BE JOYFUL IN HOPE (Romans 12:12)

I just saw this clause again in a photo on a page and it triggered off an understanding in me. I think this admonition is very well needed because by human nature, we are most likely to be SORROWFUL in HOPE. I know what it is like to be sorrowful in hope. I look back and I remember how much I tortured myself when expecting some good things.

For example, after my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) year in Nigeria, God gave me a job two months after I passed out from the corps. But I could not move out of the place where I was living as a corps member for one year and two months. I lived in NCCF Family House in Port Harcourt, but it was not convenient for me because I was no longer a corper. I wanted my own house and privacy badly but it was not coming forth. Maybe I would have gotten just any house, but I have a wonderful taste for excellent things and was choosy, so that I ignored moving into just any house. I wanted a house that was tiled all over, with high a fence in an environment where I would not be a 'local champion' and yet would not pay too much to get.

All my friends that were staying back at the family house then moved out to their own rented apartments and I was left alone. It was not easy. I was crying everyday and asking God why He was treating me that way. Now, it was not that I did not have the money to rent the house I wanted, but there was always one need or the other the Lord would lead me to contribute to, so I could not save as much as was needed. But by the time I was released to save for the house, it became difficult to secure a good one. There were vacant houses, but were not just available or not good enough (you will understand better if you live in Nigeria, Port Harcourt to be precise, and you are searching for accomodation). There was one that a friend was doing its runs for me, only for me to learn later that the caretaker of the house gave it to another. I was devastated and cried. [The house was below the standard of what I descibed to God, the compound was not fine and it is in an area where I would be a 'local champion', but I was tired and was ready to grab anything that came my way]. But later, I encouraged myself and decided to relax and enjoy myself where I was. But, you know what? By the time the Lord settled me, it was quite easy. He used a friend to connect me for the house and lo, the house was everything I asked God for, situated in a nice and quiet area, beautiful compound with good neighbours. After the Lord did this, I told myself I would not have worried myself as I did if I knew God would answer me that way. I would have rested and waited on Him quietly in the place of prayer instead of giving myself those headaches.

Yes, we pray when we are hoping for breakthroughs, for sure, but we need to learn to BE JOYFUL IN HOPE. I am still hoping for a lot of things, but I have learnt by experience to be joyful where I am on the way to where I am going, and I am still learning.

Please be encouraged and REJOICE in HOPE because the Lord your God in your midst is mighty and He will save. Zeph 3:17 Don't stop ASKING and THANKING Him for those blessings until He satisfies you with His mercies, but please REJOICE. In difficult times, it is not easy to rejoice, but we can always tell Him how we feel, we can tell Him how sad we are and He would make us happy and rekindle our joy. SHALOM

Today

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Today, after classes, I had to find a supermarket to buy a tube of toothpaste from. But I walked and walked far away from my hotel and saw no such store. I could only see restaurants and snacks shops. I sighted a Tabac shop and popped in hoping against hope I might find what I wanted. No, they only have what spoils teeth and breaks lungs, as usual. As it's one of the sure spots to get mobile recharge cards from, I ordered for a card and popped out to continue my quest.

O my, but I'm sure there is at least a shop around this city for such things, I'm sure. So I walked on, not letting go. I couldn't have let go, anyway, or I will have to go out tomorrow with a smelly mouth. I at last saw a pharmacy store from across the road, excited God had answered my prayer, I crossed and tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. I glanced up and saw a note on a side of the door that the shop will not be open for some time. Disappointed, I left, to resume my search.

After a while, I saw a supermarket ahead of me. At last. I breathed some thanks to the Lord. In here, I looked from shelf to shelf for my most pressing need at the time. It appeared like it was not available, but I would not give up, else my mouth smells tomorrow. After several minutes, I approached the shelf of interest and picked the toothpaste.

Many times in life we are like this,but a lot of time we give up because what we have been painstakingly working, hoping and praying for seem not to come through. O for the fortitude to hold on in times of waiting and not to give up on our efforts.

