It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary , I'm free to choose. And so I choose. I choose love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. I choose peace... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. I choose patience... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. I choose kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. I choose goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness. I choose faithfulness... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home. I choose gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” - John 9:5
Rev. Sbj. Oshoffa.
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Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
What in the world.............?
Jeremiah 1, 5-7
Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as my chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth.
But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
(Excerpt and emphasis from the Amplified Bible)
The beauty of creation
Tired and famished after a day filled with activities, I pause to do what I normally do at the end of each day……..reflect on the day.I drive past the first zoo in America most of the time and all I do is glance at its giant floating balloon hanging in the middle of the air over the west Philadelphia area. But today, my wife and i finally decided to pay a visit and it was quite an experience. After the walking around, viewing each animal, learning their respective origins and habitats, I realized each one of these creatures is unique in its own way. So unique that each of them wouldn’t survive if they weren’t in the right environment. These animals are so different in color; shape, size and mannerism, and every one of their features are there for a reason. The design and make up of these creatures could not by any chance be coincidence, there had to be a maker somewhere who put all these in place.
These observations had me thinking, “hey, u know what: humans are different in every way too”.
I ‘m convinced that if everyone could see the span of their lives, the future, the outcome, achievements and success or failure, they would plan for or against it. But hey, that’s what makes life life…….unpredictable.
But there is one who has seen it all and as a matter of fact, organized it in the first place. Organized what Gabe, u may ask……., organized our personality, our traits, passion and pain, race, gender, even to the tiniest details of our facial features.
Timeless questions that have been asked for ages and are still being asked today-(verbal or non verbal)
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
Is there a God, did He create me, and does He have a plan……?Endless question trouble our hearts (at least it does mine) at a point in life when we long for definition, meaning and purpose.
"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]". (Ephesians 2-10)
For most of us, waking up every day and heading to the same workplace isn’t doing it…there has to be more. More….money… more possessions… more…..recognition……, more education…........ whatever your “mores” are.
Everyone wants a sense of belonging; most people call it true success. But I call it finding your right place in life.
May I conclude tonight, based on scriptural truth that God (JEHOVAH) has a specific assignment for every one of us and He knows our outcomes?
I write as one who hasn’t arrived just yet but on his quest for purpose and definition.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile if we can take a moment to seek Gods face today and ask Him to lead us in our own destined path?
10.48pm already, nature calls………
Sleep well my friends, and to those of you on the other side of the globe: good morning.
Shalom.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as my chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth.
But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
(Excerpt and emphasis from the Amplified Bible)
The beauty of creation
Tired and famished after a day filled with activities, I pause to do what I normally do at the end of each day……..reflect on the day.I drive past the first zoo in America most of the time and all I do is glance at its giant floating balloon hanging in the middle of the air over the west Philadelphia area. But today, my wife and i finally decided to pay a visit and it was quite an experience. After the walking around, viewing each animal, learning their respective origins and habitats, I realized each one of these creatures is unique in its own way. So unique that each of them wouldn’t survive if they weren’t in the right environment. These animals are so different in color; shape, size and mannerism, and every one of their features are there for a reason. The design and make up of these creatures could not by any chance be coincidence, there had to be a maker somewhere who put all these in place.
These observations had me thinking, “hey, u know what: humans are different in every way too”.
I ‘m convinced that if everyone could see the span of their lives, the future, the outcome, achievements and success or failure, they would plan for or against it. But hey, that’s what makes life life…….unpredictable.
But there is one who has seen it all and as a matter of fact, organized it in the first place. Organized what Gabe, u may ask……., organized our personality, our traits, passion and pain, race, gender, even to the tiniest details of our facial features.
Timeless questions that have been asked for ages and are still being asked today-(verbal or non verbal)
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
Is there a God, did He create me, and does He have a plan……?Endless question trouble our hearts (at least it does mine) at a point in life when we long for definition, meaning and purpose.
"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]". (Ephesians 2-10)
For most of us, waking up every day and heading to the same workplace isn’t doing it…there has to be more. More….money… more possessions… more…..recognition……, more education…........ whatever your “mores” are.
Everyone wants a sense of belonging; most people call it true success. But I call it finding your right place in life.
May I conclude tonight, based on scriptural truth that God (JEHOVAH) has a specific assignment for every one of us and He knows our outcomes?
I write as one who hasn’t arrived just yet but on his quest for purpose and definition.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile if we can take a moment to seek Gods face today and ask Him to lead us in our own destined path?
10.48pm already, nature calls………
Sleep well my friends, and to those of you on the other side of the globe: good morning.
Shalom.
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