Doing things right in the eyes of the Lord

1 Kings 15, 8 – 11

And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.

Lets look at a few thing Asa did

1 Kings 15: 12 – 13

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

Asa stepped on some toes to please the Lord. I think this is very commendable. Can you imagine the controversy he would have come up against? Removing his mother from being queen and rightfully so as clearly stated above.

We need to do things right in the eyes of the Lord at all times. Lets not be men pleasers, its just not worth it.

In areas of our lives, we should not put up with things that don’t please the Lord because we don’t want to offend people. Not worth it, remember that one day, we shall all stand before the Lord to give Him an account for our lives.

Bisi Oladipupo

VERSICAL RHYMES: CHRISTMAS IS COMING

VERSICAL RHYMES: CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Activating substance into our relationships.

What do l mean? Do you have people in your life that it seems there is not much to talk about? You call them, once you pass the discussion about the Kids, work and weather there is nothing to talk about.

For relationships to be sustained there must be some valuable substance to it. What do l mean? There needs to be something you are giving or that is adding value to you?

But there is nothing to talk about. It can be activated. How? By activating substance into it.

An example of doing this is to find something that the person does that interests you. It could be reading books, or listening to messages, or a sport or physical activity.

Lets take the example of reading books. You can ask what books the person is currently reading? The person shares it with you and how much they have been blessed. In exchange you also give them books that have blessed you. The next time you talk, your conversation will have more substance to it because you will have something of value that interests both of you. In this case, you can talk about the books you have read.

The list of activating substance goes on e.g. doing things together, praying together , ministry, etc the list goes on.

While we do need to have substance in our relatonships not everyone will respond the same way. So what do l do? You can only try and if the person cannot discern that you are only trying to add more value to the relationship you at least tried.

Its all about trying to keep the flame alive and as we do so we will be blessed with valuable relationships with great substance.

Bisi Oladipupo

Undoing Parenting Mistakes Family | CBN.com

Undoing Parenting Mistakes Family | CBN.com

Food for thought!!

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. -Andre Gide. Be true to yourself (John Maxwell)

What is good for food?

In this modern world in which we live in today, what is ‘good for food’ is now what is ‘convenient’ for food.


But does the bible have anything to say about this?

We have scriptures that require us to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God.

Romans 12: 1- 2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


One way to present our bodies a living sacrifice is to take good care of it by feeding it with the right food.


So what is ‘good for food’?


Genesis 2: 9

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.


Genesis 1: 29

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Genesis 9: 1- 4

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.



The above was Gods original intention for mans diet. But what have we done? We have created our own food and refined Gods given food creating problems for ourselves.

There is nothing wrong in taking the food God gave us and making it edible e.g wholegrain bread etc but the problem is in the process sometimes man adds other things not good for our bodies.

The reality of this is that we do need to seek the Lords wisdom regarding our diet.

Psalm 104: 14

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; (not poor quality food out of the laboratory).


There is medical evidence that most diseases are caused by the wrong foods eaten. We are also seeing very increasingly that main features of society are changing their diet because of health.


Extract from Natural Health news: (23rd September 2010)

In a startling turn of events, former U.S. President Bill Clinton — who used to eat McDonalds hamburgers in front of the press — has turned to a plant-based diet and now drinks almond milk smoothies!

Why would he do this? Because he doesn’t want to die of a stroke or heart attack, of course! Read more (and see exactly what Clinton said about this to Wolf Blitzer) in today’s breaking news:

http://www.naturalnews.com/029816_Bill_Clinton_plant-based_diet.html

Below also is a testimony of healing from a change of diet:



So am l saying a plant based diet is the way forward? No but whatever we can get in this current world close to Gods original plan is. It is apparent that man made food is not always helpful.

1 Timothy 4: 1 – 5

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:


5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.


Please notice these key words for the purpose of this article:

“ For every creature of God is good” This is the key word, it’s the creature of God that is good, not necessary man made with unhealthy additions.


The reason why many people are careful of certain food items is the additions that man had added to them, which therefore no longer qualifies them as ‘Creatures of God good for food”.


What do l mean? Lets look at a few examples:

The use of antibiotics in the animal industry and agriculture.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/antibiotics/agriculture.htm


Food Additives:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-453431/The-proof-food-additives-ARE-bad-feared.html


Refined and processed foods:

http://www.natural-health-restored.com/refined-foods.html


The list goes on.


So what is the way forward? Yes we do need to change in regards to our diet.

Is there a perfect diet out there?

Well, I have not found one, however there are many that move us close to nature as possible:


So what is the way forward?

There is evidence everywhere that a change of diet does improve health however many do not change their diet until they get sick.

We do have a responsibility to take ‘ good care’ of our bodies and one way of doing this is to eat right.

There is evidence that the closer we stay to Gods original plan for food the better for us.

While eating right is not the only thing to do to remain in good health, it is a contributing factor.

If we really are people that love the Word of God we do need to begin to make amends concerning our diet so we can live long and bring glory to the name of the Lord.




Bisi Oladipupo

A good addiction

1 Corinthians 16:15, 16


I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)


That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

Are you addicted to the ministry of the saints?

What a great way to describe the ‘house of Stephanas’.

This will require a greater level of commitment on our part but very rewarding.

We need one another and would be great if more of us could be described this way.



Bisi Oladipupo

Interesting facts about the bible

Can be found read at:
http://bibleresources.bible.com/afacts.php

Our God Given Navigation System

Do you enjoy the satellite navigation system in your car?


Satellite navigation systems have the capability to show us trouble traffic spots so we can avoid them. The Stat Nav helps us foresee trouble and gives us the choice to avoid traffic and problems on our journeys.

As we journey through life, there are many decisions that need to be made. Who do l marry? What job should l take? Which church should l attend? I know the Lord has called me, but when do l step out? Which school should l let my children attend? and many other issues. Taking the wrong turn in any of these areas can cause us many problems.

