Once upon a time in a far away land, there was a very old and barren couple named Abraham and Sarah. They had no child and with very little hope of having any left. Abraham was 99yrs and Sarah was 90 yrs of age.
Not too far away from Abraham lived his cousin Lot in the land called Sodom and Gomorrah.
Sodom and Gomorrah is a wicked city and the Lord decided to come down and “take them out” (destroy them). The lord came with two angels all in the form of men.
As you read through this story, bear these facts in mind
v The men are not ordinary men
v Their mission is to destroy the wicked city (Sodom and Gomorrah)
The rest of this story is well documented in biblical book of Genesis chapters 18 and 19.
What follows is the story of a family whose watch word amongst other things is “Hospitality”
Abraham was sitting outside his “house” one day (say a lovely day) and he saw three men standing by him... when he saw them, he ran to meet them, greeted them and asked if he could get them water to drink and something to eat before they continued on their journey. As you might have guessed, these three men did not hesitate. So they sat to eat under the shade of the tree.
The saying that comes to mind is
“the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”
and it turns out to be true or so…… because while they ate…. Something happened.
The men told Abraham that by that time the following year, he will be father.
Remember, these are not ordinary men; they have the power to make things happen.
After eating, they rose up to go, but one of them decided to entrust with Abraham the reason for their journey (To destroy Sodom and Gomorrah) and Abraham pleaded for the city… but it was a little too late.
LESSON 1: Hospitality brings about friendliness and close friendship brings about Trust.
LESSON 2: Being Hospitable increases the speed of your blessings.
LESSON 3: You just don't know when God is passing by…. Treat everyone right
LESSON 4: In a mission of chaos, death and destruction came a message of life, creativity and peace. The choice is yours.
Two of the men continued the journey on mission CDD (chaos, death, destruction) and when they got to Sodom and Gomorrah, another story began….. To be continued.
In the mean time “SHOW HOSPITALITY”.... It pays.
Next week Hint: It Probably is a family thing.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
I AM FREE
It is another week speeding away from view......tick tock tick tock..... the months... not the clocks now are going by.
I am a few weeks away from finishing another stage of my academic life....my eyes firmly fixed on the coming months included in the eagerly anticipated summer break. I will do a lot of things (so I tell myself...and by God's grace I will).... but only a couple of months ago....I couldn't see beyond the next page of my books.
This is a small case compared to the reasons why some of us are not making desired progress. Limitations based on a wide range of causes and only you can know why you haven't gone further than where you are now.
Whatever the case may be, I am here to make this proclamation
I AM FREE.
Freedom
The smiling sun envisioned a new day
It’s no surprise I had no limbs
Not least ‘cos I lost ‘em
Tied they were
As good as been thrown away
The makeshift journeys… I can’t make
The lovely things… I can’t handle
Left then… stagnant like a lake
I was beaten to be humble
I was position inclined
Engagement refined
Intellectually defined
But conditionally declined
There’s a better way, I know
There’s a better way to go
Where very little counts
As I live the life I want
My hands are lifted high
My legs are fitted light
Now to say, I have the right
I’m free
Free from all those worries, free from all those mistakes.... free from all those setbacks....free from my fears.... I am free..... You can say that too.....but better put...You can live it too.
I am a few weeks away from finishing another stage of my academic life....my eyes firmly fixed on the coming months included in the eagerly anticipated summer break. I will do a lot of things (so I tell myself...and by God's grace I will).... but only a couple of months ago....I couldn't see beyond the next page of my books.
This is a small case compared to the reasons why some of us are not making desired progress. Limitations based on a wide range of causes and only you can know why you haven't gone further than where you are now.
Whatever the case may be, I am here to make this proclamation
I AM FREE.
Freedom
The smiling sun envisioned a new day
It’s no surprise I had no limbs
Not least ‘cos I lost ‘em
Tied they were
As good as been thrown away
The makeshift journeys… I can’t make
The lovely things… I can’t handle
Left then… stagnant like a lake
I was beaten to be humble
I was position inclined
Engagement refined
Intellectually defined
But conditionally declined
There’s a better way, I know
There’s a better way to go
Where very little counts
As I live the life I want
My hands are lifted high
My legs are fitted light
Now to say, I have the right
I’m free
Free from all those worries, free from all those mistakes.... free from all those setbacks....free from my fears.... I am free..... You can say that too.....but better put...You can live it too.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Say it more .... mean it more
I’ll start my input today by saying congratulations to a very dear friend who got married on Saturday (12-05-07). And for all the newly weds out there…. Best wishes in your marriage life. For the engaged couples…. How are preparations going? ….. Buddies in relationships……. Hope you are making progress….. And for the “still searching”… best of luck to you.
