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The Best of

The Light-a-Lamp
Blog
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September 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Jennifer A.

Culled from the Light-A-Lamp Blog


www.lightherlamp.com

Images by Jennifer A.

All stories are works of Fiction, unless stated


otherwise

Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons


Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-
nd/3.0/

No parts of this book may be used except by


permission or attribution to author.
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Table of Contents

I. One Day of Dominion ……………………………………………………………………………………………4


II. Where You There When He Did it? ……………………………………………………………6
III. Finally Free From Emotions …………………………………………………………………………9
IV. Breaking the Silence Forever ……………………………………………………………………11
V. Hoping Against All Hope …………………………………………………………………………………18
VI. When Your Mess Becomes a Message …………………………………………………………21
VII. The Clutch Purse, Hope …………………………………………………………………………………23
VIII. Before the Silver Cord Gets Loosed ……………………………………………………26
IX. Presenting Your Musical Instruments …………………………………………………30
X. How Fragile We Are ………………………………………………………………………………………………33
XI. The World is Waiting …………………………………………………………………………………………36
XII. The Every Day People: The Man from the Middle East ………39
XIII. Left-Overs in the Wind ……………………………………………………………………………………43
XIV. Ceteris Paribus ………………………………………………………………………………………………………46
XV. Really, Truly, Sincerely Forgotten? …………………………………………………48
XVI. The Flames ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………51
XVII. The Daunting Question ………………………………………………………………………………………53
XVIII. The Good Side of Darkness ……………………………………………………………………54
XIX. The Nobody ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………56
XX. The Last Man Running …………………………………………………………………………………………59
XXI. The Dirty Label ………………………………………………………………………………………………………62
XXII. We Played the Flute for You, But You Did Not Dance …………65
XXIII. Say You’re One of Them ……………………………………………………………………………68
XXIV. One in the Midst of Six Billion, Seven Hundred and Six
Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, and One
Hundred and Fifty-two Faces ………………………………………………………………………71
XXV. A Rather Subtle Way to Take Over the Earth ………………………………73
XXVI. My Church is Better than Yours ………………………………………………………………76
XXVII. The Picturesque Audience of a Single Voice ………………………80
XXVIII. Walking a Mile in Her Shoes ………………………………………………………………83
XXIX. You Don’t Defend God, He Defends Himself ……………………………………86
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One Day of Dominion


September 03, 2006
Have you ever felt a moment where everything in the
world seems to stop and the only thing you can hear is
your heart beating? Have you ever walked by a road-side
and you see no one else but yourself? Have you ever
felt such greatness stemming from the deepest parts of
your loins? Have you ever had a day were you felt like
you had dominion over every living thing under your
nostrils?

Just one day of dominion...

Yesterday I thought about the word "fortitude." For


some reason, I used to think it meant a physical wall
of protection of some sort. Well, not until I opened up
my dictionary and sought the meaning for real. It meant
"strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or
adversity with courage." I concluded that when one has
fortitude, theres nothing that can make you go down and
under. Nothing on this earth could possibly reduce your
standard to zero degrees. It's impossible. What can
make you fear when you have an emotional barrier?
Things can hurt you physically, but when they don't
hurt your emotions they really do not matter. This goes
along with the concept that says, "the unseen controls
the seen," or to put it in another phrase, "the spirit
man controls the carnal man." If only someone can grasp
this moment of revelation...

Just one day of dominion...

It takes one day to realize that we have so much


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power. It takes just one day for us to finally grasp


the magnanimity of the moment. I finally understood the
concept after realizing that He was 100% man but still
could do all that He did from Matthew 2 to matthew 12.
He taught, He walked, He healed, He cast out, He sent,
He called, He fed...

Just one day of dominion...

And then eventually, He said, "greater works shall


ye do..." Was He talking about me? Because if He was, I
am definitely ready to try out this power bestowed upon
me. Something that so many people don't understand
today. People have left this concept alone for a very
long time, people have gotten tired of even trying to
decipher or uncode the code. People have given up
trying to understand how we came to be on this earth.
But it takes just one day to grasp the secret. It takes
just one day to tell Him to make you understand. It
takes just one day to make that decision...it takes
just one day to light ur lamp...

One day of dominion...


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Where You There When He Did It?


January 30, 2007
Every day the struggle never seems to end. Every
day we move like chess board pieces from one thing to
the other. Every day we receive a blessing, and the
next day a curse. Then we rebuke the curse and it goes
away. With every brand new day a new task arises. At
the end of every day an old task is accomplished. Every
day we wake up, we smile and peak at the radiant sun.
As we go to bed at night, the smiles which become
frowns at mid-day have the opportunity to be found once
again as they become drenched in the sweet satisfaction
of rest.

But when will it ever end?

Just like Job, I'm wondering today. The reason why


I am here on earth is not to work hard and satisfy my
soul. Solomon recorded this as "vanity." In order
words, all the days of man spent toiling and suffering
for self-satisfaction is all VANITY. All the days spent
going in the opposite direction from the direction God
wants you to move is all VANITY. In order words, what's
not vanity involves me seeking my Creator and asking
Him why He created me. Do you know why He made you?
There's no use telling God what you think you shd be
doing. We shd do the reverse...ask Him to guide us to
our purpose. No need to prove you're smart and wise,
and that you don't need His damn help at all.

Just like He asked a man in the bible named Job,


God is asking you today, “where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?" It’s a very simple
question, yet so complex. And you can go ahead and
answer. I was born in the 80s, I wasn't there when He
separated the sea from the land, when He placed the
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stars in the sky, when He told the ocean currents that


they could only come thus far...and they obeyed...when
He said loudly, "let there be LIGHT," and till this
very day even 'light' obeyed His voice and has not
disappeared...

These are the various questions He's asking us tonight


(extracted from Job 38):

* Where were you when I laid the foundations of the


earth?

* Who determined its measurements?

* To what were its foundations fastened?

* Or who laid its cornerstone?

* Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst forth


and issued from the womb?

* When I said, 'this far you may come, but no farther,


and here your proud waves must stop.

* Have you commanded the morning since your days


began?

* Have you caused the dawn to know its place?


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* Have you entered the springs of the sea?

* Or have you walked in search of the depths?

* Have the gates of death been revealed to you?

* Or have you seen the doors of the shadows of death?

* Where is the place of darkness?

* Have you entered the treasury of snow?

* Or have you seen the treasury of hail?

* By what way is light diffused?

* Or the east wind scattered over the earth?


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Finally Free From Emotions


February 24, 2007
You are gold
You are gold that has been polished
But to be polished you had to pass through the refiner’s fire
The refiner’s fire burnt up all your impurities,
Now you can be called, ‘pure gold.’

You are a lily


You are a lily in the valley
But you had to be in the valley before your buds could sprout to
life.
It was in the valley of dead bones that God brought fullness of life
That’s why He is called the “Lily in the Valley.”

You are light


But you were first darkness
But you had to be darkness first, so there could be light
Because of you God said “let there be light,”
For without darkness there can’t be light

You are fertile


But you were first barren
But God knew He could work wonders on a barren womb
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So you became barren only to become fertile


Now you are unstoppable

You are a meticulous craftsman


But you first made a lot of mistakes
But your mistakes produced perseverance
And perseverance brought forth your new character
Now mistakes are a thing of your past

You’re a mountain climber


But in training you had to first pass through the valley
You had to face thorns, hard rocks, and the scorching heat
But you became ‘resistant’ so you can reach the top of the
mountain
You only passed through the valley to get to the top.

You are free


But you were first in bondage
You were first in bondage so you can appreciate freedom
Now you are free to fly like a bird…
Free to soar as high as an eagle.
No more limitations, they’re all gone now.
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Breaking the Silence Forever


March 06, 2007
At first, she could not tell anybody. She couldn't
even cry. If she cried someone was going to ask her
what was wrong with her. But it was a taboo. Something
she never thought would happen to her. But it did, and
she was asking God why. She thought the pain would go
away, but it didn't...instead it just became more
excruciating, too much to bear...so she kept asking God
why."Why me God???" She would cry when she was alone
all at home.
When the family got back home, she changed her
countenance. She told them how her day
went, fabulous of course..."never been better." She
dilly-dallied with her parents ~ trying to make light
conversation on the dinner table, but she was staring
only into the eyes of her mom, because she couldn't
stand looking at him ~ the man she called her 'father.'
She grew up. Many months passed, and the months
turned into years. Some days she felt like she had
forgotten, and then on other nights she would see
herself waking up at the middle of the night, and
shaking in a puddle of her own sweat. Never had she
encountered such fear. In dreams that appeared real, so
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real that she could smell the stench from that very
afternoon. So real that these days she couldn't fill
the void inside of her, no matter whom she had sex
with. No guy could give her love anymore. She didn't
"make love," she just had "sex."
One night she couldn't take it anymore, so she went
to the balcony on the left wing of the house. As soon
as she stepped out, she felt a heavy rush of
wind...just before she sank down on her knees and began
to sob. She started going crazy.
"Maybe the winds will carry my voice to God," she
thought! So she began screaming from the top of her
lungs,
"God, why??? Why did MY OWN FATHER rape me?" Her
voice was shaking, but she kept screaming.
"My very own blood," she cried.