As children of God we have our own spiritual navigation system that helps us avoid trouble and problems in these areas. The reality is that no one has passed this road before and we need help. Just as the satellite navigation system helps us in our road journeys, so has the Lord given us our own spiritual navigation system to help in our journey of life.

Proverbs 22: 3 says, a prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. So how do we foresee evil or the wrong way to go as children of God.


Lets have a look at some of our navigation systems:



The word of God:

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


Wise counsel

Proverbs 11:14b in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.


By listening to the Holy Spirit given to us


John 16: 13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

We need to obey those promptings we receive in our spirits and obey them.


By asking the Lord for direction and trusting Him


Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.



We do not need to get stuck in the issues of life once we engage our spiritual navigation systems.



Lets take advantage of what the Lord has given us to navigate safely through life.



Bisi Oladipupo

Lessons from My Father: The Preacher (Billy Graham)

By the Reverend Franklin Graham,



Interview by Amy Levin-Epstein, Best Life


My father became very close with the Nixons. He was fairly close with John F. Kennedy. After the Watergate era, however, he said, “I’m not going to say anything to a politician again unless it’s of a spiritual nature. I’m not going to talk with them about political issues, about international issues. I’m just going to keep my mouth shut and speak to them about things that affect their hearts.” I’ve watched him my whole life. He is my example. My father doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. If someone hurts him or disappoints him, my father just forgives the person and moves on. I think that’s what love is all about.

There’s no book to teach you. My father told me you learn how to preach by preaching. The only way you’re going to learn it is to go out there and do it and learn from your mistakes. And he’s right.

I saw that he was wary of politicians. They thought, If we get close to Billy Graham, that will influence votes. My father tries to use his position in a spiritual context.

He taught me that there is a devil in this world. There are spiritual powers at work against God. Why do we have bars on the windows? Why do we have to have police forces? Why do we have a judicial system? It’s because of the evil in this world. Everything he taught, he taught us through the Scripture.

I never saw my parents fight. Never really saw them argue. My mother was a soul mate to him. They did everything together. My father treated my mother with the utmost respect. He honored her. I have a friend–we’re about the same age–who loses his temper and yells at his wife, and he cusses at her from time to time, and guess what? His children do exactly the same thing.

My father is careful with women. He would not even ride in the same car with a woman other than my mother. I remember in Little Rock, Hillary Clinton, when she was the wife of Governor Clinton, wanted to meet my father for lunch. She wanted to have a private conversation. Daddy said, “I’d be glad to meet you, but we’ll meet in a public place.” My father told me, “I’m going to be above reproach and not allow myself ever to be accused of something that wasn’t morally right.”

He was gone for a long time when I was young. One time, he was gone for about six months. My father started his ministry right after World War II, when men had been gone for four or five years to defend the freedom of this nation. He felt, Should I do less for the sake of the cross? He later told me, “Son, if I had to do this over again, I wouldn’t have been gone that long.” When I’m through with my work, I go back home.


Life is a circle. When you are small, your relationship with your parents is one thing, and then you get to be an adult and they start treating you like an adult. And then when you are older, the roles reverse. Instead of the parents providing for the children, now we as children are helping to provide for our parents.


God did not give us religion. Religion is man’s attempt to reach a holy God.

He knows how to stay on message. All these years, he has been faithful to what he feels God called him to do, and that is to preach this wonderful good news, this Gospel, that Jesus Christ died for our sins, that He rose again, and if we would confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness and turn from those sins and invite Christ by faith into our hearts and into our lives, that God would forgive us.

The Reverend Franklin Graham, 56, runs the organization his father founded. The fourth of five children born to evangelist Billy Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham, Franklin has been a Christian evangelist and missionary from the age of 23. Since 2000, he has served as CEO, and since 2002 as president, of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. His father, one of most celebrated and well-loved preachers in American history, has counseled U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush.


From msn fathers day special  http://specials.msn.com/Network/fathersday08.aspx?GT1=34008

Ducking and Diving with the Lord!

What does the slang ‘Ducking and diving mean’?


Have you ever asked a child why did you do that? The child responds, but mummy, Jack made me do it. You respond: ‘Have l not told you not to do that’. The child responds, but mummy Jack made me do it. You respond, l told you not to do that, now this is your punishment movie tonight cancelled and in addition to that, l will tell your Dad when he comes back from work. Child responds, O! Mummy, okay l am sorry for what l did. This is a good example of ducking and diving. The child should have taken full responsibility for his/her actions in the first place and say sorry.

Its amazing how sometimes we do not come clean and open to the Lord. We do something wrong and instead of taking full responsibility we play the blame game or ‘paraphrase the sin game’. Well Lord, you understand, l really did not want to do that, but brother J made me do it. Have we forgotten that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere?

I think as Christians this is a very dangerous game to play as it reflects the state of the heart. 1 John 1 , 9 & 10 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

When we sin, we need to take full responsibility and go the Lord and tell Him exactly what we did wrong and ask for His forgiveness and He will forgive us. Not only will He forgive us He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Lord wants our hearts to be pure; being open and honest with the Lord is an attribute of a pure heart.



Psalm 24:3-4 (a)

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The Lord wants our hearts to be pure towards Him, and l believe that this is one reason why David was described as a man after Gods own heart .



Acts 13:22 (King James Version)

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.


Yes David did miss the mark, but he took responsibility for his actions and sought the Lord.

Have you ever read the book of Psalms and seen how David was open to the Lord?

When David sinned with Bathesba, against the Lord, he took full responsibility. Lets look at parts of Psalm 55:

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise when thou judgest.

The Lord really loves us. He died for us, the ultimate price anyone can pay. The least we can do, is come clean with Him.

Lets start being honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our actions, and as we do us, the Lord will continue to show Himself strong on our behalf.


The compliment, “a man after My own heart”, is one that


should characterize every person who wears the name of Christ.



