them stay. I gave them room and bed to sleep, but now they have had to vacate and the power of the Spirit of God and His word is working miracles. Its a good thing that this is happening now because it is God's perfect moment. I really don't know of this is making sense but I hope that just one person gets what I am saying. That knowledge of God and who He is helps us to know who we are and the power we hold. Now I know that when I dream of eating I remember God's word that "I would feed and lay down and I shall not be afraid". At times when somethings come to mind and thinks it can scare me I remember the words of Apostle Paul is Colossians 2 "He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets." So I know that their power has been taken from them and they are exposed. So I don't have anything to worry about, just let God do His bit while I do mine by believing all of his promises. Now there is no room for any kind of doubt not one. I am not there yet my friends. Don't get me wrong. I still stumble sometimes but just like a child is with her precious dad I just smile at my dad and look up because I know he would kiss the pain away and make it better. In all truth I never meant to write a note, I was going to put up a status update but knowledge I know is of God and the note is a way for me to say thank you. I heard from somewhere that a lot of times we never give testimonies for things in our lives. We don't have success stories either or we do but don't share it. Most of us are worried that if we share our success stories something bad would happen. Don't worry I used to think that way but no more. I am happy to shout the good of God in my life, but when I am facing challenges I also know I can't walk it alone and I would share that too. Let us learn like me to actually take time to know God and not be one of those that only "read" the bible.

BRINGING FULLNESS OUT OF THE VOID WE SEE OR FEEL!!!

Most times we look around us and find nothing! We turn right, left, we move front and back and all we see is the void and emptiness. It’s a wonder why and how we can make sense of it all. Most times we just give up and make do with the emptiness. What is a void to you? Does your life seem to be empty? Or maybe it’s your business or the work you do. Are you finding it difficult to find fulfillment in what you do and how you do it? Sometimes it seems as if we have purposely put ourselves in bondage with no way to get out of it. Our life seems to be one form of emptiness after the other and we don’t know how to fill it up.

Well let me tell you or should I say it this way; “let me take you back to the beginning of life itself?” And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Most times darkness and emptiness goes together, you hear people say; my life is a void, my life is empty, some say my life is going nowhere fast or maybe I feel a darkness inside of me. It a form of existence where everything to you is moving on but for you life is at a standstill. It’s like you are waiting for something or someone but you don’t know what. For most of us that time never comes for some we don’t know when it come, it just does and while for other something provokes the coming. However or whenever all it means is that we have been able to bring fullness out of the void or emptiness we find inside ourselves. We have been able to make something out of nothing. We have in essence become creators and drivers using the utmost capability that has been given to man to make something of the emptiness we feel inside of us, at our place of work, in our businesses. The hopelessness we feel has been converted into something with meaning and hope. Most often than not for most of us what we need is already inside us. All we actually need to do is to listen and be very attentive. Most times we are burdened by so much of what is happening around us that we fail to even listen to the voice and the creativity inside of us. We might come to this world naked with no cloths on but we never came empty, we came bearing gifts; we came full and brimming with those things that would make us stand out from the crowd. But the truth is that like the earth we must bring out of that formless void and darkness that has shrouded our fullness the great potential that we are. No one can do it for us, not even the God that you have will. It is your birthright to choose to look inside you and listen to the voice calling to you. Only you can hear it, only you can make sense of it, you alone can interpret what it is saying and make something of it. The beauty of who you are is that you are not empty, you are not a void, you are not a failure; you are unique human being born with talent and gift that which the world is waiting to celebrate. The only thing is this; what space will you fill. Who will benefit from the fullness and how will they benefit from the fullness? These questions are the things that are making it difficult for us to actually bring fullness out of the void of our lives or businesses or ideas. We fail to think of others or listen to the sound of their groaning. We most times focus only on our own pain and in focusing on our pain alone we fail to reach the maximum potential of our creativity. I could go on forever about this but in essence what I am saying is this; “we alone are the ones that can make our lives and those of the ones we love a better one”. Think about it!

OPERATION BUILD AND WATER!!!

Developing the entrepreneurs mindset in the next generation should be the priority of the present generation of Nigerians. If you have children or pray to have children start building the spirit of an entrepreneur in them. That is the only thing that can assure their future. Not your money, not the education, most definitely not your connection! Start while they are yet young!

