Thriving Words

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury - Mark 12:43 Jesus was in the temple observing the offerings of the worshippers, the rich came and give a huge amount as expected, then a very poor widow came in to give her offering. Jesus rated the small offering of the poor widow higher than the rich people's offerings. Jesus was emphasizing on quality rather than quantity. These days, Pastors will tell you the amount to give, at times they can ask you to double your offering and other sort of funny things. Know this: God is not more concerned bout how much you have than how you gave or from where you gave. Because you gave in hard currency or gave a huge sum of money doesn't necessarily mean you gave a quality offering. Your offering to God start from your heart. The quantity is less important before God. Let us not forget that Jesus still sees...

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. - Proverb 12:26 These days, there is this common trend among believers. We use God as an excuse for being inefficient, lazy and below excellence. The common phrase 'God ways are not like men's ways' so the way God see success is not the way men see it. God is a God of excellence. Jesus said "let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good works" (Matthew 5:16). Not just works but good works. Question is are you good in what you do? Are you shinning in the works of your hands. God is not glorified in mediocrity. Our society will be so great believers are ready to be excellent in what they do. When God was to build the temple, He choose the best. Highly skilled people. Greatness doesn't fall on you, you rise to greatness. You work your way into greatness. Stop been a prayer warrior that is not productive at work. If you are a believer and you are no...

For with God, nothing is impossible - Luke 1:37 In the above verse, Mary has just been told somethings by Angel Gabriel which are just too complicated to comprehend, the things are just impossible to her. Gabriel the Angel simply told her that impossible is not with God. That was the assuring words from Gabriel. God is the One that can make the impossible possible. Too many a times, we always try to figure out how God will do it especially when it's beyond our reasoning. The ways of God are far higher than ours. So stop bothering yourself on how He will do it and just simply believe in Him that He will do it. We serve a Big God, He can do the the impossible. Only God can do what no man can do or could ever do for us. So Your life might be shattered right now, perhaps somethings ain't just right for you, stop worrying yourself because nothing is too hard for God to do. God is good at surpassing our expectation. Believe on Him to do the impossible in your life. ...

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  - 1 Corinthians 6:11 I will be sharing a true life story this morning of a wonderful lady who is an vivid example of God taking your shattered pieces of life and mending them to be brand new. No one else could have done this except God. This is the story of Lara Kudayisi: I met a guy in the church choir at 17. We planned to get married in 7 years when I was finished with school. A year into the relationship, I discovered that I was 5 months and 2 weeks pregnant, after I had broken up with him. I was the choir coordinator of my fellowship in school and the PRO of my department. I went through so much shame, but I had my baby in school. After a while, I started losing my esteem because my dad made me feel so terrible about my mistake. I lost confidence in myself so I was desperately searching to be ...

13  For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 15  But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another. 16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17  For the flesh lust against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. 18  But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you befor...

"I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people”   - Leviticus 26:1 One thing I have discover in God is this: God desire to have a relationship with us. Truth is most of us are still acting like Adam and Eve who were hiding from God when they found out that they were naked. God desire a personal one-on-one relationship with each and everyone of us. He doesn't want a distance or once a week relationship. Yeah, we may feel inadequate or hide because of our struggles, battles, addictions and weakness; God doesn't look at all that. He want a relationship with you regardless of who you are or what you have done. Only God could wipe your slate clean and give you a brand new start. Adam and Eve lost a precious relationship and bonding with God because of an attractive fruit. Same way too, the attractiveness of the worldly things is enticing us to forget God and 'enjoy' life. Many Youth today are convinced and believe that club-houses a...

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  - Acts 16:25 Yesterday during praises in church, God dropped this revelation in my heart. It's about Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-40). Most time, we believe Paul and Silas praised God in prison because they were in prison and wants to get out. But that isn't so.,If they wanted to get out, they would have escaped when the prison gates were miraculously opened. But they didn't. So you ask, why did they praise God? We shouldn't praise God just because we want Him to give us something or deliver us. Sure God is more than able. But we must learn to praise God for Who He is; that is one major reason why we were created. To praise and worship the Most High. Praising God should be a lifestyle to us and not just something we do when we want to thank God for something or want His Help. A lovely thing about  Shadrach, Meshach and  Abednego is the fact that...

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. - Psalm 101:3 Last night, I watched a movie titled ' The Ignition',  produced by the Mount Zion Film Production. The movie is the story of a young man (Shola) who fell in love with a girl (Ngozi) and wanted to marry her despite her epileptic condition. Seven month into their courtship, the Shola quit the relationship because he couldn't cope with the Ngozi epileptic condition.  This movie is positively different from what I usually expect from the Mount Zion Faith Movies. The Ignition is a well balanced movie that every youth  will enjoy watching. One of the few things I learnt from the movie is this: • An unrepentant Promiscuous man will  set his house on fire. • It's one thing to hear God, it's another thing to be sure you heard Him. • You might not know who you are now but you should know who you want to be. • You may not know what the future holds for you but you should the One that ...

