WHEN YOU WANT TO QUIT

Have you ever wanted to call it quits? We all have – every single one of us has gone through a time when giving up seemed like the best and the most promising option.

It happens when the crushing demand of others’ expectations suppress our spirits, coupled with our own sense of inadequacy and it all comes spiraling down … and the words “I quit” seem as the natural next step. When you are ready to call it quits, Jesus shows up, mark my words; He shows up and closer to you than you can imagine.

Your eyes may not recognize Him at first, but He is there. If you will listen, His voice will cut through your spirit, but you will have to incline your ear for you could easily ignore His voice; you can even deny His voice but when you are lost, He will show you the way out to follow. When you are ready to call it quits, Jesus will speak to you and more accurately He will speak to the spirit of defeat you have allowed to take preeminence within you.

Sometimes, God has to bring us back to our original call as he did to Peter in Luke 5:10 by cutting everything else out. You do not realize that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have and if we should realize that, He lovingly cuts everything out in order to bring us back to that assurance of being there for us.

God will always provide all the Grace we will need for the assignment He has called us to do. When we move outside of God’s Grace, we choose to move toward discouragement, bitterness and depression. When you are ready to call it quits that is a warning light that you have been adrift.

In situation like this, run toward God not away from Him. It is a natural tendency for us to run away when we have sold out and find ourselves at the end of a bad decision and its terrible consequences then you are ready to call it quits. Note that you will not know what to do, so do not try to figure it out. You may not be in the position to hear, but you are in a position to heal. But first you must do one thing: cry out to God; let it all go, give it over to God.

There are times in our lives when, like Elijah in 1Kings 19, we want to call it quits. Listening to the still small voice and moving forward in faith is all we need to move on because quitting is not God’s best for our life.

My encouragement is we should entrust our future to Jesus. We should not call it quits and we should not try to do it on our own. Simply surrender to Him; when you want to call it quits, discover the life-saving power of Jesus and reflect on Methodist Hymnal 538

1.      What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and grief to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

2.      Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3.       Are we weak and heavy-laden,
  Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
  Thou wilt find a solace there.

I love you all but Jesus loves you best.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE

Regardless of the magnitude of your challenges God says it is never, never, too late. You may be forty years and heading towards forty five yet no one had propose to you, you feel so discourage and the enemy whispers to your ears and tells you it is too late but God says it is not too late.

You have been in incarceration for a long time and now that you have been released all your dream and aspiration are shattered and the enemy sits on your shoulder and says it is too late but I came to tell you as a servant of the Most High that in the hope of the resurrection it can never be late for you.

Maybe you are sick and moved from one physician to the other and the report is not good they are telling you your health situation is hopeless and it is too late but I came here to give you a fresh report concerning your health that according to the word of God the things that seem impossible to men are possible to God, it’s never too late.

Our character chapter on this theme is John 11 and the supporting scriptures are:

 Matthew 19:26

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

Mark 10:26

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 

Luke 1:37

“For no word from God will ever fail.” 

We find it repeated in scripture that all things that are impossible to man are possible to God. We find a peace talk between Jesus, Mary and Martha in the New Testament in John 11:5.

Note that from the passage the love of Jesus for Lazarus was unquestionable. This is a story about a whole family. It was believed that anytime Jesus is going to Jerusalem, he spends the night with this family before he continues his journey the next day in a nut shell they were family friends and one will expect Jesus to behave as such.

The Bible says Lazarus was sick to the point of dead and Mary and Martha sent message to Jesus beyond the Jordan. The word came to Jesus that his good friend is sick unto dead. When Jesus heard this he said “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

He stays two more days because of the love that he had for the family. Naturally one will expect he will rush to the scene but on the contrary he stayed two more days because of his love for them.

How many Christians have forsaken Jesus because he stayed two more days or two more years, the devil sits on your shoulder and says he has stayed two more days, two more years, 10 more years, he does not love you but remember that is a lie from the bottomless pit of the enemy to frustrate your faith. 

You are praying to God to do something in your life, you expect a miracle from God so you pray and fast about the situation believing God for a miracle and yet because God loves you he stays another year or two. It does not mean He has forgotten about you, neither has He forsaken you. He wants your miracle to be spectacular, not an ordinary miracle for God is not limited by time for He is in no hurry, for the things that seems impossible to man are possible to him.

The Bible say after two days he started the journey to Bethany and “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 

We see a discourage heart, in other words Martha was saying it is too late though we appreciate your coming for he has been in the grave for four days and there is nothing you can do but Jesus looked at her and said “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?” 

God is telling you to only believe, if only you will hang in there you will see the Glory of the Lord manifestation. It is never too late don’t you ever give up, do not be discourage it’s going to happen. 

