Isaiah 46

The following verses are from Isaiah 46 in the King James Version. Feel free to read the whole chapter and comment about anything that strikes you but we'll concentrate on verses 1 through 4. Let me know what you think!

¹Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, 
their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: 
your carriages were heavy loaden; 
they are a burden to the weary beast.


 ²They stoop, they bow down together;
they could not deliver the burden, 
but themselves are gone into captivity.


 ³Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob,
 and all the remnant of the house of Israel,
 which are borne by me from the belly, 
which are carried from the womb:


 ⁴And even to your old age I am he; 
and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: 
I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Looking forward to reading your comments!

Child of Promise :)

TESTIMONY By Imago Dei

TESTIMONY

So I faced the truth today:

I’d finally hit a brick wall.

I stood face to face with reality, and it made me upset.

But there was no longer any denying it:

I didn’t know everything…

Couldn’t know everything…

Couldn’t control everything…

AND I WAS AFRAID…

Afraid of my shadow.

Afraid of commitment.

Afraid of the mystery

That is my Future.

But the good thing?

…That at the end of the alley,

at this very dead end I’d come to,

and on that very brick wall I now faced,

a sign was suspended.

It was written in vivid red blood,

on a background of pure, white righteousness,

and with gentle direction, it read:

“You might’ve strayed, and reached this wall,

But you can always turn back.

Your exit is from whence you came…”

I faced the truth today:

That I’m OKAY!

…even if I didn’t know everything…

couldn’t know everything…

couldn’t control everything,

It’s ok to be afraid

but it’s even better to admit it

for HIS strength is made perfect in weakness…

So though my heart thumps violently in my chest,

and my confidence drops at the uncertainty of my future,

I will stand…

in faith…

on His word and promises,

Hand him my fears on the platter of my heart,

Blind my eyes to the turbulence around me,

And scream from the pit of my lungs:

I AM NOT AFRAID!!!

…of my shadow

…nor commitment

…nor the mystery that lies ahead.

I AM NOT AFRAID OF MY FUTURE!

⁹But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

-       IMAGO DEI

Know God.

...And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

(You are only as free as what you know)

The Bible says that we, as God's sheep, know His voice and the voice of a stranger we would not follow (John 10). It also says in verses 14 & 15 that God knows his sheep and His sheep know Him - just as God the Father knows the Son(Jesus) and God the Son knows God the Father.

That's remarkable! However, while it's understandable that God knows every one of His sheep intimately, it's more difficult to believe that His sheep know Him just the same.

Why? Well, He's God and we're just...human.

Here's the thing: We're not just human!

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12

That makes us, as many as believe on His name, not mere humans but sons of God, not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13). God, through Jesus, has given us the power to know him as sons would know their fathers - like Jesus, The Son, knows God the Father. That's truth Number 1. We may not feel like sons of God, but the Bible says we are, so we change our thinking.

[As a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Proverbs 23:7)].

We have been given the capacity to know God intimately, but do we really know Him? Have we really come to understand the breadth, length, depth and width of His love? I'll give you my answer: No, I haven't. So what is it then? Why haven't we tapped in to all the resources God has laid up for us in Christ? Simple: We don't know!

Everything God has for us is wrapped up in the Word! It's through God's Word we get to know Him, through his Word that we get know how he talks. Then, we'll be able to identify strange voices and flee from them. But God's Word is only Spirit and life when we read it with the Spirit of God. He opens our eyes to see God as He ought to be seen. Ask for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit today. Be led by the Holy Spirit - that's why you are a son of God!

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

We are God's sheep and we have the ability to know God intimately. Do something with that ability! Know God.

PLEASE NEVER STOP

I'm a KC alumnus and came to US to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Fall 2008. I was on fire for God when I left Nigeria and was just waiting to explode for God in my campus. Prior to my coming I had seen tons of Christian organizations in my school online so was even more excited. However on arriving I realized lots of the Christian organizations were not as mature as any I knew  (cos I spent a semester in UNN before coming) or expected. I wanted to talk about the Holy Spirit and all but the Christians I knew seemed clueless. I remember I had to go and talk to one of the guys because I realized he was always uncomfortable around me. On talking to him he told me it's was cos he wasn't sure if I was going to ask or bring up on topic about God or the Holy Spirit or something..,..lol

I was looking for Pastor Chris' messages but didn't know where to get or listen to them but thank God I now know. I finally committed to a church called the Vineyard after my first semester cos they are the closest I have seen to their understanding of the things of God and the reality that the Holy Spirit dwells and works through and in us. I attended weekly bible studies and Sunday services and they were good but I wanted much much more.

