Thriving Words

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. - Luke 5:11 I continue on the story of Peter, the guy who surrender his boat to Jesus and obey instructions of Jesus. After everything (the breakthrough, the abundance blessing), Peter and partners forsook all that they have and follow Jesus. It was not "much" that they left - a couple of small boats and their nets; but it was all they had, even all their living. But this showed their love of Jesus, and their willingness to deny themselves, as "really" as if they had forsaken palaces and gold. All that Jesus asks is that we should leave "all" we have for him; that we should love him "more" than we do whatever friends or property we may possess, and be willing to give them all up when he requires it. Some folks after becoming wealthy stops caring about the thing of God; For some, it is their job, some their marriage. A vibrant christian that is blessed will  f

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. - Luke 5:4-5 I continued from yesterday Post about Peter. Apart from Peter releasing His Boat to Jesus. He did something afterward. Jesus asked him to cast his fishing net into the sea, without arguing, without murmruing, without complaining, he did as he was told. He has toiled all night but yet caught nothing but he obey the word of Jesus. One of the keys to expreiencing the full blessings of God is to Obey His instructions. People that argue with what God says don't go far in life. He is the Almighty God who knows the end from the begining. When He says something, In your own interest, do it. Peter was blessed simply because he obeyed the words of Jesus. What is God saying to you. Maybe He is instructing you

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.  - Luke 5:3 One of my favourite story is about Peter allowing Jesus into his boat to preach the gospel to the people (Luke:1-6). Many of us have something that can be use to spread the Word of God. Until you release all to God, you won't experience the fullness of God's blessings. Let God use your career, marriage, business, shops, money etc for His kingdom. Release yourself and everything you have to God withholding nothing. Peter gave his boat freely to Jesus and his live changed from that moment onward. Today, I beseech you not to withhold what God need from you. We all have something that God can use. Good afternoon and a happy Sunday to you. www.thrivingwords.blogspot.com

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. - Revelation 22:21 Grace is popularly known as uncommon favour. I call it the unaffordable favour. It is something we can't afford. The grace of God is what makes the difference. You can prosper in the same industry that people are not faring well in. You can thrive in an economy that people re complaining bitterly about because the grace of God can make Tremendous difference in your life. A man without the grace of God in his life will keep running and running without reaching the finishing line. Paul understood the essence of the grace for the race of life, virtually all his books closes with this prayer of grace. To be successful, you need God's grace. God's Grace is what make you thrive. Today is a beautiful day. It's a day of grace. My prayer for you is this: in this life, you will not miss out on the grace of God. Everywhere you go, in all your endeavors, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shall spe

I came across a post by Victor Ibeh. I wish everyone could read this. Marriage these days in not what God intended or instituted. Marriage is to be enjoyed not endured. Below is the post I came across on FaceBook by Victor Ibeh: Marriages in Nigeria and most parts of Africa are sustained by women. You can argue this with your village deity. Women in general, put up with a lot of bullshi t just to make their marriages work. From childhood they have been taught that a wise woman keeps her home. In order to keep their homes, they end up enduring a lot of ill-treatment.    Find any woman who has been with a man for donkey years and ask her if she would love to marry that same man over again in her next life. Majority would say no. This brings us to the point that most marriages are endurance marriages not happy marriages. Unfortunately, we are told that marital success is about duration.   A successful marriage isn't about duration but happiness. If two people spend

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16 Jesus explain in details to his disciples about the coming troubles; haters will persecute them and enemies will be numerous both internal and external. More important He told them to be wise and harmless. In this present life, if you are not wise, you will suffer. In your dealings, be wise: in your speech, be wise: in your actions, be wise. This world is too wicked for you not to be wise. In the early church, King Herod killed James, he proceeded to kill Peter, the church 'wise-up' because it dawn on them this man won't stop (Acts 12:1-2). Many folks are in their present predicament because of wrong timing or wrong method of their speech. Being blunt all the time might not be a wise thing to do. Be wise! Be harmless! This is what Jesus want from you. Being in the world is being among wolves, you are constantly aimed at. Gentility doesn't n

