They preached the good news
In season and out of season
With the method they find it fit

In strength and weakness
Even as neighbours shun the call
Always abiding in His work
Joyful at seing some saved

Many a times mocked
Sometimes, threat to their life
So did the Master finish His work
And bid them continue as He did

And if they pay the ultimate price of death
As the Master was crucified
And other faithful saints of old
There await them a crown on the other side

How beautiful are the feet
Of them that preach the gospel of peace
And bring glad tidings
Of good things

In memory of Late Sister Eunice Olawale

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Paul’s manner was to share the gospel inside the Jewish synagogue in every city he stepped into. Acts 17:2 He knew his mission on earth – to share the gospel of Christ, Jews and Gentiles alike. He was not ashamed. Even in times of intense persecution, times of trials, weakness, fear, danger, even after he was stoned, he went about, broadcasting the good news.

It is through these effort, and that of other apostles, disciples and men of God of old, that the gospel came to me and you. They did not mind losing their life, that we might get saved.

If your record is to penned, what would be written about your manner? To gather with friends to drink? To watch sports and movies? Thank God it is Friday, so you can go to parties?

Or is your manner to eat good food and drink? To spend time on social media? To chat away your time? To discuss politics and make jest of your leaders?

Check! Have a re-think. For as your manner is, so shall your reward will be.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Whether in need or in abundance, He will surely provide. Just trust Him

Even in joblessness, seeking to lay hand on something. It is a matter of trusting Him

Still single and lonely, seeking for His will in marriage. Again, trust Him

Sick, struggling for the breath of life? He will surely perfect everything. Trust Him

Childless, praying for fruitfulness? He will surely visit your family, if you can trust Him

Simply trusting every day
Trusting through a stormy way
Even when my faith is small
Trusting Jesus, that is all

Trusting as the moments fly
Trusting as the days go by
Trusting Him whate’er befall
Trusting Jesus, that is all

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

He is your enemy
Once you declare for Christ

He aims to kill
When he is given the deal

He attacks, he fights
Always on the onslaught

Keep awake, brother
The devil never goes on vacation

Job 1:1-12

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

With one more gulp, the man emptied the content of the glass. He returned the glass on the table, tapping the bottom of the glass carefully on the table but enough to attract attention of the shop-owner.

‘One for road!’ He beckoned.
‘One more?’ the shop owner asked, just to make sure, he understood the request.
‘Yes’ the man replied. ‘One for road’

The shop owner poured the hot liquid into the glass. As he returned the kettle, he watched the man from the corner of his eyes. It was still early in the morning and harmattan just crept in last week. The man looked like he had left his house early in the morning and had journeyed long enough from the hinterland of the village in the cold. The hot tea would definitely warm his blood and also give him some strength to continue.

Are you tired in the journey of life? What is your challenge at this moment? What you need is a “one for road”, to continue the journey.

Troubled by the flesh, the world and the devil, your ‘one for road’ should be:
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. Psalm 142:1

Are you in a tight corner with difficult circumstances? Your ‘one for road’:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4.

Are you in dire need? Meat for the belly, cloth for the body…Your ‘one for road’:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.

The end of the race is when we meet our Lord Jesus Christ face to face. Before then, we will not get tired, for who has started the good work will perfect it.

Always step out of your house with your ‘one for road’: the word of God and the sword of the spirit.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

The greatest gift from God which heals all wounds and binds us together is love.
Understanding the meaning of love varies from individual, and it appears more emotional than it actually is. There is however, no doubt that if understood in the fullest, acquired and put in action, love will achieve more than what we imagined.
Being affectionate to one another is good but love is better. What is more commendable than sacrifice for others, if not love? Tolerance will work, but without love, it can be stretched beyond its limit. Men will praise you when you give to meet the need of others through philanthropy or other means, but love is much more than giving.

Love and lust are quite different. Love is selfless, not ‘I, Me and Myself’. Love is a gift from God. One cannot show it, if he has not gotten the gift from God, who is love Himself. Love bears all things, believes all things, and endures all things. How?

The fact is that it is difficult to define love, but it can be felt. A child know what is love, no wonder she cannot stop crying until handed over to the mother’s waiting palms. Even in hunger, a lioness cannot feed on its little ones, an evidence of love.

Love is holistic. It makes you want to care, not only for the physical need but also for the soul of the individual. Christ showed example of this perfect love for humanity. Turning fishes into bread cannot wipe away the doom awaiting man. He had to subject Himself to the ultimate sacrifice. For there was no other way humanity should have been saved once and for all, except for the shedding of blood of He who is innocent (sinless).