NO FRIDGE

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NO FRIDGE

I needed to move from where I was to another city for a training yesterday. Now, I had some vegetable soup in my fridge which I thought to take along with some garri for ẹ̀bà. But while I was packing, I changed my mind about going with the soup. I read some article of late which made me skeptical of using plastics or foils to warm food in the microwave oven; and since the hotel room I would be lodged in was not expected to have a kitchenette, so there would not be any ceramic plate available to warm the soup in. As such, I dropped the soup which I had already packed.

When I arrived at the town that hosts the hotel, it took me a while to locate the hotel as it is not on the main road. I opened the door to my room, relieved I made it at last to the place, turned on the lights and unpacked, while taking in the simple beauty of the room. I looked around and could not find a fridge. It must be my eyes. But no, my eyes saw well, no fridge indeed. This is quite abnormal for a hotel room! No fridge, no tea/coffee corner, no electric kettle to boil water for my ẹ̀bà. What if I had brought the vegetable?! It would have spoilt and wasted for no means of preservation. It was then I understood clearly that the Lord was leading me, though it seemed like I was the one making my own plans, when I decided to drop the soup.

It would never cease to amaze me how God leads and guides His children even when they are not conscious of it, in little things and big issues alike.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clips-from-MY-LIFE/330907330306751

...A STRONG TOWER...
Little wonder the memory kept tugging at my heart, it makes it a month today, that He rescued me from the jaws of the destroyer. As it is said of me in Isaiah 54:

16“See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

I have shared this in my church, but I feel the urge to do so again on this platform.

I needed to be in Owerri last Christmas to see a dear big sister and her family. I have not seen them for over a year. I had three pieces of baggage with me, which were not quite heavy though. I did not want to stress myself by trekking down from the main road, where I alighted from the bus, with my luggage to my destination which is about fifteen minutes away on foot. So, I stopped a bike. The bike crossed the highway to pick me. A convoy of vehicles were coming, so he had to hold on for them before crossing the road again with me. There was another car, coming not too far from the convoy. I did not know what came over the okada man, he dashed impatiently across the road while I heard sharp honks from the oncoming car and shouts of panic from within the car.My life flashed before me in a twinkle, and I thought to myself if I was really going to be involved in this collision. The car's driver tried his best to pull at his brake, but too late, he ran into us. I was scared stiff, my heart in my mouth. The only thing in my mouth was a shout of His name:
'Jesus of Nazareth! Jesus, my Lord!'
The bikeman fell with his bike and with me and my baggage. I felt a pang in my back as I landed on my bottom. I was literally bounced off the bike. Shocked, I gathered my luggage, none of them was altered. I had a bruise on my elbow, and the pain in my back, plus the shock. By now, few passersby had gathered plus the people in the car, asking if I was okay. I explained I was fine, and that I would have to do what I was avoiding-trek. My legs and my suede flats were dirty, still shocked. I left the motorcyclist there, minding his leg. Maybe, he broke it, cause he was massaging it and wincing with great pain.

Several thoughts swam through my head as I dragged my feet along the red dusty road linking from the highway to my sister's place. What if I had been seriously injured or killed? They would have ransacked my bag and call the last person I made a call to on my phone, my hostess,and then my family. God forbid! On Christmas day! But there went the Lord, He proved to me that His name is a strong tower that the righteous run into and get safe, secure from all harm and alarm. I called on His name, and He rescued me. None of my bones were broken, not a single one, only a bruise, and a pang in my back. I must see a doctor for a check-up, but I knew I was fine. I was sure the deliverance was thorough.

I arrived at my destination. They were glad to see me. We exchanged pleasantries, it was over a year since I saw them last. If only they knew what happened few minutes ago. I blurted and told them, they aah-ed and oohed and we blessed the
Lord together. My sister told me she felt a nudge to pray for me that morning, against accident. She didn't know why the Lord would bring that prod, for it wasn't my first time of visiting and the journey had always been smooth. I also got some thoughts of accident- crossing the road and jamming a car- hurled at me in the bus, but I rebuked and rejected them immediately. Thank you Jesus.

I didn't tell this to my dad, I didn't want him bothered. I changed my mind about going to see a doctor, I would be X-rayed, I just had one last October, three months ago. But I knew I was perfectly fine, else I would have gone in spite of the exposure to radioactive rays.

