FAITH NOW AND FOREVER

FAITH NOW AND FOREVER

The way Jesus works in our lives and the way He chooses to do things is often past our comprehension. It’s mysterious and usually takes faith and patience, because His timetable is often different from ours. Living the Christian life requires faith and trust, because we’re not the ones in control—Jesus is. We have to remind ourselves constantly that He knows best, that He does all things well, and that His priorities are often different and much more long-term and “big picture” than ours.

 

Even with all of His awesome promises—promises like, “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He [will] give you,” “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” and “If you have faith, nothing will be impossible for you”—we have to remember that we can do our part, but we’re not the ones calling the shots. We’re not the ones with the bird’s-eye view of the past, present, future, and master plan for eternity. We can put Jesus on the spot and we can harness all the spiritual power He has put at our fingertips, but ultimately it is His will that must be done. Jesus is in control, and He knows best.

It’s so important to keep an attitude of simple trust in Him, as otherwise we can struggle with so many questions when things don’t turn out the way we were hoping or the way we prayed they would.

There is so much in the Bible on this topic, as well as throughout the writings of men and women of faith from the past 2,000 years—and of course Jesus can also still speak to our hearts today. Every now and then it’s good to stop and reflect on the various reasons why Jesus works the way He does, why things don’t always turn out the way we’d like, why every prayer isn’t answered in the manner we had hoped, and why life is sometimes harder than we think it should be.

If you don’t strengthen your faith, life can seem pretty hard for no good reason. When that happens, you can start to feel that it’s your fault, that you must be doing something wrong, that Jesus must be displeased with you because He isn’t answering your every prayer as you want Him to, or that maybe the promises He’s given don’t actually work “as advertised.”

The devil is always trying to tear down your faith. His job is to try to get you to doubt God’s Word. I’d say that’s his number-one mission—and it started way back with Adam and Eve in the Garden, when he asked them, “Has God indeed said?” He wanted to get them to doubt God, and in that case his charms and half-truths worked.

In addition to the devil’s constant attempts to hurt your faith, you’ve also got human nature working against your faith, because faith defies logic by requiring you to believe in something that is unseen, for which you have no tangible proof at the time. But the more you study God’s Word, the more your faith will grow.

In time you will find many wonderful promises and explanations that answer age-old questions such as why it seems like God doesn’t always answer prayer. But the fact is that life, with all the difficulties and trials and times when prayers seemingly go unanswered, will continue to be a test of faith. It will always be so until we get to heaven.

Whenever things are rough, whenever you feel that they’re not turning out the way you’d hoped, when you feel your prayers aren’t being answered, when the trials of life are a little too much to bear, when the battle seems too long, when your faith is under attack, when you’re feeling weary and aren’t sure if you can take much more, climb up onto the rock-solid foundation God has provided for your faith through His many promises and encouraging words, and rest in that safe haven.

 

Don’t try to answer all of the devil’s lies and accusations yourself; let the Word answer for you. Take comfort, also, in the fact that this battle isn’t uniquely yours. It’s one that every Christian of all time has had to reckon with, and the answer is the same today as it has ever been—trust in God and His wonderful ways. You can’t figure it all out. Instead, encourage yourself in the Word and relax in the comfort of knowing that Jesus has everything in His hands. Rest in Jesus’ arms, let Him shield you and support you, and in God’s time the storm will pass.

 

—

Hebrews 13:8 NIV – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Matthew 17:20 ASV – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ”

Matthew 14:31 ASV – Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

FINDING FAITH

FINDING FAITH

One day, while browsing in a bookshop, I came across an encyclopedia with a section of Bible-related articles. I was curious to see how a secular scholar might depict the great men and women of the Bible, so I began to read some of the short biographies—the prophets Daniel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah; King David; Samson; the apostles Matthew, Peter, and Paul. …

One after another, things I had accepted as fact were brought into question: Three people may have written the book of Isaiah; the apostle Matthew may not have written the Gospel of Matthew; Paul may not have written some of the epistles that have been attributed to him. On and on it went. With phrases like “mythological symbolism,” “legendary accreditations,” and “obscure visions,” the author went on to explain in great detail how every book in the Bible was flawed or shouldn’t be taken literally. Adam and Eve should be thought of as “symbolic prototypes of mankind.” The book of Genesis was merely “a way for certain authors to express their theories on the origins of human life and cultural identity.”

