Lesson from Egusi Soup

Every year six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday...

More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day, 300 million are children.
Of these 300 million children, only eight percent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 percent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency...

http://cozay.com/

Such headlines did not move me. Even if I did give to causes to help save poverty, it was most likely because I had something to give away, not out of love and compassion. It is hard to be empathetic, especially when you are not the one wearing the shoes.

One weekend, I prepared fresh, delicious egusi soup (melon soup). I had 3-days old egusi soup in my fridge but I was not about to “contaminate” the fresh soup so I decided to pour the old one away. Just when I was about to throw it into the dustbin, a long buried scene surfaced in my memory.

It was Friday evening. There were little remains of the 6-day egusi soup, which I kept for myself and my mother who would be returning late from work that Friday. When she got home and asked for soup, I realized that the soup was too small for both of us to share. I poured water to increase the quantity. It became too watery. So I decided to add garri to the soup to give it weight. In my naivety, I did not know that the garri will coagulate in the hot soup. By the time I was to serve the soup, it was no longer soup. It was hard garri coloured with egusi and leaves. Garri-Egusi cake – in summary.

It was not edible. Mother and I went to bed hungry that night, looking forward to Saturday when we will have the next meal…

I stood by my cooker and wept. I looked at the soup I was about to throw away. If only mother and I had seen something like that then, we would not have gone to bed hungry. I wept as I realized how easily I forgot where I was coming from. I realized how wasteful I had become. I realized that there are indeed hungry people in our world. I realized that I (or any of my family) could have been part of the statistics if not for the love of God. Suddenly, my heart feels compassion for those in need.

Beloved, nothing is a waste, especially food. What you do not want, someone else will need.

Do take out time to find out whose life you can make a difference in with your food, money, clothes, or whatever you have, no matter how little. There are ministries, foundations, NGOs where you can sow into. As as you sow, may you reap a thousand fold and lack no good thing, in Jesus name, Amen.

Do not despise the days of your small beginnings [Zechariah 4:10]. And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase [Job 8:7].
Have a blessed weekend ahead.

Please join me in celebrating 16 years in memorial…

Infant Steps: How Do I Handle Peer Pressure?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,
Hope your week has started out beautifully. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore. Thank you for your responses to Hilda’s question. She is really encouraged.

Today, we have another question on the Infant Steps Series. It has to do with pressures from friends as a Christian. How did you manage to overcome peer pressures? How did you manage your relationship with people who knew you before you gave your life to Christ? Julia asks similar questions. Please read her question and advise her accordingly. Thank you.

Dear Rita,
I saw the question on backsliding and I want to imagine that Hilda would have had a lot of peer pressures. It is not easy. Speaking for myself, I recently gave my life to Christ but I find it a daily struggle to keep my faith. Since I gave my life to Christ, I have not felt any different. I still like the things I have always liked, think the things I always thought and react the way I have always reacted. My challenge is in the pressures from my close friends who knew me before I gave my life to Christ. They make me participate in the activities I am trying to let go of. They gang up against me if I do not give in to their requests. They also want to see me fall. When I make a mistake, they taunt me by saying “Is this how a Christian should behave?” These are people that I have grown to know and love.

How do I handle my relationship with them? How do I also handle the pressures from them? Do you know anyone that has successfully overcome this challenge?

Julia.

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.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.

In This 2009, We Will...(5)

Maureen was based in the US. We all know how much Nigerians want to give birth to children in the US. Maureen’s home was usually the home to accommodate Nigerians who wanted to give birth in US. Whenever her visitors came, she showed them the real meaning of hospitality. She gave them rooms and food for free. And all the babies left with a gift from her.

All the while, Maureen was praying for a child. It was okay when her elder ones resided in her house to give birth. But when even the younger ones, nieces that she carried as babies, and younger sisters to her friends started coming to her house, she really longed for the day she will rejoice like they did. The greatest thing about Maureen was that she made each mother that came to her house feel like they were in a 5-star home. She did not complain.

Several years later, she had her own child – in that same home that was the stopover for other women to give birth. Even if you have a heart a stone, if you see the sacrifices that Maureen made, won’t you give her the desire of her heart as long as it is in your power? How much more God?

In This 2009, We Will Sow Seeds

The Bible teaches us that every man will reap what he sows [Gal 6:7]. He that sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully [2 Cor 9:6].
Let’s look at different types of seeds
1. The Word of God: - this is a seed you sow into your spirit. It helps with your spiritual growth and builds your faith. This seed later manifests to become a physical reality [John 1:14, Luke 8:11, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 3:9].
2. Tangible Seeds: what a person can feel. Examples include financial support, gifts
3. Intangible Seeds: - what a person cannot feel or touch but can cause a difference. Examples include prayers, service, sacrifices, your time, preparations (like studying for an exam), display of love and affection, attitudes, etc.

