How To Mend A Broken Ornament

Let me start by saying THANK YOU to all of you who nominated this blog as Best Religion Blog. Your support and encouragement has helped to keep me going, especially as in recent times I have not responded to comments on my blog or visited other blogs. It is my sincere prayer that God, through this blog, will encourage you in your walk with Him, and help you realize that He is with you and you are not alone. I also thank God for the transformation that has been taking place in my life through the blog and the people I have known through this medium.

This post starts with a story about my glass. I have this set of wine glasses. To me, they are very beautiful, very precious and because they are very delicate, I handle them with care. I also pride myself that I do not break things. But on this fateful day when I was washing one of them, after I had carefully washed it, I wanted to drain water out of it when it hit the sink. It was so light a touch but my dear delicate glass was shattered to pieces. *Sigh*. I wanted to mend it myself but alas I could not. Step 6 of How To Mend A Glass Ornament says "Do not attempt to repair ornaments shattered into many pieces." As I began to pick up the scattered pieces of glasses I heard "In a similar way, do not attempt to repair a broken heart yourself."

For anyone who has experienced heartbreak, you will agree with me that the word "heartbreak" is not a figure of speech. It is the way you feel when your heart has been broken. It is a feeling of the physical shattering that comes with the feeling of rejection, feeling of worthlessness or feeling of being alone. It is quite painful if you were left for someone else. If it has happened more than once, there could be a feeling of hopelessness and fear to ever enter another relationship.

This post is specific to someone who has been heartbroken. You are still hurting and holding feelings of unforgiveness. It may appear that you have moved on, maybe you are in a relationship or even married, but there is a part of your heart that still hurts when you remember what happened that you cannot let go. It may even be affecting your perception of people who say they love you genuinely. You may have tried to heal that pain with so many things - education, work and activities, more relationships, an addiction, etc. You may have even sworn never to forgive the person who hurt you.

Today, your loving Father wants you to know, "Do not attempt to repair a broken heart yourself". God knows where and how you hurt. He knows all that transpired. You are precious to Him. To allow Him to take you to the place He wants for you, you need to let Him heal you completely. He is the Lord, who heals you. He wants to heal you in a way that leaves no scars. He wants to give you a brand new heart. He understands very well delicacy and intricacy. He wants to take you into His arms, comfort you and show you real love. He wants you to enjoy fully the relationship He is preparing for you (or the one you are in). He does not want your prayers to be held back by unforgiveness.

If you are this person and you feel the need to let go, please say this prayer:

"Heavenly Father, I am sorry that I have tried to fix my pain my own way. I am sorry for the feelings of unforgiveness I have harboured. I surrender to You, Father. Give me a new heart. Make me whole again. I forgive the person who hurt me and let go of all negative thoughts towards that person. I receive Your healing touch and loving embrace. I take Your hand and walk with You into the future You have for me. Thank You Father, In Jesus Name, Amen."

If you want to share what you've been going through or you want someone to stand with you in agreement as you pray, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com and I will speak with you when it is most convenient for you.

Remain Blessed.

The Shortcut

Several years ago...It had been six months since I finished University, awaiting NYSC, so all funds had been cut. After those seemingly long months of waiting on God for a financial breakthrough and it was not forthcoming, I sought to find a solution for myself. One Friday, I called a friend whom I knew was financially okay. I asked for some help. He agreed to give me some money but on the condition that we go out on a date. Sunday evening, I indulged him and he gave me N3000 (equivalent of about $20).

On Monday, I took my N2500 (now short by the transport money), full of excitement that my immediate problems of fixing my hair and my nails will be solved. I had to walk through my department in school, which was near the salon I was going to. To my greatest surprise, I received 2 pieces of information I was not expecting. The secretary in my department said she planned to call me that Monday for she received the information late on Friday.

The first was that a scholarship I had applied for in my second year, which I had lost hope that it will ever come through, had suddenly come through and I would be paid N50,000.

The second was a lecturer needed someone to help a company with a quick study. I accepted it knowing that it would take me only 2 days to do the work. In my mind, I valued the job as a N20,000 job and felt that with enough management, this could last me three more months. On acceptance, I was told that I would be paid N250,000 on completion of the study (of which I had to give a little part of the money with the lecturer that helped me get the job).

As I received those pieces of information, I took a seat, pondered and wept. I said “If only I had waited on God just 2 days, I would have known that He had already answered my prayers”. N3000 (which resulted in me devaluing myself) was nothing compared to what God had in store for me.

