GOING BROKE? THE ANSWER COULD BE HERE

GOING BROKE? THE ANSWER COULD BE HERE

For an increasing number of us, financial troubles are precariously close to home. With businesses and financial institutions failing daily, it’s no wonder so many worry that their own livelihoods or homes are at risk.

In such times of trouble and uncertainty it’s natural to worry about your own family foremost. If until recently you’ve been supporting your church or various charities, now, with gloomy future prospects, perhaps you question whether such giving makes sound financial sense.

The answer is that if you want God’s blessing, then giving is still definitely in! “God loves a cheerful giver” is one of the pillars of God’s financial plan. In fact, God’s way to plenty is to give it away.

His Word says, “The generous soul will be made rich.” Of course, those “riches” may not always be material. I heard a true account of a woman who gave $10 a month to help support an impoverished child in India through the Save the Children charity until the boy reached 18. Over the years he sent her thank-you notes and they exchanged occasional letters. Thirty years later she received a phone call from him. He was overcome with emotion as he told her how, because of her, he had received an education and become a successful businessman. In turn, he was now helping to support 1,000 poor children—all because she’d helped him with that $10 a month.

—

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”

And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

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2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV – Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Malachi 3:10 ESV – Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Proverbs 11:24 ESV – One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE**PART 1*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

*PART 1*

My name is Adesewa. I was raised by God-fearing parents
who were blessed with six girls. My parents were deacon and deaconess in a pentecostal church. I happened to be their third
daughter, with three younger ones. I had my HND at Yaba college of technology and was
posted to Kwara state for my youth service.

I had given my life to Christ since my secondary school
days, and I used to sing a lot, sometimes I even composed
my own song. I joined the church choir when i was just nine years old.

After the 3 weeks orientation programme of d NYSC, I was
posted to a secondary school at Oyan for the one year service. I was given a room in the school compound at the Corp members’ quarters.

On getting to Oyan, I started looking for a pentecostal
church where i could be worshipping, and soon I was able to find one. Shortly after I started worshipping in the church, I joined the choir. Fortunately, it was at the time when the choir leader just
left the church and there was nobody to coordinate the
members. Before I knew it, I was made the choir leader
after being interviewed by the pastor, Pastor Williams. I was loved by everybody in the church, especially the
choiristers, because of my unique voice. Whenever I sang or led a song, the whole congregation had a way of murmuring “Huuuuunnnnn!” with a sigh of satisfaction when they heard my voice.
Most of the choir members were younger than I was, so
they called me “Aunty” or “Sister Sewa”. One of them was Bode, who used to play keyboard for us in the church. He was so gifted when it comes to instruments,there
was no instrument he couldn’t play. I always felt d presence of God whenever he was on keyboard.

Back to my background,
I was named Adesewa after my late grandmother, who
passed away shortly before i was born. My dad loved his mum so much and hence transferred the love to me, believing that his late mother was the one who came back, moreso, according to him, I was the mama’s carbon copy. It was after he became saved,
that he knew he was wrong.
My second name was Yetunde. My dad saw me as perfect. Anything i did or said was right, even when I myself knew I was wrong. In a nutshell, I was his favourite.
When my mum noticed that daddy was treating me like the apple of his eyes, she wasn’t taking things easy with me at all. She spank me at every slight mistake I made, mostly when my dad wasn’t at home. Sometimes she would lament..”You this spoilt brat!. Your father has spoilt you. See, I will make sure I deal with you before maggots
start coming out of your body….”

My two elder sisters too, also made life miserable for me,
especially,the first born, sister Temi. She would never
tolerate any nonsense from me, she took after mummy, but her own was just too much.

By the time I was serving, sister Temi and sister Tiwa had
got married, but I have been tamed already. So what happened to me???

What out in Episode 2

Episode 3**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

*Episode 3*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

Daddy did not give me money that day. He was so pissed with me, it was mommy that gave me transport fare and a stipend which I managed till January allowance was paid.
Thank God for the foodstuff I took with me from home, I would have learnt a wonderful lesson from hunger.

On getting back to Oyan, Bode was still around because there was no money for him to return to school. I told him what I went through because of him, and even then, I wasn't sure if my dad would send me money again as usual, so i couldn't give him money.
He felt sorry for me, and told me he would source for money elsewhere. I didn't know how he did it,but he went back to school the following week.

Soon there was a rumour among the choir members that something was going on between Bode and me. Before I knew it, it had become viral
among church members.

One Sunday morning, Pastor Mrs Williams sent somebody to tell me she would like to see me after service. I wasn't myself throughout the service. I kept thinking "what did i do? Why does she want to see me?"....Anyway, I said to myself, "if it's because of
Bode, there's nothing between us, and that is just what i will tell her....Period!." I didn't hear anything in church that day, I was already devastated by the rumour going on, and this?....