Beloved, God appreciates seeds [Gen 8:21-22, Leviticus 19:19].

Let's look at some things in sowing
1. The seed – every seed sown has the possibility to produce fruit/harvest of itself [Genesis 1:11-12, Genesis 1:29, 1 Corinthians 15:38]. If you sow good seed, you will reap good harvest. If you sow bad seed, you will reap bad harvest.

2. The time the seed is sown – every seed has a time that is best for it to be planted. If planted at the wrong time, it will not be productive. When God touches you to sow a seed, do it when He has specified. You can have a million excuses why a later time will be better, but if not done at the right time, it will be a waste. [Gen 8:22, John 12:24].

3. The soil in which it is sown – It is not all seed you sow that will reap a harvest. The ground on which it is sown has to be good [Matthew 13: 4 – 8]. Are you sowing into a person or ministry God has asked you to? Or are you sowing into anywhere your heart desires? Do you feel someone is too rich or too blessed for you to sow into his life?

4. Your expectation of the seed: - When you sow a seed, do you believe that the seed will yield fruit? Do you feel you are sowing in vain? It is your duty to plant then expect every day the fruit of your seed sown knowing that it is the Almighty God who will give the increase [1 Cor 3:6]. If you believe in your seed, sow with diligence [Ecclesiastes 11:4,6, Isaiah 28:24-25].

5. The nurturing of the seed – Paul said “I have planted, Apollos watered…” [1 Cor 3:6a] You will have to nurture your seeds. This will come through prayer, thanksgiving, efforts and sacrifices you will make [Deut 11:10, 1 Cor 3:6, 1 Cor 15: 37-38]. You will also have to prune your growing seed with positive confessions and replacing fear with faith.

You want a car? Sow into the life of someone who is about to buy one. Your seed could be as small as a fire extinguisher for the car or a financial support.
If you want to start a ministry, sow into other people’s ministry.
If you are looking for a job, help your elder ones iron their work clothes.
If you want improved relationships, give more of yourself.

The list of what, how and where to sow is endless.

Three key things to take out of this message is
1. Sow what God has asked you to sow (it usually is a sacrifice)
2. Do it in obedience [1 Samuel 15:22]
3. Do it with a pure heart (fully devoted to loving God with every part of your life, devoid of strife, envy, unforgiveness) because He sees the heart that goes with the seed [Psalm 44:21].

Have a blessed weekend ahead. Remember that they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall DOUBTLESS come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him [Psalm 126:5-6]. If you have been sowing, look forward to your harvest in this 2009.

In This 2009...
1. We Will Pray for Others
2. We Will Worship the Lord
3. We Will Know God for Ourselves
4. We Will Guard our hearts

Infant Steps: How do I, a backslider, move on?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,
Welcome to this blessed week. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore. Today, we are back to another question on the Infant Steps Series. It has to do with backsliding. Please respond to Hilda’s question below. She needs all the encouragement she can get from you. Thank you.

Also, please take some time to respond to the questions on addictions that came in as comments in the previous post on this series. Thank you.

Dear Rita,
I gave my life to Christ over 15 years ago when I was in class 1, secondary school. Then, every day I felt I was growing in the Lord because I spent considerable time in prayer and studying God’s word. By the time I got to class 4 (12 years ago), I backslid. I don’t want to blame it on my maturing hormones. Anyway, I realize that after then, I have lived a life I am ashamed of and have done worse things than I can ever imagine. I completely removed God from my life.

I want to go back to God. My life then was much better. But I feel guilty, ashamed and afraid because someone once told me that God punishes backsliders. Please what do I do? Is God really as forgiving as was portrayed in your post on God’s view on forgiveness?

Hilda.

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.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.

Greg, Anonymous and Madam, please see comments in the previous post on this series for responses to your questions.

Fatigue Failure

I am sure you are looking for this week’s question on the Infant Step Series. I am sorry to disappoint you. It will be up next week. Today I have a message for someone in particular and I cannot help but share it. Also, Greg and Anonymous, I will still respond to your questions in the last post on the Infant Steps Series.

Have you heard of fatigue in materials? Those who know the science of materials and metals can easily relate to this. I will try to make it simple here.

Do you know what makes a bridge that has been carrying tons of vehicles suddenly collapse one day when a bicycle is on it? Or do you know what makes a structure that has withstood the storms collapse one evening under a cool breeze? It is failure due to FATIGUE.