After my freshman year, I was made a small group or bible study leader with my friend so we led small group in Fall '09 and also held a weekly prayer meeting for our campus. It was a blessing but after it I was almost getting burnt out cos it was as though I was pouring out into lives but had no source to receive. In addition to this, I was not doing excellently in my classes and had to retake two classes in my Spring semester. By Spring semester not only had the fire of God I had almost totally extinguished, I was almost running from God and was TIRED. I had tons and tons of doubts about almost everything and began to live in fear. Wanted to change my major, was in fear that I would be kicked out of Engineering(interestingly, a friend had a dream in my freshman year that I was kicked out of Engineering), felt I was not smart enough, was skeptical if my student visa will be renewed and was daily or should i say hourly negative(it was horrible).

Then there came your blogs. I don't even remember how I stumbled upon them but your blogs began to stir the Christ consciousness once more in me. I found myself instead of going to bed, staying up late to read your blogs and I remember checking or looking forward to Deji's blogs on Thursdays.

Now, I'm looking back and smiling, laughing and once more beginning to soar high in the things of God. I was not kicked out of Engineering cos God has called me to it, I went for my visa renewal towards the end of May and instead of an interview, I was gisting with the consular officer, I'm yearning to set curves for my coming classes cos the wisdom of God is in me and I shall be the head and not the tail, the first and not the last, I was born to win.

                                                                                                            

It's a way of life!

     I was responsible, reliable, a role model, smart, and above all, I was religious! Every mother praised me, my teachers liked me, my peers admired me, my juniors wanted to be me, and guys wanted to date me. What more could I ask for? This lady wanted more. I was born into a Christian home. All my relatives are Christians, therefore I accepted the baton of Christianity. I regarded the concept of being a  Christian as a responsibility which I was willing to undertake. I prayed on most mornings, read my Bible, and went to church every Sunday.I was living the religious life. I did all these not because I was interested in knowing God, but I felt it was compulsory, and I would be stricken by God if I disobeyed.  I deemed God to be some improbable figure who was far off, unreachable. Some big guy up in the heavens to whom I could mumble a few words in prayer. How wrong I was. 

          The first time I felt the urge to discover something much more was in my JS1. I dabbled in Islam for a couple of weeks, but was reprimanded by a cousin of mine. After that detour, I diligently persisted in reading my Bible, which I understood not, and praying with a lukewarm attitude. In my final year, I was made the President of a Christian group in school. Apparently I was found worthy of the title, and accepted it with pride. I was pleased to be considered religiously superior. I look back at those days, and all I want to do is spank my younger self for such arrogance. As the day of my graduation loomed, the urge arose in me for something more. I couldn't place my finger on it, so I was easily deceived, by some of my peers, into clubbing and dating. It was an EPIC FAIL. I became more depressed, felt the void in my spirit enlarge. I became moody and short tempered. I graduated without knowing the true love of God for me. 

          During my gap year, I came to the realization that I had been searching for a true relationship with Christ. I gave my life to Christ over and over again, but this never lasted more than a couple of days, because I kept turning back to the ways of the world. My first semester at college was my turning point. I made friends who were not Christians, and was carried away by some of their perceptions. I went to a couple of parties, but I was so disappointed by what I experienced that I declined later invitations to other parties. To God be the glory, I was invited to a particular Christian fellowship, but I made up excuses not to go. 

          On April 24th 2010 I attended one of the Christian services, due to some nudging I received in my spirit. That was it. Oh he (God) touched me!! He spoke to my heart during the sermon, and during our heartfelt prayer at the end, he revealed to me my wrong ways, but assured me that I was forgiven. I wept till I could see no more. I was overcome by his love for me. This love that I couldn't find in guys, in parties, I found in Christ who died upon the cross for my sins. His pierced hands reached out to me, and all I could do was weep and thank him. I love him because he first loved me. Now I read my Bible because I long to know him more. I pray to him because I long to be in his presence and confide in him. I am a new creature, and my old nature has passed away. Joyce Meyer once said "you can get bored with religion but you can't get bored with a relationship with God." It's not a religion, but a way of life!