Tonight, I bring forth the VOICES of many young


women who have been raped. It's their voices crying out
in the balcony, at the middle of the night. The very
stories we've read that have brought us to tears many a
time. The very thoughts that anyone can do this to
their own flesh and blood, or even to a total stranger
who they never saw again...

But WHY?
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It's a haunting tragedy, one that can never be


forgotten. But today, I want to present the God who saw
you that night...His Name is "El Roi"...the God Who
SEES... I'll present to you the WORD of God, the WORD
that when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He
said, "whoever drinks of this water, will NEVER thirst
again..."
So if you're reading this, believe that when you
receive the truth of the word of God, you will be
completely healed from looking for other sources to
satisfy your thirst. I pray that God Himself speaks to
you through His word, and that He will answer the very
questions you're asking Him right now inside your
hearts:

These are His words:

*I allowed it to happen*
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan also
came among them. And the Lord said to satan, "From where have you come?" So satan answered the Lord
and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Job 1:6-7. God then
asked satan if he saw how upright Job was, and satan claimed Job was only upright because he was
shielded with the love of God. Satan asked God for permission to strip Job off what gave him joy...and God
allowed it.
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*But if you believe I'm God, then you must believe that
the thoughts I have towards you are that of PEACE and
not evil*
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give
you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11. Your FUTURE is in My hands, that was your past, but what
happened in your past is not even a grain of sand compared to the bright future I have written in my Book
concerning your FUTURE. Don't let anyone deceive you that you will amount to nothing because of what
you've been through. Its a fragment of your past, but there's something waiting for you if you look ahead...

*Just like Job, because of what you've been through, you


will be blessed with double of what you had before you
lost it. So that all men may see that I AM GOD, and that I
can do the impossible. There is such a thing as
'refreshed PURITY' but u just need to make up your mind
if you want it. Job was determined to get it back, are
you?*
"Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than the beginning; in all the land there were found
no women as beautiful as the daughters of Job..."
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* I want to use your testimony & your story, to make the


mouths of onlookers drop *
"and I will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; I will anoint your head with oil, and
your cup will run over, surely...goodness and mercy shall follow you, all the days of your life." Psalm 23

* I want to show you that I have the power to give you


PEACE *
"Behold I will extend PEACE to her like a river, and the glory of the gentiles like a flowing stream...as one
whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you..." Isaiah 66;12-13.

* That was not the end of the matter, as far as I remain


on my throne, there will always be light at the end of
your tunnel, for I am the Father of Lights.*
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17.

* The end of him who did it to you is destruction, unless


they repent and make amends. But it is not up to you to
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decide their fate, I am Your Father, let me take control of


whoever is responsible for this. Remove the burden off
your shoulders, their destinies are in My hands, not
yours *
" Therefore Sheol (hell) has enlarged itself and opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their
multitude and their pomp, and he who is jubilant, shall descend into it." Isaiah 5:14; "Take My yoke upon you
and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find REST for your soul. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30

* You have to forgive them so that you can truly have


life. Forgiveness is really for YOU. Forgiving them will
make you free to soar with Me*
"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:15

*If you do all I tell you to do, you will begin to DWELL with
Me, and I will dry up every tear you ever cried and
restore to you your JOY*
"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore...for the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne
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will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17; "You have turned my mourning into dancing," Psalm 30:11

* I want to teach you to LOVE again, and that the true


meaning of LOVE is God *
“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My
wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with
you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 16:8

***It is time to break YOUR silence forever,


it is time for a RE-BIRTH...it is time to
take back what was stolen from you
your love, your joy, & your happiness***
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Hoping Against All Hope


May 28, 2007
Have you ever been in a situation where you have
hoped and hoped, and it was going good, then when you
were almost at the finish line, something tore your
dreams apart? This is for someone who has been hoping
that something great will happen, and who has been
hoping for the longest time. This is for anyone who has
been hoping that change will come...

Many of us have been there, I for one have been


there time and time again. But this morning, God is
saying that I must hope against all hope. I must hope
even more than before now. I must hope ten thousand
times more, because hope keeps the heart alive. Hope
strengthens your trust in God. Hope says, "I know that
He can do it, I may not know HOW or WHEN, but I know He
can do it."

Even the psalmist felt like he had hoped against


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all hope. He talked about the tears he had cried, "You


number my wanderings, Put my tears in a bottle, are
they not in your book?" Psalm 56:8. Obviously, he must
have cried a billion times, but he still kept hoping.
Know that God sees all your tears, and He stores them
in a safe box so that when your miracles come, you will
see your tears and remember how you hoped. Isn't God
the uncreated Creator? Isn't God the one who spoke and
said, "Let there be LIGHT," and even till this day
light exists every morning we wake up? There must be
some hope left somewhere. You must still hope,
because "the people who KNOW their God shall be strong
and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32.

Hope is the dividing line between depression and happiness.

Hope is the thin line between a maniac and a calm soul.

Hope is the thin line between a frown and a smile.

Hope is the dividing line between a suicide and life.

Hope is a CHOICE. Hope is not given freely. Paul


says we have to practically chase HOPE. Hope is for
those who can stretch out their hands to reach for the
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skies. Have you ever wondered why Jesus told the man
with the "withered hand" to stretch out his hand? In
Matthew 12:13, we can see that this man had one good
hand and his other hand was withered. Jesus did not
specifically ask him to stretch out the bad hand, all
Jesus said was "stretch out your hand." But this man
made an excellent choice; he made a choice to have
hope. He knew he could stretch out his good hand, but
instead he decided to stretch out his withered hand. No
one is supposed to be able to stretch out a hand that
cannot stretch, but his hope and his faith caused him
to do so, and because of that his withered hand became
whole as he exercised faith by stretching it out.

Hope against all hope, and you will get to the finish
line.
Stretch out that thing that you think cannot be
stretched anymore,
and see if God will not make you whole.
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When Your Mess Becomes a


Message
September 25, 2007
You were created for God's glory. You were created
to bring Him praise. How do you glorify God? You
glorify God with your testimonies. But you cannot have
a testimony without a test, neither can you have a
message without a mess.

This is why you first have to pass through the


VALLEY just to make it to the MOUNTAIN TOP! Because
when you get to the mountain top your kids are going to
ask you, "dad, how did you get here?" Your friends are
going to nag you, "ol boy, look at the way you're on
TOP, how did you make it there?"

Then you will be humbled by the goodness of God,


and your lips will begin to tell of how you narrowly
missed the arrows of the Egyptians and how God made a
way in the middle of the red sea, and then how you got
to the wilderness without any money or food, but God
made a way for you where there seemed to be no way."

You'll start to tell them that it is worth it to


wait on God; it is definitely worth it to keep trusting
Him. Your mouth will become the epistle of a brand new
novel, and your lips will become the chapters of a book
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just like psalm 45:1 says,

"my heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite


my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the
pen of a ready writer."

Everyone has their own path, your eyes just need to


be watching God and asking Him what path you need to
take. Your path WILL be different from mine, and mine
will be different from yours. But remember that you
need to pass a test before your testimony comes. It may
just seem like I'm in the valley...but it's only the
designated path to get to the mountain top.

It is not easy to go through the valley, but what


will keep you alive is your HOPE in God, "that He will
NEVER leave me nor forsake me." (Hebrews 13:5).

As you reflect on that more and more, your wings


will spread out just like an eagle's, and you will
gather the energy to fly to the highest of skies
without an iota of fear. Only then can your mess be
eventually transformed into a message, and your mind
will be totally blown into pieces because of how God
works miracles.

Psalm 126:1 "When the LORD brought back the captivity


of Zion,
We were like those who dream."
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The Clutch Purse, Hope


January 14, 2008
She ran down the uncountable stairs in high speed, with the
long tail of her white and pink flowing gown trailing behind her as
she ran with the wind. She was dressed to kill, wearing the most
expensive chiffon fabric, sewn to fit her shape perfectly and done by
the family tailor.
Her hair was packed in a simple alluring French bun with a
scarf the color of her gown, and her ear-rings and jewelry had
matching silver designs. Her make-up was light, sassy, and very
feminine, with the finishing touch of pink blush on her cheeks. She
was ready for the best event of the year and she was ready to grab
her award.
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But she stopped running when she got to the 54th step, as she
realized she had forgotten her most vital element: her clutch purse.
A lot of women can’t do without their hand-bags or
clutch purses; at least we need a constant supply of
lip-gloss when the lips get dry.

Funny enough, today my analogy is that of a clutch


purse representing "hope" in the life of child of God.
We can't do without hope. Hope is the vital clutch
purse that will complete the whole outfit. Hope is that
element that pushes us forward to reach our destinies.
With hope the anthem is "forward ever, backwards
never." Without hope there is really nothing to look
forward to.

"For there is hope for a tree,


If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.

Though its root may grow old in the earth,


And its stump may die in the ground,

Yet at the scent of water it will bud


And bring forth branches like a plant."

Job 14:7-9

Also...

Psalm 31:24: "Be of good courage, and He shall


strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."