Finally, the service was over. I found myself sitting next to Pastor Mrs Williams on a three-seater sofa inside the pastor's office.
"Good afternoon ma"
"How are u my dear?."
"I'm fine ma."
"I know you would be wondering why I wanted to see you.".said Mrs Williams".
"Yes ma". I answered.
She continued...".It's about a rumour going on in the church. Can you please shed more light on the relationship between you and Bode?".
"Ma, Bode is like a younger brother to me, nothing more. Believe me ma. I only render assistance to him whenever he's in need and that has even stopped now." I told her.
Anyways, I've denied it on your behalf. I only wanted to confirm from you, because the very first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you came
from a christian home, and I have no doubt in my spirit that you are well trained..but then, *I want you to be very careful because there is power in tongues.* *Don't give the devil any chance at all, and don't trust yourself* If you see or hear a child of God saying " I trust myself, I can never commit sin"..then, you have heard or seen someone at the verge of falling.
So, please, be very careful and the Lord shall help you In Jesus Name.
I said "Thank u ma", and left the office.

As I was going home, I was telling myself "Now, I really need to be very careful....though there was nothing between us really, but how could anybody think I could be dating a boy about the same age with Oyindamola..our second to the last born? not even the one next to me!..Well, I just need to be
careful!"

Watch out for episode 4

*Episode 4*A CHURCH GIRLS TALE*

*Episode 4*

*A CHURCH GIRLS TALE*

It was 1st of April, my birthday. Bisi and some of the sisters of National Service crew came to my house to help in the cooking. The birthday was fixed for 12pm, since we would be having choir practice by 5pm.

We ate, drank and made merry. In fact, it was indeed a memorable occasion. I really enjoyed myself. Pastor Mrs Williams gave a short exhortation. She titled the message *Unique Grace*, citing practical examples from her own life experiences.
We were all blessed.

Despite the short notice, I was so surprised to see that some people still came with gifts. The most surprising one was the one sent to me from Bode’s mum. When Bode gave me the gift, I asked him how she knew because I remembered I didn’t tell her when I saw her in the market the previous day. He said he was the one that told her, and she said “no wonder she came to buy many ingredients yesterday!”..She then rushed inside her room and came out with a pack of 4 glass
cups. “Help me to wrap this and give it to her, tell her I wish her long life and prosperity”.
On hearing this, I automatically fell in love with the woman. I collected it from him with thanks and after the birthday, we went to church for the choir practice.
We ended the practice around 7pm. Everybody left for their houses. Bode was discussing with one of the brothers when I left the church.

I got to my room around 7.15pm, the sisters who cleaned the plates and utensils we used for the birthday did a thorough
job. They tidied up everywhere, including my room, and set everything in place. I undressed, almost naked, laid on my bed, closed my eyes, thanking God for the day and everyone He used to make the day a lovely one. I heard a knock on the door.
“Who is that?”. I asked as I quickly came out of my thought. I opened the door,  to my utmost surprise,
“It’s Bode o”…………

To be continued in Episode 5.

*Episode 5**A CHURCH GIRLS TALE

*Episode 5*

*A CHURCH GIRLS TALE*

“Who is that?”. I asked as I quickly came out of my thought. I opened the door,  to my utmost surprise
“It’s Bode o”…………Of course, I could recognise his voice. I quickly strapped myself in my night gown.
“Come in, the door is not locked” I answered.
Before he could enter, I sat on the bed, I adjusted
my dress and brushed my hair backwards with my right hand. I wondered why he came back, after all he had been in my house since morning.

When he entered, he sat down on a plastic chair in the room. He said his mum told him I came to buy ingredients from her the previous day, and that she loved my simplicity, and all those stuff. He said some other things, and upon all, I could get that he really didn’t have anything important to discuss with me, he only wanted to see my face again.

When the time was moving to few minutes before 9pm, I told him to go, as it was getting too late, more so, his mum had been calling.

Finally, he got up and said “Ok, Sis Sewa, good night”.
He came over to where I was, and gave me a very tight and warm hug. I could sense a feeling from that hug, but I ignored it. Anyways, he left that night. I was so shocked that I even refused to see him off. But what was his plan? Is this little young boy having any ulterior motive? I will be a big fool to fall for his schemes if he has any.

To be continued in Episode 6.

Episode 6**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE

*Episode 6*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

Then something happened.
Bode lost his dad. It was then I got to know that the old man had more than one wife, as a matter of fact, he had four. One was late already, and Bode’s mum was the last and the only one living with him until he passed away. Among the children from the other wives, only few of them were educated, others were either bricklayers, drivers, carpenters,
tailors or petty traders. It was only Bode’s mum that was
struggling to send her children to school. She had three of them for the late farmer. Bode was the firstborn with two kid sisters who were still in high school. The one next to him was preparing to write WASSSCE when their dad passed away.

It was announced in the church and we (choir members) decided to go and register our condolence with Bode and other members of the family.

On getting there, I was so touched by the way I saw the widows sitting down on a mat, wearing black attire with bowls before each of them where people who came to sympathise with them put money. I said within me “if this kind of a thing should happen in my lifetime, I would NEVER allow my mum to be treated this way. This is humiliation in the highest order.Did these women conspire to kill the man?” Well, we greeted them. I didn’t even know what to say, as I never experienced such before. As the leader, I summoned courage, knelt down beside Bode’s mum and whispered into her ear “God will uphold you ma, He will send help to you from where you least expected. Please, be strong”.
She said “Thank you my child. I really appreciate you”. I gave her an amount of money on behalf of the choir. She accepted it, appreciated us, and we left.