This He did on the cross. He did not commit the sin himself, but He bore the consequence of it. He was already in heaven, but had to come down to earth just for this purpose. The pains of the sacrifice were too much to bear but He had to do it. He did it, just for me and you. And today, our soul is no more condemned (only for those who believe that his sacrifice on the cross is meant for them).

Learn from Christ. Ask Him for this gift called Love. Put it on. For with Christ-like love, all is well.
(I Corinthians 13, Psalm 133:1)

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

A man dies and finds himself at the pearly gates. An angel meets him and asks what he was doing at the gate.

“I want to go in,” he says. “Can I?”

The angel replies, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it to heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I will give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.”

“Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.”

“That’s wonderful,” says the angel, “that’s worth three points!”

“Three points?” the man exclaimed while wondering in his mind how he can meet up with the 100 points. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithes and offerings.”

“Terrific!” says the angel. “That’s certainly worth a point.”

“One point?” he shouted. “I started a soup kitchen for the homeless in my city and worked in an orphanage for motherless babies.”

“Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” he says.

“Two points!” Exasperated, the man cries, “Well, at this rate it’ll just be by the grace of God that I ever get into heaven.”

“Bingo, 100 points!” the angel said, “Come on in”.

What do you learn from this story? Share with us.

Culled from Daily Manna (Saturday May 28)

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

It is a thing of concern to notice attitudes of some of our Christian brethren – they expect God to do almost everything for them?

They rather stay at home than join a small startup company, all in the name of waiting on God for work in Oil Company.

They will not return your 50 naira balance from that 1 thousand naira expenses but keep fasting and praying that God will favour them to get that 1 million naira contract.

Very difficult thing for them to check the pressure of their car tyres before embarking on a journey, but takes time in prayer calling on the blood of Jesus to cover the road.

They are quick to jump queues at the slightest chance and then stay awake in vigil calling on the name of the Lord to bring peace and discipline in the country.

At their shops, they dump dirts into the gutter and when rain starts while inside the church, they offer prayers that God will protect their apartments from flood.

Oh my people! God is not a magician. Do not mock Him by doing nothing while wishing and praying that He does everything for you. God can do anything you ask of Him, but may not do everything for you. Go learn from the ant how she harvests her food and stores them for the rainy days. Proverbs 6:6. Oh my people! Our land is being destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6.

What can you say about this attitude? Share your advice to our people.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Chief resided in Abuja. He owned a civil construction company which did a good chunk of real estate projects when it was declared the capital of Nigeria. His house is a landmark and remains the most grandeur in his country home till today. Once in a while he would visit home. On sighting his convoy of four cars, our heart would leap in joy, though we must wait till the next morning.

In twos and threes, we would trickle in. So nice was Chief that he would have instructed his gatemen to let everyone in. We would wait in his palatial ‘obi’, more like a hall than a reception.

“Chief will soon come down”, his ‘oti mkpu’, like a personal assistant, will inform us.

The drinks were already available, so we make do of them while we wait, as well watching whatever was showing on the big screen.

“Ndi nke m!” That was always his greeting when he finally came down from the top floor. He would raise the big round feathery traditional fan in his right hand, simultaneously removing his red cap, and took a bow, in respect of the elderly among us.

He used to call us “ndi nke m" meaning "my people” and we would be happy identifying with a rich man like him. We were also sure something would come out of his pocket. We always left Chief’s place smiling, a white envelope in our hands.

He was a good man, but died in his fifties. Everyone in the village still talk about his generosity. Rumors had it that they took advantage of his kindness to poison him.

Whether it is true or not, fifteen years gone, whenever I come across the words “my people” I remember Chief and his kind-heartedness. And then I compare it with the amount of love and kindness God has for us. No wonder why He offered us the greatest sacrifice one can give his people, by condemning His son to death. Just for our own good!

“And I will be their God, and they shall be my people”

This is His promise and He has been living up to it. He has our best interest in His heart. He redeemed us. He provides for us. He protects us. He plans for us, even when we want to go our own way. And He will keep keeping us, because unlike Chief, God cannot die.
We are His people. He is our God.

Where do you belong today? Are you among God’s people?

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Chief resided in Abuja. He owned a civil construction company which did a good chunk of real estate projects when it was declared the capital of Nigeria. His house is a landmark and remains the most grandeur in his country home till today. Once in a while he would visit home. On sighting his convoy of four cars, our heart would leap in joy, though we must wait till the next morning.

In twos and threes, we would trickle in. So nice was Chief that he would have instructed his gatemen to let everyone in. We would wait in his palatial ‘obi’, more like a hall than a reception.

“Chief will soon come down”, his ‘oti mkpu’, like a personal assistant, will inform us.

The drinks were already available, so we make do of them while we wait, as well watching whatever was showing on the big screen.