In the book of exodus the word of the Lord came to Moses; "You have stayed too long at the place, tell my people to move forward!" Nigeria and Nigerian must listen to the words and relate to it. Not only in nature have we stayed so long in one place; waiting for the government and society to do what we can do and in some cases we even wait on God to do that which we can do. It is high time that we learn to begin to move forward and begin to build and water along the way. Our children will not thank us neither will they bless us when we do not leave anything behind for them to enjoy. You know at the start of this note I started with a quote and had an entirely different angle of focus in mind but then I realized that my mind just turned in a different direction from where it started out from. Entrepreneurship and not national cake or the break of a nation is what can build a nation that is gradually going from a position of light to darkness. Nigeria is a country blessed with what a lot of other countries don't have. We have intelligent people who have had their creativity suppressed for whatever reason you can think of by society, family, parent and even the individuals themselves. We have allowed the society and people determine how we grow, create and multiply. This should not be so! We have to; from this point forward begin to build in ourselves and our children the the mindset of what Africa stands for. Africa (especially Nigeria) is a group of people so blessed that we could actually be self sustaining but we have allowed ourselves to be ruled by our stomachs which has killed our ability to create. Creation and multiplication is a very important part of human existence which is why it is the first command that God gave to man - Be fruitful and multiply! Working in opposition to that order is against humanity. Therefore I implore us that from this day forward we begin to develop the mindset of an entrepreneur in our children. If you cant use it to create solutions and opportunities don't study it in school! This is what we need now. We need enough youths from the growing generation who are not afraid to create and multiply. Let it not be said that the break came in our generation or that of our children. You know I go round and I ask youngsters around what they plan to be in the future and non of them even think of starting a company or inventing a cure or innovation. They all want to be rich and powerful but they do not want to know how. They have no foundation and we know that a house that is built without a foundation will not stand.

So I am begging us; parents, soon to be parents and everyone who will be parents at one time or the other to begin to think of the well-being of their children. Well-being is not money or gifts its what future they can have even when you are not there to help them. Think (God forbid!) what happens to you 15yr old son or daughter if you die today? Can they face the would and its challenges head on or will they bow to influence of the society or friends? Will your 15yr old daughter turn to prostitution or other worldly devices because she does not have skills neither does she know of any other way she can take care of her needs? How about your sons?

How will they survive and cope once they are no longer under your roof? Can they stand strong? Remember any child with a sell-able skill will eventually look out for any way to make ends meet as is the nature of man. He would survive in any way he can! Begin today so that you do not regret when it is too late to help them! God bless Nigeria and God bless you as you read!

Are you eating or sowing?

“That he may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater” This is a phrase that brings questions to mind. It begs the question “are you sowing seeds and what type of seed are you sowing? Or are you a eater, one who eats without giving back? The quote above is from the book I love most; the Bible! Here we understand that opportunity and time is open to two categories of people. 1. The sower of the seed 2. The eater of bread A lot of us find it hard to move forward due to the fact that we find it difficult to sow, especially within our youths in this present generation. We see our friends in big cars and flashy cloths but what we fail to see is the time they have put into acquiring that which they have. It has become difficult for us to actually have the mindset to sow and wait patiently for the harvest while we prune, weed and cultivate the land in other for the seed to germinate and produce the good tree and hence good fruit. The eater is only concerned with today and the satisfaction of the stomach. They find it difficult to wait for the process of productivity and the time taken to sow and harvest. The eater can only see the now and not the future or the idea of the small mustard seed become a great tree. To them they look out for immediate benefit or gratification. No! They are hungry now and so must be satisfied. The word tells us that the rain water’s the ground that it may bring forth and bud to give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. The question now is you a sower or an eater? Do you look out for the now and present not thinking of the repercussion for tomorrow? Or do you sow a seed of goodness and growth for yourself and your business? Luckily for most of us reading this words; we have heard the saying that “patience is a virtue” whether that is true for us or not, we must know that the energy you exert in running a hundred meter dash is different from that for a marathon. As individuals we need to realise that he who sows lives to eat bread for many days to come. But he who lives to eat bread will eat for today and begin to look for where to get bread for tomorrow. In business sowing your seed; means you are saving towards your future to ensure that your business grows and becomes great. That we must plant and water thinking of tomorrow and while we are patient we continue to water (follow-up) on the seed we have sown. The follow up and level of management input says a lot about the harvest we get when it is time to reap the reward of the labour of sowing. The farmer is a very patient man as he would work diligently to have a good harvest by going to the farm daily to prune, weed, fertilize and continually ensure that pests or unwanted harm does not come the seed he has sown. This should be the same with every entrepreneur with our business as we work towards having a good harvest. Entrepreneurship and business is not about the here and now but about the solutions we can provide for tomorrow. So now let us start by asking ourselves the same question; am I a sower or an eater? Do I live to eat or do I live to sow? This will give us a better perspective of who we are and how the future will be.