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.  - Matthew 8:17 Sickness, diseases and pains is not our portion as Children of God. Jesus came to the earth and went through hell all because he want you to enjoy good health. Unfortunately, all manner of sickness still exist in the life of God's children and you wonder why? Are you in pains, are you ill? Are you afflicted by an unknown or incurable ailment? No matter the ailment, be it malaria, typhoid, cancer etc, I want you to have faith and believe that by His stripes, you are Healed. You have the right to  sound health. I wish above all things that your body prosper just as your soul prosper. I pray for everyone reading this and is being stuck with one sickness or the other or is even prone to getting sick frequently, I declare Healing over your life. Every strange ailment that has been disturbing you for years, I declare it to varnish. You w

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” - Genesis 2:15 Some folks do argue that God didn't say anything about our environment, hence the less regard for our environment. When God put the first man Adam in the garden of Eden, he was there to take care of the garden. Your own garden of Eden is your surroundings. Numbers 35:34 says "You shall not pollution the land in which you live, in which I also dwell..." Environmental pollution is increasing daily, you and I have a duty to work it and take care of it. It is our responsibility to take care of our environment. Sweep your compound, wash the gutter, cut down the bushes around. A clean environment is good for us while a dirty environment is harmful to our health. I admonish us to keep our environment clean. We must not pollute our environment more than what we have done. Companies have a moral and legal duty to do their business with regards to the environment. Oil

You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to give your fathers. - Deuteronomy 6:18 One of the major things that is been eroded in this modern age is our Moral decency. The devil has succeed in popularizing immorality to the extent that it is abnormal to be morally upright. The right thing is viewed with disdain. One can't but wonder what and where we went wrong. Because something is popular doesn't mean it's right; because it has been existing for long doesn't make it right; because it sound cool doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. What is right has no substitute. What is right is right. Because the majority or even the laws of the land approves it doesn't make it right. Homosexuality, adultery, indecent dressing, abusive words, evil cultism  is on the increase and the society is gradually  accepting it. There is a dating website i

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. - Joshua 1:8 When a Ship is set to sail, what point it to which direction to go is the compass. The Compass direct the ship which way to go. So also is Life. Life is like a ship, it goes where it been directed to by the compass. What compass are you using to navigate your life. Some use their friends as a compass for their, some use their parents, some use the situations they are into. The type of compass you use will determine the direction your life will sail to. People struggle through life because they use the wrong compass. One problem with the wrong compass is you will burn your energy navigating the wrong way. There is a Compass I know, it's trusted and problem-proof compass. This Compass is the Holy Bible. You cannot

...not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves as is the custom with some, but encouraging one another, and so much more as you see the Day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:25 People go to 'church' for a number of reasons: Some go because it's Sunday and it has become an habit for them. Some go because they believe that is God's Presence. Some go simply because they are in tough situations and they need a miracle. Some go to socialize especially in the so-called 'Mega Church. There is nothing wrong with us going to 'church 'for such reasons above but there are far more important reasons for us to go to 'churchk. One major reason we go to 'church' is Fellowship. We go to learn at the feet of the master and grow in faith. We go to edify and exhort one another. We come together to share and grow in Christ Jesus. We go to church to gathered as one body and doing all in unity. We go to to church because there is powering corporate anointin

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. - 1 Timothy 2:1 Our nation and the rest of the world need healing. So many are hurting, a lot is wrong and out of order. So many marriages are on the verge of divorce. More and more children go to bed hungry. Terrorist attacks keep increasing. War-torn Syria shows no soon-signs of peace. A lot is wrong out there beyond what you know. The least you can do is to Pray and Pray for Them. One of the effective ways to effect a change is through prayers. Most of our prayers these days is always about 'I'. Consistent self-centred prayers is simply selfish. There are people out there that can't even think of praying, folks out there needs our prayers. Cultivate the habit of intercessory prayer. Stand in gap for something and someone else. Intercede for a family, a marriage, a nation. Pray for your friend, your bosses, for someone you don't even know. P