“Ndi nke m!” That was always his greeting when he finally came down from the top floor. He would raise the big round feathery traditional fan in his right hand, simultaneously removing his red cap, and took a bow, in respect of the elderly among us.

He used to call us “ndi nke m" meaning "my people” [/b]and we would be happy identifying with a rich man like him. We were also sure something would come out of his pocket. We always left Chief’s place smiling, a white envelope in our hands.

He was a good man, but died in his fifties. Everyone in the village still talk about his generosity. Rumors had it that they took advantage of his kindness to poison him.

Whether it is true or not, fifteen years gone, whenever I come across the words “my people” I remember Chief and his kind-heartedness. And then I compare it with the amount of love and kindness God has for us. No wonder why He offered us the greatest sacrifice one can give his people, by condemning His son to death. Just for our own good!

[b]“And I will be their God, and they shall be my people”

This is His promise and He has been living up to it. He has our best interest in His heart. He redeemed us. He provides for us. He protects us. He plans for us, even when we want to go our own way. And He will keep keeping us, because unlike Chief, God cannot die.
We are His people. He is our God.

Where do you belong today? Are you among God’s people?

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Sometimes you feel like you are tired of everything. It may start from getting tired of your environment. Coming back home, discovered there is no power supply again. It has been like this for the third day in a row. You shook your small ‘I-pass-my-neighbour’ generator, hoping a little drop is remaining. The tank is dry. No fuel to power your electric fan, your only companion that would have chased the heat away. The fuel scarcity and the current heat wave seemed to have collaborated to bite you hard. No mention of the lack of ventilation – your apartment is squeezed in between two storey buildings.

You get tired of the government. Is it with this salary and condition that I will get married?

Your question came back to you. No one to answer that! It looks like no one cares. Even though they keep chanting ‘change, change’, you cannot see the change in your situation. You do not even change coming to the common man.

‘Forget change!’ you muttered in frustration. ‘Nothing is going to change.’ Not soon, as far as you can see.

Then you get tired of religion. Three times in a week you go to church – from one service to another. Your street on Sundays are always blocked with cars carelessly parked left and right and then they jumped into the church for praise, worship and another sermon from the Pastor saying ‘It is well’. Next service, he changes the title to ‘It shall be well'. This message they have been preaching from year to year, from one government to the other. Yet, things are getting worse. As far as you know, it is not well.

‘It can be well with my soul, but not my body.’ [/b]You fumed.

Life is a mystery. Life is not fair to everyone. [b]Life challenges are not shared equally. For who knows the colour of the wind! Only God, the creator knows the answer to all life challenges.

But life can be better for you this new month of May if you can positive about it. God will sure intervene and take care of those challenges, but it is your responsibility to open up to the possibility of the flow of His power. Never stop trusting Him. Your future is far brighter than your present.

He who knows the colour of the wind has promised that those Miracles Are Yours, this month of MAY.

Are you going to trust Him?

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

He is…I mean, he was a promising child. His parents were proud of him, always at the top of the class right from the primary to the secondary school. Not only in the class, for he was also a member of the school team. He was confirmed a ‘gifted child’ by the school authority, an award for extra-ordinary students, being the seventh person to receive such in the school’s thirty three years existence.

His name is, but now, was Jide. That was the beginning of his story. He came out of the university with first class in Economics and only worked for someone for two years before venturing into entrepreneurship. It turned out to be successful. After being in the financial sector for a while, Jide thought he had made enough money. For him, it was time to venture into politics, ‘Power things!’

He was shuttling between Lagos and his hometown almost every week, a three hours journey, during the campaign period. On that fateful early morning, he died with his driver on his way back to Lagos, at about 4:35 am. His Prado jeep hit a broken-down truck that was not fully cleared off the expressway and no enough danger indication to warn oncoming vehicles. He did not see his dream of representing his people in the senate, come true. A wife and two kids, he left behind.

Jide was intelligent and a good planner, but he forgot the most important – planning for his soul. He planned for life after school, then life as an entrepreneur. His next plan was life as a politician, but he forgot to plan for ‘life after life’.

He invested in bubbles, but no plan at all for the real thing. At a time he never expected, the bubbles vanished. His soul was not prepared for such a sudden change. There is nothing wrong in investing in bubbles but the real thing should be the first. Remember, godliness with contentment is great gain. As you strive for excellence in your endeavors, which is the will of God, do not forget to plan for your soul.

What are you investing in today? Is it the real thing?

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

@Joagbaje. Thanks for the encouragement. Indeed it is good trouble.

You preach to others. You encourage them in times of trials and temptations but it seems you are untouchable. Life seemed to have been so smooth for you. The difficulties that you have so far encountered are nothing to be compared with what you have been hearing during those counseling sessions. Your mouth has been full of testimonies until that fateful day at work.