Bisi Oladipupo

Food for thought!

It isn’t what the book costs; it’s what it will cost if you don’t read it.




http://twitter.com/JimRohnQuotes

An outstanding miracle!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjM4xrw1ds



What you are watching happened at the Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival on August 27, 2010. Many people in Mobile, AL have known Bishop Levy Knox and his wife Delia for many years. Delia was injured in a car accident on Christmas Day, 1987, and was paralyzed from the waist down.

Food for thought! Self Discpline

Discipline is a liberating force: it frees you to achieve most any goal you set for yourself.


Discipline is a bridge: it provides a link between your dreams and their realisation.

From: THE LIBERATING POWER OF (SELF) DISCIPLINE
 
Please read the rest of this great article at: http://successeminars.weebly.com/article-discipline.html

Food for thought - A good church service

A good church service is not what you shouted about but what you understood. Until what you heard becomes what you understood and applied it was not a good service.

Is the love of the Father in you?

1 John 2:14 – 17 : King James Version


I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.


The bible is talking to Christians ‘ If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The love of the world is defined as ‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’.


This is the question, is the love of the father in you? Will you take a better paid job than fulfill the plan of God for your life? Will you go for the pride of life in job positions than obey God? Will you rather buy that expensive car than obey the father and use the money to do something else that He wants you to do? Yes you go to church, but is the love of the father in you?


The answer is clear, for the scripture says, ‘if any man’, loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.


*Worldliness can be internal, for it begins in the heart. It is characterized by three attitudes:

a) lust of the flesh – preoccupation with gratifying physical desires

b) lust of the eyes – materialism

c) pride of life – obsession with ones status or importance

*(Life application study bible)


This does not mean that a person is not born again. It simply means that the love for the world has consumed the love for God in their heart. For the bible says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us (Romans 5:5). We all have what it takes to love God.


When you disobey the father because of worldly things (the positions, pride, power, deceit of riches), remember that they will all pass away and one day you will have to give account to God.


Let us love God. We all have the capacity to be consumed with His love.

All we need to do is yield ourselves to His love, which is in our hearts.


If you feel dry and indifferent, cry out for His help. Ask Him to do a work in your heart and spend time in His presence.


Lets allow our love for Him to consume us and direct out lives.



Bisi Oladipupo

Just a touch!

Its so encouraging to know that just a touch can make all the difference. What a privilege we have.




Lets look at a few examples from scripture:



Leprosy departed



Mark 1: 40 – 42



And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.



And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.



And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.




Fever departed



Mark 1: 29 – 31


And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Notice the last verse all the Lord did was take her by the hand, lift her up (no prayer) and the fever departed.




12 years issue of blood healed



Mark 5: 25 – 29

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,


When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.


For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.


And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.




Blindness healed


Mark 8: 22 – 25


And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.


And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.


And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.


After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.



Matthew 9: 27 – 30


And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.


And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.



A dead son received back to life!


Luke 7: 12 – 15


Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.


And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.



Deafness and impediment in speech healed


Mark 7: 32 – 35


And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.


And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;



And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.



And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.



Cut off ear healed and restored!


Just imagine an ear put back on with no surgery, just a touch from our Lord



Luke 22: 48 – 51



But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?


And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.



And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.



All kinds of diseases healed



Matthew 14: 35 – 36

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;


And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.


Luke 6: 19

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.


Mark 6:56


And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.




But the situation has persisted? Don’t listen to the lies of the devil, its nothing in the eyes of the Lord. Be encouraged by these scriptures and be rest assured that the Lord will do it.



Bisi Oladipupo

Honouring the Lord

While we do honour the Lord in giving our tithes and offerings there are many other ways in which we can honour the Lord. One of such includes the way in which we bring up our children.


We honour the Lord and His Word when we instruct and teach our children the ways of the Lord.


Lessons from Eli

Reading the account in 1 Samuel 2:22 to 1 Samuel 4: 22 many lessons can be learned. This article will highlight a few of them.


1 Samuel 2: 22 – 25

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.


Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.


If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.


According to verse 25, his Sons did not obey the voice of their father.



Lets see the Lords opinion to Elis approach in correcting his children.


1 Samuel 3: 13


13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.


The bible says that Eli did not restrain his children. It takes more than a voice to discipline and train children.

To restrain is an active word, which just a voice will not do.

Just Imagine a large block about to fall on the head of your child. Will you just say ‘ Jack’ can you leave that place please? Of course no, you will go and physically pull the child away.


It takes more than a voice to restrain children from evil. It takes


Discipline


Rod of correction


Chastisement

I Samuel 2: 29 says Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?


Eli did not honour the Lord in doing everything he could to ensure his children obey God.

We honour the Lord when we respect and put His Word first before the disobedience of our children. We need to be bold to correct them and stand our ground on what Gods Words says. This is honouring the Lord . Not giving in to their disobedience.


1 Samuel 2: 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.


Eli paid a very costly price for this. 1 Samuel 3: 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.


I think this is a very sober lesson. The Lord loves us so much however we do have a responsibility to train up our children.


Lets honour the Lord in doing this right.



Bisi Oladipupo

Roadblocks hinder, don’t be one!

We have all experienced roadblocks at one time or another while driving. Can you recollect when you were driving down to work and meeting a roadblock on the way? What was the effect of the roadblock?


Roadblocks generally hinder, slow down your movement and in very bad cases stop your movement all together.

Peter was one of Jesus disciples, however due to lack of understanding he was almost a roadblock to our salvation.

Matthew 16:20-23 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Notice that Jesus turned to Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men’.

Due to lack of understanding Peter was almost a roadblock to our salvation but Jesus took charge of the situation.

Romans 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

It is easy to be a roadblock to the things of God if we do not have the mind of Christ. Sometimes a lack of understanding stems from a carnal mind or selfishness.