At the tomb Jesus had divine compassion flowing out of his bowels “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” As Jesus looked on he cried, I want you to understand you are not alone in that situation, the Lord is fully aware of all your grievances and he is moved and touched by it. 

He is touched by your trials, infirmities, weaknesses and disappointments. Hebrews says “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”. Some of us we groan and cry our hearts out at night thinking we are alone but he is standing right there with us in our grieve.

Jesus said roll the stone away and they disputed with him and the onlookers will be saying what is this that the carpenters’ son wants to do by exhuming a dead body against tradition?

All indications point to the fact that it will not happen but the word of God does the difference. Jesus prevailed over them and they roll out the stone, all the doubting mourners were present, the fact is they need to be there to see your glorification. Jesus called unto his father Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face”. 

Someone you will be loosed from whatever is hindering your progress, there are some of us we take two steps forward and 10 steps backwards you are retrogressing in your life for the enemy had bound you with chains and fetters but by the anointing you are being released and success, progress and victory will be yours.

You have to roll the stone of bitterness, grunginess, doubt, stinginess and allow God to come into the situation for you to see your miracle. Remember the things that seems impossible to men is possible to God, It’s never too late with God what God has purpose to accomplish in your life will surely come to pass.

Are you discourages, going through a situation that you feel it’s over, your dream and aspirations are shattered, God is able to help you put the broken pieces together again.

The race is not for the swift or the strong and promotion cometh from God. The Bible says it is the Lord that gives power to make rich and unless the Lord watched they labor in vain they that watch and the psalmist says it is God that prosper me and give me hope to succeed.

My brother, my sister, what is your situation?! It’s like never going to happen, there is no hope, I am here to tell you it is never too late, it will come to past if only you believe like Job who said though he slay me yet will I trust him. Though things may be falling apart in your life still have faith with the little strength in you.

I pray that every yoke will be broken by the authority of the word of God. I speak answers and solution into your life. Once he has spoken he watches over his word to perform, once it’s written about you not a single word will fall to the ground because he is not man, any blockage we destroy and come out of the tomb claiming our freedom.

GOD BLESS.

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE

Beloved in the Lord,
It is my prayer that this year we will experience more passion towards the work of God. 

Jesus said something which I have now understood in a different way and I want to share it with you my precious friend.

He said “where your treasure is, there your heart will be”. In the human context you will agree with me that where a man’s heart is that is exactly where his treasure is. If my heart tells me that I’m in love with someone, then naturally I’ll start spending more time with that person.

However, JESUS taught us the direct opposite! he says that where our treasure is, there our heart will be. What it means is that, if I should start devoting my money into paying tithes and offerings and assisting people in the church, if I should start devoting my time to doing service in the house of the Lord according to God’s pleasure then naturally my heart will begin to turn towards the work of God and those things which bring the Lord pleasure then that is where I am investing my treasure.

My question is; Where is your treasure? 

Invest in the house of God and your heart will be drawn to God. Invest in your work, academics, relationships etc., and your heart will be drawn towards those things and subsequently away from God! 

What a solution to all our struggles in trying to love God the way Jesus taught us. Remember life without Christ is full of crisis.

I pray that this year will be one of the most fruitful we will ever experience as we pour out our treasure into God’s Kingdom. The Good Lord keeps us and blessed us all.

We shall continue to live till his coming!

Some people lie and cheat their way through life and make no apologies for it, everybody does it so it’s ok, but I am sorry to say you are a Christian and therefore you cannot compromise.

Integrity is doing the right thing even if nobody is watching. Be who you are and say what is right.  One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to compromise.

Integrity is not a conditional word; it does not blow in the wind or change with the weather. It’s your inner image and if you look in there and see a man who would not cheat, then you know he never will.

Bear in mind that if you do not have integrity you have nothing for you cannot buy it with all the money in the world if they are yours. If you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.
May we all be strengthened by God to walk in integrity as we await the clarion call of the LORD’s coming.

I love you all and see you on top of the integrity table.

“Never give in! Nothing great or small large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense” Winston Churchill

MY NEW YEAR MESSAGE FOR YOU ALL

On this day as we step in 2011, I want us to bear in mind that we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. The time has come for us to reaffirm our enduring spirit to carry forward the noble idea of working, witnessing and worshiping together. The fellowship calls for action and bold swift into 2011.

God wants us to be dependable even when it costs us.  This is what distinguishes godly faithfulness from the ordinary dependability of secular society.

Don't waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.

God does not ask about our ability, but our availability No man, however gifted and devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom.

But the Lord Jesus bids you also to "occupy till He comes and because of this we are to work and lead consistent life. We are to be like the faithful servant, who knows not what hour his master may come home, but keeps all things in readiness, and is always prepared, brethren fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2011 is going to be a decade of unprecedented harvest that the Fellowship has never seen. God says, "I have heard the groaning of creation for the manifestation of the sons of God, and I am about to cause a revival that will shake the heavens and the earth that no man can stop it for we are entering into a fresh, new season of harvest. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fall on our thirsty generation and be our fountain! And the oil of joy will come to fill us!