You were summoned and informed to collaborate in manipulating the company accounting in order to reduce tax. Cash inflow has been low since the beginning of the year and the company has taken some drastic steps of reviewing down staff salaries instead of retrenchment. Now it seemed they want to meddle with tax. Miraculously, you have dodged away from the task. But you know it is not as miraculous as you wish, your boss has been unhappy with you ever since.

One week later, you got an email that there will be further restructuring at the end of the month, which might involve reducing the staff strength. Your mind tells you will be among the scapegoat if you maintain your stand, refusing to compromise your faith as per the instruction the previous week.

That same day you drove to see a friend in Lagos, only to mistakenly enter an unfamiliar one-way street. From nowhere, two policemen jumped into the car and before you could even explain, they mentioned an outrageous amount to set you free. Again, as a Christian, you know that you cannot handout bribe like that and that landed you to nearest police station. Your car was impounded and the DPO threatened to take you to court if you do not ‘co-operate’.

[b]Will you also go away? [/b]This was the question Jesus asked his twelve apostles when many of the disciples turned their back on him. John 6:67. He fed five thousand, but few identified with him during and after crucifixion. Remember, many are called, but few chosen.

Your rent is waiting for you this next month. School has just resumed and the children school fees must be settled this month. Food must be at home. Yet, you are not sure of your job after next week. Amidst all these, will you go back and compromise your faith? Will you also go away?
Why don’t you comment or share to encourage believers passing through such temptations and trials at this moment.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

If He can keep you for 1 minute, then He can keep you for 1 day
If He can keep you for 1 day, then He can keep you for 1 week
If He can keep you for 1 week, the He can keep you for 1 month
If He can keep you for 1 month, then He can keep you for 1 year
If He can keep you for 1 year, then He can keep you a lifetime

Don’t know why you are so afraid, as if He is not capable of taking care of you
Birds look like witches in your eyes, when they sing aloud happily behind your window
Cats appears like devils, but they are mere pets passing by your house
So afraid of your uncles in the village, always thinking they are waiting to kill you
Suspicious of even your church friends, yet you recite the Lord is my shepherd

He can keep you from falling
He can keep you from being hurt
He can keep you from all evils
Nothing will happen to you until you finish your mission on earth
But, only if you trust and obey

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Amen!!!

God's grace is there for us. And He will definitely help us, if we are sincere with Him.

This is actually a call to genuine salvation. Not religion that is already popular in Nigeria.

As you said, God will help us...

Is it nothing to you that you retire to your bed at night while some sleep under the bridge at the mercy of mosquitoes?

That you woke up healthy while your friend passed over from sleep to death

Is it nothing to you that you drove safely to work only to read in the news that accident claimed lives of many on same route?

That you have food to eat, while a blind neighbor had to wait in the sun wishing that bowl with coins dropped by passers-by would be enough to buy rice without meat.

Is it nothing to you that you have time to visit the gym while your uncle have been lying on his back in the hospital, now for 6 months;

That you get all these favor free even though you still offend God in your actions.

Is it nothing to you that because of your disobedience to God, negative reward is awaiting you at the other side of life?

That Christ intervened, took it up to reverse the reward to good, by His suffering on the cross.

“Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto me, which the Lord has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.”

Is it nothing to you that the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and you are not yet saved?

That if you insist on dying in your sins, you will surely perish!

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

“I’m just tired of life. I think it is better to die.” The young undergraduate told his friend.

All the while they chatted in front of the balcony on the second floor of the three storey hostel building; he had been bemoaning the current economic condition of the country and his already chattered dream.

“Let me help you,” Hi friend jeered, pushing him forward.

The railing dangled forward as he was forced to lean on it. “Stop it! Stop that joke.” He shouted, noticing that one end of the railing had already plucked off from the supporting wall.

“I thought you want to die.” He pulled him back and released his grip.

It appears a joke but the young man was deeply depressed. Recently, he has been nurturing the thought of suicide.
What can draw a young man to that extent, you may wonder. It may look flimsy but it is the reality. As for him, the financial condition of his parents and economic reality in the country is already showing that he may not finish school. Beside, with no knowledge of how the next meal would come from, his survival in school has been hanging on motivation and hope. Now it seems the hope is turning to hopelessness. It is becoming real to him that he may not, after all, achieve his life dream. And to add salt to injury, he had been sick for a while and needed to see a doctor but as usual, no money. The last doctor told him that the ill-health that repeatedly haunts him looks more of a psychosomatic one – whatever that means! Something important is slipping out of his hand, and he feel he cannot help it. His family cannot help. Help seemed not to be coming from relatives. The government is far from being of help. If there is no help from anywhere, there is no need to continue living, he had concluded.