Proverbs 23:15-18 "My son, if your heart is wise, my


heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself; Yes, my inmost
being will rejoice when your lips speak right things.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for
the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a
hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off."
P a g e | 25

And so I have come to a very important conclusion:


there is no life without hope. It is hope that will
push you and I forward. If God told you something about
yourself in the middle of the night, you've got to hold
to to it. Hold on as tight as you hold on to your
clutch purse, especially when it has a small handle.

See, God is not a man that He should lie. He can


never lie to you because He watches over every word He
speaks to make sure that those words are accomplished.
Everything that you are "sure" He has spoken He must
do, unless you are not sure. If you are not sure then
you need to ask Him again so that you can be sure. But
whatever He has spoken He must do.

Sometimes we forget those things that God has


spoken concerning us for so many reasons. It could be
that He spoke something to you a century ago, and gosh
it has been so long! But it's time to remind ourselves
of those exact words, because He will be faithful to
perform it.

I want to be soaked in oil all year round, but I also


never want to forget my clutch purse, hope, even as I
scurry around doing my daily activities and routines.
Don't forget your purse at home today...
P a g e | 26

Before the Silver Cord Gets


Loosed
January 25, 2008
The 'Silver Cord' is a metaphysical term relating
to the connection between the physical body and the
spirit man. It is also a metaphor for the human body
(wikipedia); the silver cord generally is used to refer
to the spine, and the golden bowl the head of the body.
Right there, toward the end of the book of
Ecclesiastes, in chapter 12, I came across this prose:

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,


Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
"I have no pleasure in them":
While the sun and the light,
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
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And the clouds do not return after the rain;

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,


And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim;
When the almond tree blossoms,
The grasshopper is a burden,
And desire fails...

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,


or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God Who gave it.

Many researchers have described a silver cord as an


elastic cord that when stretched continuously it
becomes thinner and thinner, until it cuts. Therefore,
they have used that phrase to denote the period during
dying where the physical man becomes disconnected from
the spirit man.
P a g e | 28

Oh, this may seem so profound, but it is a very


simple ideology: that God alone is Sovereign and He is
the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, and the
First and the Last. Even before time began He was.

He was the One who constructed the entire


foundations of our universe as we know it, yet we do
not know the boundaries of the universe. His wisdom can
never be paralleled or fathomed. Therefore, it was the
conclusion of the author of the book of Ecclesiastes,
as is also my conclusion today, that even in our YOUTH,
we must remember our Creator.

Thinking you have one life to live and so you must


do everything doable is only a vain thought, for life
is like a vapor slowly seeping to the top of an hour-
glass. Many have left this world in their youth, and
sadly some of them did not get a chance to do what they
were created to do. To achieve their goals. To touch
even one life.

But YOU have this chance. You're young, vibrant, and


beautiful. You're alive and way better than a dead
man. YOU of course had the chance to breathe the new
oxygen of this morning's dawn. YOU have been given the
chance to become born-again and embrace your Father's
loving arms. YOU have been given the chance to live
again, free from the sorrows and pains of yesterday.
P a g e | 29

YOU have been given the chance to have the JOY that
only God can give.

Embrace it today...before the silver cord gets


loosed...
P a g e | 30

Presenting Your Musical


Instruments
February 22, 2008
The Flamenco spanish-sounding guitar lay at the
bottom of the pile of musical instruments. She took it
out and proceeded to dust it up, removing cobwebs that
had accumulated as a result of lack of use for the long
period of a couple of years.
“Time waits for no man,” she thought, as she
scrubbed it back into shape. She used a soft sponge so
as not to cause a few scratches to the surface of her
guitar. She couldn't wait to check the tuning and get
each string close to the tuning peg. She couldn't wait
to get the index finger of her right hand to strike
each string and finally make music again.
Music brought life into her atmosphere. Music was a
phenomenal turn-around for a picturesque mind-frame.
But she needed a teacher again. She needed someone to
remind her...
So she took her guitar to the devil. He played a
few notes, and she was reminded of a lot of things in
her past. She stood up and began to dance, enjoying the
comforting soothing sounds of familiarity. She laughed
as she remembered the notes he played, she danced and
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laughed until she could do so no more. She practiced


for a couple of weeks until she got tired of the
lyrics. Then someone came into her life and introduced
her to a new teacher.
She took the same guitar and presented it to God.
"God, please teach me how to play some new
songs," she said. And God received her musical
instrument...and He taught her some new things.
He turned around the songs from the devil. She
danced again, like she had never danced before.
"I never knew I could experience anything better
than my past," she said. And she knew there was no
going back after this...
#

I used to think I was strong. I used to think I


could get away with tricks. I used to think I could go
a little way, but as far as I didn't go all the way
with sin I was good.
Little did I know that whoever I presented my
guitar to would teach me how to play it and get
comfortable, even to the extent of mastery. It's really
not about me (or you), and it's really not about your
instrument. It's about "who" you present your
instrument to.
And so I read this last night, and it was what
triggered this post ~ Romans 6:12-14, 16-19 "Therefore
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do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you


should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your
members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but
present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to
God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you
are not under the law but under grace...Do you not know
that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you
are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin
leading to death, or of obedience leading to
righteousness?

See, never get so caught up in your prowess...never get


caught up in your own strength. We are all "weak" when it
comes to our flesh, no man is excluded. If you present your
musical instrument (your body) to the devil, he will teach
you how to play the strings. But if you present your whole
body as a musical instrument to God, He will also teach you
how to make it a temple. You only dance to the tunes of your
teacher, and you play your strings from the lessons you have
learnt. Who will you present your strings to? Choose this
day...there are two teachers, but you only need one...
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Fragile, We Are
March 26, 2008

Emotion...
A human expression
That can't be resisted
Almost always is requested
By forces that can't be explained

Tears...
An expression of emotion
Can't be forbidden
Must be unladen
A part of our anatomy

Heart beat...
An expression of life
Can't be suppressed
Unless in death
A part of our being

How fragile we are! One day we're strong, the next


we're weak. One day we're whole, the next we're in
pieces. One day we're laughing, the next we're crying.
One day we're in the wilderness, the next we're in
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paradise. How fragile we are.

I have been looking for a way to express how I can


be transported from one emotion to another in a split
second, and also a way to write about this. I still
cannot fully describe the feeling I get during
transitions of emotions, but listening to Fragile by
Jason Castro reminded me of just how fragile I was
(original song is by Sting).

Life is indeed turbulent...one day you could be


somewhere and another day you could be in another man's
land. No one owns tomorrow, except the God that I
worship. He's the One that gives me stability in my
instabilities, the One that can command the winds to
stop moving in the middle of a storm, and the One that
can command the waves of the oceans to come only to a
certain point on land, and then recoil back to their
original position.

If you know this God, then you won't be transported


by the waves of life, but you will become the
transporter. You won't be carried by the breeze, but
you will be a breeze-carrier. Your emotions won't rule
you, but rather you will become the ruler of your
emotions. If I were to point at someone who I knew to
be really emotional, I would point at myself first...I
have the potential to cry and wallow in self-pity. But
somehow, I have seen myself become a warrior and a
fighter, and it seems like I'm insane. On-lookers who
call me a fighter don't even understand that it wasn't
really me fighting. If only they can see that it was
the Rider on the white horse, the One who was described
in the book of Revelation, who was there beside me,
while I fought my battles...they would understand.

I feel like David, who ran to the giant and said,


"who is this who defiles the army of the living God?"
Lol. He didn't run to him with a sword or armor, but
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the little stones and his little sling. He knew he


didn't have the power, but because all power belongs to
God He was safe.

He makes me smile just thinking about him...because I


think I'm getting to be more and more like him each
day.

Nobody said you weren't fragile. Fragile, we are. But


remember that it won't be your power that will fight
your battles. You're fragile, but God isn't fragile.
See what God told Joshua:

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days
of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with
you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong
and of good courage...Have I not commanded you? Be
strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever
you go..."Joshua 1:5-6/9
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The World is Waiting


April 03, 2008

The world is waiting for you


You, with your nappy hair
You, with your brown eyes
You, with only some college coursework
You, with no work experience
You, a child of God.

The world is watching you


You, with your average sense of fashion
You, the poetry writer
You, with the one-bedroom apartment
You, living in the ghetto
You, a child of God

The world is side-lining you


You, a line-backer
You, a football player
You, a soccer addict
You, an internet nerd
You, a child of God

The world is waiting for you


You, with your lyrical words
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You, with your whimsical twists


You, with your funny edge
You, a daddy's baby
You, a child of God

The world is looking at you


You, with your artsy self
You, with your creative jokes
You, with your imaginative eyes
You, with your fashionable make-up
You, a child of God

Today, I was just thinking that if all of us could


realize that the world was watching us, then we will
know who we were created to be. The world is not
sleeping, the world is awake. The world is not bored of
talents, in fact the world is anxious for new talents.

The world already understands the power of God,


maybe it is just waiting for the sons of God to show
it. The world already understands the intensity of the
beauty of creation, maybe it's just waiting for the
sons of God to rise up and speak about it. The world
can already see what's inside you, but can you see it
yourself?

You, yes YOU, were NOT created to be ordinary.


