First of all, I want to respond to a reaction I got concerning the editing of my posts. Yes, I'm one of the many people who do their best proofreading after they've clicked the send button, lol. Call it sloppy work but I can't help it. When I use my phone, my auto correct seems to hate me and always types what I wouldn't even pronounce; when I then use my laptop, I literally have to use a hammer to type the words as my laptop keyboard overdosed on anointing oil a while back and so won't type properly anymore! A bottle of anointing oil accidentally spilled on it, don't ask me how please, lol. I'm still shaking my head at my own carelessness.
Other times, I do some further editing days or even weeks after posting just to add new thoughts or words of inspiration that have come to me afterwards.
Generally though, I always proofread my articles before sending but after the obstacles I face while writing them,
I can be too tired (understandably) to read through thoroughly and so miss out many typos. But hey, cut me some slack would ya? I did warn in one of my earlier articles that I wasn't doing this to win in a competition. I'm just sharing my spiritual walk and struggles just to help others out there too, hopefully.
I sincerely hope my articles can bring some spiritual insight and a better perspective to some issues of life we all face. It's all about how I'm learning to balance the sacred and the secular in my everyday walk. Some of my experiences are so comical that remembering and writing about them now with that added twist of humor to it, makes it all so worthwhile.
It's a soul baring process too which is a good therapy for me.
My brother, my motivator
My elder brother who is the motivation behind the funny title of this article, is currently in training by the Holy Spirit to become a Pastor someday hopefully. He's doing amazingly well too I must say. Listening to him dissect the word of God with so much spiritual precision is inspiring and uplifting. I was the 1st one among my siblings to give her life to Christ many years back and I wasn't taken very seriously by them back them. They laughed at me and labeled me fanatical.
My late mum was an evangelist and the only supporter I had back then. She took every chance to rub it in their faces that I was the only one with the special cover of God over her life. Lol. My mum had a special way of making a person feel like a really really bad sinner if they weren't serving God. She rebuked lovingly but sternly and if you had a conscience, you would go away feeling like the head of Team Satan! But you would change for sure, you would. Lol.
Okay I have to quickly share this story that comes to mind about my younger sister. I hope she won't mind because she was the victim in it, lol. I remember the time when we both had to return to Nigeria for my dads burial. I arrived from Germany a day earlier and she arrived 2 days later or so from the States. Anyway, my mum and I drove to the airport to pick her up and we waited and waited and waited...but no sign of her. Finally, after an hour or so, I saw her approaching me from afar, no luggage at all and looking all flustered and breathless. I turned to my mum and said "Mummy look! there she is" My mum took one look at her and whispered to me, "no, God forbid! that can't be Uche" I burst out laughing at the tone with which she said it and the shocked look on her face.
I assured her that it was my sister who had gained tons of weight and looked really different now. The silly straw hat she had on didn't help her case either, lol. She had become so obese that my mum could not recognize her (or just didn't want to recognize her, lol). My mum looked devastated and remained speechless for a while after my sister got to us and we hugged and kissed. She then started telling us that the airline had lost all her luggage and that they were trying to locate it and send it to our home address by the end of the week. Suddenly, my mum rudely interrupted her and wearing her trademark look of disdain reserved for occasions requiring it such as this, she asked with both lips bent downwards in contempt:
"Uche, Is this you? what happened to you"?
"So, instead of holding on to God in America, you held on to BIG MACS AND CHEESEBURGERS, ehn?
"Look at what you've done to yourself!" "Chineke!"
"I can't believe this." She went on pouring out her heart right there in the middle of the arrival hall of the airport where we stood.
"Look at Chizoba!" she said pointing to me. (oh no, not again, I thought to myself, this woman was endangering my life with her constant comparisons o, lol).
"She looks normal" (whatever that meant! lol). She went on.
"She arrived with all her luggage intact and you, none at all!" (really mum, really! stop this please. I thought again to myself, rolling my inner eyes).
She then made the statement I WILL NEVER FORGET, she said:
"The anointing of God over her life will never allow any stupid airline lose her bags or luggage! Never!
When I heard that last statement, I collapsed into laughter. I could't help it. Ah. My mum was such a character.
My poor sister tried to protest and I tried to come to her rescue too but, mum could not be stopped. She was on fire!
All the way home, it was God this, anointing that.... Lol. My sister was miserable. What a welcome!
Anyway, she got her bags back a few days later. Lol. And mum was appeased again.
Great woman she was. I miss her so much...*sad sigh* May her soul continue to rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord, Amen. By the way, my sister has since then lost all that weight and looks absolutely fabulous now! Lol
So back to my brother.