Fatigue failure is the tendency of a material to break by means of a PROGRESSIVE cracking under REPEATED ALTERNATING or CYCLIC stresses of intensity considerably smaller than what should normally break it. Example, there is palm kernel that Hulk Hogan can break with one hit of the stone. For you, you may have to hit the nut many times before it breaks though without using as much strength as he would. The number of cycles required to cause the failure is quite large, but it decreases as the stress is increased. Still on the palm kernel example, though you may have to do it many times before it breaks, it will become easier if you put in a little more effort.

Why I am talking about fatigue today? I am speaking specifically to someone who is saying “God, I am tired. I cannot do this anymore!” You have been praying, studying, praising, confessing the Word of God, hoping, believing, having faith, and yet you do not see the results. I want to tell you not to give up. You are almost there. Sooner than you think, you and everyone will see that so-called mountain brought down to nothing. Your prayers, praises, confessions, seeds and faith have been working. You have been applying stress on that mountain and all you need is a little more perseverance in what you have been doing to see the “failure due to fatigue”.

I leave you with these words

“Do seize, hold fast and retain without wavering the hope you cherish and confess and your acknowledgement of it, for God Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.” [Hebs 10:23 AMP].

Remember the key words in fatigue failure:
Progressive: - gradually increasing in severity. Keep increasing your time spent in the presence of God through prayer, worship, praise, study and meditation on the word of God.
Repeated: - occurring again and again. This is not the time to stop doing what you have been doing.
Alternating or Cyclic: - changing direction, occurring in cycles. It does not mean you should stop praying and then continue later :-). At regular intervals, take time to do something special with your prayer (like fasting), sowing new seeds, etc.

Are you going to hold on tight to see the "failure" due to the fatigue your prayers and perseverance is causing?

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Infant Steps: How do I overcome addiction?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

Welcome to this blessed week. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore. Today, we have another question on the Infant Steps Series. It has to do with addiction to smoking. When I received the question, I felt addiction is addiction, whether it is to smoking, drinking, fornication, or watching TV :-) just to name a few. Please as you respond to Greg’s question below, it will be most appreciated if your response could also help others facing any form of addiction. Thank you.

Dear Rita,
I am addicted to cigarettes for over 5 years. I have tried everything I can to stop smoking but the longest I have stayed away from the cigarette is 1 day. New Year resolutions have been futile. The most frustrating part is that I have been a born-again Christian for about two years, yet I have not been able to stop. I hope to serve the Lord with all my heart and soul, but I do not think I am worthy of being called a Christian if I cannot stop smoking.

Is my situation hopeless? Do you know what I can do to overcome this addiction? Do you know of anyone that has overcome this challenge?

Greg.



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.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.

Jehovah-Suddenly

Dear Father, I pray for the person reading this post. He/She may have seen Your face as Jehovah-Hope. He/She may be trusting you for something. I pray that You, Jehovah-Suddenly visits him/her. Suddenly, things will happen in favor of this person. Suddenly, You will give him/her reason to testify that his/her joy will be full. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Dear Father,
All my loved ones have unique names I give to them. You are no exception. I started this year calling You Jehovah-Hope (The God that gives hope). Yes You give hope. How else can I explain things like the woman ditched twice a day before her wedding still trusting in You for a husband, or the man who applies for jobs for the umpteenth time despite several rejections, or the lady with countless miscarriages still believing in you though the doctors say it is futile? And you came through for them. I personally have beheld Your miracles as “Jehovah-Hope”. I felt I was going to spend this year calling You Jehovah-Hope, not knowing You have a different facet You wanted to show me.

I just want to say Thank You. In a short space of time, you have sprung so many surprises at me. You have reassured me of Your love despite my doubts and negative confessions. You have opened doors I never knew existed. You have made me stand before kings. You have filled my heart and mouth with testimonies. A post is not enough to describe the contents of the table of blessings you prepared for me out of the blue.

Suddenly, You did a new thing. Now I have seen another part of You I was not used to – the fact that You can do a new thing: customized for me, something that never existed before, even in my mind. Now I call you Jehovah-Suddenly (The God that does a new thing suddenly). You are faithful to Your Word.

Once again I say, Dear Father, I pray for the person reading this post. He/She may have seen Your face as Jehovah-Hope. He/She may be trusting you for something. I pray that You, Jehovah-Suddenly visits him/her. Suddenly, things will happen in favor of this person. Suddenly, You will give him/her reason to testify that his/her joy will be full. In Jesus Name, Amen.