This blog is about a reminder of those things that makes life worth everyday living.
The knowledge of a simple fact that you will get appreciated when you invest in someone’s life can spur you on to keep doing good.
I am not going to the deep end of getting appreciated with things like “You’re beautiful” (not everyone will tell you that)….. But let’s stay on the shallow end… with this two words ***** ***. These I believe are words that melt your heart especially when you know whoever said it meant it.
If you don’t stay the words ***** *** when it matters, you can stifle or seriously limit your chances of getting help (another time). Some argue that another time will never come…..but don’t be deceived….another time will always come.
It also tells the world of something about you …… (that you are a cocky ****/ *****)….
You actually may not be…..but how would we know?
Kudos to parents for the work they are doing in teaching their kids the habit and good practise of saying ***** ***. Its only surprising that we get so used to it and the older we grow, the more we say it and the less we possibly mean it.
As with every piece of writing, consulting literatures and other writings is always a good thing. In the course of whizzing through these pages, it’s with no doubt you can conclude and I stand to say you are right that the Bible is my best literature.
John 6:5-7 (New International Version)
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Phillip was not answering the question only, in one sentence, he had said enough to bring to a halt whatever Jesus might be planning (if He is human). He said:
“Before you can embark on this project, we have to work for more than 8 months at least, so, forget about the idea and do what you know best to do – healing people” (paraphrased an emphasis mine)
The lack of background knowledge by the disciples about who Jesus is and how God operates which is traceable to His past revelations is costing them a lot in their work with Jesus. God has always been in the business of doing the impossible. He said “I am the lord, I do not change”
It means if God has always surprised humanity in doing “WHAO”….. “OH MY GOD” things (as in new things), then because He does not change, He’s still able to do things that have never been seen or experienced before.
Just to amaze you, look back at all the things you’ve seen and heard God do, from the ancient times to the most recent testimony, quite a lot isn’t?………….but He can still do newer stuff.
All Jesus needed was an input, your widows might, someone who is ready to give something and in the next verses, He is prepared to unveil one of the most effective multiplication factors in life………………THANKSGIVING
John 6: 8 - 12
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.
9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.)
11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.
12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”
13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
That was an amazing event.
Thanksgiving is a multiplying factor of a very high degree, so if you want an unexplainable multiplication, give thanks for the little you’ve got
The questions that are to be answered includes…
Who gave you what you have?
How did you get what you have? And ultimately,
Who would you thank for what you have?
I know and believe that everything I have has been given to me by God… so I say
God I thank you……. (You should say that too)
As you make your journey through each day…. Do not forget to say “THANK YOU” to all that matters. Appreciate people’s efforts.
In doing so, you’ll be putting a smile on their faces…..you will be making yourself a target of help when you need it......and you can tell us you are not a cocky lady/fella..... thats good to know I guess.
AND WE ALL SAY "THANK YOU."
This blog is about a reminder of those things that makes life worth everyday living.
The knowledge of a simple fact that you will get appreciated when you invest in someone’s life can spur you on to keep doing good.
I am not going to the deep end of getting appreciated with things like “You’re beautiful” (not everyone will tell you that)….. But let’s stay on the shallow end… with this two words ***** ***. These I believe are words that melt your heart especially when you know whoever said it meant it.
If you don’t stay the words ***** *** when it matters, you can stifle or seriously limit your chances of getting help (another time). Some argue that another time will never come…..but don’t be deceived….another time will always come.
It also tells the world of something about you …… (that you are a cocky ****/ *****)….
You actually may not be…..but how would we know?
Kudos to parents for the work they are doing in teaching their kids the habit and good practise of saying ***** ***. Its only surprising that we get so used to it and the older we grow, the more we say it and the less we possibly mean it.
As with every piece of writing, consulting literatures and other writings is always a good thing. In the course of whizzing through these pages, it’s with no doubt you can conclude and I stand to say you are right that the Bible is my best literature.
John 6:5-7 (New International Version)
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Phillip was not answering the question only, in one sentence, he had said enough to bring to a halt whatever Jesus might be planning (if He is human). He said:
“Before you can embark on this project, we have to work for more than 8 months at least, so, forget about the idea and do what you know best to do – healing people” (paraphrased an emphasis mine)
The lack of background knowledge by the disciples about who Jesus is and how God operates which is traceable to His past revelations is costing them a lot in their work with Jesus. God has always been in the business of doing the impossible. He said “I am the lord, I do not change”
It means if God has always surprised humanity in doing “WHAO”….. “OH MY GOD” things (as in new things), then because He does not change, He’s still able to do things that have never been seen or experienced before.
