These three: Faith Love and Hope

1st Corinthians 13:13

As 2025 draws it’s last breath
Leaving some of us wondering how fast it went

And 2026 approaches with silent steps
Shrouded in mystery and unknown depths

We must take time to reflect
As the the old gives way to the new

Not on unanswered prayers that our minds would have us dwell upon
But rather with intentionality on the riches of Abba’ goodness

Shifting our gaze from things undone
With laser focus on things he has done

Those blessings we sometimes fail to notice
That our hearts would like to miss

Yes! I speak of those very ones
Considered common, normal, usual

Which are of great value and of immense worth
Only if we pause and think upon them, do we realise how good our God indeed is

Like the gift of life, the very reason we are here today
The unquantifiable blessing of good people, family and friends

Soundness of mind and good health which money can’t buy

The miracle of going out and returning safely EVERY DAY!
Having no human bodyguards yet heavily guarded by God’s invisible angels

The precious gift of salvation we got on a platter of gold
An offer denied to Lucifer and his fallen angels

The Name of Jesus- that wonder working name
That answers us when we cry unto Him

And more that time may not permit me to mention
But which I am sure we all have received

And if like me, you are grateful for His manifold blessings

Chorus with me:

“Thanks be to God who daily loads us with benefits”

Now,
As we march with triumph into the new year
There is a word for you and me

Written in 1st Corinthians 13:13
“And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest is love

On faith, Remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. So feed on the word and believe it as though your life depends on it
For Indeed it does!
For the just trully, shall live by faith

On hope,
Remember Abraham, the father of faith,
Who, against all hope, believed in hope and became the father of all nations
Never lose hope, no matter what, for hope makes one not ashamed!

And on love,
Remember Jesus and how he demonstrated his love for you
Consider His Sacrifice
And never forget your worth, for you are greatly loved, no matter what

So stay grounded in His love
On your highest mountain or
In your lowest valley
For He has said:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you”

AMEN 🙏

Olufunke Ajegbomogun
© 2026

The Changed Man

Behold all things have become new
and the old lie in a forgotten heap
childish memories of me digging
underneath my bed on a Sunday morning
for where I’d tossed in my old pair of shoes
nowadays the changed me keep them up neatly
on a rung of wooden stiles the carpenter calls a shoe rack

Bible sleeps on a bedside stool
for a constant bath in Holy words I reach
across to it as often as I go
drink in words that lead, that guides
same letters in the book, a new meaning on the morrow

I remember mom’s narration on Joseph
please tell Dolly Parton
I share same story with her Coat Of Many Colours
only I took mine to many tailors
at the price of my chopped sandal soles
shoes on worn out feet
grazing gravelled road as they bleed
thank God, praise God I sing
because no longer do I handpick rags
all I see are tailor-made suits
my wardrobe is a rainbow of clothes
none having no holes

Nonetheless what I have outgrown is
the filthy old man inside of me
that cheated at elementary school
and purloined mum’s ten kobo
when she was busy at the hearth
One day aunt Betty suffocated my wrists inside mum’s purse
and gave me her two kobo
number eight of the decalogue says, ”Thou shalt not steal”
I hear you ma, my heart thumps with complete remorse
Tell that to the birds, coo that to baby lions
Whisper that in the ears of insensitive politicians
and the starved masses reaping where they did not sow
maybe they’ll pause then retrace their steps
and make way for the new experience.

Rebekah E.
© 2020

The Pause

I have heard great people speak
Thank God someone kept a record of their speeches
I have listened to how their words string
And they never miss to take a pause and think

It is not a lack of words I hear
For their capacity have never been one to yield
Yet with the abundance of words to wield
They take a pause to care for what they speak

The way they hide years between their words
Tells me there is no rush to prove my worth
Tis better to have never uttered a word
If you would regret it because you didn’t take a pause

Ezeonyeka Godswill
© 2020

slowly with a process

The era of greatness
Began slowly with a process
A pause, a close of the eyes

It began in all truthfulness
Not with the light nor in her rays
But in despair and in darkness

Like a hawk process swooped
down into a deep troubling dream
So full of owls and bats

Bitter it was once, bitter is it still
Remembering as brave process
Fought and fought and fell
Without rescuing success

But then, HE came very well
In the wind, in the morning bell
Lifting her from the hollow hell

Into a new dawn of ideas
A splendid tomorrow
Devoid of frown and agony

Indeed, the era of greatness
Began slowly with a process
A pause, a close of the eyes

Ugwu David C.
© 2019