Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we are not alone
Orson Welles
#friendship
EVERYDAYJESUS’ ‘nomo’ phobias!
Since I was little, I had this strong phobia for both heights and depths. Jesus knows that unlike the woman at the well, He is not likely to find me at the well, because I would make every excuse that would excuse me from drawing from the well at my street in the Coal City let alone drawing from the well of living water- that is if well encounters or ‘being at the right place at the right time’ was a criterion for receiving the promised eternal Life.
Jesus knows too that I would never sing to ask Him to take me, and plant my feet on any higher grounds- that is if ‘ higher grounds’ were taken literally because I so cannot trade the comfort of the safe haven I have found on floors for any heights in this world- literally speaking, puhleez!
Recently, I saw myself running carefree to meet up with a deadline along a Ulysses huge overhead bridge at Abuja, with all the speeding vehicles underneath. So I was taken aback.
What had changed in me?
I realized that my phobia, (the fears behind my fears) were all gone. Then, I was not afraid of the heights but I was afraid of falling and crashing. I was not afraid of depths but I was simply afraid of falling and getting lost in the deep.
So what or who took away the fears behind my fears?
I’d say that only Love did.
I found Love and everything about me changed. The comfort and assurance in the love of my Father in Christ Jesus reassures me that He would never leave me by myself, therefore if I must crash or fall into any deep, then He would fall and crash with me. Thank God that God is safe. Besides, I know that He loves me much more than I love myself. The love of Christ changes us, and it has renewed my mind, and transformed me.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”- Ephesians 4: 17b-19( NIV).
Because perfect love casts out all fears- including the fears behind the fears.
DO YOU BELIEVE? : A movie review
Movie length: 2 hours
Release: September 3, 2015
Director: Jonathan M. Gunn
The Review
This action packed drama, set in an urban fast paced and dangerous city excellently meshes the lives of the love stricken, death haunted, money seeking and Christ longing hearts of random people who’s paths cross without them even knowing, which in turns causes a ripple effect that produces more than any of them could ever bargain for.
The ball is set rolling by McGinley, the pastor who’s encounter with a street preachers is tantamount to Moses’ encounter with the burning bush, this inspires a crazy sermon which criminal Shwayze bumps into as he ducks from the cops, also the aged Teri and her husband who’s grieving heart gets a fresh mandate to inconvenience, not to mention Elena who’s husband Bobby is literally pulling dragging to heaven with his “fanatical” Christianity and there’s also Joe who might as well be named Angel Joe.
All of them are about to undergo what may be the greatest challenges of their lives, as their lives intermingle and pulls others from outside their world, the cost of believing might soon prove unbearable as it promises to ruin some, hurt some and send the rest to their graves, that’s the threat and it’s no bluff. The movie shows belief is not just a word but a life backed with some crazy actions
At the end of the movie, you’ll probably find yourself kneeling, stopping and beginning to think of your life and what it really means to believe. With an excellent story line, standard production quality and a bit of bad acting here and there, we’ll have to give the movie a six point nine (6.9) out of ten (10) ranking. The movie is definitely a must watch.
Reviewed by: Udousoro William
#rhematown iss. 126
QUICK QUOTEs
The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love
Hobert H. Humphrey
#friendship
FACE THEM BY RUTH MAHOGANY (Spoken Word Poetry)
EVERYDAYJESUS’ Omnipotent-Save- the Day!
One of the things I hate is someone forcing me to change plans for no good reasons.
I don’t like it when I am midway making egusi soup, someone would start saying things that sound like Akamu, or Afang; or maybe when I go ‘akamu’ because we had decided upon it together, then the same person starts speaking of me going ‘okpa’. I know that okpa and akamu are so good together but I hope you just get my drift.
You know one of the things that Father taught me using my Mamy, is to always make room for any sudden change in plans, because she’d always make that happen whether we both like it or not.
Have you ever thought of the implications of this Name of God, Omnipotent?
For me, I’d say that Father cannot only do all things, but He also has infinite ways of doing the same thing.
So how has this become helpful to me?
You know, when you make mistakes and screw up, you really see how Father can turn your mistakes around. He does that so that He can still achieve an elegant end of the story for you in such a way that you might even start thinking that Father intended originally that things go wrong for ‘His Glory’.
Truth is, Father does not do evil, and He would never do it in order to bring any good out of it. Father would never orchestrate or pioneer any bad thing, and He would never partner with the ‘family enemy’ to bring about any of those, NEVER! Father does not like it even when we make mistakes and change His plans for us but the better truth is that Father is never afraid of handling the worst terrible situations, you know why?
He is Omnipotent-Save-the Day! He knows just how to change plans in a snazzy, elegant and effective fashion!
Therefore, when people around me are busy changing the order of my ‘to do list’ and messing up with my plans like it’s their rights, I’d refuse to freak out like one impossible Zuma rock that never bulges.
I’ve learned to smile in Love, breathe for someone ( I mean, take a deep breath), roll up my sleeves, and show the situation how much I am made of the same stuff as my Abba Daddy, the Omnipotent-Save-the Day Himself! (Winks).
Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
…blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say “God is tempting me”. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt any one…
Don’t be deceived, my brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (aka, he does not have mood swings). He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.- James 1 : 1-18 (NIV).
By Favouromeje, 2017
#rhematown iss. 125