Whenever we manage to talk on phone, we share about the word of God. I enjoy it a lot and still chew on his words long after our phone conversations have ended. My best conversation with him however has got to be the one about Lazarus from the bible, the one Jesus called his friend. He showed me a new perspective of the purpose of a stink and the true meaning of true unconditional friendship.
The Lazarus Story (John 11) The story of Lazarus is one we all know. It's a straightforward story of a dead man being raised again we may say but, as in many other stories of the bible, there are divine secrets hidden in this amazing story. I'll summarize the story, highlighting my points of interest.
Lazarus was sick and Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus, saying “Lord, the one you love is sick. Notice what they said? the one he loved. But Jesus instead of rushing down to his friend simply said to them “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” And then he stayed where he was two more days.
Lazarus who was a friend of Jesus then died after the illness and after 4 days was now nothing but a stinking corpse. Yet, he was raised by his friend, Jesus who we are told that after weeping with the mourners, went to the tomb of Lazarus to raise him. But Martha, the sister of the dead man, warned him saying: “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Martha blamed Jesus for coming late. Jesus then responded saying to her, “Your brother will rise again." He went on to tell 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?” He then called Lazarus forth from his tomb.
Timely (Stink)-tervention!
No matter how old the stink you've carried around you may be, I want to encourage someone today that just like Lazarus, you will rise up out of that stinking state in the name of Jesus who is the resurrection and the life.
To be dead for 4 days in the tomb meant it was too late for anything to be done in the natural, but Gods ways are supernatural and do not conform to the timing of man.
Your stink could be a long standing severe illness, childlessness, chronic poverty, marital challenges, constant disappointment, long term unemployment. It could even be depression, low self esteem, constant betrayal by loved ones or clinical fear.
You may be asking how long it will take before the stench of your adversity, your afflictions, your problems will reach the nostrils of God and attract His attention and intervention, to activate your breakthrough. There is no answer except to wait on God and never give up. Even Martha and Mary had to learn to wait on God throughout the events leading up to Lazarus death and we must also remember that, while Lazarus was still alive, God could not get the glory from any intervention at that time. He had to die first and for added effects, be stinking too!
In the opinion of everyone around Lazarus during his illness (including Lazarus himself), it was an emergency situation of life and death , he was now on the verge of death and needed an immediate healing touch from Jesus.
But Jesus didn't see it that way. He saw a situation that just wasn't mature yet; the time wasn't ripe enough for an intervention from which God would reap the glory. Even in the natural, the best time to reap a harvest or pluck fruits is when they're matured and ripe, not before. Gods intervention is never on time but always timely. Our time is not Gods time and whatever He does in our lives is ultimately for and to His glory. Lets put it this way, until there's enough stench to attract divine attention and get God the glory, your case is not stinking enough to attract a deliverance from it. Lol. We were created to give Him glory so everything about us must point back to Him.
True Friends Stink Along.
Another angle worth exploring is that of the friendship that existed between Jesus and Lazarus. The depth of it and loyalty and love they shared for each other was the reason why Martha and Mary trusted that Jesus would be able to restore the life of his friend. A true friend will weep and mourn for you like Jesus did because your pain and loss is theirs too.
Lets look at this example. People who suffer from body odor or a condition called Halitosis very often are not even aware of it. Others around them however, are burdened with the intimate proximity of the(ir) stench and THAT alone, is what attracts attention to them, albeit a negative one. This negative attention would then normally bring about a positive attempt and effort on their part to correct the situation, with preceding embarrassment and shame.
Most times, nobody else but a true friend will talk TO them about this stink they carry around with them.
Others will talk ABOUT them and/or avoid them altogether. Some may go as far as concluding that they must have committed some unpardonable sin or are currently living in sin and so God must be angry with them and has now forsaken them, that being the reason behind their persistent affliction. They may start to treat them differently but only a true friend will treat them the same.
A true friend will tell you because they love you enough to see your problem as theirs too. They want THAT problem to go away and will support you the best way they can. They will stick around you AND your stink no matter what others say to them about you. They'll stink along with you and won't shy away from supporting you even when others warn them against it just like Martha did when she warned Jesus saying "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” (John 11:39). Are you the kind of friend that Jesus was?
My prayer for us all today is that we come to know beyond the shadow of a doubt, that no "stink-uation" is permanent. Lol. Every stink must come to an end soon in Jesus name. As Christians, our life is hidden in Christ and because he is risen, we too will rise UP from every stinking challenge because God works best when the stink is bad and all hope appears lost. That's when He steps in.