Just to amaze you, look back at all the things you’ve seen and heard God do, from the ancient times to the most recent testimony, quite a lot isn’t?………….but He can still do newer stuff.
All Jesus needed was an input, your widows might, someone who is ready to give something and in the next verses, He is prepared to unveil one of the most effective multiplication factors in life………………THANKSGIVING
John 6: 8 - 12
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.
9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.)
11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.
12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.”
13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.
That was an amazing event.
Thanksgiving is a multiplying factor of a very high degree, so if you want an unexplainable multiplication, give thanks for the little you’ve got
The questions that are to be answered includes…
Who gave you what you have?
How did you get what you have? And ultimately,
Who would you thank for what you have?
I know and believe that everything I have has been given to me by God… so I say
God I thank you……. (You should say that too)
As you make your journey through each day…. Do not forget to say “THANK YOU” to all that matters. Appreciate people’s efforts.
In doing so, you’ll be putting a smile on their faces…..you will be making yourself a target of help when you need it......and you can tell us you are not a cocky lady/fella..... thats good to know I guess.
AND WE ALL SAY "THANK YOU."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I know I am not.... But I know "I AM"
Hello to ya’ll (with huge excitement) …..a big hello to football fans …… and an even bigger hello to Manchester United fans (I can hear someone saying …. “And why?”). Simply because for the first time in 4 years, on Sunday (6/05) they won the league cup (Barclays Premiership). Majority of footy fans are happy …… except for Chelsea fans.
The confirmation came at the Emirates stadium where Chelsea could not secure a victory when they played arsenal. I’m very happy for Manchester United even though I am a gunner at heart…..a gunner meaning an Arsenal fan.
Being an arsenal fan has been a little tough and endurance is needed to stay sane.
They have done brilliantly over the season, but when it matters, they have failed to get the results.
Promises of great potential, great performance, classy team, technique endowed, high work rate, but they lacked consistency and hence lack result (albeit a few).
That pretty much sums up the lives of some of us. People around us tell us how good we are (or can be)… we work hard… read wide…. and it is general knowledge that we should be doing better than how we are doing at the moment….But still, little or no result
Well…. I’ve got news for you… DON”T GIVE UP….because when you hit it…..you’ll hit it big. Roll with these lines:
Preparation + Opportunity = Performance
Performance + Consistency = Results (http://renzguy.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html)
Keep at being the best...…. if you fail at anything…..don’t fret….you’ve just learnt another way not to do that particular thing. (Thomas Edison)
For Christians out there, there is a little twist to this concern of lack of results.
Still with Arsenal: Apart from the players,….the manager and the fans can get frustrated at this lack of output or the uneven match between input and output. They put a lot in…..but get very little or nothing out. Some areas of our lives can be operating on that negative principle. It could be our relationships, finances, at work or even in the cradle of the family…..Well, I’ve got news for you too.
God, our manager, is never frustrated or fed up and will never give up on us. So if you are struggling with this same problem… you have a manager in God who is always there. He’ll see you through it all.
God told Jehoshaphat, I (God) will fight this battle for you…..and He asked Jehoshaphat to be something we see in our today world “a cheer leader”. (2 chronicle 20: 1-29). As God was in business..... The people were cheering. (amazing)
So as you make the decisions…. As you put in the effort…..as you talk the walk…..walk the talk….as you strive to be the best…be it at work….at home….to your kids…..in school…remember this:
I will be cheering you…..not just me, the whole body of Christ will be. (Hebrews 12: 1, 22-24)
Arsenal fans cheer their team (even when they are loosing) with this song amongst others “1 nil to the arsenal”. Liverpool fans are phenomenal and their catch phrase “You’ll never walk alone” spurs their team on.
Even if they don’t believe it….YOU SHOULD
God says “I’ll never leave nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5)
Your formula will now be:
Preparation + Opportunity = Performance
Performance + Consistency + I AM (GOD) = Results + I can (You)
No matter what the result is…. You can say this:
“I know I am not …...but I know "I AM"…..so I can”
The confirmation came at the Emirates stadium where Chelsea could not secure a victory when they played arsenal. I’m very happy for Manchester United even though I am a gunner at heart…..a gunner meaning an Arsenal fan.
Being an arsenal fan has been a little tough and endurance is needed to stay sane.
They have done brilliantly over the season, but when it matters, they have failed to get the results.
Promises of great potential, great performance, classy team, technique endowed, high work rate, but they lacked consistency and hence lack result (albeit a few).