We need to be very careful not to roadblocks to our spouses, friends, children, church etc.

Is the Lord telling your wife or husband to do something and you are opposing it? Not a wise move, it can be very costly to hinder what God wants to do in another persons life.

The things of God in our mind sometimes do not make human sense but lets keep our hearts open and allow the Lord to have His way.

God loves us. If there is anything that you don’t understand ask the Lord to help. Lets us not block or hinder what the Lord wants to do in our churches, or in the life of others.



Bisi Oladipupo

23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese

Bill Wiese saw the searing flames of hell, felt total isolation, and experienced the putrid and rotting stench, deafening screams of agony, terrorizing demons, and finally, the strong hand of God lifting him out of the pit. ?Tell them I am coming very, very soon!? Wiese's visit to the devil's lair lasted just twenty-three minutes, but he returned with vivid details etched in his memory. Since this life-changing ordeal, he has spent the last seven years studying the Scriptures to find answers and has listed more than 150 Bible verses referencing hell. http://books.google.com/books?id=QdSLAAAACAAJ&dq=23+minutes+in+hell&hl=en&ei=Btw8TLW5NN-L4gb4oPzzCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6wEwAA

Abundant Life Now: 7 Word Pictures of the Word

Click on title to read the article at 'Abundant life now'.

Quote : The Word!

There is no shelf life on the Word of God. His truth endures forever:


Psalm 119: 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Food for thought!!

It isn’t what the book costs; it’s what it will cost if you don’t read it.



http://twitter.com/JimRohnQuotes

Do you need a lifting?

Have you ever been there before? You have done all you know how to do and it seems your efforts are not good enough. Don’t give up, there is someone that can lift you up!.


The application of the word ‘lift’ can be applied in various settings. One application is when you can do it yourself e.g. lift up your hands, and another application is when you cannot do it and you need help. This article is based on the second application of the word ‘lift’.

Lets look at an example from scripture:

Luke 13: 11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.


And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.


And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Just because you have been in a situation where it seems you cannot lift yourself out of it does not mean it is over. Remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible, Our God specialises in impossibilities.

This woman could not lift up herself, She could not take herself out of the situation but the Lord stepped in. The rest is history.

Be encouraged, He will lift you up. His Word will lift you up! Help is at hand.

Psalm 3:2-4

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah

Don’t give up!. Wait on Him, trust in Him and He will lift you up!.

Bisi Oladipupo

Food for thought- the cross

The nails did not keep Jesus on the cross. What kept him on the cross is the love He has for you and me.

Heavens grocery store

I was walking down life’s Highway a long time ago

One day I saw a sign that read, “ Heaven’s Grocery Store”.

As I got a little closer the door came open wide.

And when I came to myself, I was standing just inside.

I saw a host of Angels, they were standing everywhere.

One handed me a basket, and said, “My child, please shop with care”

Everything a Christian needed was in that Grocery Store.

And all you couldn’t carry you could sure come back for more.

First I got some patience. Love was in the same row.

Further down was understanding you need it wherever you may go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom, a bag or two of Faith.

I just couldn’t miss The Holy Ghost, for it was all over the place.

I stopped to get some Strength and Courage to help me on this race.

By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed Grace.

I didn’t forget Salvation, for Salvation that was free!.

So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.

Then I started up to the corner to pay my bill.

For I thought I had everything to do my Father’s will.

But as I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and I just had to put that in.

Peace and Joy were plentiful; they were on the last shelf.

Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the Angel, “How much do I owe?”

He smiled and said, “just take your basket wherever you may go”.


Again I looked at him and said, “How much do I owe?”


He smiled again and said, “My friend, Jesus paid your bill long ago.”



From the living word library

After Seeing Jesus in a Dream, Voodoo Priest Gives His Life to Christ

Until the dream, the voodoo priest had been very resistant to the Gospel.


(Port-Au-Prince, Haiti)—The Baptist Standard has reported a voodoo priest in Haiti recently claimed Jesus as his Lord and Savior after he approached a Baptist missionary and relief worker, Fred Sorrels, for medical aid. .

The priest, Jean Odlin, reportedly told Sorrels he "had a dream the night before in which Jesus had written his name on his arm."

After Sorrels shared the Gospel with Odlin, he immediately prayed to receive Christ.

"Not only had Jesus written his name on his arm," said Sorrel, "but he also had his name written in the Book of Life."

According to the report, Sorrell said he wanted to destroy all his voodoo items and with the help of a Haitian pastor, they gathered the items into a large pile and burned them. That pastor later told Sorrels everyone knew Odlin and had tried to reach out to him, but he had been "very resistant," until that moment.

The following day, after coming across the Scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Sorrell felt strongly that he should do that for Odlin. "I'd never had the experience of washing someone's feet before, but it was such an honor," Sorrels said. "Those feet that had been leading people into darkness will now lead them into the light."

Read rest of story at: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7688

In Heaven! Experiencing the Throne of God By Dean A Braxton

Book overview


When I first arrived in heaven and knelt before Jesus, all I could do was say, "YOU DID THIS FOR ME?!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and THANK YOU!!" I could have said this for the next 3000 years or more and still would have wanted to keep going......I know EVERYTHING - IS - RIGHT, where Jesus is, and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG!! Some say it is peaceful, but it far exceeds past peace because there is nothing to be peaceful from...... Dean & Marilyn Braxton are licensed ministers. They currently attend By His Word Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington They have been in the ministry for over 15 years, as assistant pastors with Marilyn ministering in music. They have been married for 25 years and have six children. For the past 3 years, they have been sharing their testimony of how Dean died for 1 hour and 45 minutes and was miraculously prayed back to life. He was told by Jesus, "No, it is not your time. Go back!" Marilyn shares about how she pressed into God through this experience, the medical side of things, and what it took on her part to believe for healing for Dean off his death bed. Their experience has given much life and hope along with a great sense of how much God loves each and every one of us.
http://books.google.com/books?id=YR_3QciW0jYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Quote: The bible

The Bible is a compass, pointing you in the right direction.