A typical case of an undergraduate caught in the web of mid-life crisis in a dwindling economy, he opted to give up his dream; another might decide to join crime.

The good news is that this same young man learnt his lesson just on time. That saved his life. Now ten years after the incident, he shared insight into how, just a change of attitude brought sunshine to his life. Today he is fulfilled, has a nice job and a beautiful family. Life has been far better than he ever envisaged.

You may wonder, what did he do different?

First, it started with why? Why am I like this? Am I the only one in this condition?

“No!” The answer came almost simultaneously.

Has others in the past gone through this kind of situation? “Yes.”

Did they overcome? “Yes and No”

“Those that succeeded, how did they do it”?

The enquiry continued. Just two sentences he came across during this soul search did the magic.

“Only you and nobody else, is responsible for your success in life.” And the second, “the physical plays a good part but the spiritual plays the most important aspect of your wellbeing.”


Then, the biggest revelation – “if you want to be successful, do as your manual instructed.”

Ev[b]ery product from a manufacturer is accompanied with a manual once released into the market, so is mankind. A manual from his creator has been around since his existence. Those who want to fulfill the essence of their existence follow it but others ignore it to their own detriment.[/b]

The manual of life was the next quest for this young man. He bought a copy, studied it, joined those whose desire to follow the instruction in the book and learnt more. He was amazed at the information in the book. He first discovered the meaning of life, why he was created, his purpose in life, life after death – every question and mystery that has long remained unanswered were all explained in this book. Also important, he learnt why bad things happen to good people and how to overcome such challenges of life. That was all that changed his attitude. And he started seeing life in a better perspective.

Your future is in your hand. It is not in the hand of the government. It is not in the hand of your uncle. It is not in the hand of your boss. Blaming them does not help. They sometimes can be of help. But at the end, only you is responsible to drive your dream home.
Go to your maker. Get your manual, follow it and you will see that no challenge in life dare deny you of your expectations.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Psalm 1

You prayed and God did not answer. Your desires have not been met. He is yet to heal you of that sickness. Day after day, week after week, month after month…years are passing by and by and you are wondering if He will ever fulfil the desires of your heart. You are getting the feeling that He may not answer, after all.

Why not do a different thing this year. All gone saints at one time in their life, made a U-turn and took off those garments that has been drawing them back in life. You are called upon today to follow suit. Take off that garment of sin in your life. Take off that filthiness that repels the presence of God in your life. Take off that unfaithfulness. Then, will you see the mercy of God in your life.

Moving from one church to another may not bring the lasting solution. Changing to another prayer house, may add another challenge to the load you are already carrying. There are many false prophets out there interested in taking advantage of your situation. They may be more interested in what they will get from you than seeing your burden lifted off your shoulders.

The answer is simple. God wants to answer that prayer, but He wants your heart first. Why not take off those garments. Why not take off that sin that is hindering His blessing upon your life. If you will do so, you will marvel at the wonderful things God has laid at your doorstep. But thy garments of sin have blocked them off you.

Now is the time for God’s blessings and mercies upon your life and that of your family. Just take off those garments of sin.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

While others were waving their hands, chanting in melody of the music, I was at the back gnashing my teeth in grief. While others were jumping in joy, I was mourning in sorrow. While others were beholding His glory, I could not see past the veil on my face. While they supped on the same table with Him, I ate from the crumbs falling off. What is happening to me? Unable to hold on anymore, I decided to leave.

The exit is big but old and cranky door. I could see the finger-marks of the last man that used it. The marks were still fresh. Who knows how many have left through this door? Did they come back? I wondered in perplexity. The story goes that it is easy to leave, but almost impossible to come back. Far more easy to come in through the entrance once than to re-enter the second time.

Shaking off these torturing thoughts, I grabbed the door. My heart beat hard against my ribs. A creak, then comes this thunderous shouting of joy. I quickly retracted my hands from the door, thinking I was the cause of the shout. Looking back, I noticed that a young lady just came in through the entrance door, smiling. I shook my head and sighed. Such was the hilarious shout of joy when I first joined the family. Then I enjoyed everything – the worship, the fellowship, the praises, everything. But now, I cannot tell what had happened. Where was the passion, the zeal, the enthusiasm? The waves of life have hit me so hard that I have lost interest. I have also lost the faith, neither is there any hope in me anymore.

Ashamed of remembering, I grabbed the door-knob and yanked the door open with the last strength I could muster. The chilly cold outside hit me with full force. Everything became still. The shouts were no more, no more songs of praise, no more voices. There was this silence all around me. My ears became dead to everything happening inside.

A tap on my shoulder and I cringed and looked back.

“Why do you want to leave?”