I am sharing this story specifically for someone who has been waiting on God for an answer. Now you are at that point where you want to take the “shortcut” – the alternative that seems to solve the immediate problem without considering the future implications. Your Loving Father is telling you to hold on. Do not underestimate what He can do. Do not create your own testimony. You have waited this long, though counting the times that has passed. Believe that God's grace is sufficient to take you further.

When Esau sold his birthright [Genesis 25:29-34], he was thinking of solving the immediate problem - his hunger. He was consumed by his situation that he did not understand what He was giving up.

Beloved, what may be someone else’s miracle may be your shortcut. You know that thing you desire, and hopefully those words of peace that God has spoken to you concerning that which you desire. In my case if only I had waited 2 days, I would have known God had already answered my prayers. He has already answered yours and I do not know how much longer you need to wait to see the physical manifestation of your answered prayer. But do not forget this one thing: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think [2 Peter 3:8-9]. What He has in store for you is worth the wait, for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or think.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Related devotional on "From The Heart Of A Loving Father":

Remember Your Rights As A Child Of God.

I Testify Of God - God Is A Healer And He Is Faithful

Beloved EROLyrics Readers, today you will read the second installment of the Testimony Series (I Testify Of God). It is about the healing of a lady who was shot by armed robbers. Disclaimer:- There are parts of the post that went into details of the incident, so if you do not have the liver for it, you can stop reading now. If you get to read it, I hope you are blessed like I am with this testimony of God's awesomeness. If you have something to share, please feel free to drop me a message at esurunma@gmail.com.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Modupe…was born some thirty years ago…Grew up in Ibadan and had all my education there..then I got a job in Lagos after my youth service in 2004 and relocated there.

What is your testimony about?

I think its more like my testimonies, but I have singled this particular incident out because I sincerely hope that someone reading this will be touched by God’s amazing grace and be reminded that He is truly an ever present help in our time of need. I was shot by armed robbers and God miraculously kept me alive. 4 years and still counting…I have never been to the hospital for any complaint since then…He is indeed an Awesome God.

The year was 2006…a Wednesday in the month of June and it started off like any other day…Brings to the fore the fact that you never know the day your life will get transformed, I'm sure Joseph must have felt it was just another day before he got the call from pharaoh..

I finished work around 5pm and decided to visit the movies before going home….picked up a friend of mine from surulere and we drove to Victoria island to see a movie..left V/I around 8.30pm and started back home. Home then was in Satellite town with my uncle.

Drove from V/island back through Costain to drop my friend and started off home from there..

I could recall that on my way, I was listening to music and mentally arranging the rest of my week…aligning schedules with the days left etc. Then I noticed that some cars had turned back and were driving one –way…on recounting the incident later on, several listeners said if I had be a Lagos wise driver I would have got the signal and joined the train at the point.

Anyways, I didn’t, first because I wasn’t a lagos- wise girl and second because I didn’t know any alternative route home. So I continued until I realized that I couldn’t drive forward any longer because there was an ambush and armed robbers were doing their thing.

Here I was in my car watching them ransack the car just in front of me and I cant remember what was going through my mind but I was scared..and when one of the robbers came to my window at first, I refused to roll down my glass and stayed there in fear…then an unexpected thing happened, the robbers shot into the car in front of me and then I figured these weren’t just thieves..these were trigger happy people who intend to rob as well as kill..so I told myself that I needed to leave the spot…and I struggled to maneuver through the little space between my car and the one in front and make a turnaround to escape..then one of the tyres of my car veered off the tarred surface and I was convinced I could no longer make it…I stopped.

I stayed in my car and started to muttering “Jesus, please help me..please help me..”

I was praying …and I was stealing some glances at my window to check the robbers out…next thing I noticed one of them was removing something from his bag and and putting in his gun..In retrospect, I realized that it was the point when he placed a catridge bullet in his gun..

I was still saying Jesus please help me..when I heard the sound..it sounded faraway…..then I turned to look at my window and saw the robbers moving away..then it caught my eye…the flesh on my side was torn apart and I could see my pelvic bone..and blood was gushing..then it hit me..the sound wasn’t faraway..it was the sound of a gun on my car door and the bullet had pierced my skin apart…

I still don’t know where the strength to live came from..I guess its what we call” Grace”

I placed my feet on the pedal and pressed hard and my car moved…and I continued driving…driving until I saw people…and traffic..so I stopped and asked for help..and in the midst of the crowd I could help people saying "Don’t help her..she will die…see all the blood”…one man came to me and asked me to allow him to drive..Time now will be around 10pm…I moved to the other seat and he took over the wheels.