Anonymous
more famous quotes

So much to learn from the old saints: Fanny Crosby a blind songwriter

Mother, if I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind…for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour.”


Blind for all of her life, Fanny Crosby, the greatest hymn writer in the history of the Christian Church, later wrote, “And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story — Saved by grace.” She saw over 8,000 poems set to music and over 100,000,000 copies of her songs printed. As many as 200 different pen names, including Grace J. Frances, were given her works by hymn book publishers so the public wouldn’t know she wrote so large a number of them.

Fanny gave the Christian world such songs as: “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Close to Thee,” “He Hideth My Soul,” I Am Thine O Lord,” “Jesus Is Calling,” “My Saviour First of All,” “Near the Cross,” “Pass Me Not,” “Praise Him Praise Him,” “Redeemed,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Saved by Grace,” “Saviour “More Than Life to Me,” “Speed Away,” “Take the World But Give Me Jesus,” “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” “The Lights of Home,” “Thou Mighty to Save,” “Tho’ Your Sins Be as Scarlet,” “‘Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer,” “To God be the Glory,” “To the Work,” “Will Jesus Find Us Watching?” to mention but a few.


Born in a one-story cottage, her father, John, was never to be remembered by Fanny for he died in her twelfth month. When Fanny was six weeks old, she caught a slight cold in her eyes. The family physician was away. Another country doctor was called in to treat her. He prescribed hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes, which destroyed her sight completely! It was later learned that the man was not qualified to practice medicine, but he had left town and was never heard of again. Fanny never felt any resentment against him, but believed it was permitted by the Lord to fulfil His plan for her life.

At the age of eight, she wrote her first recorded poetry:


O what a happy soul am I!


Although I cannot see,

I am resolved that in this world,


Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy,


That other people don’t.

To weep and sigh because I’m blind,

I cannot and I won’t!



Around nine years of age, the family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she was to stay until age 15. Mother was kind, but busy making a living for both of them, so it was Grandmother who became an unforgettable influence in her life. Grandmother spent many hours describing the things of nature and heaven to her. Also, she introduced Fanny to the Bible and this book now became more familiar to her than any other. She began to devour the scriptures. It is said, that as a child, she could repeat from memory the Pentateuch, the book of Ruth, many of the Psalms, the books of Proverbs,Song of Solomon, and much of the New Testament! This furnished the themes, inspiration, and diction for her imperishable gospel hymns.


Near her 15th birthday came a happy announcement…Mother could send her to a new school, The Institution for the Blind in New York City. Fanny clapped her hands joyfully and cried, “O thank God, He has answered my prayer, just as I knew He would.” So it was on March 3, 1835, that Fanny boarded a stage for Norwalk and then a boat for New York City. She was to spend the next 23 years of her life there, as a student for twelve years,and then as a teacher for eleven years more.

As a result of this witness, she began to make friends with the great political and religious leaders of her time and no one could forget her once they met her. During her lifetime, she knew all the presidents except George Washington. President VanBuren dined with her and remained one of her warmest friends.She heralded the virtues of William Henry Harrison even though he served but one month.


Romance came into the life of Fanny Crosby, also. As early as age 20 she fell in love with another blind student by the name of Alexander VanAlstyne.Finally, on March 5, 1858, she was married at age 37. Life was just beginning for Fanny Crosby, for her life’s ministry was still ahead.

The marriage was a happy one with VanAlstyne, who lived until 1902. The couple had one child, only to be taken in death while yet a baby. Perhaps this incident helped inspire Fanny to write, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” which was to comfort thousands of grief stricken parents suffering a similar fate.


Upon her marriage, she intended to use the name Mrs. VanAlstyne, but her husband insisted that she continue to use her maiden name, which was already quite famous.


”Blessed Assurance” is her most famous hymn, according to a hymn poll taken some time back by “The Christian Herald.” It placed twelfth in the poll. Of favorite hymns, “The Old Rugged Cross” was number one. One of Fanny’s close friends, wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, was Mrs. Joseph Knapp. On one of her visits to the blind poetess, in 1873, she brought in a melody she had composed. Several times she played it on the piano for Fanny. Then she asked, “Fanny, what does that tune say to you?” Hesitating but for a moment, she replied,”Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” One of the greatest gospel songs of all time was born.


”To God be the Glory” was not really discovered until 1954, when it was introduced to Bev Shea in London. It was first sung by Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade Choir in Toronto in 1955. Since then, it has become a beloved hymn of the faith. Sankey did include it in his first hymnbook,published in England in 1873, but not in later subsequent editions published in America.


At 90 she declared, “My love for the Holy Bible and its sacred truth is stronger and more precious to me at ninety than at nineteen.” Asked about her long years, she said her secret was that she guarded her taste,her temper and her tongue. A famous saying through the years was,”Don’t waste any sympathy on me. I am the happiest person living.”


From: http://www.truthfulwords.org/biography/crosby.txt

Rescue Service

Flowing slowly with the traffic on my way to work one morning I could not help noticing a van with the inscription RAC Rescue Service pass by.


The sight of the van reminded me of the experience I had a few weeks before, and how I had to wait helplessly in my vehicle for the car rescue service man to arrive.

If you have ever been vulnerable to danger before, you will appreciate the need for help.

Whether it is an ambulance, a policeman or just a passer-by, you will receive them gladly, more so, if it is a matter of life and death.

If we accept rescue from people who try to help us when we have a broken-down vehicle in the middle of nowhere, or when we are in danger, why do we reject people who are trying to rescue us from eternal judgement?

God has an international Rescue Service, made up of His Word and His people.

He is constantly prompting people with His Spirit to help them out of danger with His Word.

The stranger who passed you this tract, the work colleague, neighbour, relative or friend at school are all part of Gods Rescue Team.