Whoever has been telling you this has been lying to
you. You stare and day-dream all day in front of your
television set, asking yourself if you can ever be like
"them." You are much more than you think, and your
Maker will agree with my words. There's a LIGHT inside
you that cannot be hidden, but is only good to be
P a g e | 38

placed on a mountain-top. The first step is of course


to know your Creator...the One Who placed you in your
mother's womb, and He'll teach you a few secrets about
yourself which you never knew before...

You need to find that light...because it's in


you...if indeed you're a child of God...you may be a
star still lurking in the shadows. Reveal yourself in
public...as a child of God.

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly


waits for the revealing of the sons of God...because
the creation itself also will be delivered from the
bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God." Romans 8:19 & 21
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The Everyday People: The Guy


from the Middle East
May 06, 2008
True Story
This writing is inspired by a guy I met yesterday,
from the Middle East. Somehow, the numerical
probability for Jaycee to experience a different
encounter with a brand new day is pretty high.

I cannot tell you if it is because I have an


adventurous streak, or if it is merely due to my
curiosity of life. It could be an encounter between my
stilettos and the leaves or the grass, or just
observing the dynamics of birds flying across the
sky...but more importantly, it could be an encounter
with an inspiring unexpected stranger. I met a stranger
yesterday who made me thirst for something more...

~~He was from the Middle East~~

A captivating confident man. He was grey-haired,


but his hair was partially covered with a base-ball
cap. He sat at the bus stop, while clinging to a big
black briefcase.

I walked into the bus stop zone and proceeded to


sit at the edge of three other people waiting for the
same bus. He was at the extreme end of the seat. A
boisterous woman walked towards us, and the grey-haired
man stood up and said, "please have a seat ma'am." She
smiled and gladly filled the space. He smiled back and
said, "I have an extra seat for myself," and then he
brought his briefcase beside me and sat on it.
P a g e | 40

At this point I was wondering why he was all so


excited. His day must be going well, I thought,
giggling to myself. Then he began speaking to me. There
must have been something on my forehead that screamed
"Please approach me, I'm very approachable."

He asked me where I was from. "Ethiopia?" (I get


that all the time). And I told him I was from around
there (didn't want to disclose any information, in case
there was anyone at the bus stop ready to shoot a Naija
babe).

"Is English your first language?"

I answered in the affirmative.

"Do you speak any other languages?"

I said I spoke a little French (taking pride in all


the French courses I was required to take at my
university).

That was how he was translated into ‘French-


speaking’ mode.

"Je parle Francais aussi!!! Blah blah blah"

I managed to blurt out a silly response.

"Je parle Francais non beaucoup." Lolll. Not too


much French, I was trying to say. I was beginning to
feel like Tobenna when he sat beside an old man on his
7-hr flight to Dubai.

He inspired me. I listened and I sat there in awe.


He was from a country between Turkey and Istanbul (he
told me the name, but I cannot pronounce it...neither
can I spell it). I have never heard of it in my entire
twenty-somn years. He told me that he spoke 9 languages
and taught people from 57 different countries around
the world. I told him that I would love to know many
P a g e | 41

languages some day. He said he started out by borrowing


a Spanish book from the library (250 pages) and by
memorizing every tiny detail. Then he would leave his
car at a parking lot, take the train to work and look
for some Spanish people to practice with. By this time,
I was swooning in mere admiration for his zeal.

He told me about his trips to China. He told me


that he took frequent trips in his quest to learn
Chinese. Then he spoke some Chinese to me (Ching chwan
hooo) and I giggled.

Then he decided to reveal his true passion and I


became lost for words. He said, "I did all these things
so that I can spread the love of the Lord Jesus
Christ." I was flabbergasted. He ignited a new passion
within me and I smiled in delight at his words. He made
me want to spread more of God's love abroad.

I asked him what career he chose when he was


younger, before he started travelling around. He
replied and said, "Well, I was in a university at
England, studying for medicine. I was 25 years old at
the time. One day, I heard God's voice saying "I want
you." I told God that of course He could have me any
time. I would just finish medical school, become a
medical doctor, and spend most of my money for
missions...helping the poor, far and wide. Then I heard
God saying clearly again, "No, it is YOU I want."

That was how he left everything he had plans for


and started learning languages to spread God's word.
Along the way he got married and had kids, but I love
the statement he made at the end..."my kids are all
grown up now, they don't need my money. I plan on
selling my home and building an orphanage in China."

This is the story of an average man at the bus


stop. I'm sharing this to say that I see God in many
P a g e | 42

different ways. He's the Master planner. Sometimes I


wonder why I have to use the bus, but there is time for
everything. Like Esther, who knows whether I was placed
in the kingdom for such a time as this? This man showed
me that you can change lives in simple ways. You can
meet someone on the train looking depressed, but after
speaking with them their joy will be restored. God
showed me His love for abandoning 99 sheep just to
search for that one lost person.

Are you that lost person? God is calling you out today.
You don't have to remain where you are. You do not have
to wallow in endless pity. You cannot find any genuine
love from human beings, unless inspired by God. God
LOVES you!!! He loves you so much that it hurts
Him when you're hurting. His arms are outstretched to
that one person that needs Him. My thirst has been
renewed, and my soul pants for more. More of His love...
P a g e | 43

Left Overs in the Wind


June 02, 2008
The wind blew them away. Tiny crumbs of bread, each
one less than the size of a grain of sand. They were
once a whole loaf. They were at a banquet, served by
waiters to princes and princesses. But somehow they got
disenfranchised, deprived of their citizenship to the
whole loaf of bread. They fell to the ground, yet the
people were unaware. They lay there in silent darkness.
No one bothered about them.

No one looked under the table in sheer curiosity.


They just lay there in silence until the banquet was
over. Oh, how they never anticipated the next woeful
treatment. For the first time in their 'bread-life'
they felt the touch of a broom. They felt pricks
sharper than needles enveloping them into a cloud of
dust. They were gathered together into twelve baskets
and thrown right in the middle of the town square. Then
the wind came...and they were dispersed...

"There was famine in the land...then a man came from


Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the
first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly
ripened grain in his knapsack. And Elisha said, "Give
it to the people, that they may eat." But his servant
said, "What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?"
He said again, "Give it to the people, that they may
eat; for thus says the Lord: 'They shall eat and have
some left over.' So he set it before them; and they ate
and had some left over, according to the word of the
Lord." 2 kings 4: 38, 42-44
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God never gives in exact amounts...in addition to


material things He says, "My grace is sufficient for
you." There will always be something extra. The
psalmist says "my cup runneth over." God gives joy,
laughter, and satisfaction in abundance. Some of the
water overflows and some of the crumbs fall to the
ground as left-overs.
But we tend to forget all about our left-overs.
When Jesus fed 5,000 people, his disciples picked up
twelve baskets of leftovers. Every time God performs a
miracle, there are always some left-overs to take home.

Our left-overs are the fragments of laughter that remain after a testimony.They
are pieces of joy from past experiences. Healed sores from a ghastly accident,
broken pieces of clay glued together again, and colorful pieces of our memories.
We hardly ever look back to see what God has done for us. We are always
concerned with the here and now. But there's joy in picking up our left-overs...

Two days ago I had beads of sweat coming down my


face. What I had been expecting in my mail had not yet
come and the deadline had arrived. How was I going to
solve this situation? I looked to the West, East, and
South...but there was no solution. I made phone calls
to several people, but there was no solution. It was
just impossible to start my internship because the
authorization I needed to start hadn't yet arrived.
There was no solution. Yet, the deadline was here. The
time was now, but my feet were planted and I could not
move. How could I miss this opportunity?

After a while, I shrugged my shoulders. I began to


remember my fragments of joy. Past testimonies where
God showed up. My God came and was not silent! He's
P a g e | 45

performed miracles for me before, so hey if He felt now


was the right time to intervene, I bet myself that He
would. Those fragments of joy from my past were my
left-overs. I may not have my testimony now, but I have
my memory. If He could do it for me then, He can
definitely do it again. Lol. There is no gate that will
not open when the King of Glory is coming in. As soon
as they anticipate His arrival they will remove their
locks and split open.

See, no one would look under the table for your own
left-overs. You have to remember them yourself. You are
the only one that can stretch out your hands and find
those crumbs. You can tantalize your memory to see your
past testimonies. It is not the end of the matter. If
God has done something for you before, what makes you
think He cannot do it again? He will come just at the
right time...not one second early or one second late.
But just in time. Soon enough, our stories will be told
to the Nations. Stories that illustrate how the left-
overs became whole loaves of bread.

Don't forget your left-overs. They will give you JOY


while you're patiently waiting for the next answer
to come. If He has done anything for you before, He can
do this one too. Just hold on. Even if you can't feel
the ropes.
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Ceteris Paribus
August 06, 2008
Ceteris Paribus: "All things being equal"

What does this Latin phrase mean? Today, out of the


randomness of my being, this phrase erupted. Like a
volcano that cannot be extinguished, my mind went into
a sequence or consecution of thoughts. Really, the
phrase 'Ceteris Paribus' evolved in the domain of
Science, the reason being that Scientists have had to
focus on only one variable in their experiments, while
leaving all other independent variables constant.