That pretty much sums up the lives of some of us. People around us tell us how good we are (or can be)… we work hard… read wide…. and it is general knowledge that we should be doing better than how we are doing at the moment….But still, little or no result
Well…. I’ve got news for you… DON”T GIVE UP….because when you hit it…..you’ll hit it big. Roll with these lines:
Preparation + Opportunity = Performance
Performance + Consistency = Results (http://renzguy.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html)
Keep at being the best...…. if you fail at anything…..don’t fret….you’ve just learnt another way not to do that particular thing. (Thomas Edison)
For Christians out there, there is a little twist to this concern of lack of results.
Still with Arsenal: Apart from the players,….the manager and the fans can get frustrated at this lack of output or the uneven match between input and output. They put a lot in…..but get very little or nothing out. Some areas of our lives can be operating on that negative principle. It could be our relationships, finances, at work or even in the cradle of the family…..Well, I’ve got news for you too.
God, our manager, is never frustrated or fed up and will never give up on us. So if you are struggling with this same problem… you have a manager in God who is always there. He’ll see you through it all.
God told Jehoshaphat, I (God) will fight this battle for you…..and He asked Jehoshaphat to be something we see in our today world “a cheer leader”. (2 chronicle 20: 1-29). As God was in business..... The people were cheering. (amazing)
So as you make the decisions…. As you put in the effort…..as you talk the walk…..walk the talk….as you strive to be the best…be it at work….at home….to your kids…..in school…remember this:
I will be cheering you…..not just me, the whole body of Christ will be. (Hebrews 12: 1, 22-24)
Arsenal fans cheer their team (even when they are loosing) with this song amongst others “1 nil to the arsenal”. Liverpool fans are phenomenal and their catch phrase “You’ll never walk alone” spurs their team on.
Even if they don’t believe it….YOU SHOULD
God says “I’ll never leave nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5)
Your formula will now be:
Preparation + Opportunity = Performance
Performance + Consistency + I AM (GOD) = Results + I can (You)
No matter what the result is…. You can say this:
“I know I am not …...but I know "I AM"…..so I can”
Friday, May 04, 2007
CALL TO PRAYER
It has been a wonderful start to the month and the weather could only echo my opinion. I pray and hope it has been the same for you too. 007 is gathering speed and it is only a matter of time before Christmas comes knocking (“again”… I hear you say)….. Yes …”again”. In the same vein, we’ll all start mapping out our plans for 007+1 (2008), new year resolution, things to do et cetera without really counting our gains and losses in 2007.
Why am I saying this?
Well, you can still deliver on those things that you set out to do this year so that at the end, you won’t be ashamed to look back. (Get Cracking)
Something interesting about achieving is that you will almost all the time have to bring on board people that may or may not passionately share the same vision as you. (Keep that in mind)
As a matter of personal vision and mandate, I’m inviting you to join me in setting out a day (any of your choice) in the coming week (from any day that you get this piece) and partner me in one of my commitments this year.
YOUR TASK:
“When her mum came to tuck her in, the child looked up and asked 'Mummy, do you really love me, even when you don't have time to listen to me?'
(UCB devotional 02/04/07)
I want you to join me in praying for parents in the Christian fold and using them as a point of contact to all parents in the world.
Life is getting increasingly busy and Parents (Christian ones inclusive) do not give their children the quality time needed to teach, train and nurture them especially in God’s ways.
Let’s pray “God’s guidance and grace” for parents to help them with what it takes to raise godly children.
Let’s pray for the children that God will give them an “understanding heart”.
The following bible verses show the two sides that can result from our today practices.
“Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did”. (2 Kings 17:41) (NIV)
“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19) (NIV)
Why am I saying this?
Well, you can still deliver on those things that you set out to do this year so that at the end, you won’t be ashamed to look back. (Get Cracking)
Something interesting about achieving is that you will almost all the time have to bring on board people that may or may not passionately share the same vision as you. (Keep that in mind)
As a matter of personal vision and mandate, I’m inviting you to join me in setting out a day (any of your choice) in the coming week (from any day that you get this piece) and partner me in one of my commitments this year.
YOUR TASK:
“When her mum came to tuck her in, the child looked up and asked 'Mummy, do you really love me, even when you don't have time to listen to me?'
(UCB devotional 02/04/07)
I want you to join me in praying for parents in the Christian fold and using them as a point of contact to all parents in the world.
Life is getting increasingly busy and Parents (Christian ones inclusive) do not give their children the quality time needed to teach, train and nurture them especially in God’s ways.
Let’s pray “God’s guidance and grace” for parents to help them with what it takes to raise godly children.
Let’s pray for the children that God will give them an “understanding heart”.
The following bible verses show the two sides that can result from our today practices.
“Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did”. (2 Kings 17:41) (NIV)
“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19) (NIV)
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