Do you accept their help gladly, or do you reject it flatly?

Maybe you do not appreciate how much danger you are in if you died without Christ. God does. That is why He is sending help to you again and again.

The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Indeed, He is our only hope of escaping eternal separation from God.

Respond to Him today, by saying this prayer from your heart; Father I come to you in Jesus name, Jesus come into my life.

I receive you now as my Lord and saviour. Amen Now look for a good bible believing Church that would help you grow in this new walk with God.



Bisi Oladipupo

Gods standard of communication

Ephesians 4:29


Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers

Your gift will make room for you!

Proverbs 18: 16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.


It is a mans gift that’s makes room for him. What is also good news is that it has nothing to do with your background or where you come from.

Lets examine this account.

Judges 11: 1

1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

2And Gilead’s wife bare him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

Judges 11: 4 – 7

4And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

5And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:

6And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

7And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

Judges 11: 32

32So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.


Jephthah the Gileadite was a son of a harlot and because of this his other brothers threw him out of the house.


However, when they needed his help because of his ‘strength’ they suddenly remembered him and overlooked that he was a child of a harlot.


To cut a long story short Jephthah did fight for Israel.

If Jephthah’s gift was not recognised he would never have been called.

This account highlights that it doesn’t matter where you are, your background or where you come from. Just discover, develop and deploy the graces and gifts that the Lord has given you. In due season the Lord will promote you.



Bisi Oladipupo

Quote: Attitude

God often comforts us, not by changing the circumstances of our lives, but by changing our attitude toward them.




S.H.B. Masterman

Hey, Do you have beautiful feet?

Do you have beautiful feet? No I’m not asking whether you’ve just recently gotten a pedicure or whether your foot is decorated with corns and bunions. I’m asking you when you last shared the good news of the gospel with someone else.

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

You see the above verse claims that those who proclaim peace and bring good news have beautiful feet. What is the good news that we as Christians should proclaim?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16 (NIV)

That is the greatest news flash the world needs to hear. That is great news! God loved us so much he was willing to sacrifice his only son so that we might have life. Consequently we also have peace. In a world full of struggles, turmoil and strife believe it or not people are actually searching for peace.

Many find that peace through alcohol, sex, drugs and the list of empty, damning and detrimental counterfeits the devil has presented goes on and on.

However we as Christians know the truth. We have a relationship with the prince of peace and should therefore desire to let others know.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the prince of peace. Only he can give peace that passeth all understanding. When the raging storms of life are blowing and threatening to carry away with it our sanity, security and every thing else that we hold dear, Jesus gives peace. Peace and confidence well anchored to the Rock of ages can never be shaken let alone stirred.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

The world can only experience peace through Christ Jesus. There is no other way. Do the unbelievers always want to be rescued? No!! Do they always appreciate the message of peace and good news of Christ we tell them? No! Does that mean we stop trying to tell them the good news of Christ? No!

Even Jesus Christ was rejected. If he cared about rejection he wouldn’t have gotten as far as the cross. He was spat on, beaten, ridiculed, judged, falsely accused and then crucified. In what way can one be more rejected? But praise God that love got him through the anguish he suffered at Gethsemane and pushed him further up that road he traveled to the cross where it all ended.

The devil and his hosts were put to shame. The power balance was altered. The scale was tilted forever in our direction. We now have a right standing with God and have inherited the righteousness of Christ. Let us share this good news today. Don’t be held back by fear of being rejected or having your ego bruised.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32 (KJV)

Saints, if we will lift up on the name of Jesus on this earth he will do the ‘drawing and the saving’. You cannot save but you can sow seeds of salvation by preaching the word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to water those seeds and then will we see a harvest of souls being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. What a beautiful harvest that is!

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:37 (NIV)

The harvest of souls that can be saved is still plenty but like Jesus Said the workers are few. Why is that when there are so many Christians in the world today? You don’t have to be a T.d jakes or a Charles Stanley to preach the good news of Christ. Simply talking to co workers or friends or just handing out a few leaflets will go along way.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30 (NIV)

Let us be wise today and start winning those souls for Christ. Saints do not grow tired in doing what is good for it is not the will of God to see any man perish. He desires for all men to come to repentance and be saved through Christ Jesus. This can only happen when we as Christian’s wisen up and begin to proclaim Jesus not when it’s convenient for us but at every opportunity we get.

Do you want beautiful feet today? Feet that radiates the glory of Christ? Then go out into the world and make disciples of all nations.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

That spiritual pedicure awaits you today. It will not only open doors that no man can shut, it will bring blessings unattached to sorrows.

Again I’ll ask. How beautiful are your feet?



From; http://www.wordlibrary.co.uk/article.php?id=567 Living Word Library, By Mary Adeagbo, (Mary’s insights)

Keys to maintaining relationships

We all need one another. Life is about relationships and we need to know how to keep and maintain them.

Below are a few keys to keeping your relationships.

 Appreciate and value your friends.

 If you take your friends for granted you will eventually loose them.

Keep a diary of phone calls and visits especially if you are a very busy person. This may sound funny, but if you don’t, you will wake up one morning to find out that you have drifted apart. This is especially important if you have just met someone and you are just building the relationship.

Discuss any issues that may arise. If you have unresolved issues, deal with them and don’t hope they will just go away without confronting them. Unresolved issues may eventually ruin your friendship.

However high up you go in life, endeavour to keep your friends that were there for you before you became famous.

Respect people.

Return phone calls, emails, text messages, acknowledge cards and gifts.

When you perceive that a person has an interest in you or wants to know you more, receive them and open up.

Give people allowances as nobody is perfect.

If a person asks for your phone number, give it to them and ask for theirs. Its show that you are also interested in pursuing the relationship.

Above all as much as relationships are important, your security must be in God.

Bisi Oladipupo

Are you living on supplements?