I have personalised Psalm 124 below.This is my story, this is my song.

1If the Lord had not been on my side—
let Ayobami say—
2if the Lord had not been on my side
when people attacked me,
3they would have swallowed me alive
when their anger flared against me;
4the flood would have engulfed me,
the torrent would have swept over me,
5the raging waters
would have swept me away.
6Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let me be torn by their teeth.
7I have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and I have escaped.
8My help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

SEAT MIRACLE

Yesterday morning when going to work, the train I boarded was filled to the brim and a lot of us stood up all through the thirty minutes journey. I had to go on this particular train as the next train in my direction was to come eight minutes after which would make me for work. I for one did not like the standing because I couldn't read my book (I usually have a book in my bag everyday to kill time with while going to and coming from work).
This morning however, I asked the Lord to get me a seat anyhow. But to my dismay, there were many people waiting for the train like we had yesterday. So, I had no seat and had to stand again. Suddenly, an officer appeared from nowhere announcing that the train would not stop until it gets to Aulnay Sous Bois, meaning passengers going to La Plaine-Stade-de-France should leave the train. Many people trooped out. I was not so much paying attention until my colleagues called out to me to sit down on a vacant seat close to the door before another person took the seat I sat down, and then it occurred to me that the Lord just answered my prayer.
And by the time we would reach La Plaine-Stade-de-France, alas, the train stopped. So, my colleagues wondered aloud why those people were asked to leave the train initially when the train was still going to stop. I told them it happened so I could sit down. Bewildered and grateful, I told the Lord in my heart, 'Wow, Jesus, You did this for me!' I settled down to read my book, and I enjoyed it! — in France.

God is busy writing my story
As each moment passes, He is updating
Every detail and ephemeron
Crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i'
And it is turning out more beautiful than I ever dreamed

There have been ups and downs
There have been tears, despairs and sighs
There have been disappointments and hurts
There have been painful lessons
But all these have only succeeded in adding colour to the story

Lord I put my hand in Your hand
For this is necessary
Iif every 't' in the story must be crossed and every 'i' dotted.

The Void Spelt G.O.D

For several weeks, I was down (not healthwise). I found it hard to pray well and could not sing freely. It was painful because I knew my joy was not full. Little things pissed me off and I was often feeling grouchy, dissatisfied about everything. 

I knew it was a big vacuum that only God could fill and I was crying to Him everyday to fill it. My personal praise/worship life was minus. All these were pointers to the fact that I needed more of God. I am a prolific writer (writes proses, poems and plays), but when I'm down, I always struggle for ideas. I have learnt over years of walking with God that He is my Source for everything, my Muse and my sense of wits, my dancing steps and my sweet music, my joy and my smiles.

Throughout this period, I rarely posted on my Facebook pages because there was almost nothing to post. But glory, I'm alive again. He has refreshed me and is still doing so. I sing to Him effortlessly now, and I'm sure it is getting better, my joy is getting fuller as each day passes and my wits are back. Hallelujah!

One of the past days of dryness, I wrote this poem on 24/10/2012:

THE VOID SPELT G.O.D
Each time I get uptight and grouchy,
reacting at every slight provocation-
I know there is a void in me which needs to be filled.
Each time I feel unnecessarily dissatisfied about life,
feeling something is missing in spite of having 'all'
I know there is a void waiting to be filled.

This void is spelt G.O.D -
Every man has it,
great or small.
Everyone experiences it,
saved or unsaved.

Truth is many do not realise it can only be filled by GOD,
So they think it will go if they make more money
or if they get more influential.
A lot feel it will leave if they become more beautiful
or go trans-sexual.
Several others try to 'increase' in good deeds
just for this void to vanish.
Many a dignitary had killed him(her)self because of this void
and a number of commoners too.

If only they knew that the only one who could fill the void was GOD!
If only they knew that all they ever really wanted was GOD -
Not more fame or wealth;
Not more goodness or nicety;
Not more silver or gold;
Not more beauty or pomp -
Not more power or influence
For in Him all things consist
and if you have Him,
everything else runs after you.

©2012, Ayobami Temitope Kehinde