The Humour of my Day!!!

This morning I woke up gearing to go! I had planned my day and meeting and had set the time to leave the house. Then all of a sudden it began to rain and it rained but I just knew that I would have to leave the house in the rain. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE THE RAIN!!!. I went for my meetings which was very fruitful by the way. Thank you. Then the rain started again. This time it really rained and because the meeting was fruitful I could relax and enjoy while me and my colleagues had a nice chat about life in general. Okay then we decided it was time to head home and we left; hold I am not there yet just getting started. I boarded a tricycle and since it was still drizzling I wanted to seat on the side that had the shield from the rain but to my dismay a man (who I termed as not been a gentleman) boarded and decided that he just HAD to seat at that angle. I was pissed big time. In my mind I was like this is not a gentleman just as the tricycle moved in traffic and I gradually got wet and he remained all dry and dandy. Wait........................ The best part is yet to come! Okay now I am at the last leg of my return home and I have to board another tricycle which I did. Now things had switched and I was the one on the side with the shield from the rain and a man was on the side without the covering. The guy hala ehn! When it was my turn all my grunting and anger was inside not voiced but this nice man voiced his own grievances and I just began to laugh. I just could not help it (please o! It was a silent laugh). You know why? I just remembered that this was me a while ago and I also remembered that this is how we react to things that happen in our lives. We complain when things happen to us even at times thinking why me why not the other guy. But why must it be the other guy who has to get wet? What's wrong with you getting wet for a change? Truly I really got the drift when it came to mind and I just could not help but say thank you God that it was me who got wet. Let us remember that things happen to us not because we are special or better off; not because we are worse off either. My friend says "it has your name on it" lol. I wonder where she got that from. But Just enjoy getting wet and don't expect the guy to be a gentleman and get wet so you can be dry. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and God bless Nigeria!