#SayYesTo Series #SayYesTo #Salvation Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.- Acts 4:12 Good Morning beloved. Trust you had a great night. I"ll be rounding up the #SayYesTo series today. Today is about Salvation. Salvation means to be saved or To be delivered. You may ask From what? From sin; death; destruction. Salvation goes beyond religious ritual. You probably know this: there is an after life. After you die, there is still an eternal life. The question is Are you sure about it? Or you simply don't know. You must take Salvation seriously whether you are a christian, a muslim,a Buddhist or Traditionalist, Whoever you are. So it has been established that we all need salvation. Of course you want to be saved, so who is going to save you? Who is the Savior? As today verse has rightly said; The Word of God says there is no salvation in anyone else except in Jesus (Acts 4:10-12) So

#SayYesTo Series: #SayYesTo #Contentment But godliness with contentment is great gain. - 1Timothy 6:6 The Russian author Tolstoy tells the story of a rich peasant who was never satisfied. He always wanted more. He heard of a wonderful chance to get more land. For 1,000 rubles he could have all the land he could walk around in a day. But he had to make it back by sundown or lose all his money. He arose early and set out. He walked on and on, his greed driving him just a little farther as he saw new territory. Finally he realized that he had to turn back and he had to walk very fast if he was to get back in time to claim the land. As the sun got lower in the sky, he quickened his pace. As the sun neared the horizon, he began to run. Finally, he saw the starting place. His heart was pounding rapidly and he was gasping for breath, but he gave it everything he had and plunged over the finish line, fell to the ground, and collapsed, just seconds before the sun disappeared below the h

#SayYesTo #Integrity Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. -Proverbs 28:18 Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. It is generally a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent moral and ethical standards. In ethics, integrity is regarded by many people as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Unfortunately Integrity is becoming a rare virtue in the world. Politicians will do all it takes to deceive the electorate. Folks in business are increasingly cunning in making fast and high gains. Fast eroding are the days when a man Yes is Yes and his No is No. During his farewell speech to the Isrealites, Samuel  promised to repay anything he had unjustly taken from anyone. What a promise! Even more impressive was the people’s response. Not one person rose up to make a claim against Samuel. Samuel’s honesty and personal integrity permeated e

#SayYesTo #Humility Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, - 1 Peter 5:6 Humility preserves peace and order in our societies; pride disturbs them.  Be willing to take a low place - a place such as becomes you. Do not arrogate to yourself what does not belong to you; do not evince pride and haughtiness in your manner; do not exalt yourselves above others. To be humble doesn't mean you are stupid or introvert. To be humble means to be Modest. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God in Christ. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master." Humility knows it is fallible, and so considers criticism and learns from it. In the Lord’s eyes, true greatness does not come through worldly strength, power, or position. It comes through humility. The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against

#SayYesTo #Peace Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. - Matthew 5:9 The peace-makers — Those who are themselves of a peaceable temper, and endeavour to promote peace in others: who study to be quiet, and, as much as in them lieth, to live peaceably with all men: who are so far from sowing the seeds of discord between any of their fellow-creatures, that they both studiously avoid contention themselves, and labour to extinguish it wherever it prevails, laying themselves out to heal the differences of brethren and neighbours, to reconcile contending parties, and to restore peace wherever it is broken, as well as to preserve it where it is. They shall be called the children of God — That is, they are and shall be owned by God as his genuine children, by reason of their great likeness to him: for he is the God of peace and love, and is in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them. Everybody want peace (at least eve

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18 This Morning, I want to share this scripture of encouragement so someone out there who is hurting, who is in pains, who feel dejected, who just lost a loved one, who is passing through trouble waters. It's not easy, you wished you could turn back the hands of time back to the lovely days. Psalm 18:2 says The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. In other words, The Lord is your everything. I say to you, hurt no more, cry no more, worry no more because everything is going to be okay. I pray for everyone hurting, The Almighty will comfort you, for those ill or in pain, I Declare Healing  over you. To everyone who just lost someone or something, I pray God gives you the fortitude to bear the loss. I declare Restoration over your life. To all that are tired of living, don't throw in

