Everyday Jesus: “Earthy smell”

There can be nothing as satisfying and fulfilling as the scent of the earth when it rains after a long time. That moment the water hits the soil and causes tiny erosions and goose pimples on the ground. Those splatters that perform magnificent dance of the spirit. I wonder when exactly the scent starts filling the air. The moment the rain hits the ground or maybe foreplay is needed to excite the soil and get it ready for the scent it’s about to exude. Perhaps the wind that introduces the rain does the magic. Whenever I perceive this scent i’m too unconscious to tell. It’s like the greatest relaxation therapy. I shut my eyes, stretch my legs and inhale. I feel like it stretches the folds on my forehead and unblocks my skin pores. I hate the scent of perfumes. It’s usually too strong for me but if only I can find an earth perfume. What I wouldn’t give to smell earthy!
This phenomena however couldn’t have come out of nowhere. The singer Kurt Carr sang “When I consider the vastness of God and all of the marvelous attractions that His hands have made, flowers and birds and oceans and mountains. Truly God is an awesome wonder”. I can only imagine how he commanded every creation into being but my mind can’t wrap around the intangible ones like the earth’s scent when it rains. 
The earth’s scent happens to be my favorite feeling on earth. I would have categorized it among the little things of life but it’s not little. It’s larger than life. My only regret is that it’s seasonal. It definitely doesn’t come every time it rains but like they say “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. But how did God think of such smell before it came into existence. How did he make it so satisfying? I could go round and round in thoughts trying to figure it out and still come to the exact spot I was. I agree with Kurt carr. Truly God is an awesome wonder.

-ChyD

EVERYDAYJESUS’ Eagle story (the original full story)!

Whew, writing a project on my topic, under my supervisor, with my exact mix of colleagues, in my department, in my school, as me, just to get awarded with the very same degree that I am working for, is one of the hugest things ever in my little white eyes. C’mon, I was to collect some human breast milk samples from African Nigerian ‘woman beings’, and do some technical nonsense on them, my God!
Every single material I needed for the technical nonsense was ready but every single ‘maternity’ help- as in milk donor ran into thickets, leaving me behind with just promises only good enough for me to pass the far spent time with.
Every day, as the bomb ticking time made me uneasy, Jesus told me the family story of the Eagle, and the truths in it kept me alive in the lonely, scary, hand- tied moments, that could make a supervisor such as mine to lose faith in you. ‘The Eagle story’ however became ‘My Story’ because I soon discovered that the story gave me a starting point for carrying out my project ‘Eagle style’.
Soon my entire work was done in roughly fourteen days and was ready too for final assessment preceding defense just like the rest of the students. Mouths started wagging (I guess), because at least one girl’s mouth in my group murmured out loud (MOL), and I heard it. Surprisingly, I found myself saddened by the girl’s ‘MOL’ especially when I remembered the sequel of other sad things that my supervisor put me through that same day, prior to the ‘MOL’. In fact she said that she did not see any reason why some people have their project ready in two weeks whereas every other person was still struggling to be done after two months. I knew she was referring to me because she said that just immediately after asking me if I was done- with a generous dose of all the sarcasm a woman her age can muster.
That night, while I ruminated over the events of the day, the Lord brought to my remembrance that story that kept me, and instructed me to give the news flashes of it to anyone who confronted me with a mouth that chooses to ‘MOL’ all day long
The Eagle and the rest faced the very same hostile air current. The rest beat the air with all her might and was rewarded with a mouthful of balance just good enough to take her best to the height of a great iroko tree. The Eagle on the other hand, spread her wings with that effortless swagger that can sweep Cleopatra off her feet. Soon, her wings spoilt her to a bounteous treat of a flight that mounted her
gracefully on a cliff miles higher than the highest point on Everest’s hill. There, she made her nest, sat in peace to at least relax with the thought of a piece of meat.
This is the difference between the races and medals of they that trust in the Lord, and that of they that trust in human efforts.
“Do you not know”?
“Have you not heard”?
“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. –ISAIAH 40: 28-31 (NIV).
By Favouromeje (July 2016)

BELIEVE

Seeing, they say, is believing…

So, what about knowing?

What about discerning?

If life is all about sight,

The blind will not smile,

and their feelings won’t ignite. And believe they never right

Believing is more than the eyes..