His countenance was full of concern and care as He asked. I had thought nobody cared about me anymore.

“I am tired of continuing." I explained respectfully.

He looked at me with pity. “It’s very cold outside.” He warned in a soft voice. “If you leave, you may not make it back. This is where you belong. Everything you need is here. Don’t allow your challenges to weigh you down. You are nearer to the promise than you were yesterday. Please come back. Stay with us. We love you. You have gone far in this journey. The Lord has your reward ready. Just little patience and you will behold what He has in stock for you.”

Those words melted me. So, I am still loved the way I am? A backslider like me? A church-goer sinner like me? I could not believe it. I released the door. It swung back, closing in my face. Still inside, facing the old door, the cold gone, I broke down and fell on my knees.

While I sobbed uncontrollably, I asked the King of kings, my Lord Jesus, to forgive me all my sins and restore my first love for Him.

Revelation 2:4,5

Source: www.blog.floatingingrace.com

Proverbs 25:28, Proverbs 16:32

Which news did you hear that made your heart sink? Did your expectations fall apart? Did someone disappoint you? That thing you never expected, did it come your way? Does it seem the whole world is against you? Does it seem you have lost interest in everything? Lost interest in your pursuit; in your career, hobby. Does it appear like you are getting tired of life. And the company you once enjoyed no longer make any meaning to you. Even your loved ones being around seemed not to be helping.

Wake up dear, do not lose focus. Even if it seems you are in mid-life crisis. Your emotions swinging up and down. Do not rely on your emotions. You emotion will deceive you. Man’s emotions goes up and down. It is pulled by the happenings within and around. It is not based on reasoning. It is not based on principles. It is not based on faith. It is only based on feelings. And feelings can deceive and even disappoint you.
Do not put your fate on what you see and read in the media. Do not put your faith on what they told you. Neither put your future on what is happening around you. Refuse to believe on that which your inner thought keep whispering to you that there is no reason for living. Do not believe that someone out there is in charge of your life. Do not believe that without them you are gone. Do not believe that those in authority are wholly responsible for your success. Do not lose hope. Others in the past had felt the same way. But with the right attitude, they overcame. Keep your hope alive.
Believe on what you know is the truth. Believe that you are in the right track. Believe that all things work together for your good. Believe that your future is in your hand. Believe in the word of God. Believe that what He started in your life He will surely finish. Only know Him, obey Him, stick with Him, believe in Him and you will find out that all is already well with you.

In this journey of life, be a master of your emotions…and you will definitely get there.

Source: www.blog.floatingingrace.com

[center][/center]Psalm 27:4

If I pray for riches. How much would be enough? I need a house, a car…no, a mansion, fleet of cars…Which one first?

If I cherish fame. And the whole world knows me. How would I handle popularity and the disturbances of public life?

If I ask for power. And I become the first President of the World! How am I sure this is going to give me my desired inner peace?

If my desire is pleasure. Eating, drinking, merriment, enjoyment. Not sure this lifestyle is the best for my health and well-being?

Wealth, fame, power, pleasure…Certainly, I need good health, security, peace, joy, love – all the good things of life. I’m getting confused. I need EVERYTHING.

Somebody should tell me where I would get them all. But there is a man who wanted only ONE [/b]thing. It became his passion, his dream, his desire, his pursuit…
[b]
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”[i][/i]

Hmmm! Are you sure he is not desiring the best? I’ve thought about it. King David is right. I don’t need a list. All I need is to ask God for ONE thing. And all other things will be added unto me. One thing, only one thing, do I desire from the Lord. As from now, that will I seek after.

Care to prune down your list and join me in His abundance?

At about 8:00 am, the bell would ring, and then the stampede from the hostel to the assembly ground. It is time for morning assembly. You really have to be quick about it, otherwise you will land into the net of the school prefects and be harvested for late coming. You know what that means…

In those days in school, the first thing that hit my eyes that early morning as I file behind a fellow student is the inscription on a small wooden board, hanging in front of the Principal office: “God writes straight on crooked lines”

To me ‘writing on crooked lines’ means God can do all things, and this was just my understanding of the inscription, then. Nineteen years now, I understand better.

The life of a Christian on earth is like crooked lines. The pains we go through while trying to do His will, the disappointments, the tears, the struggles, all make up the crooked lines. Like a potter and the clay, He keeps moulding us, trying to be as soft as He can with His delicate hands. As a master sculptor, he keeps chirping away the rough edges of our nature and characters. And like a goldsmith, he allows us to pass through the refining fire. By the time He is through, you will come out a sparkling gold. Then will you be conformed to His image and likeness – qualified to join Him in the heavenly places when the time is due.