He drove straight to a police station, got the officer to come into the car and write the police report…while he was driving to the hospital…

We got to the hospital..meanwhile I had placed a call to my aunt and uncle to inform them that I had been shot..then I handed the phone to him so he could tell them where we were. The good Samaritan stayed till my uncle and aunt came and then handed over my personal effects and car keys to them.

Did I hear you say "He who watches over Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers…"?

Next day, I called the Chief Medical Adviser in my office and was transferred to another hospital where I had access to specialists.

The surgeon called was an Orthopaedic surgeon, because of the assumption that maybe my bone had been affected, then I went for xrays and the result showed that bone was brushed but not broken…but I still had to be taken to the theatre..

So I went for the surgery around 4pm the next day…Family members and friends had gathered round for the usual support..

Went in with the promise that surgery should be over in 3hrs..I later learnt that I was in for about 7hours..Midday through the surgery, they suspected that my intestines have been damaged and sent for an abdominal surgeon who insisted that I required a laparotomy, this I later discovered is a procedure whereby the surgeons cuts you open without having a clear idea of what may be wrong with you.

Well, they discovered I had multiple perforations in my small and large intestines and a colostomy procedure had to be done. Thats a procedure that requires them to put some part of my intestine on the surface so that I won't have to go to the toilet normally but will be using a bag on the surface instead..

Well, to cut a long story short, I spent three months in the hospital and had three surgeries…went through pain that cannot be described nor defined …but I survived just because of one simple truth.

GOD IS A HEALER AND HE IS FAITHFUL

I needed to write this now to tell someone out there, that God is faithful.  You may have to go through the valley experiences every now and then, because it’s the way of the world we live in..but those experiences just serve to show God in a brighter, more evident light.

He is faithful that promised and He has said He will never leave us nor forsake us. These words I know for myself. Do take this word from the mouth of someone who has been in very dark place once, a place where I wasn’t sure of what the next second will bring, a place where often times I long for death because it seemed like a more preferable option to pain..

I spent three months on the hospital bed and I can honestly tell you that it was like passing through fire, but more importantly I can add that God sits as a purifier…and He will never let you have more than you can bear.

Go on…cry atimes…scream if it makes you feel better…Give Him a chair and insist on a dialogue..but never stop trusting Him…Never stop lighting up the flame of your faith. He will deliver you in His perfect time.

Hmmm...tears are rolling down my eyes and I can see the applicability of your encouraging words in my life. Please share with us what you learnt from this experience.

I learnt the following:

1. God is a deliverer..an ever present help in the time of need...

2. God gives an amazing amount of grace when we reach out to Him in trying times...

3. It is good to be a true friend or family to someone, because you will never know the value of friendship or family as much as when you are in your dark place...

4. Pain doesn't kill and sometimes we have to go through some unpleasant stuff in life..but as long as we don't get killed by it, we will be better off and live to tell the testimonies...

5. Friends and Family were awesome and they made a terrible time, bearable...

Modupe, I am sure that your being alive today is not by chance or by mistake. God has a special purpose for you and by His grace, you will fulfill it. May you continue to have testimonies all the days of your life. Thank you for sharing this testimony.

Infant Steps: When Is My Marriage Blessed?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

Thank God for the first quarter of this great year. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore.

Today’s question on the Infant Steps Series comes from a lady who needs to understand something about marriage. She wants to know if her marriage will not be blessed because she did not have a church wedding. Please read her question below and if you have scriptures to back your opinion, it will be most welcome. Thank you.


Dear Rita,


I am a Christian. I recently got engaged, and have started making plans for the wedding. My family is so happy for me and very excited. They have been very supportive this period. 

The traditional wedding is going to be a grand event. Considering the costs, time and effort involved, I and my fiance have agreed that we will have a court wedding and a small reception as our wedding. Then later on we can have a marriage blessing.

When I discussed this with my family, they did not accept this plan. I was told that the church wedding is the most important part and should not be left out. I was told that without the church wedding, my marriage will not be blessed.

I am a bit confused about this. I have so many whys and hows. Should we go bankrupt because of a wedding? Will my marriage not be blessed until I go to church? Please I need your thoughts on this.