It is much deeper within. Continue reading

THANK YOU

I have known the Father’s love for me
God has been good to me
He’s been good.
Through it all, He has been there for me
God loves me
I didnt earn it
I didnt bribe Him for it
He just loves me.
Years roll by,
Situations come up
Giants threaten me…
But, He has always fought for me…
I do get scared at times,
But, He has always comforted me…
Securing family and friends for me…
Providing for me,
Protecting me,
Building me…
Doing it all for me.
If all I can say is ‘Thank you JESUS!’
If all I can say is;’Thank you Lord, God Almighty!’
Then, I better say it well…
Cos’ my God has truly been good to me.

By
Ebisike Amarachi
(a poem written after she miracuosly escaped armed robbery attack).

AWESOMENESS OF REDEMPTION

In that dark and lonely prison

I sat neglected and alone

Kept company only by reason

And many a tear rolling down in a sob

I tried to move for want of ease

The chains clanked the pains increased

The worst had happened and hopes decreased

For everyday brought me closer to sorrow’s abyss

But how did i get this far

How could i have missed my way?

How could i not understand?

That paradise i had already given away

My heart quakes and quivers as i remember

That it hadn’t always been this way

But now all the memories concur

And i have a story to tell, my story

A story long in its stride but yet precise

Short it may seem but detailed it is

Tis a story of one who lost his way

And now heads undoubtedly for shame

As i said this course i now undertake

 Was not the first my feet would ever tread,

But just a choice i made one day

Was enough to seal my fate.

Like a slow fade

I had stepped away

For a moments pleasure and spice

I had given away love and paradise

As i trudged along hopelessly

A voice called out my name sweet and sincere

A silver lining in the darkest of clouds

Twas my first love calling me home again

Reach out and believe he said

You don’t have to end this way he said

But it couldn’t be that easy i thought to myself

How could he i had hurt so much still draw me to Himself?

As i reached out he reached out to me

He pulled me up and out of my chains

And like a flash i was on my long forgotten path

I was free at last i am free at last

As we walk along

My joy knows no bounds

I don’t have to look forward to eternal doom

Cos i walk the part of life with my one true love

As we talk, his words refresh

He’s always there even when no one cares

He helps me through this journey to paradise

My story has now become a love story

by

Ezeonyeka Godswill

SCENES OF REVIVAL

This word that has been relegated into obscurity

This experience that has been interpreted unto mediocrity

An experience our fathers cherished and pursued

Without any elevated passion they worked to subdue

The resilience of sin and worldliness

That has choked the rays of godliness

In the heart of yesteryears believers

Whose lives shrank the pride of unbelievers.

 

There are scenes that are concomitant with revival

One thing is sure, that holiness makes an arrival

Young boys and girls become chaste and sober

Old men and women have christened memories to remember

The once straying souls are suddenly intercepted

By the word and the holy spirit with impact so concerted

Our young girls would dress modestly and beautiful

Not parading themselves in partial nudity in manners most detestful

 

The young men would discard mediocrity

And embrace purposeful ventures with godly authority

The brothels would be converted to places of godly encounters

And the clubs, a place of god’s dealing ever to remember

Our pot-bellied politicians would become large hearted leaders

Mounting on the wings of purpose to enforce the dreams of dreamers

Our universities would become citadels of excellent scholars

Whose conduct would be based on Christian morals.

 

Truth would be a surplus commodity in our business places

And sincerity would lead the way in our market places

Children would be nurtured in the bosom of caring parents

Developing in love their gracious talents

The movies we watch would be powerful sermons

Not high jacked by nude and erotic demons

From our music shall emanate soul warming aromas

Blended with intelligent lyrics and served a s soul warmers

 

We should not scamper empty out of our homes

Without being stuffed with some gospel drones

Our homes would be holy, happy and healthy ones

Where the devil and his agents would be long gone

Boys would relate with girls as sisters

While girls would relate with boys as brothers

Our preachers would not be scrambling on the pulpit

To gain self glory and ego while souls stream into the pit

 

The church would be filled with an atmosphere of love

Not gossips, slanders, debauchery and insincere smiley curves

Prayer would become a cherished venture by the saints

Consecration would be embarrassed by our ladies and gents

Then the bible would not be a book of fables and myth

God’s word would be real to us and full of might

The devil would lose territories once dominated by him

And a glorious militant church would recover lost lands in warring hymns.

 by

Agbaroji Chimeremeze