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6:14-15 One constant thing I have notice in life is this: you are bound to be offended by people. No matter how careful you are, someone definitely will offend you. Jesus knew this which is why he told Peter, we are to forgive Four hundred and ninety times (Matthew 18:21-22). Forgiveness is not a sign that you are weak. Forgiveness is a sign that you wouln't stoop so low not to forgive. When we don't forgive, we become bitter which is even more dangerous. Jesus Pointed out one major reason why we should forgive. If you do not forgive one another, God wouldn't forgive you. It's as simple as that. God is faithful and just to forgive us. We should also emulate that and forgive those that hurt us. So this morning, look back, the past days, past weeks, past months, past years

#SayNoTo Series #SayNoTo #Injustice Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. - Jeremiah 22:33 Injustice is violation of the rights of others; unjust or unfair action or treatment. Martin Luther King once said "Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere" God hates injustice, so should. Just like President Barrack Obama has clearly shown in his Presidential Farewell Speech, everybody (strangers included) deserves a fair treatment. Because you are rich or powerful doesn't mean you have to oppress those who are not: Because you are a law enforcement agent and you carried arms doesn't give you the right to threaten people. Too much injustice in this world from the high down to the low. It becomes shocking when you heard of the judiciary being corrupt and pa

#SayNoTo #DrugAbuse The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. - 1 Peter 4:7 Drug Abuse is when a drugs user consumes drug substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others. Common drugs such as paracetamol, painkillers are being abused on a daily basis. Drug Abuse falls into two categories: -Prescription Drug Abuse: This is the use of Drug without following a prescription from a medical personnel e.g Self Medication - Illegal Drug Abuse: This is the use of mostly banned drugs such a cocaine, cannabis etc Drug abuse might not be mentioned specifically in the bible but Apostle Paul talks about our body being temple of God and Apostle Peter admonish us to exercise self control. Some drugs are highly harmful to the body when over use for a long period of time. Self medication is part of abuse drug. Diagnosing yourself when you are Not a medical personnel is improper and dangerous. The use of Ha

Then neither do I condemn you, go now and sin no more John 8:7”. The third part of the #SayNoTo Series is on #JungleJustice Then neither do I condemn you, go now and sin no more John 8:7”. Jungle justice is the concept and act of disregarding the rule of law and taking matters into one's hands; more clearly put, it is the act of handing suspected criminals over to the hands and mercy of an angry mob. Sometime you may feel like a thief caught stealing and is being beaten by a mob is okay since he is a thief, but you got to understand that two wrong doesn't make a right. The mob are as guilty or even more as the thief. You shouldn't not take law into your hands no matter what. Jesus told the mob that wanted to stone to death a woman caught in adultery 'those without sin should be the one to stone her ' (John 8:1-7) Sometimes ago in the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 4 university students were wrongfully killed by a mob action who thought they were robbers

#SayNoTo Series #SayNoTo #Discrimination For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. - Galatians 3:27-29 Discrimination is treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing is perceived to belong to rather than on individual merit. Discrimination is increasingly becoming a big problem even in the body of Christ. As an employer, you favour your own ethnic group to other people. Politicians will divide the electorate along the lines of religion and ethnicity. Discrimination is not of the Lord. You are not to discriminate people of other religion as well. We are One Body in Christ, every human, every race,

#SayNoTo Series "No," she told him, "don't rape me! That shouldn't be done in Israel. Don't do this godless act!                                                                                                                                        - 2 Samuel 13:12 For a long time, I have always thought Rape is when a man forcefully have sexual intercourse with another woman. But that ain't true. RAPE is when you male or female) have sex with another person (male or female) without the person's conscious consent. RAPE is an abominable offence before God.   There is an alarming rate of RAPE in our society today. Even our kids are not exempted from this evil act. The Female are the main victims of RAPE in our society.   I came across an analogy that was shared by Nafisa Ahmed sometimes last year on Twitter. It explains better What Rape is all about. She uses a 5 dollar Bill to explain it. It goes thus: If you ask me for $5, and I