CHURCH PEOPLE

I would be very free on this post and i expect all my readers to flow with me.First of all I would want to ask ''WHAT IS A CHURCH''?. I am sure I would have a lot of spiritual and religious definitions.Well, to a lay  man, ''A church is God's house where His children gather every other day for fellowship''. Going by this definition,is the church really a home for God's children or a mere building that is governed by the commander(The Pastor)? Some pastors have converted many odd places into Churches,their living rooms hotels,sex brothels,schools,family halls and the roads.
I want to take us through some very ugly trends that i have witnessed in our Churches especially here in Nigeria  and lets see how we can correct them.
I am not against the Church but I must say most of these points are threatening the very existence of Christianity hence forcing many to turn against the faith.The issue of tithing is first on my list,the way most pastors stress on it as if you don't give you hate God and would invoke God's wrath or create an opening for the devil's punishment,most pastors go as far as pronouncing curses on those who dont give or give in smaller denominations.As far as i am concerned,God loves His children,our giving only expresses our love for Him and not that is acts as a sure means to bribe God cos if all you do is to pay tithes and offerings and you dnt leave a holy life all na zero o. Another is when pastors are raising offerings they would start with high amounts,only the rich can afford the sums, denying the poor of the blessing; that's one thing that has led people into living a fake life,they want to impress the pastor and the church so they would come out even when its not convenient for them; money that can be used to pay their children's school fees or help in setting up business would be used as offering cos they believe if they don't give, then they don't love God (too bad). Well, that's a wrong motive for giving cos the Bible clearly states that God loves a cheerful giver. Its not only in the quality or quantity but the motive for giving to God.
This brings us to another issue plaguing the Church.Unbelievers now see the church as a money making venture: The Church is now a sole proprietor business,one man show as some may say.No one accounts for Church funds cause the signatories to the accounts are the Pastor,his Wife and most times Close family pals...Na wa!.This is why many people are scared of giving to God cos they believe they are enriching just one man.These days you'll find pastors soliciting for funds to build church projects that upon completion would be converted to their personal property. This brings me to a big question,what does the church do for the Church (its members?).What is wrong if the church gives Scholarships to the poor ones amongst them?. Why can't the Rich use their influence to help the unemployed to get jobs?. Instead of building State of the Art edifices just to show that the Church Building is world class,(i am not saying its a bad thing ooo), why not channel most of the resources into low cost building for poor church members?. The very rich in the church can have a project to sponsor some members for professional courses abroad.Why can't we have free schools as the Catholic Missionaries used to?; Why can't the Church have free medicals regularly for the elderly ones? .Yes the church can if they want but the Pastor may not promote it cos if he does, people would reduce their 'SEED SOWING'.. we all labor to give to the church through our offerings,tithes,special levies etc,apart from God's blessing that comes from Him directly and the joy of fellowship as brethren what other benefit?. Some Churches don't help in anyway(Marriage/Weddings,Burials,Dedications etc) you must pay a large sum even as a church member to use the Church premises for occassions.Infact they would ask for officiating ministers offering etc. In the early church in Acts 3 you'll find out that the rich sold their properties in other to help the poor we don't see these things again.The Rich now have a clique in Church.When they are not around the pastors would go to their houses to look for them. When their dogs die pastors are there to console them. The poor ones are not giving such preference; in fact pastors don't have their numbers, neither do they have access to them. Jesus ministry on earth was for all and not for the selected few.Why this ugly trend of favoritism?
Another ugly trend is what I call fashion madness. Since the late 90's when the church movement changed to  come as you are, so as to embrace everyone putting aside the old religion of discriminating certain (Unbelievers), people now dress to church anyhow. On sunday, I worshipped in a Redeemed Church at Lekki.I must tell you it was a lovely service.The worship session was awesome;just as Iopened my eyes after being over taken by the worship,what caught my attention was a lady who wore a mini gown to church.As i was boiling, another girl's hot sexy gown provoked me the more.As the service came to an end on my way out i saw things that nearly made me cry.Even the angels in heaven would exclaim;"oboy eyyye" with eyes popping wide.Mehn this drama queen wore a panty hose with a tight,short club top with serious heels to church(which levels). I began to wonder how many men who saw that were be able to concentrate in Church.That was pure distraction to me.I am not saying one should dress shabily to church but the key word is modesty and decency. When people,especially girls wear indecent clothes to Church, what do they have at the back of their minds?. Is to seduce men and the Pastor, to look hot or just fashion?. We need to checkmate it. It wasn't so from the beginning. We can save our hot gowns for parties,clubs etc. In fear of not to losing members, no body would frown at it; even pastors wives now fix long nails,lashes,wear short dresses, no much difference between them and the so called unbelievers that the Church criticise and that is what their members emulate.
Lastly on this Church trends are those who steal in Church. You can imagine I heard a woman lost her car during a Church Crusade.People steal things in Church... too bad. God is watching!. People no longer fear God in Church. That's where you would find the worst things going on: Church members dating each other,Choir master sleeping with Choir members, Church leaders masterminding crime in their places of work etc.
This is not a post to criticize any one but to help check mate us. All these points raised are the truth and they  need serious attention.The Bible says God is a Spirit and we must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. We must learn to call a spade a spade.We can all contribute to making things better by addressing the ones that affect us,eg  the issue of giving.Let's not give out of compulsion or to show off  to satisfy the Pastor.It is God who knows our hearts and would reward us not the pastor.Based on the issue of discrimination,let us show true love to our brethren,visit and encourage the needy in our church and environment,not just in words but also in kind; not that you would give a bag of rice to someone and announce it to the neighborhood or turn the person to your slave just because you paid the person's school fees. As for those who are fashion icons save your skimpy gowns for other outings,don't drive another woman's man into fornication or adultery,dress modestly,don't draw attention to your self with your possessions. Let your life be an example to the unbelievers, not that in your neighborhood you are notorious for looking down on people just because you have a car etc.As for those who steal in Churches, please change your ways,don't incur God's wrath upon your generation... Eheen,as for our Pastors lets keep praying for them that God would open their eyes to the truth and help them to get it right,and also if you have the boldness to advice them on it please do so...let's practice Christianity as it ought to be and stop allowing the hidden sins to make a mockery of our Faith.
Finally, I want to say that the Church is a place where people go to and expect love,show love,act love and be an epitome of love..Peacexxx     