Have you ever considered what your independent


variables are in this life? What is the most important
variable to you? Really, what can you take out from all
the other factors in your life? Which one factor is the
most important, leaving you the choice of making the
rest constant? Is it family? Is it fashion? Is it
friendships? Is it relationships? Is it marriage? Is it
time? Is it the weather? Is it promises? Is it food? Is
it any one of your hobbies? Surely, it must be
something in your heart that you feel you can never let
go of...

To me, it is God! There is no other variable more


important than my Father. Ceteris paribus, all other
things being equal.

To search far and wide, for the thing that matters


most to you, is very important. There must be one thing
that you can chase with the whole of your power and
might, and catch it you must, even if it takes your
last breath. If at this point in time you don't know
what that thing is, take this moment to grasp the
concept.
P a g e | 47

If you don't know why you're living, or what you're


living for, then why are you here? Why are you here, in
this moment, in this hour, and in this second? Why are
you sitting down on your colorful couch reading this
blog, or listening to those lyrics? Why do you nod your
head back and forth like a rocking chair? Why do you
smile, laugh, or cry sometimes?

Why? Why, oh why?

Today...Let there be one important factor, and let


"Ceteris Paribus" apply to the rest. If God is the most
important factor, everything else will fall into place.
Try this and see...
P a g e | 48

Really, Sincerely, Truly


Forgotten?
August 12, 2008
There she was. Hidden in the darkness of the
wardrobe. Drowned in a silence that was felt inside the
four walls, as opposed to the boisterous hullabaloo of
the outside precinct. She peeked through the two hinge
holes and admired what she saw. She looked back at
herself and felt disdain for what she saw. She saw in
herself someone with less potential than the rest. The
girls outside the wardrobe were dressed just like she
was, the only difference being that they were outside,
and she was inside.

They wore beautiful short multi-layered tulle over-


skirts, with top layers gathered into sweet scallops
with satin roses. Sequins decorated the bodice sections
and ribbons the waists. During the first few weeks of
practice, her teacher complimented and pushed her more.
She was a flexible cat, and she was a beauty to look
at. As the weeks dwindled slowly towards the final
dance, her teacher stopped looking at her and focused
on the rest of the class. She didn't understand...

But today was the final dance, and she was inside
the wardrobe...willingly.

At this point she thought of what to do. Should she


wait until the others remembered her? Should she wait
until she heard the dance teacher's soft voice
asking, "where is Titi?" Should she sneak out, pull her
friends aside and ask the dreaded question, "why hadn't
anyone noticed her absence for the past one hour?"
P a g e | 49

She’d thought she was the best on the team. How


come they were dancing without her? Her insecurities
came flooding back...as sharp as the first time they
came. One by one the guests came in, grinning with
anticipation of the final dance. Surely, someone must
find her...before it was too late. Unless she was
forgotten...

Finally she heard Mrs. Twitter ask, "where is


Titi?" and she breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped
out of the wardrobe into the lime light.

Of course, our little dancer wasted so much time on


irrelevant thoughts. The reason the dance teacher
focused on other people was because Titi was the best,
and she had already perfected her skills. All she
needed was a little more repetition.

Instead of shying away in a dark wardrobe wallowing


in self pity, she should have been helping the others.
She should have been a mini-assistant and an
encourager. She should have shared her knowledge and
put her talent to good use. She should have lifted the
spirits of those who were crying, filled with shameful
thoughts that they couldn't make it. Instead, she
worried more about whether she was forgotten. When she
was never really forgotten.

God can never forget you. Yes, He still remembers


every thing He promised you. He even remembered those
nights you knelt down to pray, soaked in your own tears
and sweat. He's only waiting for an APPOINTED TIME. The
perfect time to display you, like brand new model homes
are displayed.
P a g e | 50

So while you wait, why don't you put yourself to


good use? Explore your talents. Be a teacher, be an
encourager, and be an uplifter. You have been
given ideas...why don't you use them today? You
have definitely NOT been forgotten by God. Oh
yes, He remembers you...See, He has engraved you
on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16)
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The Flames
September 27, 2008

It was hot. Really hot. Things were burning to her


left and to her right. Everything was going up in
flames, consuming anything that dared to be in the way.
Fadeke held tight to what was in her hand, and then she
closed her eyes.
She was under a wet blanket, silently praying that
she would not be devoured. She heard a loud bang.
Something was falling right next to her, in bits and
pieces...it sounded like the silver ceiling fan.
"Oh, Lord. Please send help."
The computer crashed, her CDs, the big screen TV,
the couches in the living room, the dining table
furniture...they were all going up in flames. She held
tight to the precious thing in her hand. She will
protect it. At least until someone rescued her. It was
either that, or she would die protecting it. It was the
scroll that contained the poem her mother wrote for
her, before she passed away last year...the flames were
not going to get this one.

Many times, I have had the crazy feeling of flames


consuming me, and everything I have. I have felt like
Solomon felt when he said, "Vanity upon vanity, all is
vanity."
There have been some things I have worked for, only
to see them falling down to pieces. Or only to find
myself going back to square one again, starting right
back from the very beginning. Just like an endless
cycle. It is like the work of a ferocious fire,
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consuming everything that dares to come into its path.


But there is hope...

The fire in this context represents something that


consumes your possessions (as in your spirituality,
character, strength, hard earned work, academics,
career life, family, friends, relationships, and so
on). The fire may come to you, but it will not devour
your soul and your spirit.
Like Fadeke held tight to her precious poem, God is
holding tight to you. But why should there even be
fire? It is because without fire you cannot be
established as fine gold. Gold first has to be purified
by passing it through the fire. The fire causes a
washing out of senseless impurities that should not
have been there in the first place.
Guess what I'm trying to say? There will be an end
to the fire. There will be the end of the purification
process. Though it seems as though the fire prevails,
it does not understand the power of the extinguisher.
Your training process does not take the whole of your
life. The fire only burns for a while.

So let the fire take its course. Let it be ferocious


for all it wants. Those things that need to be
preserved, I tell you, they WILL be preserved. YOU will
be preserved. You just focus on God, and learn what you
need to learn from the flames burning around you.
P a g e | 53

The Daunting Question


October 22, 2008
Yesterday, someone at the bus stop asked me if
I still believed in miracles. I said "yes."
P a g e | 54

The Good Side of Darkness


November 11, 2008
It was pitch black. Nothing could be seen on the
horizon, except the horrors of blackness. Every living
thing was still, either sleeping or dead. But the
warrior was alive. It was the perfect time to move
through the forest, in the still of the dark night.

Only the bold and the strong dared to move at this


time. He proceeded forward, pushing away invaders such
as the shrubs and annoying prickly thistles that kept
brushing his strong face and arms. He would not be
moved by emotions, weakness, thirst, or exhaustion. He
was only a man, he knew! But tonight, he would be a
god...an unconquerable one.

He was the leader of the warriors. His team was


only some feet behind him, but they did not come too
close. His mission was to surround their enemies' camp,
while they were yet sleeping. His nostrils picked up
the fumes from a burning camp fire. They were close
enough. His rapid breathing increased, as though he had
run ten thousand miles. He stopped and turned back to
the others, demarcating with hands that some should go
through the left path and the others the right. Soon
enough, they had surrounded the enemies' camp. Their
arrows were strategically in place. As soon as the
first streams of daylight began to show, they would
begin to shoot...

Darkness has indeed been underestimated. Yes, we all


don't want to be in a dark place, but listen up...there
is a good side to darkness. How do I know? I know
because I read it! Lol. I read it in Psalm 18:11-29.
P a g e | 55

He made darkness His secret place;


His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies
He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
lightnings in abundance,
and He vanquished them...
You will light my lamp;
the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness...

After reading this Psalm I began to understand some


secrets about being in a dark place. A dark place is
where your enemy thinks you are asleep. It's like the
dark room of a photographer, it looks dead but it's
not! A dark room is where the processing of photographs
actually gets done.

It is from a dark place that God can shoot all the


arrows towards the enemy's camp. He has made darkness
His secret place. If He operated in broad daylight, the
enemy would see Him approaching and take cover. So next
time you get that irky disgusting and crazy foreboding
that you're in a dark place in your life (again), don't
get sad, get glad!

Something is happening in the atmosphere that you


probably don't understand. In your dark place, the
carpenter is at work within you and you become a work
in progress...a colorful photograph that is being
processed.

Your darkness is what will blind the eyes of those


waiting to see your downfall. So like the mighty
warrior passing through a dark forest, be bold and yet
proceed...
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The Nobody
November 20, 2008
In the silence of the night, a shrieking sound
arose. It was Ella's cell phone, an annoying ring tone.
"Yes, it's Ella," she answered softly. "Hello Ella, I'm
so sorry. Did I wake you up?" the woman on the phone
asked.

"No," Ella responded, although slightly annoyed.

"It is Jadesola. The day after tomorrow is the


ball. I just wanted to be sure you got my measurements
right. Thanks for sending me the pictures of what you
have done so far. I appreciate it."