When I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman. “Oh!.She was so young. Why did she marry a polygamist?..a man old enough to be her father”
There must be a reason.
Whatever the reason might be, I felt for her. She was such a beautiful young woman!.
“Never!.I can never go for that kind of a man, I will never allow any stupid love to blind-fold me. I can not even marry anybody from that kind of a family, see their house, the moment I stepped into the compound, I could vividly smell the stench of poverty. Where would I tell my dad I found that kind of a man?.Me?.I even trust myself..I,m more than that.”
Then my mind went to what Pastor Mrs Williams told me the day she said she heard a rumour about Bode and me
*“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.*
Fall? Fall for where? Falling is only meant for those who don’t stand well. Me, I can’t fall oo. I trust myself. I’ve been keeping myself since and I will continue to keep myself, I’ve determined that no man shall see my nakedness except my husband, and that wont happen until after marriage. That is it! Period!

While talking to myself in this manner, I slept off.
Then something came up.

Watch out in Episode 7.

Episode 7**A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE

*Episode 7*

*A CHURCH GIRL'S TALE*

It was Bode that woke me up the following morning. He told me his dad’s burial had been for the next weekend, and there’s no money. He told me how his dad’s family members started blaming his mum for not giving them adequate information about his dad’s
illness before the old man eventually passed away.

All these stories made me love the woman more. At last, he decided to go. I saw him off to the door, and he suddenly
turned back, hugged me and gave me a peck.

I came back to the room, and started thinking of how I could help Bode and his mum concerning the burial. The only source I had was my dad, but I wasn’t sure he would even send money again this month ending as I was having a feeling he sent the last one because of my birthday. But then, I wouldn’t be able to wait till the end of the month, to know if he would send money or not, as the burial was fixed for 29th April. So, then what can I do oooo?.
“Oh Yes!..I have an idea. I will call my dad that I need money. But what if he asked what I needed it for, what would I say?.. “I will tell him somebody is sick and that the doctor said he needs surgery, but there’s no money, so, I wish I could render any little
assistance within my reach…Can you be of help sir?”.

That was exactly what I did.
He said “Who is this sick person?”. “It’s one of d ‘corpers’ sir”…I lied. “Ok. Since it’s something that has to do with life, I will try and send
any amount I can between now and tomorrow. My regards to him. We’ll also remember him in our prayers”.
“Thank you dad. Love you sir.” I hung up.

Then, my conscience pricked me gently “You just told a lie!.. How disappointed would your dad be if he found out!.” I felt bad, but I quickly consoled myself by a thought “what
could I have done?. How would he know?.Who will tell him?..he cant know!.”
Almost immediately, I was relieved.

I expected an alert from d bank throughout that day, to no avail, the following day too, no alert, but on d third day, I received an alert of 50,000naira. Wow!.

I quickly called Bode after withdrawing the money, to come and meet me at home after school hours, by then, it was just two days to the burial, 7th April. When he got to my room, I said “How much have you been able to get now for the burial?.”
He sai, "nothing", that his mum’s sister who promised to send an amount of money last week failed, but just received a message from her that morning that she would send 4,000naira. I opened my bag and gave him the 50,000 naira my dad sent.

He opened his mouth and couldn’t shut it. He held me very tightly, kissed me and before we both knew, we were both caressing each other!. Initially, I was somehow  hesitant and uncomfortable, but it became more engaging and joyful with time. By the time I realised,  we were both naked but the real deed had not been committed yet. As I laid on the bed, a thought came to mind saying,  " Sewa,  how can you do this, remember your vows and how people respect you, remember your holiness and spirituality,  remember your family background,  remember your big dreams, are you sacrificing all on the alter of sexual gratification,  Sewa, remember your virginity,  your honour". As these thoughts rushed through my mind within a millisecond,  I made efforts to stand up,  dress and drive that foolish boy away. But almost immediately,  a different thought came to mind saying,  " Ah Sewa,  you've been a virgin from birth,  this might be your only opportunity to test if the joy they talk about sex is really true. You might get it from nowhere if you let this go. Just try it.  No one was really a virgin before they married,  they lie, they all tried it first". This later thought crippled my conscience,  I had no desire to resist again. By the time I came to my full senses,  the first thrust was being made. It was painful at first but it subsided and became more accommodating with time. After about fifteen minutes,  the deed had been done. I heard Bode crying and saying, "Sis Sewa, I am sorry, I never intended this,  forgive me", still sobbing." I couldn't talk for the shame was too much for me than it was for him, I had covered my head in shame.  He quickly dressed,  took the money and sped off.

I felt really bad,  one, because I have lost my virginity in a short period of about fifteen minutes,  two,  because he took the money,  as if I have paid him to have sex with me. In about a period of five hours,  I was blaming myself, hitting my hands and head on anything I find.
But who is to blame?

Watch out for Episode 8.