"JUST BEFORE YOU SAY I DO"

The rate at which marriages are breaking gives me serious concern and breeds so much fear in me.I know of couple who had dated for almost 9years,they had a very big society wedding,with all the glitz and glamor,there was so much fun,love and happiness in the air,friends, family and well wishers,where are present to witness and celebrate their unique friendship which blossomed into marriage, infact most people  concluded that the wedding was just a mere party owing to the fact that the had courted for a very long time.At the end of the day,every one went home and left the 2 love birds to continue their lives,Exactly 9 months later rumors hit the neighborhood that their marriage was at the verge of breaking,in another 2 months it was now glaring,they were apart,the lady moved to another city unknown to the man and moved on with her life...i was so heart broken with the news considering the fact that i was at the wedding,i witnessed the show of love and affection. The rest is history now,that marriage is no more,and no one has been able to get the real fact why they both couldn't keep their marriage. I know of another couple who have been married for over 24 years,they are always having issues,for years they dont talk to each other but they leave under the same roof,i begin to wonder,cos i heard this same people where love birds in the past. What went wrong?
 I have come to understand in my very short experience with relationships that love is not what keeps it going its the mutual understanding and trust that does.Many times women go over board with our emotions,we nag,we suspect a lot,we allow our intuitions to be governed by our immediate emotions etc.Men have their own weakness too but i believe in every relationship a woman plays a more significant role in ensuring its sustenance.
I want to say that most young people dont understand marriage before they jump into it,they prepare for the ceremony and not the main thing,thats the reason why when the they are faced with the challenges that come with marriage,they chicken out easily. I always say that single hood is a unique period of our lives,we must seize the opportunity to prepare for the the future.Most girls believe marriage is all about going to leave with the one they love and can spend the rest of their lives with etc,that is a very wrong notion,a woman is created to complement a man,help give meaning to his life,thats why the bible refers to us as a help meet, ie someone that has a mission to accomplish in a mans life. when women start thinking towards this direction,it would help in preparing them for the task ahead. as for the man,he must start seeing himself as a man with a divine mandate to establish a generation,he must come to a point where he knows he needs a woman not a girl in his life not just as a companion but also as a complementer,with such mindset his choice would be easier and wouldn't be carried away with vain beauty that is been paraded everywhere. If singles really take out time to think and pray about marriage it would be much more easier.
Just before you say i do, it is not too late to walk out,its better to walk out one minute before your exchange bands than after. Another reason why marriages fail is that people dont truly fear God,if they do,why would you stand before the alter of God been witnessed by friends and family and when crisis come instead of asking God for solutions you would damn Him(God) and walk out from the marriage allowing the devil to have his way.
Friends,if the relationship aint working,it aint working,let go and take some time to work on your selves to give it a 2nd trail,if it doesn't then let it be,dnt allow mere emotions or pity drive you into what you wouldn't enjoy for the rest of your lives. Long courtship or love is not the main criteria why you must marry some one,if you both aint compact able, why push it? family,societal,religious,influences should not be considered when making your choice,reasons been that they would stand by you before and not after the marriage.Also the church and other religious institutions should help prepare couples for life after marriage not only taking them through marriage classes and test but see to their progress after marriage.
Finally,i want to say that we young people should not just look out for someone who has money,prospects etc but also a man/woman that has a teachable spirit,forgiving heart,humble,easy to understand,can let go of grudges and above all, one that fears God from the heart and not lip service,to me this are the basics the rest can be improved upon. Take out time to prepare,for the women,learn to cook,wash,basic home keeping,dnt rely on house maids,develop a particular skill that can generate funds for you to assist the man in running the home(Yes of course,a help meet has to contribute no matter how small) dont  be a liability,be a treasured asset. As for the men,work hard now so your family would be well taken care off,develop other skills to create funds,be a defender and not a nuisance.Read the bible,books and other helpful materials on marriage and look out for a mentor who would influence you positively. I look forward to seeing long lasting marriages. Stay blessed.