I had only skimmed a few pages when a hollow feeling settled in my stomach. Part of me wanted to close the book, but another part kept flipping the pages, looking for some statement that reaffirmed my faith in the Bible. Then my eyes fell on the closing sentence of the entry on Jesus Christ. “In all the inevitable questioning over the biblical account of the resurrection of Jesus, one fact seems beyond dispute: Jesus’ disciples were prepared to stake their lives on its veracity.” And so have countless others down through the ages, I might add. The author, in his scholarly attempt to debunk God’s Word, couldn’t explain away its power.

I felt vindicated, then ashamed at how little faith I had shown just moments earlier. That closing sentence had driven out and slammed the door on the doubts that had entered and tried to take hold of my mind.

I realized then why so many people still have faith in the Bible, even after reading books like this encyclopedia, which undermine faith through their skeptical and narrow views. It’s because through the Bible they have come to know its true Author, God, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

God is alive and well; Jesus not only rose from the dead, but He now lives in every heart that invites Him in; and the words found in the Bible are alive and powerful. How do I know these three things to be true? Because I have experienced them for myself. I believe the Bible because I have seen its effect in my life.

—

Matthew 15:28 ASV – Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Hebrews 11:1 ASV – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

1 Peter 1:21 ASV – Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

A Parrot For Sale

*A Parrot For Sale*

A lady walked into a pet shop demanding for a parrot.

*The owner:* "we have 2 kinds, one repeats everything you say & the other thinks for itself"

*Lady:*"I think I'll like the one that thinks for itself"

The owner brought out her choice & told her to quiz the parrot.

*Lady:* how do I look?

*Parrot:* like a prostitute

*Lady:* I won't buy it, this parrot is rude!

*The owner:* pls lady just give me a moment.....(walked towards the backyard with the parrot. He dipped the parrot into a bucket full of water & warned the parrot, "if u're rude to that
lady one more time I will drown u in this bucket". When the man came back to d counter he told the lady now ask the parrot anything you wish and I assure u that he will be polite.

CONVERSATION
*LADY:* if I come home at night with a man, what will u call this man?
*PARROT:* Your husband!

*LADY:* Good, what if I come home with two men?
*PARROT:* Your husband & your in-law.

*LADY:* Good! Good!, what if I come home with 3 men?

*PARROT:* Your husband, your inlaw & your brother!

*LADY:* Goooooood!!! What if I come home with 4 men?

*PARROT:* (looked back at the owner)....and said *"pls go and drown me, I said it earlier that this woman is a prostitute!!!*



COMFORT IN LIFE’S DARK HOUR

COMFORT IN LIFE’S DARK HOUR

(A FRIEND STORY)

Never have I been so glad that I had faith as when my husband died.
Oh, the comfort, the blessing, the peace in the hour of trial that those of us who believe can draw on. Many of the condolence cards that I received had messages based on this Bible verse: “We sorrow not as those that have no hope”—and that is so true!
When I was visiting my husband in the hospital, I talked with people who had no faith, who were standing by the bedsides of dying loved ones without any consolation or hope. I thank God for His wonderful plan of redemption that makes me know that I’m going to meet my husband again in a better place—a plan that was worked out in God’s mind from the foundation of the world, that though we die, we shall live again. I thank God, too, for the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and the third day arose so that we could do likewise. God gives a special dispensation of grace when we need it. We don’t have it beforehand, but when we come right up against what would otherwise be a time of severe heartbreak, there He is.

When my husband was sick, I would often sing to him, standing by his bed. I don’t have a beautiful voice, but the hymns were beautiful, and his favorite was a verse of “How Firm a Foundation.”

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
And when through deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow.

How God upheld me! I’ve seen that promise from His Word proven true once again. I came to deep water, but it did not overflow me.
You know, life isn’t complete without faith in God. He says that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. How true that is! It’s such an abundant life when we have faith.
When going through my husband’s things, I found this poem that he kept in his Bible.

Afraid?

Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Savior’s face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
A flash—a crash—a pierced heart;
Brief darkness—Light— O heaven’s art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid? Of that?

Afraid? Of what?
To enter into heaven’s rest,
And yet to serve the Master blessed?
From service good to service best?
Afraid? Of that?
—E. H. Hamilton

My dear husband wasn’t afraid to move on, and if you have received Jesus as your Savior you won’t be afraid either, because you’ll know that He will be with you. Though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He says, “I will be with you.” He will be there to comfort you.
Never has God’s love proved so great, never His mercy so sure and His grace so abundant as during the week after my loss. I praise Him with all my heart for fulfilling His Word and for His faithfulness.