My brother, my sister, do not resist. Try not to murmur. Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). He is in the process of straightening your crooked nature in order to conform to His image. And when that awaited time comes, you will never have any drop of regret in your cup.

The FACT is that it is difficult to do the will of God while here on earth but the TRUTH is that He keeps molding us in this crooked path in order to make us straight to be able to reach home through the narrow way.

www.blog.floatingingrace.com

The bad news
As year goes by, so do bad news increase. The news of a failing economy, job losses, inflation are becoming ‘as usual’ in our ears. After the battle with the deadly disease, Ebola, we are being confronted with the news of Lassa fever outbreak. The Zika virus seems to be the latest most threatening and fearing.
What about the evils that currently claim human lives across our nation on daily basis? News of accidents, civil agitations, militancy, terrorism, armed robbery and kidnapping flood our media reports. We seemed to be getting used to blood and gruesome pictures of human flesh. No one seemed to be safe anymore. We do not know what tomorrow has in stock for us.

The good news
As children of God, what is our fate in a time like this? Fear is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit, rather faith. The phrase ‘fear not’ abound in the word of God. It is the will of God that His children serve Him in peace of mind and in good health. The Lord has promised of His protection this year. He has promised that these evil tidings will not come near us. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. He is going to protect His own and no harm will come upon His people.

Those who the good news belong
Though God love all His creature, be bestows His most precious love and care to those who are dear to His heart. Those who have taken it upon themselves to obey His word and do as He command can never be disappointed. He calls them the apple of His eyes. The blessings of God are for those who do His will. Deuteronomy 28:1.

If you will drop all your sinful ways and embrace the way of life. If you will come to Christ today. If you will call on His name. Surely, the shoes of sorrow shall not gather at thy doorstep, this very Year. His banner will be over you and your family.

What God can prevent by His POWER, He allows in His WISDOM, to show forth His GLORY

He would have prevented it, but He allowed it to happen. He cares for His children, yet he allowed that bad situation to come their way, and He did not stop it.

What He can prevent in His POWER

God created the universe and He is in perfect control of everything in it. He has the power to do just anything. Nothing is impossible to Him. Impossible means “I’m possible” in His sight. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” He has the power to have prevented that calamity that befell your family. His power would have saved you from that mistake that keeps haunting you. God is able to provide you job, shelter and food. He can answer that prayer you have been praying for long. He can restore your health. God can grant you that desire of your heart.

He allows in His WISDOM

For a reason far from our understanding, what we see as bad things sometimes happen to his children. Your desire seemed to have been cut off. Your prayers lingers for a very long time, as if He does not hear. The basic things of life seemed to have eluded you even when He is your father. Then follows that sickness, the accident, and the calamity that befell your family. Yet, you are sure that He has the power to put a stop to it, if He wanted. But for some reasons, He seemed to have looked the other way.

Do not thinks so. He says “for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thought.” Even when you are not happy how God is handling the affairs of your life; why he allowed some negative event to happen, do not go to the extreme of blaming or finding fault with Him. For one thing is sure: nothing bad comes from God. “Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness“.

To show forth His GLORY

Though you may not understand why he allowed that thing to happen to you. But look back to the past and remember the disappointment of years gone by. Then you smile, your eyes and understanding is now opened and you find the reason. That negative event of the past have finally turned to present day good. Sometimes, it is these events of life that defines our characters and brings out the best in us. And then we learn to know Him better. Through these lessons of life, we are drawn closer to Him. We acknowledge Him and invite Him to take control of our lives. His wish and plan remains that He draws all men to Him; for our desires and ways most times tends to vanity. He wants us to come to Him in order to be saved from the hands of the Devil, the evil one.

But even if at this moment, you are still not happy and do understand why He allowed such to come your way, be not bitter. When we get to the other side of eternity, you will understand it better, by and by. So long as you will be on the right side in eternity, joy will be your portion.

He is definitely in charge. For the God of the mountain is the God in the valley and when things go wrong, He makes them right. Be consoled by this assurance in His word: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Visit www.blog.floatingingrace.com for more Christian articles for the well-being of your soul and body.

What God can prevent by His POWER, He allows in His WISDOM, to show forth His GLORY

He would have prevented it, but He allowed it to happen. He cares for His children, yet he allowed that bad situation to come their way, and He did not stop it.

[center][/center]What He can prevent in His POWER

God created the universe and He is in perfect control of everything in it. He has the power to do just anything. Nothing is impossible to Him. Impossible means “I’m possible” in His sight. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” He has the power to have prevented that calamity that befell your family. His power would have saved you from that mistake that keeps haunting you. God is able to provide you job, shelter and food. He can answer that prayer you have been praying for long. He can restore your health. God can grant you that desire of your heart.