Rhoda.

 

If you have any questions you would like to discuss on the Infant Steps Series, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com or leave the question as a comment in any of my blog posts.

If you want to view past questions and answers on the Infant Steps Series, please check the list on the sidebar right of the blog.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time (unless there are exceptions).

It Has No Place In You

When a Christian is going through a challenging time, it is often assumed that “He offended God” or “He is not spiritual enough”. Truth is, whether godly or ungodly, there are challenges but the difference is how the situation is handled.

I want to share with you my experience during a very low period of my life. Pardon me if I use a lot of metaphors and personification.

Even when I was not a Christian, I had never felt like this before. Something had come over me. It was the spirit of depression (I did not know then). He walked stealthily into my life and I made the mistake by giving him full access to my heart. I was sad, unhappy, frustrated and angry every day. I cried every day. My laughter was feigned. I no longer cared about eating or looking good. Of course, I was not reading my bible, praying or going to Church.

For the first time in my life, I was angry with God and renounced the faith. Funny enough at that time I heard the words in my spirit, “Do you know Me and what I can do? What makes you think I cannot give you that thing that you desire above Me?” I ignored the voice.

Everything in my life became meaningless. All I had gained became worthless. All I hoped to achieve seemed irrelevant. The spirit of depression was my comforter. He told me things like, “really everything in life is meaningless if you do not have this one thing you want so badly” and “if you really are a child of God, you should not be having such a challenge” and “consider the kind of life you lived before giving your life to Christ, what makes you think you deserve to be blessed? Are you different from others?”

“What should I do?” I asked.

“Take your life. You cannot bear the guilt, shame and ridicules. There is really no hope.”

The thought seemed appealing at that time. I was in a very dark place in my heart and in my life, and I just wanted a way out. I sent a text to my mother telling her my plans and how I will miss her. Then she called me. She did not have pity on me. She said, “Who are you to take your life? Did you give it to yourself? Do you know that you are very selfish by thinking only about yourself? Why don’t you think about why you are here and what you should be doing for others? Don’t you know this is the time to draw near to God?”

It was then I heard a voice in my spirit telling me, “You have invited the spirit of depression (first time of hearing the word). It has no place in you. You have to send it out. But there can’t be a vacuum in you. You need the Holy Spirit in you to help you send out the spirit and let Him help you bear His fruit.”

I reluctantly started a 1-hr prayer of worship every day. Creflo Dollar’s study notes helped me to learn more about the unconditional, unfailing love of God and how to overcome fear. Podcasts from Joseph Prince Ministries helped me understand who I am in Christ and what it means to be loved by God. Joining the children’s church helped me remove focus from myself and show love to others. Attending church helped me to pray in the spirit and make declarations concerning my life. My countenance became one full of joy. I had favour and made more friends as a result.

Believe it or not, about 30 days after this, I got a breakthrough in my life after waiting for years. That is why I can boldly say that prayer changes things. If I had taken my life then, I do not think I will be alive to say, with boldness, that there is God and He is Almighty. He is love and faithful to His word.

I am sharing this post specifically to someone going through a very low period of his/her life, who feels he/she is at the point where life seems meaningless. Maybe you have got to that point where suicide seems to be the only way out. I want to tell you today that God loves you so much and does not want you to cut short your life. Your miracle is too close for you to give up now. There is hope for you here on earth. Please say the prayer below. If you want me to pray with you and talk to you, please send your number/email to my email address (esurunma@gmail.com). I will reach you wherever you are and whatever time is convenient for you. If you know someone going through such a time and needs help, please share this post with them or give me his/her contact details.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love towards me. I am sorry for thinking I own my life and should do with it as I please. With the authority in me as Your child, I rebuke that spirit of depression in the name of Jesus. I receive Your peace and joy today. I submit myself to Your will. Give me strength for each day. May I experience an added sense of Your presence in my life. May Your Spirit work in me to bear fruit to Your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The post for Infant Step Series will be scheduled for Wednesday, 9AM West Africa Time.

Remain Blessed.

God Bless Nigeria Church and My Experience At Marakana

When we were told that we were going to evangelize at Marakana in Ajegunle (Lagos), I did not know what to expect. I was not scared. I just wanted God to teach me things by making me meet with other people, and probably use the opportunity to reach out to someone. Below I share my experience / point of view of meeting 3 sets of people out of many. I left Marakana with a different perspective to life and a decision to be thankful to God every day of my life. I say that I am privileged to be where I am today, and with what God has blessed me, I must use to bless others.