I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin? - Job 31:1 Sexual immorality is on the increase all over the world. Adultery is fast becoming the norm and men of God are also joining it. Married women are not left out, many are having secret lovers and emotional affairs are becoming the order of the day The rate at which immorality is increasing is alarming! It is spreading fast into every nook and cranny and pastors are not focusing on preaching it so they wont drive the sugar daddies and the sugar mummies away from paying huge tithes, even children are also being initiated into the club. It's no news that 4, 5 years old kids now have sex with each other. Staying sexually pure these days is becoming a Herculean task One of the reasons people fall flat into illicit sex is over confidence. The outrageous belief that you can be free around the opposite sex and nothing would happen, as if you are not fully blooded and breathing Fr...

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:18 One of the many truths Apostle John has written is that fact that True Love, (scratch that, nothing like True Love, it's either Love or not) love is not by mouth but by deeds. You can't say you love someone, yet you don't care about their wellbeing. One of the major problem of the world is that there is a wrong concept  of Love. Some folks wouldn't love unless there is something in for them, some would stop loving if the person changes towards them. One of the ways to know who love you is by what they do to you. Jesus show how much He loves us by laying down His life for us. If you love someone, to what length or mile can you go for that person? Love is more than mere words, Love is what you do. You laugh with each other, you smile but deep down, someone is hurting and yet you don't care because there is no Love. You care for those you love, you st...

When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.  - Proverb 6:7 Another version of the above verse says  "when God approves of your life, even your enemy will end up shaking your hand".  One major mistakes we humans make a lot is doing our best to please or fellow humans but doing little or no effort in pleasing God. The easiest way to failure is trying to please everyone while the easiest way to success is to please God. The best way to have our enemies reconciled unto us, is for us first to be reconciled unto God. Because God was pleased with Jacob, Esau his brother despite's the hatred he has for Jacob,  his war-ready mInd change to peace. There is peace when your enemy is not Fighting you and there can't be real peace without God. Do you desire peace around you? Do you Want God to prepare you a table in the presence of your enemy? If your answers are yes, Then you need get closer to God and you will exper...

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: - Proverb 1:5 Nicodemus a very influential person in the society secretly came to meet Jesus in the night and ask Him what he has to do so as to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:1-9). Jesus told him that he has to born again.  Nicodemus still didn't understand and he ask Jesus more questions about it. Nicodemus, a ruler in Israel decided to be a leaner so as to learn the Truth. He seeks knowledge. When you don't know something and you don't want to ask, it is to your own disadvantage. Always ask what you don't know or understand. Don't let your position or age stop you from asking questions. No matter who you are or where you are, always seek to learn More, know more. Knowledge is never a waste. When you don't know and you don't understand, ask question, you have nothing to lose. A wise man is not he that says he knows all but is he t...

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  - Hebrews 13:16 Recently an online friend of mine, Zeal A, started a project called The Angel Project. The project is all about rendering an act of kindness to a random stranger, so Zeal and other folks would go to hospitals, prisons and help folks they don't know. You will be surprise at the stories they are confronted it. A young man has to spend 6 months in Prison because he couldn't afford a 50 dollar bail. I also heard the story a nursing mother that has to feed on leftovers from other patients so has to produce enough milk to breastfeed her baby with. I and my wife recently decided that any excess food we cook will be given out instead of been thrown away. I have been amazed and shocked at the rate at which folks around me are so happy and thankful for it, the very things I complained about is what some people want. I have decided to be an Angel in my own little...

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen  are  temporal; but the things which are not seen  are  eternal. “ - 2 Corinthians 4:8 There is the old song I remembered this morning, the lyrics goes thus: "I'm not moved by what I see, Hallelujah, I am moved by the Word of God? Hallelujah" The story of Father Abraham is a great one:  Abraham is been known as the Father of Faith because he believe in God to do what He says He will do. Even though his physical eyes sees barrenness, childlessness, he still believe God will give him a child. Truth is what you see around is not necessarily a reflection of where you should be. When the Israelites were to cross the red see, they were moved by the sights chariots of Pharaoh and his army that were coming to take them back, they had forgotten that it was God that has brought them this far.  As a child of God, when things are ...