Are You Still Stinking in your situation? Be still and know that your latter state will be greater than your past in JESUS NAME! AMEN.
Remain Blessed
LC
p.s: I know you all understand that my use of the word "stink" is metaphorical and not literal. Lol
Other times, I do some further editing days or even weeks after posting just to add new thoughts or words of inspiration that have come to me afterwards.
Generally though, I always proofread my articles before sending but after the obstacles I face while writing them,
I can be too tired (understandably) to read through thoroughly and so miss out many typos. But hey, cut me some slack would ya? I did warn in one of my earlier articles that I wasn't doing this to win in a competition. I'm just sharing my spiritual walk and struggles just to help others out there too, hopefully.
I sincerely hope my articles can bring some spiritual insight and a better perspective to some issues of life we all face. It's all about how I'm learning to balance the sacred and the secular in my everyday walk. Some of my experiences are so comical that remembering and writing about them now with that added twist of humor to it, makes it all so worthwhile.
It's a soul baring process too which is a good therapy for me.
My brother, my motivator
My elder brother who is the motivation behind the funny title of this article, is currently in training by the Holy Spirit to become a Pastor someday hopefully. He's doing amazingly well too I must say. Listening to him dissect the word of God with so much spiritual precision is inspiring and uplifting. I was the 1st one among my siblings to give her life to Christ many years back and I wasn't taken very seriously by them back them. They laughed at me and labeled me fanatical.
My late mum was an evangelist and the only supporter I had back then. She took every chance to rub it in their faces that I was the only one with the special cover of God over her life. Lol. My mum had a special way of making a person feel like a really really bad sinner if they weren't serving God. She rebuked lovingly but sternly and if you had a conscience, you would go away feeling like the head of Team Satan! But you would change for sure, you would. Lol.
Okay I have to quickly share this story that comes to mind about my younger sister. I hope she won't mind because she was the victim in it, lol. I remember the time when we both had to return to Nigeria for my dads burial. I arrived from Germany a day earlier and she arrived 2 days later or so from the States. Anyway, my mum and I drove to the airport to pick her up and we waited and waited and waited...but no sign of her. Finally, after an hour or so, I saw her approaching me from afar, no luggage at all and looking all flustered and breathless. I turned to my mum and said "Mummy look! there she is" My mum took one look at her and whispered to me, "no, God forbid! that can't be Uche" I burst out laughing at the tone with which she said it and the shocked look on her face.
I assured her that it was my sister who had gained tons of weight and looked really different now. The silly straw hat she had on didn't help her case either, lol. She had become so obese that my mum could not recognize her (or just didn't want to recognize her, lol). My mum looked devastated and remained speechless for a while after my sister got to us and we hugged and kissed. She then started telling us that the airline had lost all her luggage and that they were trying to locate it and send it to our home address by the end of the week. Suddenly, my mum rudely interrupted her and wearing her trademark look of disdain reserved for occasions requiring it such as this, she asked with both lips bent downwards in contempt:
"Uche, Is this you? what happened to you"?
"So, instead of holding on to God in America, you held on to BIG MACS AND CHEESEBURGERS, ehn?
"Look at what you've done to yourself!" "Chineke!"
"I can't believe this." She went on pouring out her heart right there in the middle of the arrival hall of the airport where we stood.
"Look at Chizoba!" she said pointing to me. (oh no, not again, I thought to myself, this woman was endangering my life with her constant comparisons o, lol).
"She looks normal" (whatever that meant! lol). She went on.
"She arrived with all her luggage intact and you, none at all!" (really mum, really! stop this please. I thought again to myself, rolling my inner eyes).
She then made the statement I WILL NEVER FORGET, she said:
"The anointing of God over her life will never allow any stupid airline lose her bags or luggage! Never!
When I heard that last statement, I collapsed into laughter. I could't help it. Ah. My mum was such a character.
My poor sister tried to protest and I tried to come to her rescue too but, mum could not be stopped. She was on fire!
All the way home, it was God this, anointing that.... Lol. My sister was miserable. What a welcome!
Anyway, she got her bags back a few days later. Lol. And mum was appeased again.
Great woman she was. I miss her so much...*sad sigh* May her soul continue to rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord, Amen. By the way, my sister has since then lost all that weight and looks absolutely fabulous now! Lol
So back to my brother.
Whenever we manage to talk on phone, we share about the word of God. I enjoy it a lot and still chew on his words long after our phone conversations have ended. My best conversation with him however has got to be the one about Lazarus from the bible, the one Jesus called his friend. He showed me a new perspective of the purpose of a stink and the true meaning of true unconditional friendship.