[center][/center]He allows in His WISDOM

For a reason far from our understanding, what we see as bad things sometimes happen to his children. Your desire seemed to have been cut off. Your prayers lingers for a very long time, as if He does not hear. The basic things of life seemed to have eluded you even when He is your father. Then follows that sickness, the accident, and the calamity that befell your family. Yet, you are sure that He has the power to put a stop to it, if He wanted. But for some reasons, He seemed to have looked the other way.

Do not thinks so. He says “for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thought.” Even when you are not happy how God is handling the affairs of your life; why he allowed some negative event to happen, do not go to the extreme of blaming or finding fault with Him. For one thing is sure: nothing bad comes from God. “Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness“.

To show forth His GLORY

Though you may not understand why he allowed that thing to happen to you. But look back to the past and remember the disappointment of years gone by. Then you smile, your eyes and understanding is now opened and you find the reason. That negative event of the past have finally turned to present day good. Sometimes, it is these events of life that defines our characters and brings out the best in us. And then we learn to know Him better. Through these lessons of life, we are drawn closer to Him. We acknowledge Him and invite Him to take control of our lives. His wish and plan remains that He draws all men to Him; for our desires and ways most times tends to vanity. He wants us to come to Him in order to be saved from the hands of the Devil, the evil one.

But even if at this moment, you are still not happy and do understand why He allowed such to come your way, be not bitter. When we get to the other side of eternity, you will understand it better, by and by. So long as you will be on the right side in eternity, joy will be your portion.

He is definitely in charge. For the God of the mountain is the God in the valley and when things go wrong, He makes them right. Be consoled by this assurance in His word: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Visit www.blog.floatingingrace.com for more Christian articles for the well-being of your soul and body.

It will be amazing, unbelievable. Our human minds simply cannot comprehend.  The historic marriage celebration around the longest dining table is sure to take place. Tens and thousands from all nations of the world make up the bride. The table is so arranged in a mind-boggling way, for all to be side by side with the bridegroom. Never seen before! No discrimination is made of colour, race nor tribe. Neither can you distinguish the rich, the poor, the mighty and the small. All are same, wearing a fine linen. And no one is allowed to enter without this linen attire.

A much awaited event, with joy unending, each finally wearing a smile. Human eye cannot behold the expanse of the building. The walls are decorated with every kind of precious stone. Its brilliance is like that of a very precious jewel, clear as crystal. The floor is of gold, as pure as transparent glass. No need of the sun or the moon to shine, for the glory of the owner gives it light. Ears marvel at the melody of the music, such as has never been heard.

Preparation for this great occasion was one of a kind. Many times humiliated but they humbled themselves. Some were denied their rights but they looked forward to this day. The path at a time seemed tough but they endured. What of those who lost their life while on the journey? Today, there is no more sorrow; neither do they feel pain anymore. Men and women are gathered right from the beginning of the world to this generation. Beholding those from the old generation, one wonders how young, handsome and beautiful they still look. They are indeed made ready for the bridegroom.

It is called the marriage supper of the lamb. The lamb and bridegroom is Jesus Christ, who set us free from the condemnation of sin when He was slain an innocent lamb on the cross. He is risen, have prepared the ceremony and now waiting for the bride. And the bride is the church – saints both living and dead. Those who took advantage of Christ paying the debt of their sin, to get free. They were then made righteous and given the fine linen. For without the fine linen, you can never enter in.

Blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the lamb. Revelation 19:7-1. You are invited. Will you come?

Source: www.blog.floatingingrace.com

He knows the way. He leads the way. And He is the way. John 14:6. He will not lead you the wrong way. And He will not let you go the wrong way.

Even at a moment that you do not understand where He is leading you. The path seems rough, lonely and dejected. He knows definitely why He is leading you in that path. He is faithful. And if He says you should go on, do not be afraid. It is impossible for Him to lie. Hebrews 6:18.

Just trust and obey Him. At the end of the journey you will know why. You will understand why. And you will get home, at last. John 14:2. No one…I mean, no one… rides with God and the misses the way home.

blog.floatingingrace.com

naturefellow:
Some new sky images taken last weekend.

'Nice pictures of nature. Keep up the good work'

Hi Naturefellow. Your pictures are amazing. I think they would useful to me. Any way I can contact you?

Thank you for those that have shown interest so far.

If you would also like to join in this pilot internship project being initiated by our online platform (www.gomintor.com), kindly send CV or linkedIn profile to gomintorng@gmail.com

Target candidates:
* Final year students
* Fresh graduates waiting for NYSC or have completed.
* Qualification & interest in Information Technology, Business Administration, Marketing & Sales
* Location: Lagos

Visit www.gomintor.com for more details. Your feedback is appreciated.

I thought we want a change. Now I'm beginning to understand.