"Yes, I did get your measurements right madam


Jadesola," Ella retorted. "Of course with a little room
for a finger to slide through your waist. 29" for your
waist, 35" for your bust, and 38" for your hips."

"Thank you Ella. Please have a blessed night."

Ella was not asleep when she got that phone


call. She was more than awake. She had balls of cloth
strewn all around her sewing table, cloths of different
colors, shapes, and sizes...as though she was making
many clown costumes. She smiled. It was what she loved
to do best, creativity and innovation. So she kept on.
She worked all through the night, she must have yawned
about a hundred times. But she kept on...

The night of the ball came by too fast. Ella sat at


a table close to the windows of the ballroom; she came
so that she could look at the work of her hands, not
necessarily to participate in the dancing. She even had
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no handsome date. So she looked. And she looked. She


sewed the dresses of 90% of the women in that room.

The event was an annual traditional event, and


rather than buy their dresses, the women of this small
city preferred to sew theirs instead. They danced and
they danced, all night long. Laughing and bickering, on
the arms of their knights in shining armor. Till they
had their fill and it was time to go.

Ever had a moment where you felt like a nobody? Well,


I have good news for you. In God's dictionary, there's
no such thing as a "nobody." You were created to be
somebody in this world, and that's exactly who you are.

God looked at you when you were forming as a fetus in


your mother's womb and He concluded that you looked
good. He knew you then, and He knows you now (Psalm
139). Guess what? Before you were formed He already
made great plans for you...even before the foundations
of the earth were formed (Ephesians 1:4).

Therefore, in a web of complex details, every intricate


thread matters. You, as an individual, are that
intricate thread. Your function is extremely important
to the significance of the entire web. In fact, that's
the reason why you are so different from everyone else,
if you have ever asked yourself that question. It's the
reason why when others think they should go through
paths A and B, you think path C will be the best option
for you.

If you are the one behind the sewing wheel, and nobody
seems to take note of you, God has already taken note
of you before the foundations of the world were formed.
Without your existence, the night of ballroom dancing
will not dare take place. And one day, the
manifestation of your works will praise you. In
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everything you do, do it excellently well. Because you


are not a nobody, you are somebody!

And God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it


was very good (Genesis 1:31). There is nothing that our
Architect designed that is not good. You, and every one
of your flaws. You, and every one of your thoughts. You
were designed to be somebody "good." You are not a
nobody.
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The Last Man Running


December 29, 2008
His chest was rising and falling, just like violent tides on

a hot beach in mid-summer. He could not help it. He was a

trained runner. The sweat was pouring, but he could not feel

it running down his skin. The only sensation he could feel was

that of his leg muscles. They were the most active muscles

right now.

He ran down the curve of the tracks. The others were

ahead of him now...oh, such a disappointment! Why did he

have to sprain his ankle almost at the end of the race? He had

trained for this one race the entire year...minute after minute,

day after day...night after night. He had climbed ropes, swam

in rivers, and waded in mud...just for this very moment in

history.

But he kept running. He was the last runner. But he did not

dare stop.

He suddenly felt a chaotic noise. But he kept running. The

noise was from the heavy applause of his witnesses, cheering

him on like he had no tomorrow. Bidding his lungs to keep


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breathing. Telling him to reach the finish line. So he kept

moving, unmoved by his own emotions. He kept swimming, in

a sea of his own breathlessness. He kept climbing the ropes of

his own hopelessness. He kept wading, in the mud of his own

thoughts. But he kept running...he didn't stop.

He was the last man running...

As 2008 draws to an end, the clock cannot stop


ticking. A new dawn surely must come, a new light. 2009
surely must knock on our doors. There's no holding back
tomorrow. So also, many of you are still running.

You've just got three more days, and that's it! But
I want to talk to the last man running. You, who are
still training your athletic muscles, You, who are
still waiting for that last wish to come true. You,
whose vision has not yet been materialized. Yes,
you...the last man running. Yes, you...everyone has
gone ahead of you. Some have even begun 2009, but you
are here...in this very moment...captured in the last
few days of 2008.

Oh, I want to tell you not to stop running. A true


runner never stops. It does not matter whether the
first man has crossed the ropes, he has to keep going.
He still has to reach the finish line. So I want to
tell you today that in three days, you will reach the
final destination. Please, don't stop now...oh no,
please don't. You've got three more days to run. Keep
running, don't stop. Keep praying, don't stop. Keep
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exercising your spiritual muscles in these last few


days of 2008. Withstand the enemy in your body, in your
mind. It cannot be over yet, until it is over. Don't
claim defeat when that was not the original plan. You,
yes you...are a winner. By all means, if you don't stop
running, then you are a winner. God is filled with
crazy surprises.

"But many who are first will be last, and the last
first." Matthew 19:30
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The Dirty Label


February 03, 2009
It was in exactly the same way the people of the
city woke up that morning...in high and cheerful
spirits, ready to begin the day, that the T-shirt at
the apparels store also woke up.

The sun woke up and said hello, and the T-shirt


replied in the same excitable fashion. In fact, it got
more excited when the big double doors were pushed open
and the people came in like a swarm of bees. And so, it
stretched and became poised to show off its designer's
label. It was a classic design, skillfully woven
together by the best of the best. It was confident that
someone rich and famous, or just anyone with a sense of
style and an extreme taste for quality would stop,
stare at it, and then wisely add it to his or her
shopping cart. It only made sense.

So, the people came and yes, they did touch it. In
fact, they touched it a little bit too much. Someone
smiled at it, another made a gesture towards it, and
oh, can you imagine? Someone even smelled its fabric.

But the funny thing was that no one actually put it


in their shopping cart. No one! Rather, as a woman
fondled and selected its neighbor, it was cast down and
trampled upon by her dirty heels.

So it was that in the same morning it


was transformed from a very clean label to a dirty one.
Oh, did I tell you that more people came by? But no one
picked it up. They kept stepping on it. They kept
ignoring it.

The end of the day came and the moon came to say
hello too. This time the shirt did not respond. It felt
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neglected, as though its high expectations had been


severely dashed. But just then, the owner of the store
came to put things in order. And so, his eyes caught
this T-shirt looking dejected on the floor. So he
picked it up. He dusted it and took it to a secret
place for washing and renewing.

"Tomorrow, you will look even more amazing," he


whispered to it, even as he transformed the shirt to
the glory it deserved.

Today, I woke up at about 6.30am in the morning


while the sun wasn't even up. Didn't get a chance to
say 'hello' to the sun. Lol. But at least God said
hello.

He asked me if I knew what getting dirty meant?


Yes, getting dirty as in being trampled upon and maybe
being splashed with some elements of very dirty musty
mud.

This year, some will get really dirty for God. It


is such a great dream to be unique, to be peculiar, and
to count for something MORE. But it's a process. You
have to be willing to let go of everything and
everyone. You have to be willing to lose something to
gain something more precious. You have to be willing to
get dirty. Trampled upon.

There are a lot of paradoxes with our Creator. Some


may think that the way up is to climb a flight of
stairs, but in God's dictionary the way up is actually
down. And after you've gone down to do the dirty work,
the end thereof will be blessings and rewards, a better
glory than your past.

Are you willing to be a label? Even more than that,


are you willing to risk being called the "dirty label?"
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"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my
sake will find it," Jesus in Matthew 10:39
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We Played the Flute for You, and


You Did Not Dance
April 10, 2009
You have lived one more year. One more year of not
dying. One more year of not turning into a vegetable.
One more year of liveliness. It is your birthday.

You hear the sound of jingles, and then you see


her- the beautiful Egyptian dancer. She is dancing to
the sound of a golden reedless wind instrument, a basic
flute.

The flautist is blowing with all his might,


exciting the air in the cylindrical cavity of the
flute. The woman keeps dancing. As she twists her
curvaceous body, her eyes are directly focused on you,
secretly pulling you to the dance floor. Yet you do not
dare yourself to move, although you are really enjoying
watching her dance.

She looks at the young man beside you, and again


her eyes beckon to him, calling him to come forth. He
stands up and begins to dance. You throw your head
backwards and laugh at the unbelievable dance steps
your friend is construing. But you don't show him how
to do the steps right. You just sit back on your high
pedestal and laugh.

The sound of the jingles on her waist heightens,


beckoning to all who are interested. Your guests are
rising one by one. Some are good dancers; others are
not- only making mockery of themselves. You do not join
them. You do not show your talent in dancing; neither
do you make a mockery of yourself. You do not dance.

#
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Have you ever been in a place where your heart


tells you what to do, but you disobey it? A place where
your conscience speaks but you choose not to listen? If
you have, then a flute has been played for you, but you
chose not to dance.

How can you see the vast resources of nature and


not understand the wisdom of this world? How can you
believe it all happened by accident? The trees, the
mountains, the meandering rivers flowing down a hill?
The flautist is playing His flute for you, but you are
not dancing.

How can you think that you can't be forgiven? You


forget the blood that gushed out of the body of Jesus
when they pierced His side. You forget that He prayed
that the cup should pass him by, but still received a
cup of death. You forget these things and you go about
your daily lives, acting as if you did not hear the
sound of the flute. The flute is playing for you, but
you are not dancing.