For God so love the world... - John 3:16 Writing this post, I have been thinking about the many ills of our global society. The world is in dire need of something or someone to solve the many crisis facing it, no doubt about that. What the world need is not another motivational speaker, the world doesn't need another celebrity, the world doesn't need another comedian, the world doesn't need another united-nation like committee. The world needs God. The absence of God in our affairs is the gateway for the presence of the evil one (Devil). The more we choke God out of our society, the more these ills afflict us. We can do nothing without God. God so much love us and He desire to be with us which is why He wants a relationship with us. Maybe you know about God and His love, what of the next person beside you, your next neighbor, the next passenger, your colleague? Do they know about the Love of God for them? The more they know, the better for them. Since t...

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 5:5 The first encounter of Jesus with Peter was when Peter toiled all night to catch some fishes but he couldn't and Jesus entered His boat and told Him to launch out his net into the deep. (Luke 5:2-9) Peter tried to explained to Jesus that He has done everything humanly possible catch but he would still launch out at his command. And he did caught so many fishes, so many! Peer submitted Himself to the total control of the Lord Jesus Peter could have argue with Jesus and lose that breakthrough. He could have sent Jesus away from his boat because he didn't know who Jesus was then. So many of us have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He is our master but yet we find it difficult to do what he ask us to do. Indeed, we know Jesus very well but we still struggle with doing His Will. When we don't give...

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: - John 10:10 Reading through the story of Joseph (Genesis 36:1-36), I discover how his brothers conspire against him when they saw him afar off. He hasn't even gotten to his destination that they have already perfected plans to harm him. Just the same way, Herod was told about the glorious and shinning star of Jesus and he seek to harm the baby (Matthew 2:1-13). We live in a wicked world. I do always tell people this: you don't need to offend the devil before he attacks you. The devil needs no signal from you before he attacks you. That is why as a Christian, you must always been on the offensive against the devil.  You might even haven't achieve a lot in life and yet the enemy is already fighting you. The enemy knows what you are capable of and he won't let you be because you are a threat to his domain. If he leaves you alone, he knows you will be a superstar.  Don't be passi...

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. - Psalm 26:5 The best thing that could happen to anyone is Jesus. An encounter with Jesus should be what you desire. Peter had an encounter with Jesus and He found purpose in life (Matthew  4:18-20 ). Paul had an encounter with Jesus and His focus was redirected to the true path (Acts 19:1-9). Blind  Bartimaeus  had an encounter with Jesus and he got his healing (Mark 10:46-52). Many people who had an encounter with Jesus all had good things to say. Jesus came to this world years back to die for your sins so that you might have life and have it abundantly.  Don't be deceived, anything outside Jesus may look good but it's not the best. Nothing is better than Jesus. Jesus is the best thing that could ever happen to you. Stop living your life anyhow and start living it with Jesus in you. Your satisfaction and fulfillment begins when you have Jesus. Nothing in the worl...

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:20 Someone told me Pastors are not to take wine because of the leadership role in the church and that the congregation looks up to them as an example of Christ Jesus. I mostly agree with that but much more than that, every follower of Jesus should be an example of Jesus to the world, it's not just for the pastors. While A Pastor might head a congregation here on earth, that doesn't necessarily makes him spiritually better than others. We all are pastor, yours might not be in a local assembly but in your place of work, in your classroom, in your business, in your home, you are called to preach Jesus to everyone. Just the same way most folks think witnessing is the job of an evangelist.  Every child of God is automatically an ambassador of Jesus. Yes, being a head of an assembly put the spotlight on you, no doubt,...

The  grace  of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  - Revelation 22:21  Thank God for the Grace He has given us. But the Grace is not given to makes us lazy or to make us inactive. We have grace so that we can do more. These days, folks are readily abusing The Grace of God over them. Because There is so much Grace doesn't mean we have the right to sin, Not at all. A new wave of Grace preachers are rising up and I quite don't totally agree with some of them because of their belief about grace. Of course, we have the right to believe what we want to believe but yet we must understand that what we believe have a far-reaching effect on us. We must rightly divide the truth. The finished work of Jesus is Grace. And we can enjoy that Grace through Faith. Faith without works is dead. Faith is an act and a doing. Grace is not meant for you to live anyhow. Grace is meant for you to live right. When you disregard the Grace you have, you end u...

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. - Mark 6:31 Lately, I have been so busy and it's taking its toll on me. You know what they say 'work and work while you are young'. Recently I came across today's scripture and I saw it in another light, In today's verse, Jesus and his disciples has just finished a crusade casting out demons, healing and teaching, the disciples came to tell Jesus about it and He told them to take a rest. Wow!  That means He values the rest. Our physical bodies need rest to rejuvenate. I have recently discover that stress reduces our productivity and effectiveness. You can't do much when you are tired. Learn to take a break and relax your body. There is time for everything, a time to work and a time to rest. Rest is essential if you want a sound health. Even God rested after working. Our pursuit for the good and fi...