Most people  take vitamins/ nutritional supplements to maintain good health. *A supplement can be defined as ‘ a thing added to something else to improve or complete? Does this mean that supplements are adequate enough to substitute our main diet? No.


I would compare nutritional supplements in the christian faith as books, tapes, CD,s, DVD messages. In these days of technology there is so much christian material out there that we can lay our hands on. While they do have a significant place in our growth, should they be our main diet?

When was the last time you read your bible from cover to cover? When was the last time you took time to study and read the bible yourself? What happened to the act of meditation?

As individuals we need to ensure that we read our bibles daily as this should be our main diet.

Matt 4 verse 4 ‘ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.(How are we going to know every word of God if we are not reading our bibles)

Joshua 1 verse 8, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (How are we going to be able to meditate on the word of God if we are not reading it).

Lets not just live on supplements but feed daily on the bible.

Lets be connoisseurs of the Word of God.



* Oxford dictionary



Bisi Oladipupo

Gods standard of communication

Ephesians 4:29


Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers

Have you signed in?

During a telephone conversation with a friend a while ago an interesting thought sprang to my mind.


Most of us have heard of fire drills. It simply means a test run to see how people will respond in event of a real fire.

Most offices require people to ‘sign in’ when reporting for work. Visitors may also be given identity badges. All these measures are necessary in accounting and ascertaining who is present in a building during a fire drill. Of course the signing in also has other benefits.

The church is no different. However, because ‘signing in’ is voluntary and not mandatory many neglect to sign in altogether. What do I mean by signing it?


I am talking about making yourself known and accountable. Some people attend church but do not allow the church to attend to them. They skilfully sidestep all commitment, do not identify themselves with the church and keep a safe distance from anyone within the church that may require their services.

They unconsciously, or maybe consciously, make themselves loners in a crowd. They are like a person who sneaks into a building and then gets upset when nobody notices his absence at the roll call during the fire drill.

God has placed pastors in the church for a reason. They have a responsibility to guide the sheep; lets make their job easy.

Churches have different approaches or structures to ensure they can account for the sheep. You know the structure in your local church, plug in so you can be accounted for. Otherwise how can anyone ask about your welfare if they do not know you are there?

On the other hand, if the system of accountability does not work, i.e. you signed in but still are not accounted for. Then that is a different story. At least the fault does not lie with you.

1 Corinthians 14: 40 says, ‘Let all things be done decently and in order’. As there is order in the workplace, so is there order in God’s house. Lets plug into the structure in our local church, so we can be a partaker of the blessing. This will make it easy for our shepherds to account for us.

Relationship based christainity is very profitable. If you are having problems in establishing relationships you may want to prayerfully consider a house church.


Bisi Oladipupo

The lost act of waiting!

In the days in which we live in, especially in the western world, it seems many do not want to wait for what they require. Most services can be booked in advance by an appointment. However, when we do have to wait for a short while we complain and feel that we are wasting our time.

This is probably one reason for drive through food services and unhealthy meals as many are not prepared to wait for the preparation of fresh meals.
When you go for a service and you refuse to wait for your turn to be serviced or attended to due to a delay what is the outcome? You don’t get what you went there for. You abort the result.

*The word wait means to stay where one is until a particular time or event.

It also means to rest, stay, keep still, remain or sit tight.


My friend, the word ‘wait’ and the art of waiting is required of us as Christians.

When was the last time you waited upon the Lord in prayer? Some of us go for short services so we can dash out of church. Even when we do go for prayer meetings and we are told to wait upon the Lord, we don’t know what to do. Some go for frequent toilet runs or just wander in space. What happened to the act of waiting!
Psalms 27:14 -

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.


Do you need strength for your heart, then wait on the Lord.

Psalms 37:7a -

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:

Sometimes we need to wait patiently for the Lord.

Isaiah 40:29 –

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The secret of continuous strength is waiting upon the Lord.

When we wait upon the Lord, we get what we want of Him. God is not like man, He does not run out of resources. One concern of waiting for many in the natural is perhaps after all this waiting, l will not get what l want.

Have you ever queued and waited to buy petrol and it ran out before your turn? This never applies to God.

Isaiah 49:23 (b): for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Lamentations 3:25 -

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Ask me why we have to wait? I don’t know, all l know is that scripture requires us to wait. If we don’t wait, we wont get what we want. We will simply abort the result and live below Gods best and His desires for us.

If you are trusting the Lord for something, remember that delay does not mean denial. Just wait patiently for Him, He never fails.


Lets restore the act of waiting upon the Lord.

*Oxford Dictionary



Bisi Oladipupo

Friendship quote

“Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.”




– Elbert Hubbard

Mistakes can be costly but God can turn them around

Have you ever made a mistake? Yes we have all made mistakes at some point in life.

Mistakes can be costly and some very costly but the good news is that whatever the mistake has cost you, God can turn it around for good.

Lets look at an example from scripture.

From the story of Joseph we can see a few mistakes that led to his ordeal with his brethren, nevertheless God turned it around for his good.

Genesis 37:


3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.


4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

If you are a parent with more than one child, you would agree that the best thing to do is to love all your children with the same . Israel must have made it obvious to Josephs brothers that Joseph was the favourite one.

When you were growing up did mum or dad have a favourite? This sometimes causes animosity within the home.

The second point that can be noted from the account is Joseph telling his brothers his dream. This mistake could have been done very innocently. To be fair to Joseph, he may not have known the extent to which his brothers did not like him.

Genesis 37: And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.


20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.


In my own opinion these were the two doors that the enemy used to get his own brothers to do such a thing to him.

Now don’t get me wrong, we all have made such similar mistakes, and while these mistakes do not justify the actions of his brothers they were vehicles the enemy used.

This is the good news, we all know the end of the account, How the Lord turned all this mess around and used Joseph to deliver a nation and even his own brothers from famine.

The Lord also made Joseph;s name great and established him.