How do you see the forces of evil, but not the


goodness of God? If the world is unjust, then there
must be a good judge somewhere. If there are
principalities and powers, there must be a greater
power than these. That's why you still have the chance
to overcome those things you think are plaguing you.
You are alive because you need to be a victorious
warrior. The flute is playing for you, but you are not
dancing.

*This post was done to provoke you to think about


your life, and the various ways you are not dancing to
the flute of God.*
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But what shall I liken this generation? It is like children


sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions,
and saying, "We played the flute for you, and you did not
dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament." Jesus,
Matthew 11:16
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Say You’re One of Us


February 15, 2010
The day was set: February 15th, 1994. Three young
men and one woman enlisted for an almost impossible
adventure ahead of them. They quit their jobs and said
"Au Revoir" to family and friends. The names of the
three young men were Cyril Taylor, Bartholomew (Bart
for short) Ferguson, and Adeyemi Sonaike. The young
woman's name was Betty MacLeod. They vowed not to
destroy their bond. Their task: to travel around the
world in seventy days by land and water. Their starting
point was the city of Florence.

Maps, books, torch lights, first-aid kits, soap,


shampoo, geisha, loaves of bread, jam, blankets, corned
beef, disposable spoons and plates, extra pairs of
socks, swim suits, towels, a water cooler, sun glasses,
batteries, a video camera to document their travel, and
an alarm clock that automatically changes time
depending on what country you're in. All these they
took for the road.

They traveled by Greek Cruises, stopping at Crete


and the Aegean Sea, and then they sailed to Holland and
Belgium. They crossed Central America, and headed south
towards Buenos Aires.

On the eleventh day Bart broke the news. He


couldn't continue this trip any longer, it was too
difficult. But Cyril, Yemi, and Betty continued.

On reaching South Africa, they rented a car and


drove north through Africa. They stopped at Cairo.
They couldn't stop now. They had come as far as forty-
one days. They kept going. From Cairo to Nuweiba, from
the Red Sea to the Jordan. Then east through Eastern
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Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Finally,


they were on their way back to where they started.
They got back to Florence, on the seventieth day.

A team of only three. Out of four.

The Observation:
Say you're one of us, but choose not to finish the
task. You can say it, but you don't have to do it. This
is the portrayal of many who claim they are Christians
today. Not everyone who gives himself such a title is
necessarily who he says he is. Many get offended when
people do or say things in the name of Christianity.
But why people get offended still amazes me. Not
everyone who says "I am who I am" is really who they
claim to be. The church is not as simple as the
erection of four walls.

Say You're One of Us:


They say they have love, but they commit murder
with their lips. They say they don't go clubbing, but
they jump from one man's bed to another in secret. They
say they are free, but they imprison others by
unforgiveness. They say, "God must come first," but
their thoughts are always elsewhere. They point fingers
and judge others instead of showing them the way. "He
who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as
He walked," 1 John 2: 6.

The Truth:
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is really
one. The world is full of buildings called churches,
but not all form "the church." The true church is the
one working on its imperfections and working towards
perfection, while drawing others closer to the truth.
The true church is not judgmental, but loving. The true
church does not hide the truth, but spreads it. Saying
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you're one of us implies that you need to walk the


talk. Me blogging about this does not mean I'm one of
them, but if I do what I say in secret (when no one is
watching me), then yes, I'm one of them.

Are you one of them? Or do you just claim to be one of


them? Say your thoughts in the comments section below.
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One in the Midst of Six Billion,


Seven Hundred and Six Million,
Nine-Hundred and Ninety-Three
Thousand, and One Hundred and
Fifty Two Faces
March 03, 2010
That's the population of the world today.

One day, the world will stand still.

It will be just you standing in a pile of your own


ideas. One in six billion faces. There will be no story
to tell, no fairy tale. There will be no epic; neither
will there be any poetry. There will be no major hero,
for at some point we will all become heroes.

There will be no Science fiction; neither will


there be a fantasy flick. No action movie or an
adventure series. No animation either, because it will
be as real as it gets. No drama, musical, thriller, or
even romance. It will be just you, as one face in the
midst of 6 billion faces.

One day, you will choose your own path. You will
choose your own destiny.

Being different is often a taboo. We often want to


roll with the crowds and be seen amongst the best, and
it isn't such a bad thing either...sometimes anyway.
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But your existence is only an individual experience and


not 6 billion individuals' experiences wrapped in one.

This year, you are going to make a lot of choices,


really hard ones. Not because a prophet told me so or a
pastor said it, no. A lot of us will have to make very
difficult choices, and we will have to do it either
God's way or the world's way. As it is, the world
consists of six billion, seven hundred and six million,
nine hundred and ninety-three thousand, and one hundred
and fifty two people.

The world seems to have the majority vote on your


life. The world and its lovely fashion sense,
intercontinental exotic foods, and multicultural
exposures; the world and its seven wonders, kings,
Queens, and Presidents...the world and its chosen way
of life.

Don't be lost in a sea of six billion faces. If you were


given the opportunity to make a choice, would you be
unique or would you go with the crowd? If you were
given 6 billion dollars, would you share it with 6 billion
people, or would you find your niche? Tell me. Let's hear
it.
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A Rather Subtle Way to Take Over


the Earth
April 05, 2010
As a child, I wanted to be two things when I grew
up, depending on my mood I wanted to be an astronaut
one day and a horse-trainer the next.

I was only seven years old and on vacation with the


family at my grandfather's ranch in Poland when he
called me to his side and taught me the tricks I needed
to learn to be able to train Lucy, his beautiful Anglo-
Arab horse.

He said, "Temisan darling, the first thing you need


to know is that a horse has its own pride too." I
smiled and looked up into his eyes. "It has the
strength of a lion, but it has no mane."

"So how do I get Lucy to love me?" I wanted to ride


her the next morning so badly.

"You have to get her to trust you first."

"And just how am I supposed to do that?"

"You will move her out of her own space. And then
you will match any quick moves she tries to make with
your own moves, making the strikes before she does. You
will continue to do so until she relaxes. If she drops
her head down, or lowers her tail, or takes a deep
breath, then you will know that she has accepted her
fate and that you are now her mistress. She will submit
to you."

I was the first one to get up in the morning. I did


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what grandpa said. Lucy made several quick moves, but I


was quicker than she was. In the end she quietly
submitted to me.

"Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the


earth." (Matthew 5:5)

If you're like me I reckon you must have considered


meekness to mean not reacting when someone puts you
down. The Matthew 5 translation of "meek" is not so.

How do I know? Well, I found a couple of sources


that told me about the Greek to English translation of
the word "meek" in Matthew 5. The original Greek word
is "Praus" and it means "Gentle Strength."
(wikiAnswers). It also means "humble" (strongsnumbers).

Gentle Strength:

How can strength be gentle? What do the Greeks mean


by that? The ancient Greeks were very particular about
horses. They said that a "meek" horse is one which
responds well to control and slowly becomes one with
its rider ("strength under control").

A "meek" horse is not timid. It is useless to ride


a timid horse that hides in its own shadows. Instead a
"meek" horse is a willing, considerate team-player
(source).

This is what I call "gentle strength." It is not


that Lucy was not strong enough to resist, but after a
while she knew who the master was and she 'decided' in
the fullness of her strength to submit.

Gently Taking Over the Earth:


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In the fullness of our strength, we can choose to


submit. Submission is not stupidity, it is wisdom. In
the quietness of humility we can learn the best
secrets. In learning secrets we can obtain the
key...the key that leads to the doors of leadership,
substance, and wisdom. A quiet submissive apprentice
learns more from his master than a noise-making one who
constantly chatters about proving his worth. That's the
skill of a "meek" horse. If it is submissive and humble
it will learn its rider's secrets- the way the rider
bends or the way he stays afloat...and it will
undeniably be the best horse out there in the race.

This is how the meek will inherit the earth, by


being submissive and humble to God first, to those in
places of authority, to our peers, and even to those
who we think know less than we do.

I think this is a rather subtle way to take over the


whole earth.

But it is the best way.


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My Church is Better than Yours


April 25, 2010
Let your imaginations run wild for a second & feel
free to imagine that I made this unsolicited statement
with a gigantic smirk on my face while still retaining
the graceful halo sitting on top of my head :)

But alas, my views are entirely different from the


title of this post.

While I still have this smirk on my face, let me


share 5 of my unoriginal thoughts on the issue:

1. A Mistaken Identity:

There is this crazy mistaken identity of the


meaning of the word "church." The Greek meaning of
church only denotes an “assembly of people.” Not
denominations. Not buildings. Not labels. It is
derived from the Greek word “Ekklesia” which means
“Called Out.” In other words, it only suggests a
group of people who have been called out of the
general masses to be different. And if this is the
suggestion, then many of us are responsible for
destroying the original meaning of “church.” Many
theologians will tell you that the people who
translated the Greek word “Ekklesia” to “church”
were wrong, because a church is a building or a
place where people go to worship. Rather, it should
have been translated as “Assembly” to mean “a group
of people.” In all honesty, whenever the word
“church” is mentioned we must be ready to think
about it as the “entire body of Christ.” If we take
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away the true meaning of the word “church,” then we


take away the true meaning of the body of Christ.

