LIVING WORDS OF LIFE

I was reading the news when a headline on a crashed jet and the connected names popped up. Within a few minutes, almost all media were flooded with reactions about the death of a very popular basketball icon Kobe Bryant, and his daughter. The icon’s Fans span the globe

It is still unimaginable thinking about the pain and the agony the Kobe’s family is going through right now. How I pray for God’s comfort, grace and strength for the entire family as they go through this difficult time.

But then, it won’t be out of context for us remaining alive to pause and reflect on our own life. We can only boast of this very moment while the next minute is unpredictable.

Money, affluence, celebrity status, popularities, power, beauty, certificate, intelligence, you name them. Neither of these is capable of saving anyone’s life when death struck. That is the reason we can’t afford to let those things get into our heads. Once the caretaker comes knocking, no excuse(s) is tenable.

We can only hope that Kobe had time to reflect on life and think through the reality of God in real sense.

No one ever bid for their life or purchased it. We gradually grew into finding out what life is. So, we can’t claim total ownership of it. A wise person would prioritize the Creator of that ‘life’ while there is still ‘life’.

Life is short and it has no regard for anyone; rich or poor, educated or illiterate, well known or unknown… As students adhere to teacher notes and textbooks to succeed, anything call human beings must find out the real Author of their life and adhere to His guiding principles.

Connecting or recollecting to God is simple, very simple. Surprisingly, it is not judgemental but rather packed with mercy and love.

We just need to acknowledge our faults and helplessness.

Reach out to God in humility; we can never know better than Him.

Settle those faults and failures with Him through repentance.

Open our heart for God to come in; He is always available in His regalia of mercy for the living (not the dead).

Accept Him, accept His forgiveness, and make Him the pilot of our life; He never crashes.

Know Him more by studying His ancient guideline/textbook; the Bible.

Kobe Byrant has done his parts and is gone. The ball is now in our court.

May God help us to end well in Jesus’ Name.

Dr. Akinloye, O. Margaret

Known as “King David; David Jesse” in the Middle East many years ago, this man was a man of destiny and greatness. However, he battled all kinds of challenges during his life time.

He was driven away from his people and his land into a strange land. Even his son sought to kill him to have his place. At a point, he felt forgotten by God.

God never forgot any of His children. He remains faithful to His words and promises. David Jesse still succeeded and fulfilled his destiny despite his challenges.

How did he do that and what could have been the secret of his survival and achievement? David testified in one of his documentations:

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.”

Psalm 13:5

Simply put: David Jesse constantly believed in the faithfulness of his God whom he worships and was committed to. He never allowed the situations to swallow up his hope and potentials. He endured the humiliation, conspiracy, disappointment, envy, loneliness, rejection, hunger etc. Eventually, David Jesse made it.

If David survived his predicaments then, we also can overcome whatever the enemies may throw at us. In any situations we may find ourselves this year, we should always remember that thousands of others had gone through it and came out in different ways.

Our actions and reactions to situations would determine the level of our success. With faith in God and in His unfailing words, victory and success are guaranteed. We must always endeavor to continually trust in the mercy of God and surround ourselves with songs of praises and thanksgiving knowing God is ever faithful.

BITTER-SWEET WATER

There was a period in the life and journey of children of Israel when they ran into bitter water. There is no doubt that God led them into the wilderness and gave them His words and promises. But then, they had issues to deal with at different time.

“22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them”

Exodus 15: 22-25

Sometimes, in the journey of life, we run into bitter water while in desperate need of water. This is not the time to pass blame or point accusing fingers on anyone or God. But rather, take the situation to God in prayers with humility and faith. take time to wait on God. Seek counsel from the God-fearing children of God.

Prior to this bitter situation, these children of Israel had just sang a new worship song, praising God for the victory they had just witnessed. That God of verse 21 couldn’t have died nor gone into hibernation before verse 23. He is God. He got plans and agenda for every soul. God takes great interest in the peace and joy of His children for sure.

Sometimes, God may decide to tarry a bit in His response to our requests to weigh our faith in Him when the goings are getting tough and tougher. Remember, delay doesn’t imply denial. The light will eventually breakthrough the cloud.

We must always exercise faith in God. We must learn to take God by His words. Faith in God’s Faithfulness does not only give us peace of mind, it also strengthens our relationship with Him. He that put up with God must believe in His ability to save and deliver.

If peradventure we run into any unpalatable water this year, we should give it to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is able to make bitter water sweet in His way and in His time. He has done it thousands of time and he would do it again if we simply trust His words and obey His commands.

God didn’t promise a challenge free life, but He promised to be with His own in such situations. Challenges of life toughen us like fire does to the gold and diamonds in the mining industry. In the long run, the hidden beauty buried in the mud of life surfaces. So, in time of “deep discouragement” still hold on with God and trust His faithfulness. He knows the way out all the time.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you”.

Isiah 43:2

God is a Father and is ever truthful to His words.

Dr. Akinloye, O. Margaret