Do not grant, O Lord the desires of the wicked, Do not further his wicked scheme. The blood of Jesus is your protection this Christmas and in the coming Year.  

Don't absent yourself from any meeting day. God bless you as stay under HIS covering in 2011.

Food for thought:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the fellowship the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the fellowship the best you've got anyway. Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God

There is nothing that can stop you from becoming who you are in Christ. For it is in you to become that and note that what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

To God be the Glory and may his will be done in the existence of Good Shepherd Methodist Youth Fellowship. God bless us all

WE, ONE, WE, ONE.

SPEECH AT THE 2010 END-OF-YEAR DINNER NIGHT

Over the years, We have seen several change of leadership and the wonderful work done to ensure that this Fellowship maintains the slogan of being the "Backbone of the Church of Christ". GOOD SHEPHERD M.Y.F. has produced Ministers, an Evangelist, Local Preachers, Caterers, IT experts, Nurses, Human Resource Practitioners, Certified Accountants, Bankers; the list is endless. 

The M.Y.F. since its inception has been advocating against marginalizing the youth, but now the marginalization is now on the ascendency since the church now realizes the impact of the youth Fellowship in the promotion of church growth.

Today the story is different but the vision of Working, Witnessing and Worship is the same but more intense. The Current Executive since their induction in June 2008 had held the fort of the Fellowship by strengthening structures in building the human capabilities of members in meeting the global challenge.

Ladies are being empowered to discover God’s purpose for their lives and to pursue and fulfill that purpose against all odds, whereas the men are discovering themselves in becoming men of honour.

The various Wings which is Singing, Drama, Evangelism and Visitation is strengthen and performing extremely well and this have made the fellowship the family that it has to be.

Evangelistic outreach had been embarked on and leadership seminars held to strengthen the leadership base of the Fellowship and the nursery society.

The annual fund rising activities of the Fellowship had been exceptional over the years and talents have been discovered for the promotion of the Fellowship and the Church at large.

Our humanitarian ministry of ensuring education for the less privilege had started under the management of the committee members of the Support Scheme and currently about four is being taken through tertiary education and one is in apprenticeship.

On health, members have been educated on cervical cancer, prostate cancer and healthy living in ensuring that members are in good health even as their souls also proper with the word of God.

The Maturity School which is aimed at equipping new members with Christian, Methodist and the Fellowship's discipline and doctrines had also been strengthen with the update of the manual and making the study time flexible for member. New members continue to join the Fellowship every meeting day and since inception of office about fifty (50) new members have been initiated.

The group outing had also given rich counsel and feedback to the Executives. It is an informal socializing avenue where each group in the Fellowship takes turn with the Executive body. Members get the opportunity to know their Executives better and also criticize constructively and encourage as well.

In our quest to project the Fellowship to the world, a website was launched. Information about the Fellowship can be easily obtained from the site.

The communal spirit is still ongoing and the Lord has blessed us with marriages and children, need we say more, indeed the Lord has been good to us.

I must confess that the road has not been smooth. There were rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There were inevitable setbacks here and there and moments when the buoyancy of hope was transformed into fatigue and our dreams and ethereal hopes were sometimes shattered and blasted and our eyes were drenched in tears. Difficult and painful as it may be, we walked on ahead with an audacious faith into the future knowing that the hand of God that had started with us, that same hand will end well with us.

On this day as we gather to step in 2011, I want us to bear in mind that we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. The time has come for us to reaffirm our enduring spirit to carry forward the noble idea of Working, Witnessing and Worshiping TOGETHER. The Fellowship calls for action and bold swift into 2011.

God wants us to be dependable even when it costs us.  This is what distinguishes godly faithfulness from the ordinary dependability of secular society.

Don't waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.

God does not ask about our ability, but our availability No man, however gifted and devoted, is indispensable to the work of the kingdom.

But the Lord Jesus bids you also to "occupy till He comes and because of this we are to work and lead consistent life. We are to be like the faithful servant, who knows not what hour his master may come home, but keeps all things in readiness, and is always prepared, brethren fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2011 is going to be a decade of unprecedented harvest that the Fellowship has never seen. God says, "I have heard the groanings of creation for the manifestation of the sons of God, and I am about to cause a revival that will shake the heavens and the earth that no man can stop it for we are entering into a fresh, new season of harvest". I pray that the Holy Spirit will fall on our thirsty generation and be our fountain! And the oil of joy will come to fill us!

To God be the Glory and may his will be done in the existence of Good Shepherd Methodist Youth Fellowship. God bless us all

WE - ONE. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO LIVE !!!