---Daughter of Zion

Epiphany…

I turned on my telly to watch the news today,

and cozied up in my resting chair,

From one channel to the next, it was all the same:

hatred, chaos, death and despair.

I averted my eyes; I knew I’d seen enough.

I pressed a little button; the telly zapped off…

“There’s none righteous on earth,” I thought; “no, not one.”

…I lingered on.

I stepped outside my house to take a walk today,

but froze when I heard something moan.

I searched; I looked and there behind my neighbor’s gate,

two boys pelted her poor dog with stones.

I averted my eyes, certain I’d seen enough.

Down the block, from where I stood, I spied the coffee shop…

“There’s none righteous on earth,” I thought; “no, not one.”

…I moved on.

I found myself at the city park today.

In the distance, an old lady was in tears.

Her wiry finger pointed at an approaching lad;

for in his hands, he was clutching her purse.

I averted my eyes; in my mind, I’d seen enough.

Pity stirred in my heart; I let out a dry cough…

“There is none righteous on earth,” I thought; “no, not one.”

…I walked on.

I sat behind my desk to read the Bible today,

and opened to “Hebrews” as guided by the Maker.

“Let brotherly love continue…”  Chapter 13 vs. 1 says

“…Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.”

I thought back to my neighbor’s dog; its pain seared my thoughts…

I thought back to the stolen purse and the thief I could’ve easily caught…

I thought back to the news reports about which I didn’t pray…

I thought back to a suffering world, and efforts I’d refused to make…

I averted my eyes; you could tell I’d read enough.

My guilty conscience emerged; the blow it dealt me was rough.

“There’s none righteous on earth,” I thought; “no, not one.”

…I wept on.

--- Imago Dei 

Light Cannot and Will Not Dwell Together with Darkness

I grew up in a strict Christian home, I had knowledge of the Bible and I knew what it meant to be a Christian. I practised religion according to what my parents had dictated and never really searched for a relationship with Christ. Many times in my past, I had tried to repent. I would hear the Word, take it to heart and “give my life to Christ”. I’m sure those who used to read the “Left Behind” series can relate. After each book I would bawl and pray to God to forgive my sins. For three days or so, I would be a ‘changed girl’. However, it never lasted and before I knew it, I was back to the meaningless life I had come to know. I continued this trend of ‘repenting’ for most of my teenage years.

However, when I finally left my parents’ house and gained the freedom to somewhat dictate what I did with my life, I found out that there was something missing. All my teenage years, I had waited impatiently for the time I would be able to buy what I wanted, party as hard as I wanted and just ‘live MY life’. When all these things I was dying for were all laid before me, I found myself wanting something more. I figured that there had to be more to life than this. Sure, it seemed fun at some point, but at the end of the day, there was just this emptiness I felt in my gut. It was then I went back, once again, searching for God.

I remember that service, I wept during praise and worship. I knew I had found what was missing in my life. It was soothing, sweet and satisfying and I wanted more of it.  It was then I started on my path to actually seeking a relationship with Christ.

 I have now come to understand what it means to GIVE your life to Christ. When we give our lives to Christ, there have to be some changes in our lives. I have also found out what had been hindering my spiritual breakthrough all those years. There is no way we can be of the world and of Christ. There is no accommodation for both! It has got to be one or the other! To progress in our faith, we need the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. If we still hold worldly things or things of the devil dear to our hearts, the Holy Spirit cannot dwell there. Light cannot and will not dwell together with darkness!

In doing that, I have had to let go of many things that I thought was harmless fun, things like listening to a lot of secular music, clubbing, messing around with boys etc. All I can tell you is it that it was not easy. But now I have come to see that those things are actually very harmful. Many of the things that we think are nothing but harmless fun will slowly dull our souls and break all barriers till we are back on the path of being lost.

It is still a daily struggle; nobody said it would be easy. I still fall from time to time, but we have a God of limitless grace and love. The world is a cruel place, people will disappoint, trends are ever changing but God and his Word will never change. He is the only thing we can count on. He is the only thing I will hold on to.