I wake up in the morning and worry about my fuel tank that is near half, about my job that is too demanding, about the generator that cannot carry the electric cooker or the bed sheet that is not soft enough. My experience at Marakana made me realize that there are people, human beings like me, who do not have food to eat. They do not have fire to cook. They do not have beds to lie on. They do not have cars to drive. They do not have livelihoods. And the churches, or whatever they are called, around them, have exploited them in the name of God. There are people who do not know that they can have a better life. Their mindset is limited. They do not know what to hope for. They do not know that they have purpose.

But what touched me was there are people who are sick, who are blind, who are deaf and able (previously referred to as deaf and dumb) that wake up in the morning to praise and worship God. They are thankful for life, and believe that God is able. I was humbled yet encouraged. Please find below my experience with some people.

Esther: She vigorously fanned the wood awaiting the first flicker of fire. She had been trying to fry her egg for over 15minutes but the fire was not lighting. I came to bring the Good News to her.

“Come and join me to church,” I said. “Today we came with doctors who have medicine for those that are sick.” I hoped that would lure her.

She laughed mockingly. “Will they test me for AIDS?”

“I am not sure about that, but maybe we can go and find out”.

She said nothing, but continued at the fire. It seemed she was getting upset with the fire for she had started murmuring. I offered to help but she did not accept. I was at loss for how to reach her.

“Will you come to church?” I asked again. She laughed. Final answer. I left.

How could I explain the Good News when she had no food to eat (and was scared that she had contacted AIDS)?

Case 2: They all lined up for their “breakfast” – Weed. Both male and female. Those that had taken their dose sat around the man who had the full basin of weed. They were all quiet and dazed. My companion talked about the church and the free medical services. From my point of view, it was as if they could not understand what he was talking about. “Church you say?” One of them managed to mutter. He sighed and went back to his “breakfast”.

The children that grow up seeing this every day, how can they know better if people do not come and tell them?

Faith: After a brief fellowship, we were asked to have a one-on-one with the people. I was assigned to Faith. Faith is a lovely, playful, “faithful” lady. She told me her story. The day she was born, her father was being buried. She has no siblings. She grew up with relatives because her mother did not have enough to raise her up. Her education ended in secondary school. She is a nurse and a hairdresser. She works hard. She came to know God through evangelism by members of God Bless Nigeria Church. She has a fiancé and plans to get married this year. We prayed together. If you hear her talk, every word that comes out of her mouth is filled with faith. Life and joy bubbled within her. “Are we going to see Pastor Tony today? The tall Pastor?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. She became very excited.

I was really encouraged by Faith and the others in the fellowship. These are people who live in Marakana but had chosen to be separate. It was evident that transformation had begun in their lives – thanks to the word of God and the work of God Bless Nigeria Church to reach out to them with the Good News.

I thank God for God Bless Nigeria Church (can be located at Onikan Stadium, Lagos). I thank God for those who accepted the vision, for those who decided to be partakers and for those who have made sacrifices to reach those places most of us will not. I have seen how people’s lives have been transformed from darkness to light, and from doom to purpose. Drug addicts, armed robbers, prostitutes, the sick, the incapacitated and the homeless have been reached by the church. God bless Nigeria. As we decide to change and make better a life today, in no time, we will see that many lives will be changed for the good of Nigeria.

HE Saw Every Tear

HE saw every tear:

The ones that welled up

But did not pour

The ones that dropped down

But did not leave a stain

The ones that flowed

For hours unstoppable,

Yes, HE saw every tear;

HE saw every tear

Those that spoke of your joy

Those of uncontrollable excitement

Those of success and satisfaction

Those of the fulfilment of HIS Will;

Those that told of your pains

Those that followed fear

Those that were filled with anguish

Yes, HE saw them all;

Even those that flowed under sedation

Even those of the transient joys of addictions

All those tears of self-condemnation, self-defeat

HE saw those tears of confusion and hopelessness;

Every drop meant something to HIM

Every drop HE watched over

Every drop communed with HIM

Every drop was mirrored on HIM;

HE saw every tear

HE felt each one with you

HE did not choose any over another

HE never took HIS eyes off you;

HE saw your every tear

No one else has seen them all

No one else has felt them too

No one else knows where you're coming from

No one else knows the great places HE's taking you to.

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. [Psalms 56:8, NLT]