—

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

John 11:25-26 (NIV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

1 Corinthians 15:4 (NIV) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

Surprise!* Surprise

*Surprise!* Surprise

It was a very sunny Saturday morning, and our wedding anniversary. I looked at my wife as she got ready to leave the house for work. She is a doctor and had been on call today. It seemed like yesterday she walked down the aisle to me. Wow! We are twenty-three years in marriage today. I smiled at her, she smiled back. We have this thing we do in our anniversary; its more like a friendly competition, we see who surprises whom with the best anniversary gift. 

 

She had won five years in a row; I was definitely going to win this year because my surprise for her would blow her head off.

"So what are you going to do this year" she asked me, coming out clean with the question because she had stealthily tried to find out what my plans were. "Watch and see" I told her. I asked her the same question; she just said "hmmm". I've discovered when a woman says hmmm, she's really got something hot cooking. She picked her bag, kissed my beardy cheek and left. We had plans for dinner by 6:00pm tonight. Then, I would unleash my 'BIG' surprise.

We have been married for twenty-two years and we have no children, or perhaps God had not given us any. 

 

Over time we had come to realize that sometimes God says yes, wait or no! And there is nothing we could do to change that fact. He is GOD. Therefore, I had vowed to love Patience with the whole of my being. I had promised to always make her laugh and though we both sunk into lugubrious moods, we would trust and keep hope alive. I would be her husband and her son; and she my wife and daughter. We had just ourselves.

Patience, my wife reads a lot of books and her favourite authors are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Karen Kingsbury and I bet she could kill to meet them in person. Last year I contacted Chimamanda and started making preparations to surprise my wife this year. After much process, I got her to have dinner with us tonight. It wasn't easy at all. My wife was going to faint! The idea that I had won this years' anniversary surprise made me all jumpy and giddy. I was going to prepare her best meal, 'Efo riro, bush meat and poundy'.

I had known what my wife had planned for me. We live in Accra and I had always wanted to visit Nigeria, to Jos. I had told her so many stuff about this place I had grown up in, and especially about the mouthwatering 'Gwete'. I had tried to prepare gwete for her and on so many occasions failed. In fact the last time I tried it looks like 'Acha pudding' with cabbage and biscuit bone. LOL. Anyways, I heard her making plans for us to travel to Jos. I smiled.

Its 5:00pm, I had finished the cooking and all, set the table, lit the scented candles and did all the romantic 'orishirishi' we see in movies. The door opens.

"Awww!" She squeals. I hug her and after small talk she saunters off, mounting the staircase to get ready for dinner. I had showered, shaved and dressed in a crisp white shirt, jeans and sneakers. We are one of those couples that still try to look young even in our aging years. Forty-five minutes later, she comes down in a black dress with silver studs in her ears; she looked breathtaking. Although I could still see the grey that stuck in her hair. As we sat, the doorbell rang. I smiled, my surprise had arrived.

"Baby, get the door please" I said and ran off to get my camera. As she opens the door, she sees Chimamanda and her assistant standing at the door. She screamed! And hugged the smiling guest. We all sat to eat. I watched them both smiling from ear to ear as they discussed so many things especially about her books and all. Its 7:30pm and I can't wait for Chimamanda to leave so I could clinch onto my victory. 

Finally, she left. We were clearing the table when I saw the brown envelope sticking out from my wife's purse. I knew it! It was our plane tickets to Jos. Smiling vicariously I picked it up and opened it. I was right, tickets to Jos and also...

I collapsed on the sofa, and I couldn't quench the river of tears that had started to flow on my well shaven face. I was sobbing hard. That after twenty- three years (today) of marriage, God had decided to make me a daddy! My wife joined me on the sofa, we were crying for joy together because after so many years of God telling us to wait, He finally said yes.

My head was on my wife's laps. I could perceive her cologne better. Interrupting our tearful silence she asks me. "So honey, who surprised who, who won this year?" With a mischievous grin, I looked up to her not wanting to carry last this year and said *"Na Godwin".* We both laughed looking ahead. We were going to be parents! God had surprised us both. Although, my wife keeps saying she won.

 

Inspiration: 'Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning". He who calms the storms is able to meet your need
Lovely People, it's not too late for your expectations to be met before the end  of this year. *Keep trusting God.*. As the year runs to a halt, God will surprise us all with the good things we need IJMN. *HE'S ABLE*