Despite all the mistakes and misjudgement, God turned the whole situation around.

Have you made a mistake? A bad choice? A wrong decision which is costing you so much now? Don’t give up, turn to the Lord and He will help you , guide you and turn things around for you.

Romans 8: 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I remember a saying from a man of God, ‘God loves you too much to leave you the way you are’.

Take this word and run with it. It shall be well.

Bisi Oladipupo

He Sent His Word!! Where you there to receive it?

While listening to a message the phrase ‘He sent His Word’ came alive with a new meaning.

Have you ever had questions on your mind, gone through challenges, or looked for direction? You go to a meeting and during the ministration of the Word, you get the answer. The Lord sent His Word and you where there to receive it.

The other side to this is when we go through challenges, or need direction but choose not to go to a meeting we are supposed to go too. The Lord sends His Word but we were not there to receive it. What do l mean?

The day we decide to stay in bed or do something else instead of going to the meeting we were supposed to go too. It could be a house fellowship, house church, seminar, mid week service, the list goes on.

Psalm 107: 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Did you notice the scripture? It’s the sent Word that heals and delivers us from our destructions.

The best thing we can do for ourselves is not to forsake the gathering of the saints especially when going through difficult times.

Hebrews 10: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Yes there are times we go through things and feel like staying at home, but that’s not the answer. We need to obey the scripture however we feel. If we cannot get to where we are supposed to go due to practical reasons the Lords knows, however He expects us to do what we can do.

The Lord wants to help us and deliver us, but we need to put ourselves in positions where He can do so. There is so much power in the corporate anointing, when the saints come together.

Another side to this is that we need to be at the right place at the right time. Its very unwise to leave a church or home church when the Lord did not commission it. Sometimes we end up in the wrong place. The Lord sents the appropriate Word we need to hear where we are supposed to be, church A or house church A, but we decide to go to church B.

Apart from our assemblies, the Lord sents His Word in various other ways. While studying the Word, listening to messages, reading books, visiting a person, etc the list goes on.

The Lord can send His Word of deliverance through any means. Have you been having an urge to start attending mid week services?, then start. Do you have an urge to read the book that has been sitting in your shelve for months, read it. Whatever it is, lets me wise and position our selves for the Sent Word to us.

This is my question again. The Lord sent His Word,

Have you positioned yourself to receive it ?

or

Where you there to receive it ?

God bless



Bisi Oladipupo

History of It is Well with My Soul: Horatio Spafford's Praise Worship Music Immensely Inspires

History of It is Well with My Soul: Horatio Spafford's Praise Worship Music Immensely Inspires

Jesus lover of my soul

Interesting quote

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the entire staircase." M.L.King

At 106 still preaching and strong

Otis G. Clark was born on February 13, 1903, in Meridian, Oklahoma before Oklahoma was even a state




Interesting Facts:



Evangelist Clark is older than the state of Oklahoma, which was incorporated in

1907.

He is an original member of the Azusa Street Mission, which was started by

William J. Seymour in 1906.

He is a 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Survivor. This took place on America’s Black Wall

street, the Greenwood district of Tulsa, OK.

He still lives independently and has his own car

He takes no medications

He has all of his teeth, except for one, which he claims the dentist did not know

what he was doing when he pulled it.

He does not regularly wear glasses with the exception of reading glasses

He eats whatever AND everything that is put before him—no restricted diet

He recently threw out the 1st pitch for the Boston Red Sox

He recently returned from his 2nd mission trip to Africa. The first when he was 103

yrs old and the second when he was 104 yrs old.

He is the world’s oldest traveling evangelist

Link from http://www.lifeenrichmentinc.com/otis.html please read the rest from this link

A wisdom quote on relationships!!

You will always move toward anyone who increases you and away from anyone who makes you less.


Mike Murdock

Author Nationalities, Dancer Quotes

more famous quotes

Acts of remembrance

When the Lord asks us to remember something, it is always for a purpose. It simply means that we may forget which could have consequences. If remembering some things were automatic the Lord will not ask us to make sure we remember.

Surprisingly, the Lord put something in place to remind Himself of His covenant with us.

Genesis 9, verses 10 to 16: And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Very interesting. The Lord our God put a bow, what we call the rainbow in the sky so He remembers His covenant with us. This is Gods Act of remembrance.

Has the Lord commanded us to remember certain things or do certain things in scripture? Yes He has. He has asked us to remember the Lords death, what Jesus did for us in the act of breaking of bread.

1 Corinthians 11 verses 23 to 26

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

How often do you partake of this ordinance? It can be done at home, you don’t have to wait for your church or fellowship to arrange this. If the Lord says do this, then we should do it.

Acts 2:41-42

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:45-47

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

There is power in this ordnance and as we practice this, we will reap the benefits. There must be a reason why the bible tells us to do it.



Bisi Oladipupo

How do l know Mr Right

There has been so much advice on how to know Mr Right, but in reality, it can be a hard task .


However, it need not be difficult if you place God first in the matter. Romans 8 verse 14 says ‘ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

In my own opinion it is a major decision that will impact on your whole life for a long long time. Is God interested? Yes He sure is, and He has already made provision for you.

So how do l know Mr Right? I will share the faithfulness of God from my own experience.

A good number of years ago, l prayed and said ‘Lord, before Mr Right comes, let me know who is he, and let the gentleman also know. That why, he knows what he wants, so do l before the question is asked.

The Lord was faithful and did exactly that. For me, that was the best solution. I did not want a situation where l started dating, not sure whether or not he was the one, then the question popped. Trying to hear God with emotions already involved, l thought was dangerous ground for error.

So that’s my story, many have different stories. Remember that the Lord is faithful and he wants the best for you. Ask Him for clear guidance on the matter and He will direct your path.

I strongly believe that following the Lord is critical in this decision. Only He will guide you aright. Remember, only God knows the heart of man and the future.

Bisi Oladipupo