2. Let's ReFocus, 'As we were saying':

That being said, I also understand that this topic


is really about different places of worship and
whether one is better than the other. So instead of
focusing on the original meaning of “church,” I
will talk about the main issue at hand. Is Redeemed
church better than Catholic Church? Are Anglicans
better than Baptists? Is Deeper Life better than
Cherubim & Seraphim? Are Seventh Day Adventists
better than Mormons? Which ones are cults, and
which ones are not even churches at all?<<<-----
(valid question)

3. Answer the Question Na:

Is my church better than yours? The answer is “No,


no, no.” There is no better place of worship. It's
just like saying, “I am better than you,” which is
definitely not true. We all have our areas of
weaknesses, so would it be fair to say someone is
better than another because he is stronger in a
certain area more than the other? No. So also, no
place of worship is better than the other because
they all consist of imperfect weak people, like
myself, seeking God so that He will perfect them.
The true sons of God will worship Him in spirit and
in truth, and if Jesus Himself said this exact
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thing when He was on earth, who are we to say


what's the best place to worship?

4. Exposing False Churches:

And even though I've said these things, still, I


will say one more important thing: the bible also
says that we should bring the dark things to light.
In Ephesians 5: 11 it says, “And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
expose them.” First of all, if any church is not
principled according to the bible (pretty much if
they're following a book inspired by a human being
as opposed to following the Bible (inspired by
God)) then that's not a church. Now, if a certain
assembly is following the bible, they may be
misinterpreting it, and someone has to tell them.
Thinking about it, how will a place of worship know
that they are doing something that is not according
to God's word if someone does not tell them? How
can we be blessed if we don't know that we are
blessed? In the same way every unfruitful work is
to be exposed. This is the only thing we need to do
to propagate the truth even within people who say
they are Christians. We need to bring the truth out
so that they can see it, and so that they can
change and refocus their ministries in the right
path. Still, that same scripture continues to say
that “we should walk circumspectly, not as fools,
but as the wise,” meaning that there is a better
way to go about this than to say something as
foolish as “my church is better than yours” or “my
pastor is better than yours.” A good example of
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this is how Paul talked to the Corinthians, telling


them their gifts and at the same time telling them
that what they were doing was wrong (1 Corinthians
1:4-13).

5. I am Not of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas:

I will leave you with 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13, “Now


I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been
declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by
those of Chloe’shousehold, that there are
contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of
you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or
“I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ
divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of Paul?”
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The Picturesque Audience of a


Single Voice
May 17, 2010
I said, "Holy Spirit, I can't hear Your Voice."

He said, "Child, I am speaking. But there are many


other voices. Which one will you choose?

Then I asked myself, "Which one will I choose? And how


do I choose?"

As I spoke to myself in the silence of my room I


remembered how Jesus would take off to a deserted place
to pray. Sometimes He did this very early in the
morning and at other times He went up into the mountain
and stayed by Himself all night. Sometimes he entered
into a boat and steered it into the middle of the quiet
blue-green waters of the beautiful Sea of Galilee (like
when He heard of his cousin's death).

At other times He would gently send everyone away


and go up into the mountain by Himself to pray (like
after He fed five thousand people with five bread and
two fish). I don't know exactly where He went...maybe
up the slopes of the Golan Heights toward the east of
the Sea of Galilee, or maybe Mount Arbel on the west. I
looked at the map around the Sea of Galilee, but I
couldn't tell. Yet, the important thing is that Jesus
chose a picturesque audience of a single voice.
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He did not go to the temple when He needed silence,


the priest on duty that morning might have been burning
strong incense on behalf of the people who brought
their sacrifices to the temple. He did not wake up His
pals either, they may have started with their questions
again, "Master, what do we need to pray for?" He
also didn't pray in their midst, perhaps He might have
woken one of them and caused them to panic.

Instead, He just went away to a place of solitude.


A place where not even the winds could interrupt His
thoughts. A place that was cooler in the mornings than
ground level. He could probably see the whole of
Galilee from on top of those mountains, just like we
see the landscape when the airplane is just about to
land. A serene picturesque audience of a single voice.

There is something about having 100% confidence in


the voices we choose to listen to. When Jesus was alone
on those mountains, the peacefulness of His own
creations must have spoken back to Him in their many
languages, and He understood. He was there alone...with
God and the Holy Spirit, a unified voice. No other
sounds but His. No other words but His. A picturesque
audience of a single voice.

So, how do I hear Your voice, Holy Spirit? I know


now, can You imagine? There were so many other voices
in my head the other day. But I'm ready to drown them
now. I'm ready to bring the turbulent storms to silence
and hush the winds blowing in my ears. I'm ready to let
go of the familiar voices and quotations of what life
should seemingly be. I'm back here again in the
stillness of my room, and no one else is
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speaking...just You. I am your picturesque audience and


You are the voice. Speak to me.
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Walking a Mile in Her Shoes


July 19, 2010
I am resilient, a thousand men can't make me cry.
Nevertheless, as I take each new step in her shoes,
tears threaten to pour out like broken waterfalls on a
picturesque summer day.

She holds my hands and leads me to the place where


her story begins, a run-down shack well hidden in the
middle of the woods. The door creaks, and we step
inside. One step in her shoes. She points to the
remains of what was once a mattress and a pillow, both
on the sandy floor. "Over there," she says, "is where I
cuddled my three children for ten long years after
their father died."

She also points to a big black pot, broken and


hidden in the shadows. All of their meals were cooked
in it; there were no other ones like it lying around.

Some days they ate bread without soup or meat.


Other days, they were lucky to find a small animal
trapped outside, so that they had meat for a couple of
days.

Her youngest girls died on the same day. "A


nameless infectious disease," she called it, as if it
meant nothing to her. In one swift motion my tears are
released. She begs me not to cry, saying she'd already
cried enough for both of us.

She'd left the shack the night that they died and
were buried, clutching the last child like she would
never let her go, only seven years old at the time. She
swore not to let death snatch that one away, it was her
fault what happened to the other two.
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Today, I found her on the road between Pennsylvania


and New York, wearing a black sleeveless top, a mini-
skirt, fishnets, knee-length boots, and shoulder-length
earrings. I watched her as she sashayed under the dim
light of the moon, beckoning to cars passing by,
especially the flashy ones with rich-looking young men.

She looked like she was ready to sell her body for
one more night. Although she never raised her hand to
stop me, I willed my car to stop and lowered my
windows. I asked her if she needed my help, and she
replied, "Not until you've walked a mile in my shoes,
young lady." And then I took a long walk in her shoes,
following her lead.

Many times, we want to be the first to criticize


others. We want to point fingers, without first walking
a mile in their shoes. But all God wants us to do is to
show love and compassion, not to criticize. He's right
there, waiting for sinners to run back into His arms.

He's right there waiting for the sons of God to


embrace the world and show them the right way to get
life, wealth, health, and all other good things from
the Giver of life, especially when they try to get
these things through sinful means. Sometimes, if we
think about where a person is coming from, we would be
less prone to pointing fingers too quickly.

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and
you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be
forgiven." Words of Jesus, Luke 6:37

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and


whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
shall not impute sin." Romans 4:7-8
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"God makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the just and the unjust." Matthew 5:45

"There is none righteous, no, not one."Romans 3: 10

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus." Romans 3: 23-24

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who
weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set
your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do
not be wise in your own opinion." Romans 12: 15-16
P a g e | 86

You Don’t Defend God, He Defends


Himself
August 30, 2010
If you have a father who you love so much, who has
sacrificed his livelihood just to see you not make the
same mistakes he made when he was growing up, who
raised you up from nothing, who gave you a special pet
name shared only between you and Him, who during cold
winter nights covered you with a blanket, who later put
you in charge of his entire estate, and then watched
you closely like a proud lion watches over his cub,
then you might want to defend him when he's standing in
the midst of throngs of people spitting ridicule on his
face.

But what if all He did for you was so that when


the crowds began to make mockery of Him, you
would not join them? What if you're only supposed
to stand still, knowing that He's strong enough to
protect Himself?
Everything God has revealed to us about Himself
shows us that He's stronger than us. His sacrifices are
priceless and His sufferings divine. Our strength can
only go so far, not in a million times compared to His.

So what makes us think we can spit some scriptures


in defense of His name? What makes us feel we have a
built-in material that can be panel-beat into a shield
for His chest? To protect Him from the fiery darts of
His own creations?
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No, the creations cannot defend their creator, for


only Him can defend Himself. The powers He has given
unto us cannot supersede His own. He is able to show
Himself strong and mighty without us. He is able to
secretly touch the hearts of kings and Princes, and
when He is ready, He will expose the bonds of
wickedness. Our own business is to show love to those
whom He has called us to approach. We're only supposed
to share the good news of the gospel, that no matter
who comes to the Father through Jesus, he or she will
be saved. That Jesus paid an everlasting price for you
and me. You don't defend God, He defends Himself.

"Uzzah put out His hand to the ark of God and took hold of it,
for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused
against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error." 2
Samuel 6:6-7

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