The Lazarus Story (John 11) The story of Lazarus is one we all know. It's a straightforward story of a dead man being raised again we may say but, as in many other stories of the bible, there are divine secrets hidden in this amazing story. I'll summarize the story, highlighting my points of interest.
Lazarus was sick and Mary and her sister Martha sent word to Jesus, saying “Lord, the one you love is sick. Notice what they said? the one he loved. But Jesus instead of rushing down to his friend simply said to them “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” And then he stayed where he was two more days.
Lazarus who was a friend of Jesus then died after the illness and after 4 days was now nothing but a stinking corpse. Yet, he was raised by his friend, Jesus who we are told that after weeping with the mourners, went to the tomb of Lazarus to raise him. But Martha, the sister of the dead man, warned him saying: “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Martha blamed Jesus for coming late. Jesus then responded saying to her, “Your brother will rise again." He went on to tell 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?” He then called Lazarus forth from his tomb.
Timely (Stink)-tervention!
No matter how old the stink you've carried around you may be, I want to encourage someone today that just like Lazarus, you will rise up out of that stinking state in the name of Jesus who is the resurrection and the life.
To be dead for 4 days in the tomb meant it was too late for anything to be done in the natural, but Gods ways are supernatural and do not conform to the timing of man.
Your stink could be a long standing severe illness, childlessness, chronic poverty, marital challenges, constant disappointment, long term unemployment. It could even be depression, low self esteem, constant betrayal by loved ones or clinical fear.
You may be asking how long it will take before the stench of your adversity, your afflictions, your problems will reach the nostrils of God and attract His attention and intervention, to activate your breakthrough. There is no answer except to wait on God and never give up. Even Martha and Mary had to learn to wait on God throughout the events leading up to Lazarus death and we must also remember that, while Lazarus was still alive, God could not get the glory from any intervention at that time. He had to die first and for added effects, be stinking too!
In the opinion of everyone around Lazarus during his illness (including Lazarus himself), it was an emergency situation of life and death , he was now on the verge of death and needed an immediate healing touch from Jesus.
But Jesus didn't see it that way. He saw a situation that just wasn't mature yet; the time wasn't ripe enough for an intervention from which God would reap the glory. Even in the natural, the best time to reap a harvest or pluck fruits is when they're matured and ripe, not before. Gods intervention is never on time but always timely. Our time is not Gods time and whatever He does in our lives is ultimately for and to His glory. Lets put it this way, until there's enough stench to attract divine attention and get God the glory, your case is not stinking enough to attract a deliverance from it. Lol. We were created to give Him glory so everything about us must point back to Him.
True Friends Stink Along.
Another angle worth exploring is that of the friendship that existed between Jesus and Lazarus. The depth of it and loyalty and love they shared for each other was the reason why Martha and Mary trusted that Jesus would be able to restore the life of his friend. A true friend will weep and mourn for you like Jesus did because your pain and loss is theirs too.
Lets look at this example. People who suffer from body odor or a condition called Halitosis very often are not even aware of it. Others around them however, are burdened with the intimate proximity of the(ir) stench and THAT alone, is what attracts attention to them, albeit a negative one. This negative attention would then normally bring about a positive attempt and effort on their part to correct the situation, with preceding embarrassment and shame.
Most times, nobody else but a true friend will talk TO them about this stink they carry around with them.
Others will talk ABOUT them and/or avoid them altogether. Some may go as far as concluding that they must have committed some unpardonable sin or are currently living in sin and so God must be angry with them and has now forsaken them, that being the reason behind their persistent affliction. They may start to treat them differently but only a true friend will treat them the same.
A true friend will tell you because they love you enough to see your problem as theirs too. They want THAT problem to go away and will support you the best way they can. They will stick around you AND your stink no matter what others say to them about you. They'll stink along with you and won't shy away from supporting you even when others warn them against it just like Martha did when she warned Jesus saying "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” (John 11:39). Are you the kind of friend that Jesus was?
My prayer for us all today is that we come to know beyond the shadow of a doubt, that no "stink-uation" is permanent. Lol. Every stink must come to an end soon in Jesus name. As Christians, our life is hidden in Christ and because he is risen, we too will rise UP from every stinking challenge because God works best when the stink is bad and all hope appears lost. That's when He steps in.
Are You Still Stinking in your situation? Be still and know that your latter state will be greater than your past in JESUS NAME! AMEN.
Remain Blessed
LC
p.s: I know you all understand that my use of the word "stink" is metaphorical and not literal. Lol